Flano Press conference

[Dragon the chain]

...

How many STI juniors are playing for other NRL teams?
I know we have one in our top 30, Jesse Colquhoun. He was in line to be a starter in the 17 this year before injury got him. He's a great player.

Nearly every team has one!

 

[Mojo]

DRAGONS SG BALL CUP SQUAD 2024	Previous Club / Comments	Position
Corey Ackers	Dragons JNR +Arncliffe Scotts + Fairfield Patrician Brothers	Lock, Prop
David Afu	Panthers 2021-23	centre
Peter Assaf	Bulldogs	Wing
Ratu Cayuqueo	Parramatta
Angus Clark	Wagga Wagga, Riverina Bulls	Hooker
Lyric Craft-Te Moananui	Dragons JNR + West Tigers in 2021	centre
Uchenna Egbu	Newtown jnr?	wing
Isaiah Fagalilo	Burleigh Bear QLD	Hooker
Ben Geary	Newcastle + Nth Coast Bulldogs	Wing
Jacob Halangahu	Penrith	2nd row
Shadi Hammoud	Dragons JNR	Five-Eighth
Hudson Harmer	Nth Coast Bulldogs	Hooker
Viliami Hikila	Sharks +Endeavour Sports High & Westfield Sports High	PROP, 2nd ROW
Ryan Hutchinson	Keebra Park High School QLD	PROP
Lennox Jensen	Nth Coast Bulldogs??
Mitchell Langley	Dragons JNR + Renown	Lock
Finau Latu	Penrith JNR + Patrician Brothers Fairfield	Lock
Campbell Lyons	Narrandera + Illawarra Steelers	centre
Zac Nachar	Dragons JNR	Wing/Fullback/6
Xavier Ndaira	Dragons JNR	Hooker
Loko Pasifiki Tonga	Bankstown Bulls + Ipswich High QLD	Prop
Tyler Peckham-Harris	Ipswich High QLD	Fullback
Risiate Smythe	Dragons JNR	Prop
Cyrus Stanley-Traill	Bulldogs +Endeavour Sports High	2nd row
Brandon Tikanau	Titans	1/2back
Rydell Tyrrell	Central Queensland Capras	Prop
Jesse Williams	Cabramatta + Patrician Brothers Fairfield	Wing/Fullback
Harley Yates	Minchinbury Jets	1/2back
Coach: Willie Talau

STEELERS SG BALL CUP SQUAD 2024
Tyrone Amone	Illawarra JNR + Illawarra Sports High	2nd Row /Prop
Viliami Amone	Illawarra JNR + Illawarra Sports High	PROP
Hudson Bailey	Illawarra JNR	Lock
Clay Baldock	Illawarra JNR	1/2back / Five Eight
Bohden Barrett	Illawarra JNR	centre
Lucas Borg	Illawarra JNR	Fullback / Wing
Hayden Buchanan	Illawarra JNR	centre
Aaymon Fitzgibbon	Illawarra JNR	Five-Eighth
Charlie Heidke	Illawarra JNR	centre
Eden Hodges	Illawarra JNR	1/2back
Lyhkan King-Togia	QLD	Five-Eighth
Tom Kirk	Illawarra JNR	Fullback / Wing
Tom Knox	Illawarra JNR	2nd row
Drew Langdon	Illawarra JNR	2nd row
Isaac Laughton	Illawarra JNR	2nd row
Bailey Marks	Illawarra JNR	Prop / Lock
Daniel Meafou	Illawarra JNR	Lock
Lincoln Miners	Illawarra JNR	Hooker
Ramses Munro	Illawarra JNR	PROP
Seth Pearman	Illawarra JNR	Hooker
Braith Plecas	Illawarra JNR	Lock
Kade Reed	Illawarra JNR	1/2back
Jackson Rieck	Illawarra JNR	Fullback
Toby Rumble	Illawarra JNR	Wing / Centre
Jackson Smith	Illawarra JNR	2nd row
Jarrah Treweek	Illawarra JNR	2nd row
Lachlan Weir	QLD	PROP
Harry Wililo	Illawarra JNR	Wing / Centre
Coach: Shaun Timmins

Very interesting. Thanks for the data. To me it suggests two things (scholars of the club might correct me):
1. Our recruitment for lower grades has done a great job. Credit where credit’s due. They generally cop a lot of criticism.
2. Illawarra is a really strong feeder catchment.

So, the big question is how do we get our pathways functioning better, which is an issue Flanno has consistently referred to - to his credit.

 

[denis preston]

Surely having two sides make the ball semis & one win it easily would mean our chances are good for 5 or 6 future NRL players ? Hopefully that play for us !

 

[This Year?]

Very interesting. Thanks for the data. To me it suggests two things (scholars of the club might correct me):
1. Our recruitment for lower grades has done a great job. Credit where credit’s due. They generally cop a lot of criticism.
2. Illawarra is a really strong feeder catchment.

So, the big question is how do we get our pathways functioning better, which is an issue Flanno has consistently referred to - to his credit.

One is by making the
Dragons a respectable club.
For too long the club is the butt of a joke or just percieved as easybeats. The leaky captain, the rape trial, the board member defending an accused pedo using the club letterhead, players saying fans don't know footy or saying the club wasn't their desired choice. The publicised rejections by marquee players and potential coaches.
Changing perception would a good start.

 

[Dragon David]

One is by making the
Dragons a respectable club.
For too long the club is the butt of a joke or just percieved as easybeats. The leaky captain, the rape trial, the board member defending an accused pedo using the club letterhead, players saying fans don't know footy or saying the club wasn't their desired choice. The publicised rejections by marquee players and potential coaches.
Changing perception would a good start.

I wonder what our Promotions/Publicity Staff have been up to? How can we be perceived in a better light by others if nobody is driving our image upwards.

It's like having a great movie done with a great cast but the promotions being terrible and hardly anybody wanting to see it. We have got to make it that our club is a great club to play for - we need miles of luck for that to happen.