Jackson Hastings

[RedVDave]

I really cannot believe some people are okay with this, saying things like he has no NRL experience and could turn out to be a nobody (which I highly doubt) but I I don't look as it as he has no NRL experience so let him go I look as it as wow we can't even re-sign a player who has been in our junior system from the start ...who has no NRL experience. He should of been signed ages ago, not to mention that we don't have a halfback I mean we don't even have a back up halfback and we have not signed anyone.

 

[gypsy]

Jackson Hastings -

Can't tackle.

Good "loss" imho

 

[The Cobra]

Karl Filiga ring a bell, Father?

Stupid money for someone who may not even make it in NRL, ala Beau Henry

Karl Filiga,now playing for Mudgee Dragons in Group 10 comp!!!

 

[nrlnrl]

I really cannot believe some people are okay with this, saying things like he has no NRL experience and could turn out to be a nobody (which I highly doubt) but I I don't look as it as he has no NRL experience so let him go I look as it as wow we can't even re-sign a player who has been in our junior system from the start ...who has no NRL experience. He should of been signed ages ago, not to mention that we don't have a halfback I mean we don't even have a back up halfback and we have not signed anyone.

With Nick Politis being a massive fan of Kevin Hastings, it would have been planned for Jackson Hastings to play for the Roosters after he finished high school. We haven't signed a half for next year yet, but Peter Doust has said the recruitment for 2014 hasn't been completed. It could be Sam Williams or someone else.

With such a big junior area that is like a rugby league production line it's unfortunate that other clubs will pick off players that the Dragons would like to keep, but it's a fact that they'll never be able to keep them all.
As mentioned elsewhere, hopefully the club can identify a number of the promising juniors they want to keep & secure their long term future. The Jackson Hastings situation was a tough one, but other promising juniors like Bird, Aitken, Hutchinson & Crook could form the basis of successful Dragons sides for the next decade.

 

[BennyV]

NOOOOO...QUICK, GRAB YOUR TORCH AND PITCHFORK AND MARCH ON THE TAJ, WE LET A SINGLE UNCONTRACTED 17-YEAR-OLD GO PLAY FOR THE CLUB WITH WHICH HE HAD EMOTIONAL TIES, ONLY NOW ARE THE DRAGONS SCREWED.

This is the biggest loss ever, he will carve us up in years to come, just like Beau Hen...I mean, just like Matt Mund...I mean...umm...hold on...


SERIOUSLY? Why are people cryng and calling for Dousts head for this? He was never going to sign with us, Doust stood no chance up against Kevin Hastings and Nick Politis, the kid wanted to play for Roosters, he was off contract, how is that anyone's fault but his own? You guys have no idea what Doust offered for him to stay, for all you know he matched or went above the Roosters offer, but the kid will play where he wants to play. What's the point in crying about it?

 

[redbreed]

Its a shame from what people say seems like a real talent. Can't really blame the kid I know wouldn't want to play for a team that has Price as coach. This wouldn't have happened if Bennett was still our coach. Shame Doust shame on you

 

[SilentAssassin]

Really don't understand people blowing up at Doust. Nobody knows how this went down.

Imo it more then likely had nothing to do with Doust and Hastings had his mind on the roosters all along. If that's the case then I'm honestly not sad to see him go.

Will be interesting to follow over the next few years. Roosters have RTS at fullback, then you've got the current NSW halves at the roosters so I'm not sure if it was the best career move if he wants to play in the NRL any time soon.

 

[Dr Fruitbasket Returns]

Looking down the spoon I'm a bit whatever about this. We need to be throwing everything we've got under the cap at a halfback and a big hard-arsed forward for next year. In the dire straits we're in now we can't be focusing on players who may or may not turn out to be guns within a 3 to 5 year window. We just don't have the luxury.

We are at real, current risk of turning into the new Souffs if we're not seriously focusing our recruitment efforts on, at the very least, getting back into the 8 in 2014. Beyond avoiding the ignominy of the spoon in 2013 that's the next objective.

If Hastings is worth $800K a season in 5 years let's buy him back.

In fact, seriously, f*** focusing on our juniors anyway. The whole idea is a myth. It's brought us 1 comp in 31 years. Let's do what the consistent winners do and buy and raid the best players on the market.

 

[SilentAssassin]

Looking down the spoon I'm a bit whatever about this. We need to be throwing everything we've got under the cap at a halfback and a big hard-arsed forward for next year. In the dire straits we're in now we can't be focusing on players who may or may not turn out to be guns within a 3 to 5 year window. We just don't have the luxury.

We are at real, current risk of turning into the new Souffs if we're not seriously focusing our recruitment efforts on, at the very least, getting back into the 8 in 2014. Beyond avoiding the ignominy of the spoon in 2013 that's the next objective.

If Hastings is worth $800K a season in 5 years let's buy him back.

In fact, seriously, f*** focusing on our juniors anyway. The whole idea is a myth. It's brought us 1 comp in 31 years. Let's do what the consistent winners do and buy and raid the best players on the market.

Sadly for that to work you need a coach that players want to play for.

Who's ever going to sign with the Dragons if the money is equal? We're turning into the old Souths side who had to over pay to get average players.

 

[jenninga]

Looking down the spoon I'm a bit whatever about this. We need to be throwing everything we've got under the cap at a halfback and a big hard-arsed forward for next year. In the dire straits we're in now we can't be focusing on players who may or may not turn out to be guns within a 3 to 5 year window. We just don't have the luxury.

We are at real, current risk of turning into the new Souffs if we're not seriously focusing our recruitment efforts on, at the very least, getting back into the 8 in 2014. Beyond avoiding the ignominy of the spoon in 2013 that's the next objective.

