Mann or Milne if you had to choose?

[Frank Facer]

Unfair on him? A position in a club which should be top 4 next year based on current form and signings to come in? Mann is way under rated by Dragons, the real Frank would have had him signed up for life by now.

And what position would you play Mann?

 

[Lovemedragons]

And what position would you play Mann?

Fullback, quality backup half/centre/winger. Could probably pull off dummy half if desperate.

 

[TomRedVRiver]

Something is happening at the club. With Dugan, Packer and now Milne gone... They have to be planning a big play for someone or a few players.
I know they're hell bent on re-signing Mann so that would be one of the factors, but I have a feeling the club are planning something... No idea what it could be.. But we'll find out I guess.

 

[MilanDragon]

Something is happening at the club. With Dugan, Packer and now Milne gone... They have to be planning a big play for someone or a few players.
I know they're hell bent on re-signing Mann so that would be one of the factors, but I have a feeling the club are planning something... No idea what it could be.. But we'll find out I guess.

Very good point and it does make you think.

Especially with the added cap space coming in, I understand there has been a lot of extensions and upgrades but to the tune of 1.3M I don't think so.

Unless the club is thinking they have the right juniors and don't necessarily need to spend the cap, but rather give themselves space so they can upgrade the juniors the club determines they need most and secure those juniors on long term contracts at a bargain. (So short term overs but long term unders)

 

[TomRedVRiver]

Very good point and it does make you think.

Especially with the added cap space coming in, I understand there has been a lot of extensions and upgrades but to the tune of 1.3M I don't think so.

Unless the club is thinking they have the right juniors and don't necessarily need to spend the cap, but rather give themselves space so they can upgrade the juniors the club determines they need most and secure those juniors on long term contracts at a bargain. (So short term overs but long term unders)

Agreed. I think they're expecting guys like Field/Herbert/Kerr/Lawrie etc to raise quite substantially in price. They would want to avoid a situation like Penrith will inevitably find themselves in where all of their juniors have blossomed and will start demanding millions. There is no way they'll be in a position to keep them all.

I still think something bigger is at play here however. The club has to be looking at certain players, or one player in particular, whether its for next year or even 2019. I feel like there's a plan here.

 

[possm]

And what position would you play Mann?

I'd be surprised if Millward kept Mann.

 

[MilanDragon]

Agreed. I think they're expecting guys like Field/Herbert/Kerr/Lawrie etc to raise quite substantially in price. They would want to avoid a situation like Penrith will inevitably find themselves in where all of their juniors have blossomed and will start demanding millions. There is no way they'll be in a position to keep them all.

I still think something bigger is at play here however. The club has to be looking at certain players, or one player in particular, whether its for next year or even 2019. I feel like there's a plan here.

Yea but what player and more importantly what position? Because the 6 and 7 are tied up long term on big money. So that leaves 1 or 9 and I honestly believe 1 will go to Dufty or Field.. so maybe 9? McInnes is only signed up until 2018.. but then again that's another contract upgrade - which he will deserve if he continues in this form!

I think it could be across multiple juniors and instead of signing them on 120k for 2 years then finding out in 2 years we have to pay 500k. Rather sign them up now for 4-5 years on 300k.

 

[TomRedVRiver]

Yea but what player and more importantly what position? Because the 6 and 7 are tied up long term on big money. So that leaves 1 or 9 and I honestly believe 1 will go to Dufty or Field.. so maybe 9? McInnes is only signed up until 2018.. but then again that's another contract upgrade - which he will deserve if he continues in this form!

Perhaps they're thinking forwards? Burgess/Fifita/Boyd? Roger Tuivasa-Sheck off contract at the end of 2018 too?

Who knows. It's all speculation really. I just feel like there's something else at play.
I could be 100% wrong though, it could be just cap management for the future.

 

[Crush]

Something is happening at the club. With Dugan, Packer and now Milne gone... They have to be planning a big play for someone or a few players.
I know they're hell bent on re-signing Mann so that would be one of the factors, but I have a feeling the club are planning something... No idea what it could be.. But we'll find out I guess.

Don't know about that.
Milne was always going to be let go, we have Aitken and Lafai plus juniors with talent. Dugan will most probably be replaced with Nightingale next year with field/dufty long term future.
Packer I reckon they have covered with LAM for now and can re-evaluate next year.
I doubt they are offloading players to make a big play at someone.

 

[Blood Shot Eyes]

I'd be surprised if Millward kept Mann.

Me to......not completely sold on him....I see blokes like Ponga for the Cowboys and Munster for The Storm who have similar builds and they play with awareness and confidence.....at this stage I just dont see that in young Mann......having said that he really has not had the luxury of being picked in the one position has he......hope Im wrong if he stays

 

[coast_dragons]

I don't see the club making a play for anyone thats considered top shelf.

They will look for a good solid first grade prop and honestly the number off contract isn't overly that exciting but a Passi, Tagatese or a Latimore wouldn't be the worst idea as all three have experience and would add that extra prop to the rotation.

They may look at an outside back i hope its not Johnston as he's not bad for a winger but they don't need a winger.

