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McCullough

redv13

Bench
Messages
3,030
I can't see McInnes playing another game for the Dragons personally, maybe Rd 1 against us but we might not want him to play against us, like you wouldn't want him to play against you potentially in Rd 1 if we get him before then.
Saints would be crazy to release McInnes early unless there is a suitable swap with the Sharks for a decent player in return. With Macca signing on McInnes can play lock for the season. $$ isn’t an issue from our end so there’s no need to be any sillier than what we’ve already been.

Decent forward that suits our needs maybe but not for nothing
 

Dragsters

First Grade
Messages
5,801
Saints would be crazy to release McInnes early unless there is a suitable swap with the Sharks for a decent player in return. With Macca signing on McInnes can play lock for the season. $$ isn’t an issue from our end so there’s no need to be any sillier than what we’ve already been.

Decent forward that suits our needs maybe but not for nothing

+1 now the bitterness has subsided (somewhat) need to hang onto Cam for 21, needed in the squad w or w/o AM

Agreed.

Only swap worth considering would be Talakai I reckon, otherwise keep him at lock...
 

Coffs dragon

Bench
Messages
4,401
+1 now the bitterness has subsided (somewhat) need to hang onto Cam for 21, needed in the squad w or w/o AM
I really hope that Cam stays on and plays 13 topping our weekly tackle counts, before he moves North next year. I don’t expect he’ll be Captain and feel that honour may go to Ben Hunt with Andrew McCulloch to have a leadership role as well.
By 2022 I’m sure Cam McInnes will be close to burnt out, having carried a massive workload for the past 3 years under his mate....Paul The Peanut.
 
Last edited:

lynx000

Juniors
Messages
1,414
McOuttess to play lock (at least until the JDB trial outcome is determined) with McCullough at dummy half and Hunt at 7 Norman at 6.

I reckon this is the lineup to start the season at least, then form pending.

If McCullough comes and his superior ball service can fire up our halves then it will be a good investment...
Superior ball service, FMD we have entered the twilight zone.
 

Auntie.Gerald

First Grade
Messages
7,279
it might be fair to say that McInnessssss just makes sense in the no13 for our team and who is available under the new rules .....plus no JDB for some time if at all

AM makes sense in that he is just as good if not better from dummy half and we need AM for 2022 also as we could chose not to match the offer for McInness

I reckon AM would be the balance of $300k approx this season and not much more next season

Gives us a lot to play with for other positions and a solid no9
 

getsmarty

Immortal
Messages
34,330
mccullough-32470376mccullougha-190705701-sd.jpg


DRAGONS


Macca's on Dragons' menu: Broncos hooker set for immediate switch
Author
Brad Walter & Dan Walsh
Timestamp
Thu 11 Feb 2021, 12:59 PM
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Ben Hunt believes his ex-Brisbane teammate Andrew McCullough would be an asset to the Dragons on and off the field as he looks forward to starting his own season with the knowledge he will be wearing the No.7 jersey.

McCullough’s move to the Dragons is expected to be confirmed within days and Hunt said he was keen to reunite with the former Queensland hooker, who has been targeted by new St George Illawarra coach Anthony Griffin for his "game-management skills".

The clubs have been negotiating around a McCullough move since the new year but they are yet to make an official comment on the veteran's impending move.

Hunt and McCullough played together under Griffin at the Broncos, along with five-eighth Corey Norman, and the trio are set to fill the spine with Matt Dufty at fullback if the Dragons can finalise a deal with Brisbane to release the 31-year-old hooker.

Griffin wants incumbent captain Cameron McInnes, who is moving to Cronulla next season, to play lock.


McCullough returned to Brisbane after a short stint at Newcastle last year in which he impressed early, only to tear his hamstring off the bone and undergo a lengthy recovery.

However, his pre-season training form impressed new Broncos coach Kevin Walters enough to consider him for a leadership role and Hunt also believes McCullough still has plenty offer in the NRL.

"Macca is very professional and he does everything well," Hunt said. "I know he has had a couple of injuries now but I think the hamstring one is a bit of a freak and I back him to get back to playing the best footy he can."

Hunt said he would be “rubbing my hands together” if the deal happens.

"He brings a lot of leadership, he has obviously been around the game a long time and he is very professional about everything he does on an off the field," Hunt said.