If Hastings is worth $800K a season in 5 years let's buy him back.

In fact, seriously, f*** focusing on our juniors anyway. The whole idea is a myth. It's brought us 1 comp in 31 years. Let's do what the consistent winners do and buy and raid the best players on the market.

Agree with this ,we have had juniors coming through for years,losing some and others making their way to 1st grade.The obsession in our juniors is over the top.Good scouting is just as important,and if we need to spend big to get the finished product back then so be it.

 

[redbreed]

Agree with this ,we have had juniors coming through for years,losing some and others making their way to 1st grade.The obsession in our juniors is over the top.Good scouting is just as important,and if we need to spend big to get the finished product back then so be it.

We need a balance of both. The top teams like us in 2010 had depth which we got from our juniors. You have to consider injuries as well. We are in a bad situation this year but with a good coach and widdop, Thompson, Dugan and a good half back we can change that quickly. We have great depth in the hookers, fullback and the best wingers in the comp just need a good coach.

 

[saint.nick]

okay sure, we've only won one comp in 31 years by focusing on juniors. But since 1979, we've made 6 grand finals. We lost in 85, lost in 92 to a superstar broncos team, 93 in same circumstances, 1996 to a great manly team, we were unlucky in 1999, a more experienced coach of brown's talent would have got us home in 2004-2006, and we finally did it in 2010. I agree with Fruitbasket that you need to buy a few great players on the market, but it's effective with a good mix of homegrown talent. For example, if you're not developing your own halves, what are you going to do when there's no good halves on the market? I'm sure South Sydney are glad they have reynolds, instead of having to scour the market.

 

[BennyV]

okay sure, we've only won one comp in 31 years by focusing on juniors. But since 1979, we've made 6 grand finals. We lost in 85, lost in 92 to a superstar broncos team, 93 in same circumstances, 1996 to a great manly team, we were unlucky in 1999, a more experienced coach of brown's talent would have got us home in 2004-2006, and we finally did it in 2010. I agree with Fruitbasket that you need to buy a few great players on the market, but it's effective with a good mix of homegrown talent. For example, if you're not developing your own halves, what are you going to do when there's no good halves on the market? I'm sure South Sydney are glad they have reynolds, instead of having to scour the market.

Fair enough, but losing one 17 year old is not the end of the world. We have a few halves making their way through the grades, 3 of whom have represent NSW in juniors, yet everyone is calling for Doust's head because 1 kid may have decided he wanted to go and play for the club that made his father famous (I only say 'may have' because I refuse to recognise Matty Johns as a credible source!)...we still have plenty of homegrown talent to survive.

 

[Dragons_Head]

Fair enough, but losing one 17 year old is not the end of the world. We have a few halves making their way through the grades, 3 of whom have represent NSW in juniors, yet everyone is calling for Doust's head because 1 kid may have decided he wanted to go and play for the club that made his father famous (I only say 'may have' because I refuse to recognise Matty Johns as a credible source!)...we still have plenty of homegrown talent to survive.

yeah i have to agree, losing a kid with the potential that hastings has is disappointing but we really have to look at all of the contributing factors to his decision... he would have been offered a much more appealing deal, he has the opportunity to play at a club his dad was a legend at and he is going to a club who are on the improve. i dont think it is fair to place all the blame on doust coz i really believe we had little chance of signing hastings

 

[Morotti]

I haven't had a chance to read all of the posts but it surprises me that he wants to go to a team that has the current NSW halves combination and also a ready made replacement at fullback. Other things being equal, Pearce is 24, Maloney just turned 27 and I think Roger TS is 20. Hastings is 17/18 and you would expect the Roosters to at least keep pearce for his entire career and Maloney for the next 4 years? So that puts Hastings at 22 or thereabouts. By the time a potential starting spot in the side opens up. And they already have Mortimer as their utility off the bench for the next two years.

Also I would say that as some of you have suggested there would have been no way for us to keep him as it appears he really wanted to move on.

 

[TonyTrugett]

Its a shame from what people say seems like a real talent. Can't really blame the kid I know wouldn't want to play for a team that has Price as coach. This wouldn't have happened if Bennett was still our coach. Shame Doust shame on you

I keep thinking of Beau Henry.

 

[mickeylane]

This is disgraceful recruiting!! The kid cried out talent!! In 2 years time he and Widdup would be a gun combo ! Why would u nurture the kid then not fight for him! Yes we put an offer in but why didn't u wheel in
"Gasnier, mcgregor, cooper, Morris, Merrin" and tell him what it meant to be a dragons junior and come thru the ranks.. Play for the most popular club in history.. Talk about similar world teams
Man U
Liverpool
Wigan

FS make the effort to tell the kid u want him!! Throwing an offer out there ain't enough!! Damn it Politis turned up to the meeting w Gyngell and Fittler and Robinson to secure the kid!!!

 

[BennyV]

This is disgraceful recruiting!! The kid cried out talent!! In 2 years time he and Widdup would be a gun combo ! Why would u nurture the kid then not fight for him! Yes we put an offer in but why didn't u wheel in
"Gasnier, mcgregor, cooper, Morris, Merrin" and tell him what it meant to be a dragons junior and come thru the ranks.. Play for the most popular club in history.. Talk about similar world teams
Man U
Liverpool
Wigan

FS make the effort to tell the kid u want him!! Throwing an offer out there ain't enough!! Damn it Politis turned up to the meeting w Gyngell and Fittler and Robinson to secure the kid!!!

I dont think turning up with Price would have helped...

 

[Horrie Is God]

Great thread title BTW..

I lol'd..

Sorry Missed Jackson.. he he..

 

[Baloney]

Horries son is coming home.....