Josh Dugan Told To Shop Himself Around - Not happy with the Dragons.

[AyiosYiorgos]

Keep Dugan he's still the best of the crop. Widdopp leaving and other players will help with the increase needed.

Dump McCrone and use this year to bring Field or Dufty or Mann forward to find the best one to partner Hunt. Widdop will go and theres a shitload more money available there to sign 2 of the three i have mentioned.

Remember we are bringing in Hunt next year and his experience and quality surpasses what we lose.

We also have Nightingale probably not going around again next year so lats start blooding there as well, possibly Herbert or Garrick or Dufty whoever

Think Herbert will take over on the wing before moving into centre, he is playing on the wing in NSW cup preparing him for the eventual move into 1st grade

 

[Red V for life]

I will applaud the Club if they stick firm to the reported "time frame" for Duges to accept as there is other talent we want to lock up.

I just wish I had more confidence in our long-term vision...coaching staff, support staff, roster etc. I just can't help but feel we have lunatics running the asylum though.

 

[BrissyRedV]

For Dugan's proposed salary of about 850k p/a who could we recruit that is suitable to our needs? In my opinion only Bird fits that bill.

We will have a chance on Sunday to see Bird at fullback and we all have already seen him play centre and five-eighth.

Bird is the obvious option. Moses maybe as a 5/8. Retention of Widdop at the right price.

 

[giboz71]

For Dugan's proposed salary of about 850k p/a who could we recruit that is suitable to our needs? In my opinion only Bird fits that bill.

We will have a chance on Sunday to see Bird at fullback and we all have already seen him play centre and five-eighth.

We need to think about who best complements Ben Hunt. We've invested 5 years into this guy so he's the one we need to build a team around. Reason why the Storm have been so good is how well their big 3 combine. Smith, Cronk and Slater each know what the other is doing in any given play.

We invested bucketloads in Widdop, Benji and Duges and none could play together and be effective.

We can't make the same mistake again. Tedesco would have been great but is unlikely to come here.

 

[possm]

We need to think about who best complements Ben Hunt. We've invested 5 years into this guy so he's the one we need to build a team around. Reason why the Storm have been so good is how well their big 3 combine. Smith, Cronk and Slater each know what the other is doing in any given play.

We invested bucketloads in Widdop, Benji and Duges and none could play together and be effective.

We can't make the same mistake again. Tedesco would have been great but is unlikely to come here.

Tedesco hasn't signed as yet. Maybe, like Bird he is waiting to field offers from other Clubs.

 

[Okman]

Mbye is as overrated as overrated gets

Big no thanks

 

[Crush]

Bird is the obvious option. Moses maybe as a 5/8. Retention of Widdop at the right price.

I am so sick of hearing about Bird back at dragons. There is no way in hell he is coming to us. Why not mix it up and talk about other players that might come like Jonathan Thurston, Cameron Smith or Mickey Mouse!!! Its all fiction. Ain't gonna happen!

 

[TruSaint]

I am so sick of hearing about Bird back at dragons. There is no way in hell he is coming to us. Why not mix it up and talk about other players that might come like Jonathan Thurston, Cameron Smith or Mickey Mouse!!! Its all fiction. Ain't gonna happen!

yep...

 

[KiamaSaint]

Mbye is as overrated as overrated gets

Big no thanks

I think he meant Mitchell Moses not Moses Mbye.

 

[Miller was a legend]

Mbye is as overrated as overrated gets

Big no thanks

He actually said "maybe"

 

[mickeylane]

Tbe

I will applaud the Club if they stick firm to the reported "time frame" for Duges to accept as there is other talent we want to lock up.

I just wish I had more confidence in our long-term vision...coaching staff, support staff, roster etc. I just can't help but feel we have lunatics running the asylum though.

Club announced yesterday that they will relax the deadline for DUGAN.. already buckled under pressure

 

[TomRedVRiver]

Judging by Josh's comments recently i'd say that it's looking very unlikely we'll retain him. He was talking about how he used to play Rugby so the switch wouldn't be too unfamiliar for him. They are not the comments of someone who is confident about remaining at the club.
Dugan has to realise that his future is in the centres and not fullback, if he doesn't, then let him go to Union and use the money elsewhere.