"He is good for the culture of the club and he was always involved in everything when I was at the Broncos, culture wise and helping out. He just won’t be a smart footy head, it will be off the field helping out as well."

The signing of McCullough, who was absent from Broncos training on Thursday, would enable Hunt to focus totally on playing halfback as St George Illawarra would have three specialist hookers, with Billy Britain also in the squad.

Hunt said Griffin had told him he would be used at halfback during their first conversation after the former Brisbane and Penrith mentor was appointed to replace Paul McGregor late last year.

"He gave me a call and we had a quick chat about things at the club and what’s going on," Hunt said. "He said to me straight up that he wants me to play No.7, that is where he sees me playing my best footy, and we have just got on with it from there.


"It is the only place I have trained all pre-season and it is the position Hook said he wants me to play so it is all systems go at this stage. I guess it has just picked up from where we finished those years ago at the Broncos."

Griffin is able to offer players assurances about their position after the Dragons scrapped the selection panel responsible for picking teams under McGregor and Hunt said the early call was a boost to his confidence after switching between halfback and hooker last season.

"It is good to know you have got that full support and that the coaching staff are really behind you and driving you to play better," he said.

remote.axd

McInnes: 'I will leave on great terms'


McInnes: 'I will leave on great terms'

"There was a lot going on last year and at the end of the day that was probably the players' fault – we weren’t winning games so there had to be something done – but it does make it a lot easier when you have just got one voice calling the shots. It is making things a lot clearer."

Norman is expected to be given the first shot at five-eighth ahead of less-experienced playmakers Adam Clune, Jayden Sullivan and Junior Amone but he is awaiting a decision from the NRL Integrity Unit over an off-field incident in Cronulla.

"I kind of feel for him in this situation, it is a bit of a tough one," Hunt said of Norman. "He is training really well at the moment and he is eager to get out and prove himself.

"He turned 30 the other day and he is in a contract year so he is keen to play some good footy."

McCullough's pre-season training form at the Broncos had him in consideration for a leadership role under Walters and jostling for a starting No.9 role with Jake Turpin.

Brisbane still has fellow veteran rake Issac Luke on a train and trial contract and also ex-Knights and Manly hooker Danny Levi as another option after he joined Intrust Super Cup club Norths Devils last week.

remote.axd

Behind the scenes with Tedesco, Sergis and little league stars


Behind the scenes with Tedesco, Sergis and little league stars

McCullough's exit is set to free up much-needed salary cap space as the Broncos work on keeping their best and brightest young talent beyond 2021 including Kotoni Staggs, Tom Dearden and Xavier Coates.

A McCullough switch to Wollongong is unlikely to trigger an early exit for Cronulla-bound star Cameron McInnes at this point.

Cronulla do not have the salary cap space to bring the 27-year-old in a year early.

Sign up for a free NRL Account to access this survey and other exclusive content.


https://www.nrl.com/news/2021/02/11/maccas-on-dragons-menu-broncos-hooker-set-for-immediate-switch/
 

getsmarty

Immortal
Messages
34,330
Hunt hails McCullough qualities as Dragons close in on their man
Adam Pengilly
February 11, 2021 — 3.51pm
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Ben Hunt insists Andrew McCullough can recapture his best at the Dragons with the former State of Origin hooker on the brink of signing a deal to reunite with coach Anthony Griffin.

McCullough wasn’t sighted at Broncos training on Thursday with new St George Illawarra coach Griffin to get his wish, adding the 31-year-old veteran to his squad before the season opener against the Sharks.

7ed2adfa9d9e5d78b98caed8bfdf85169d72eb26

Andrew McCullough is on the verge of joining the Dragons.Credit:Getty Images

The deal is expected to be confirmed in coming days.

The move will push Cronulla-bound Cameron McInnes to lock and provide some much needed experience to the Dragons’ ranks after the losses of Tyson Frizell (Newcastle) and James Graham (retirement).

“Macca is very professional and he does everything well,” Hunt said. “I know he has had a couple of injuries now, but I think the hamstring one is a bit of a freak and I back him to get back to playing the best footy he can.

“He brings a lot of leadership, he has obviously been around the game a long time and he is very professional about everything he does on an off the field.

