Kealon Kolomatangi Signs!

[The Word]

We're not just up against outsiders. We're up against insiders constantly denigrating the merger. Many of our own fans can't move forward and live in a bygone era toasting previous success and blaming all of our current misfortunes on the merger. We need to stay united and enjoy both parts of the pathways and fan base, see them as a positive not a negative, and take advantage of our unique history and catchment area to push a new era of success. I look at the direction we're moving in and I honestly think we're finally getting the basics right in terms of how to run a professional sports organisation in the modern era. We have been so far behind the other cubs for so long. We need to maintain pressure on the Board and dual ownership structure to stay focused on what it takes to manage and invest in a successful club.

 

[Victoire]

The rumour is that St George were one of the clubs willing to go all in for Haas and pay over a million plus. But R360 reported offers and contracts shut the whole thing down months ago and NRL clubs turned away from Haas approaches. Souths were keen to keep Keaon right up until they realised Haas wasn’t going to R360 after the NRL threatened to ban players. That’s when they quietly opened negotiations with Haas, while goating St George into signing Keaon on a $1M‑plus, five year deal to take them out of the race for Haas.

It’s no coincidence Keaon and Haas share the same manager . Souths were never truly interested in keeping Keaon at that point, their eyes were squarely set on Haas. Bennett is a wily old fox.

lmao fairytales are fun. It's an astonishing signing for Souths, there's really no need to gild the lily with this fanciful shit. How insecure do you need to be to invent this rubbish

 

[cussy]

Lolz I bet the souths contract is full of caveats - if r360 is up and running bye bye Haas….

 

[Slippery Morris]

If the Dragons were in any other sporting code they would be credited with them unfortunately not the NRL, It's like a curse that they won 11. The Storms 2 premierships which were stripped are being credited more that the 11 Saints won as they still parade them in front of fans yet the NRL says nothing, yet to the Saints fans, we are constantly reminded they have won only 1 comp.

I have watched other sporting codes (Soccer comps around the world and some American sports, and even they mention what an amazing achievement it is, but not NRL. I think Bayern Munich in Germany and Celtic in the Scottish leagues came close and it was mentioned in them codes. The NRL like to downplay it.

As for this argument about Salary Cap era, it is an era where players are full-timers. During the 11 years in a row, the players did not have that luxury, they worked for a living and played footy hence were no way as fit as these guys now.

 

[Victoire]

Anyone catch his game yesterday? Hole lee sheeeit. The Dolphins middle will be having nightmares about Keaon. 253 metres. Wow

 

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

Anyone catch his game yesterday? Hole lee sheeeit. The Dolphins middle will be having nightmares about Keaon. 253 metres. Wow

Looks like he stacked on a few pounds in the off season. I wondered how he would go, but it was a dynamic performance. Reminded me of Josh Papalii in his prime.

In other Souths related news, I believe Lachlan Ilias had a shocker against the Sharkies.

 

[hewi]

Surely you don’t mean the Ilias who was hard done by at the Dragons and just needed a decent coach to shine?

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

Not sure how you expect Ilias or anyone else to shine when their forwards are going backwards and getting pumped 40 - 0

 

[since77]

Surely you don’t mean the Ilias who was hard done by at the Dragons and just needed a decent coach to shine?

And you can bet that in 2026 there won't be one article or journalist "demanding answers" or questioning the coach's motives when Ilias rightfully spends most of the season in reserve grade.

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

Not sure how you expect Ilias or anyone else to shine when their forwards are going backwards and getting pumped 40 - 0

Yeah

It’s tricky on this forum though

No matter who plays in the halves there is rarely an acknowledgment of our field position weaker in 2025 via crappy forward metres

which hinders halves ability to manage the kick and progressing field position

the kick returns from the opposition last year killed us via their starting set back on their 30m or 40m line

what a killer hey

 

[since77]

Not sure how you expect Ilias or anyone else to shine when their forwards are going backwards and getting pumped 40 - 0

Yeah but that's not the real story here. A halfback can be behind a set of forwards that are getting hammered and still do at least a serviceable job even if he might be extremely limited in what he can create due to field position. I watched the Cronulla / Titans game. Ilias was dog sh$t all game, he really looked like a reserve grader who was only there because the first choice half was injured. Kicking was average, his decision making was poor and he was passing so far before the advantage line in attack that he may as well have been on the moon. Sure a beaten forward pack doesn't help, but that wasn't the reason he had a shocker.
It's only round 1 but the signs are that he'll be spending a large part of the season in reserve grade at a third consecutive club. At what point is it reasonable to conclude that perhaps he isn't first grade standard?