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

I am so sick of hearing about Bird back at dragons. There is no way in hell he is coming to us. Why not mix it up and talk about other players that might come like Jonathan Thurston, Cameron Smith or Mickey Mouse!!! Its all fiction. Ain't gonna happen!

So you're saying we have a chance of signing Bird....

 

[TruSaint]

Judging by Josh's comments recently i'd say that it's looking very unlikely we'll retain him. He was talking about how he used to play Rugby so the switch wouldn't be too unfamiliar for him. They are not the comments of someone who is confident about remaining at the club.
Dugan has to realise that his future is in the centres and not fullback, if he doesn't, then let him go to Union and use the money elsewhere.

Not saying he's confident. But we signed him as an established FB. He can ALSO play centre. Why punish his skill set because we may have a few juniors coming through? R they proven at NRL level? Whats the rush. He can move to centre, but God forbid we have an injury at FB, then what ? The NSW and Aussie selectors seem to rate him. BOTH at FB and centre. As he has played both.

 

[Saint_JimmyG]

We need to think about who best complements Ben Hunt. We've invested 5 years into this guy so he's the one we need to build a team around. Reason why the Storm have been so good is how well their big 3 combine. Smith, Cronk and Slater each know what the other is doing in any given play.

We invested bucketloads in Widdop, Benji and Duges and none could play together and be effective.

We can't make the same mistake again. Tedesco would have been great but is unlikely to come here.

Provided an experienced coach replaces McGregor, the answer is Widdop.

 

[Red V for life]

Tbe

Club announced yesterday that they will relax the deadline for DUGAN.. already buckled under pressure

Thanks mickeylane. I hadn't heard that.

I must say it makes no sense. It doesn't look like there is a snowflake's chance in hell he will re-sign on the current deal and unless the Club is prepared to up the offer, well it's just a waste of time.

 

[Frank Facer]

We need to think about who best complements Ben Hunt. We've invested 5 years into this guy so he's the one we need to build a team around. Reason why the Storm have been so good is how well their big 3 combine. Smith, Cronk and Slater each know what the other is doing in any given play.

We invested bucketloads in Widdop, Benji and Duges and none could play together and be effective.

We can't make the same mistake again. Tedesco would have been great but is unlikely to come here.

I agree that it is paramount to get a top 5/8 who will play well with Hunt. I also agree that Tedesco would be great. I think if we could sign the likes Tedesco to play fullback and Bird or Moses to play 5/8, that we would have the right players to build our team around.

 

[Ace-STi]

I think he will re-sign eventually and that dragons will meet half way... just doesn't seem like the kind of guy to up root his lifestyle and go overseas anz I can't see any other club offering more as most big clubs have an established FB on books already or won't pay $$$ he wants

 

[dragonssamy61]

If the media is to be believed, the coin Dugan is asking for is salary cap crippling for a non creative player. He won't get the sort of money being spoken from any other club in the comp so IMO, the club should stick to their guns.

Our major issue will be if he walks is that the 2 young guys we have signed up are largely untested in the top grade. We could put Widdop back there but he is currently unsigned as well. For us to be a premiership threat next year, besides the obvious need for a coach, I think we need at least one experienced player to go with Hunt in our spine either at 6 or 1 to go with our younger players.

Agree brissy
I think we also need a explosive big centre we lack any pace in the back line.
I think next year herbert and garrick will solve the problem.
But we need a hardened nrl player to complement them.
I the future I think lomax will be there as well

 

[dragonssamy61]

possm i don't believe Bird is going to leave sharks but either way i just don't rate him over Dugan as fullback so i'd rather pay a little more for Dugan. Sharks have totally bypassed him after Barbs and went straight to Holmes.Sorry but id prefer Dugan over Holmes as well.
I honestly believe that in time Field will be a better 5/8 and player that Bird so we need to keep him. I see bird as a centre who will end up in the back row in the future and we have plenty of them.
Never the less i believe newcastle have thrown Bird an offer that blows everyone else out of the water so i feel if anything that where he will go. Remember Newcastle paid massive dollars for Ponga a junior with enermous talent cause they dont have any but yet us with so many ( Field, Dufty, Masters,Garrick,Herbet just to name a few) and thats only backs not forwards) are prepared to lose them to sign outsiders for big dollars ?? Not great economics.

Spot on Vinnie