New recruits for 2023

[kit66]

Any updates on Ramseys condition ?

I haven't heard anything sorry. The club is useless at keeping the fans updated on ....everything really.

 

[kit66]

Bud will make it this year (same as junior last year) if he stays injury free and when Hunt is in origin duties he may get several weeks as half his preferred position or he may become our regular dummy half. But Sloan, we only have to look at his last game to see that he is not yet ready. In offence, Sloan is freakish. He scores 10 out of 10. However, his defence at best is 2 out of 10 and RL first grader should be able to defend!

Have a look at 0:54 to see what I mean.

Yeah, that was disappointing. His first 5 games he played for us in 2021 he was amazing and made some great tackles, caught everything, then last year seemed very tentative and awkward (2nd year syndrome?) and lacked confidence I thought. Maybe he'll see more of an opportunity for himself this year with Cody and Amone missing and will step up and play like he did in 2021. With another off season and new defensive coach maybe we'll see an improvement. He's got so much skill and smarts we should pull out all stops to get him up to speed and on the field otherwise we're letting him and the team down. If a Bellamy or Bennett had him he would have played nearly every game last year, they would have persisted and done everything to help him succeed. I reckon he's worth the effort.

 

[Old Timer]

Yeah, that was disappointing. His first 5 games he played for us in 2021 he was amazing and made some great tackles, caught everything, then last year seemed very tentative and awkward (2nd year syndrome?) and lacked confidence I thought. Maybe he'll see more of an opportunity for himself this year with Cody and Amone missing and will step up and play like he did in 2021. With another off season and new defensive coach maybe we'll see an improvement. He's got so much skill and smarts we should pull out all stops to get him up to speed and on the field otherwise we're letting him and the team down. If a Bellamy or Bennett had him he would have played nearly every game last year, they would have persisted and done everything to help him succeed. I reckon he's worth the effort.

Who says we aren’t already pulling out all stops?

This all sounds like a repeat of Dufty when people blamed everyone else but Dufty.

Coach’s can’t teach guts that comes from within.

Coach’s can smell and recognise those that don’t have it and in this professional game of today such players are given a chance by good coaches and if they don’t take it that player will be discarded our problem is we f**k around too long getting to that point.

If Sloan doesn’t show it straight up this year then next man up.

 

[kit66]

Who says we aren’t already pulling out all stops?

This all sounds like a repeat of Dufty when people blamed everyone else but Dufty.

Coach’s can’t teach guts that comes from within.

Coach’s can smell and recognise those that don’t have it and in this professional game of today such players are given a chance by good coaches and if they don’t take it that player will be discarded our problem is we f**k around too long getting to that point.

If Sloan doesn’t show it straight up this year then next man up.

I think it has been the coaches that are on the nose more than some players and the coaches that we gave too many chances to, re-signing duds over and over. Look at the players we've let slip through our fingers, Garrick, Robson, Saab, Cook, Wishart. And where's all the great young forwards that we were always developing and bringing through in years gone by. I don't blame the club for persisting with Dufty either, it's a shame he didn't get a chance in a better team than ours or the Bulldogs or under a better coach. He was no worse than many others we've persisted with.

I agree, if Sloan doesn't come good, cut him loose but it's far too early for that, you'd be mad not to give him more time.

 

[Gareth67]

The young man needs another 2 seasons before we will see the best of him , as there is no doubt that he does have plenty of ability .

A few more kilos on his frame , plus more confidence when taking the high ball and he will become a solid stop gap in that position. However to me his best position is in the halves .

Unfortunately with Cody Ramsey not available , Sloan has been thrust into the most critical position on the field for all teams , that being the fullback role where your every play is under intense scrutiny , making life extremely difficult if you are not at your best .

 

[Nanadragon]

I think it has been the coaches that are on the nose more than some players and the coaches that we gave too many chances to, re-signing duds over and over. Look at the players we've let slip through our fingers, Garrick, Robson, Saab, Cook, Wishart. And where's all the great young forwards that we were always developing and bringing through in years gone by. I don't blame the club for persisting with Dufty either, it's a shame he didn't get a chance in a better team than ours or the Bulldogs or under a better coach. He was no worse than many others we've persisted with.

I agree, if Sloan doesn't come good, cut him loose but it's far too early for that, you'd be mad not to give him more time.

I don't rate Saab at all

 

[Jeremy Dragon]

I haven't heard anything sorry. The club is useless at keeping the fans updated on ....everything really.

There use to be forum members that posted better update than Dragons

 

[Gareth67]

There use to be forum members that posted better update than Dragons

Yes Jeremy as you say we had a number of good sources , getsmarty , George the Dragon and Big Rig , plus a few more who had the latest and most reliable information , however they still drop in occasionally .

 

[be55]

I agree, if Sloan doesn't come good, cut him loose but it's far too early for that, you'd be mad not to give him more time.

You're absolutely right to say he needs to be given more time to develop. The kid is 20 years old for God's sake.