 

[Slippery Morris]

Illias is proving to be too good for reserve grade and not good enough for NRL. I think his best option is England. He can join Brodie Croft, Bevan French and Lachlan Lam and fight it our for Man of Steel awards.

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

Yeah but that's not the real story here. A halfback can be behind a set of forwards that are getting hammered and still do at least a serviceable job even if he might be extremely limited in what he can create due to field position. I watched the Cronulla / Titans game. Ilias was dog sh$t all game, he really looked like a reserve grader who was only there because the first choice half was injured. Kicking was average, his decision making was poor and he was passing so far before the advantage line in attack that he may as well have been on the moon. Sure a beaten forward pack doesn't help, but that wasn't the reason he had a shocker.
It's only round 1 but the signs are that he'll be spending a large part of the season in reserve grade at a third consecutive club. At what point is it reasonable to conclude that perhaps he isn't first grade standard?

I'm not disagreeing with you but the whole Titans side was dog shit, i'd rather judge him when his forwards are going forward or when its an arm wrestle and see what he does then and as i said i don't disagree with you, even in KOE cup last year he was pretty awful on lots of occasions even when we dominated sides..

 

[TheRev]

I expect big turnarounds from Tits and Eels at some pt.. whether thats in the next few weeks (against us ironically) I dunno.. but yeah Ilias pre-injury maybe he was a real halfback.. but I think his decision-making is not up to scratch for either grade.. but maybe with another yard of pace he is a different proposition (i.e. pre-injury) but thats life unfortunately.

I admit I keep willing him to struggle so Braith and friends will leave us alone finally.. but Ilias does have a qld pack in front of him at the titans.. and plenty of strike power... but even with that... if Hannah can turn Ilias around ill be impressed/surprised.. noting that Ilias did have a dominant pack all last year in NSW Cup also and it didnt seem to help.

Ilias probably only has 3 more weeks until JC is back though.. short of more injuries later in the season.

 

[Slippery Morris]

I still can't believe Souths let go of Reynolds for Illias. How crazy was that decision. If JC returns and Titans still lose plenty of games will there be headlines of why Illias is not given a fair go?

 

[possm]

I still can't believe Souths let go of Reynolds for Illias. How crazy was that decision. If JC returns and Titans still lose plenty of games will there be headlines of why Illias is not given a fair go?

Yes, and we held onto Hunt when Reynolds was available.

 

[TerraceDragon]

I expect big turnarounds from Tits and Eels at some pt.. whether thats in the next few weeks (against us ironically) I dunno.. but yeah Ilias pre-injury maybe he was a real halfback.. but I think his decision-making is not up to scratch for either grade.. but maybe with another yard of pace he is a different proposition (i.e. pre-injury) but thats life unfortunately.

I admit I keep willing him to struggle so Braith and friends will leave us alone finally.. but Ilias does have a qld pack in front of him at the titans.. and plenty of strike power... but even with that... if Hannah can turn around ill be impressed/surprised.. noting that Ilias did have a dominant pack all last year in NSW Cup also and it didnt seem to help.

Ilias probably only has 3 more weeks until JC is back though.. short of more injuries later in the season.

I see we play the Titans in round 4. It’d be interesting to see an Ilias match up.

 

[since77]

I still can't believe Souths let go of Reynolds for Illias. How crazy was that decision. If JC returns and Titans still lose plenty of games will there be headlines of why Illias is not given a fair go?

That was probably the worst recruitment / retention decision I've seen in recent times and that includes a decade's worth of shockers from the Dragons. If I had a choice between keeping Reynolds or Walker I'd keep Reynolds every day of the week despite injury concerns. And to let him go for Ilias is baffling. IMO he's the most underrated halfback of the last decade or so - I think he's only played Origin once which seems insane to me. I would have loved to have seen him in a Dragon's jersey when he was in his prime - he would have come in very handy in a certain semi final in 2018.....

 

[Slippery Morris]

IMO he's the most underrated halfback of the last decade or so - I think he's only played Origin once which seems insane to me.

100%. The only reason I thought he played less origin games early on was because after the Souths GF he did suffer some long injuries but when he even when he is fit, there is never talk of him getting into the NSW squad which is crazy.

Just as crazy as some parts of the media believe Moses is a better halfback than Cleary because Nathan has not iced an Origin game or series. Wow. I would take a guy that can win 4 GF in a row than icing 1 Origin game any day. By the way he has been part of a winning series but they won that series comfortably. 2021 - Game 1 - NSW 50 - Qld 6, Game 2 - NSW 26 - Qld 0 and Game 3 they lost but he did not play, Moses played and they lost 20-18.

 

[Gomarchin]

I see we play the Titans in round 4. It’d be interesting to see an Ilias match up.

May not even be in first grade by round 4...