“He is good for the culture of the club and he was always involved in everything when I was at the Broncos, culture wise and helping out. He just won’t be a smart footy head, it will be off the field helping out as well.”

Hunt won’t play in the first official trial of the pre-season when the Sharks host the Dragons at PointsBet Stadium on Friday evening. The match is restricted to players who featured in 12 or fewer games during the 2020 season.

Griffin will give game time to the likes of Tariq Sims, Eels recruit Daniel Alvaro and five-eighth hopeful Jayden Sullivan, while Sharks coach John Morris will use a squad which will feature few in contention for a round one spot having decided not to play Matt Moylan.

What isn’t in dispute for Hunt is the fact he won’t be rebounding between halfback and hooker this season under Griffin with his old Broncos coach giving him the nod for the No.7 jumper.

Former Dragons boss Paul McGregor used Hunt at both No.9 and off the bench last year before he parted ways with the club.

“He said to me straight up that he wants me to play No.7, that is where he sees me playing my best footy, and we have just got on with it from there,” Hunt said of his talk with Griffin.

“It is the only place I have trained all pre-season and it is the position ‘Hook’ said he wants me to play so it is all systems go at this stage. I guess it has just picked up from where we finished those years ago at the Broncos.

“There was a lot going on last year and at the end of the day that was probably the players’ fault – we weren’t winning games so there had to be something done – but it does make it a lot easier when you have just got one voice calling the shots. It is making things a lot clearer.”


https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/hu...ns-close-in-on-their-man-20210211-p571n1.html
 

getsmarty

Immortal
Messages
34,330
Broncos leave Dragons call with McCullough
Ed JacksonAAP
February 11, 2021 4:14PM
Topics
Rugby League
Experienced Brisbane hooker Andrew McCullough will be given time away from the NRL club to come to a decision over his playing future.

The 31-year-old has been offered a reported three-year deal by St George Illawarra, with the Broncos willing to release McCullough from the final year of his deal at Red Hill if he decides to join the Dragons.

The former Queensland State of Origin representative has made 260 NRL appearances for the Broncos over 12 years and is one of the longest-serving players in Kevin Walters' squad.

His future at the club has been under a cloud since a stint on loan at Newcastle last season and Walters has told him to take a break until he decides where he will play in 2021, with McCullough a no-show at Thursday's training session.

"Andrew's had an offer from a rival club so we've decided to let him sort himself out," Walters told reporters.

"We want a clear direction with our club and where we're heading the next few weeks and in to round one so we've given Andrew a couple of days off to sort himself out and see where he wants to play for 2021 and beyond."

While Walters says he'd be happy if McCullough knocks back the Dragons and opts to stay in Brisbane, he also refused to suggest a longer-term deal with the Broncos would be offered.

"We want to see him come back and play and play the way that Andrew McCullough can and I'm sure his future will be bright when he can do that," Walters said.

"We've made a decision on where we stand. It's up to now the rival club to see where they're at with things."

Along with Jake Turpin, the Broncos have also signed veteran hooker Issac Luke on a part-time deal while former Manly and Newcastle rake Danny Levi has signed with Queensland Cup side Norths Devils.

Walters also refused to rule out dipping into the player market if McCullough does leave.

"All rosters are moving all the time. They're changing, and ours is no different."

https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/r...ave-dragons-call-with-mccullough-ng-s-2049100
 

Tiger Shark

Bench
Messages
3,152
Saints would be crazy to release McInnes early unless there is a suitable swap with the Sharks for a decent player in return. With Macca signing on McInnes can play lock for the season. $$ isn’t an issue from our end so there’s no need to be any sillier than what we’ve already been.

Decent forward that suits our needs maybe but not for nothing

Mate the Dragons are signing McCullough and didn't lock down McInnes. They're already crazy in my books they might as well go for hat trick and swap McInnes for Billy Magoulias
 

Forbes Creek Dragons

First Grade
Messages
5,078
Mate the Dragons are signing McCullough and didn't lock down McInnes. They're already crazy in my books they might as well go for hat trick and swap McInnes for Billy Magoulias
May as well, for us the best option was to sign McInnes for the Sharks I feel the money could have been better spent elsewhere. Brailey could play for NSW eventually and you already have a great lock who I’m sure isn’t over the moon with having to play prop next season. It is just an all round strange move.
 

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