I find it funny that some people like to apply the blow torch to these kids, and yet when our defence misses more tackles than any other team in the comp, and our attack resembles 13 headless chickens running around a field, the coach seems to get a free ride.

Surely if anyone needs to prove he can handle the modern game, it's the coach with the experience, not the kids still growing into themselves. Using the last two years as an example, we should be applying the "next man up" theory to the coach before anyone else...

 

[kit66]

I don't rate Saab at all

Yeah, 37 tries in 50 games and 32 line breaks, what a plodder. So glad he left.

 

[SnowDragon]

You're absolutely right to say he needs to be given more time to develop. The kid is 20 years old for God's sake.

I find it funny that some people like to apply the blow torch to these kids, and yet when our defence misses more tackles than any other team in the comp, and our attack resembles 13 headless chickens running around a field, the coach seems to get a free ride.

Surely if anyone needs to prove he can handle the modern game, it's the coach with the experience, not the kids still growing into themselves. Using the last two years as an example, we should be applying the "next man up" theory to the coach before anyone else...

yeah, I really can’t understand the negativity around Sloan. Screwed over by coaches last season, it’s no wonder he made a few mistakes. Stick with him and teach him, and he will be brilliant. Shouldn’t be any questions for a long time

 

[steerlerbab]

yeah, I really can’t understand the negativity around Sloan. Screwed over by coaches last season, it’s no wonder he made a few mistakes. Stick with him and teach him, and he will be brilliant. Shouldn’t be any questions for a long time

No, this is not a negativity about Sloan but a criticism that his defense needs improving. I don't think he was screwed by coaches either. he was chosen 8 times to prove himself and dropped afterwards to go and work on his shortcomings. Hopefully, he is working on it and will come good at some stage. But for 2023 season, we need a fulltime fullback to make it to top 8. Last year proved that we cannot rely on Sloan or Mbye. It maybe one of our current wingers/lower graders or sourced from England, RU, etc. Alternatively, let's keep fingurs crossed that Ramsey revovers very quickly.

 

[Nanadragon]

Yeah, 37 tries in 50 games and 32 line breaks, what a plodder. So glad he left.

He can't tackle, let's as many in as he scores

 

[Adolf_Spritzer]

Yeah, 37 tries in 50 games and 32 line breaks, what a plodder. So glad he left.

How many were off the back of Trbo doing Trbo things? He'd make Maranta look good. Saab has top speed and nothing else

 

[Crush]

How many were off the back of Trbo doing Trbo things? He'd make Maranta look good. Saab has top speed and nothing else

I’d rather have Saab than Moga, the fact that Moga is our next man up when Rava gets rubbed out or injured is just embarrassing.

 

[Adolf_Spritzer]

I’d rather have Saab than Moga, the fact that Moga is our next man up when Rava gets rubbed out or injured is just embarrassing.

After all his injury woes, the man has been determined and driven enough to come back from the brink and that can't be understated. Had all the opportunity to say no more but didn't. He wants to be there, and understands there's more to it than spending too much time in the car.

Saab is a peaheart in comparison.

 

[Dragonslayer]

Most people forget Sloan isn't a natural fullback, he's a work in progress one. His position is wing, where catching bombs and tackling seem a little less of a focus.the year the youngsters won the SGB grand final, Sloan played wing and Stewart eas the fullback. Not saying Treigh should be even considered as a 1st grade player, but to have criticism of a player who's playi g out of position is a tad harsh.
I still have doubts over Rava even getting through games atm, so it wouldn't surprise to see Sloan on the wing with probably MBYE AT fullback.
Just my thoughts.

 

[R&WTILLIDIE]

You're absolutely right to say he needs to be given more time to develop. The kid is 20 years old for God's sake.

I find it funny that some people like to apply the blow torch to these kids, and yet when our defence misses more tackles than any other team in the comp, and our attack resembles 13 headless chickens running around a field, the coach seems to get a free ride.

Surely if anyone needs to prove he can handle the modern game, it's the coach with the experience, not the kids still growing into themselves. Using the last two years as an example, we should be applying the "next man up" theory to the coach before anyone else...

How much more time does he need though? Serious question.

for example, Dufty was given plenty of time and never reached the heights that were expected.

Ramsey who had a few errors in him became one of the most consistent players we had last year and a gun young player in my opinion.

so how long do we give Sloan?

 

[Crush]

After all his injury woes, the man has been determined and driven enough to come back from the brink and that can't be understated. Had all the opportunity to say no more but didn't. He wants to be there, and understands there's more to it than spending too much time in the car.

Saab is a peaheart in comparison.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t your winger need to be able to run fast?
Not just have a lion heart?

 

[R&WTILLIDIE]

After all his injury woes, the man has been determined and driven enough to come back from the brink and that can't be understated. Had all the opportunity to say no more but didn't. He wants to be there, and understands there's more to it than spending too much time in the car.

Saab is a peaheart in comparison.

although Saab has a pea heart, Moga has fingers like bananas. He is good for at least 2 dumb knock ons per game. He needs to sort his shit out