Gordon would be a more then handy fullback for a year but you would hope Dufty at least gets a chance to show what he can do as i just don't see Field as a 1.

They need to sift through who they have off contract and see whoes worth keeping.

Looks like Hutchison, Masoe and Glymin are gone and don't be shocked if Mathews, Marketo, KFFL, McCarthy, Havili, Nona, Dodd and Lewis head out the door to.

 

[Life's Good]

Really disappointed that Milne is going. He has a certain toughness about him in the style of Mick Beattie(more the bustling attack, with defence something to be worked on). To his misfortune Lafai has lifted beyond all expectations and with Aitken getting an extension then there was simply no room. Good luck to him at the Tigers.

 

[epDragon62]

Really disappointed that Milne is going. He has a certain toughness about him in the style of Mick Beattie(more the bustling attack, with defence something to be worked on). To his misfortune Lafai has lifted beyond all expectations and with Aitken getting an extension then there was simply no room. Good luck to him at the Tigers.

Just not too much.

 

[Life's Good]

Just not too much.

He didn't go to the Dogs so he gets a pass then!

 

[GC Dragon]

I don't see the club making a play for anyone thats considered top shelf.

They will look for a good solid first grade prop and honestly the number off contract isn't overly that exciting but a Passi, Tagatese or a Latimore wouldn't be the worst idea as all three have experience and would add that extra prop to the rotation.

They may look at an outside back i hope its not Johnston as he's not bad for a winger but they don't need a winger.

Gordon would be a more then handy fullback for a year but you would hope Dufty at least gets a chance to show what he can do as i just don't see Field as a 1.

They need to sift through who they have off contract and see whoes worth keeping.

Looks like Hutchison, Masoe and Glymin are gone and don't be shocked if Mathews, Marketo, KFFL, McCarthy, Havili, Nona, Dodd and Lewis head out the door to.

Totally agree with everything you have said . I believe we will sign another prop with the lose of Packer And Mose and the backs you mentioned Gorton , Johnston would be close to the money .

I think you will see around 12 or more players from the current roster let go . And the players you listed are the ones . I am not expecting Mann to stay as a reserve back either . He could and I think will do better elsewhere .

 

[Blood Shot Eyes]

Really disappointed that Milne is going. He has a certain toughness about him in the style of Mick Beattie(more the bustling attack, with defence something to be worked on). To his misfortune Lafai has lifted beyond all expectations and with Aitken getting an extension then there was simply no room. Good luck to him at the Tigers.

Yes Im really disappointed hes going......still reckon Mary stuffed him around and showed bugger all confidence in him....bet Cleary gets real value out of him and you watch he will come back and bite us one day......

 

[Frank Facer]

Fullback, quality backup half/centre/winger. Could probably pull off dummy half if desperate.

I would be pinning my hopes in Field becoming our future fullback, I would also have Dufty ahead of Mann at fullback. I can not find a permanent position for Mann.

So you would be playing Mann at fullback next year? Where would that leave Field and Dufty in your plans if you were in charge of recruitment?

 

[j0nesy]

I think we'll retain Mann as a utility back and we'll sign another forward (probably a prop).

When Widdop re-signed it was unlikely we would be able to retain Dugan. The club offered what it believed it could afford for Dugan, however, he took too long to sign so we were forced to withdraw the offer and re-sign Lafai before he was poached. With Lafai re-signed, Aitken under contract and a couple of promising young juniors coming through, it was unlikely that we would retain Milne.

Mann provides cover for a lot of positions, so I believe he is an important player to the club. He could be a Kurt Gidley type player that could cover half and fullback. I believe the club sees the value of him as a utility and will retain him.

I think the club really wanted to retain Packer, but we couldn't match the Tigers offer, so I expect another forward signing.

I doubt we'll sign that Souths winger as that could block the progress of Field and/or Dufty.

Just my opinion based on the reading of the tea leaves.

 

[nontime111]

future backline......

Field
Dufty
Mann
Lafai
Nene
Widdop
Hunt

 

[Dennis Papaioannou]

I don't see the club making a play for anyone thats considered top shelf.

They will look for a good solid first grade prop and honestly the number off contract isn't overly that exciting but a Passi, Tagatese or a Latimore wouldn't be the worst idea as all three have experience and would add that extra prop to the rotation.

They may look at an outside back i hope its not Johnston as he's not bad for a winger but they don't need a winger.

Gordon would be a more then handy fullback for a year but you would hope Dufty at least gets a chance to show what he can do as i just don't see Field as a 1.

They need to sift through who they have off contract and see whoes worth keeping.

Looks like Hutchison, Masoe and Glymin are gone and don't be shocked if Mathews, Marketo, KFFL, McCarthy, Havili, Nona, Dodd and Lewis head out the door to.

Of the props you mention, Tagatese is the one that is a hard nosed forward that is very hard to stop after contact. He would be my choice.
As I have mentioned before, I really like Gordon for a year. Just a real professional who knows what he's doing and a fantastic sharp shooter. Just look at his form at the Roosters.
Good post!