New recruits for 2023

[mickeylane]

Happy New Year everyone!
no player worth his salt will sign w a club unless a 3-4 year plan is set out before them to consider and be part of.

Usually a plan involves something similar to the below list - I think we fall over in just about every category here..

1. We want to be a top 4 team this year and beyond nothing less will suffice

2. We have strong foundations in place to achieve this w a stable salary cap
stable coaching structure
excellent training facilities
strong junior base and
solid recruitment to identify key outside talent to ensure ongoing competitiveness
A recognised mental health program

3. Our membership base is in the top 10 sporting teams in the county complimented by a strong National support base

4. Our board consists of some of the leading business heads in the country ensuring we are always leading the way in innovation and business initiatives

5. Our clubs after football life program is one of the countries leading initiatives for players once retired so to introduce opportunities or education to have a prosperous career post football w many options on hand to consider a program set up w Wollongong University and Wollongong Business Chamber of Commerce

6. Our mental health and family care program for player’s and their immediate next of kin is leading the way in setting up strong support programs

And finally we ideally need to wheel in at least 3 legends of our club to discuss why they should sign w the club Gasnier, Creagh, Soward, Nightingale etc.. just like Roosters did recently to snare Brandon Smith..

this is basic 101 player recruitment strategy ….and certain it’s not happening …

 

[possm]

Hard to say Poss.
Not sure if that many top line forwards are available.
Recruitment left with their dicks in hand. Missed the boat, again. Sheens & Gould seemed tobe right on top of it though.

Well surely there would be suitable candidates within the ranks of:
Aust. or NZ rugby.
The ESL
Tje {acofoc Island nations.

 

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

I wonder why we didn't go after Euan Aitken?

After all when he was here almost everyone said he wasn't a centre he was actually a back rower and he made that transition at the Warriors.

We could have got him to cover the edge and if we need a stop gap centre in a game then he could have filled that role.

Another signing we missed out on and he has now strengthened the ranks of the ever improving Knights

Come back Euan all is forgiven we just didn't believe in you enough.

PS: Where the f**k is the pink text button.

If we'd kept Aitken, then yes he could possibly have been a versatile edge forward/centre. But why would you want him back now? He could run hard but would never ever pass or set-up his winger, and on top of that was too stupid to realise that the Warriors are based in New Zealand.

 

[Qdf]

Well surely there would be suitable candidates within the ranks of:
Aust. or NZ rugby.
The ESL
Tje {acofoc Island nations.

Possibly so, but to hard for our recruiters. They'd rather sit back and wait. For what,
I don't know.

 

[Dragon David]

Dragons welcome Ben Murdoch-Masila

The Dragons are pleased to welcome Tongan international Ben Murdoch-Masila to the club for the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

www.dragons.com.au

 

[Coffs dragon]

Happy New Year everyone!
no player worth his salt will sign w a club unless a 3-4 year plan is set out before them to consider and be part of.

Usually this plan involves the following pitch to gun players - I think we fall over in just about every category here..

1. We want to be a top 4 team this year and beyond nothing less will suffice

2. We have strong foundations in place to achieve this w a stable salary cap
stable coaching structure
excellent training facilities
strong junior base and
solid recruitment to identify key outside talent to ensure ongoing competitiveness
A recognised mental health program

3. Our membership base is in the top 10 sporting teams in the county complimented by a strong National support base

4. Our board consists of some of the leading business heads in the country ensuring we are always leading the way in innovation and business initiatives

5. Our clubs after football life program is one of the countries leading initiatives for players once retired so to introduce opportunities or education to have a prosperous career post football w many options on hand to consider a program set up w Wollongong University and Wollongong Business Chamber of Commerce

6. Our mental health and family care program for player’s and their immediate next of kin is leading the way in setting up strong support programs

7. finally we need to wheel in at least 3 legends of our club to discuss why they should sign w the club Gasnier, Creagh, Soward, Nightingale etc.. just like Roosters did recently to snare Brandon Smith..

this is basic 101 player recruitment strategy ….and certain it’s not happening …

Great points Mickey & I agree.
Welcome to our House of the Dragon:
Split Board
Split Home Grounds
Split from any proper & decent recruitment
Soon to be split from an old stubborn coach

Happy New Year everyone.

 

[Dragon David]

So the guys writing for Foxsports say that we will be wooden spooners in 2023. I'm saying that they will be wrong but we will be near bottom (I like to use reverse psychology).

"Dragons get the wooden spoon

St George Illawarra haven’t had much to cheer about since their premiership in 2010 and things aren’t looking great on the horizon.


They have an ageing list and several young guns requested released this summer, while coach Anthony Griffin has been accused of playing favourites.

The only positive is when Hook is inevitably sacked the new coach will likely clean out the roster and 2024 might have some promise."

 

[HenryTatana]

So the guys writing for Foxsports say that we will be wooden spooners in 2023. I'm saying that they will be wrong but we will be near bottom (I like to use reverse psychology).

"Dragons get the wooden spoon

St George Illawarra haven’t had much to cheer about since their premiership in 2010 and things aren’t looking great on the horizon.


They have an ageing list and several young guns requested released this summer, while coach Anthony Griffin has been accused of playing favourites.

The only positive is when Hook is inevitably sacked the new coach will likely clean out the roster and 2024 might have some promise."

This is pure motivation for Hook and the team to aim for 15th to prove the critics wrong.

 

[Dragon David]

Dragons lock up former Warriors prop on multi-year deal: NRL Transfer Centre

Dragons lock up former Warriors prop on multi-year deal: NRL Transfer Centre

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[jeffdragon]

So the guys writing for Foxsports say that we will be wooden spooners in 2023. I'm saying that they will be wrong but we will be near bottom (I like to use reverse psychology).

"Dragons get the wooden spoon

St George Illawarra haven’t had much to cheer about since their premiership in 2010 and things aren’t looking great on the horizon.


They have an ageing list and several young guns requested released this summer, while coach Anthony Griffin has been accused of playing favourites.

The only positive is when Hook is inevitably sacked the new coach will likely clean out the roster and 2024 might have some promise."

Our recruitment has been poor.
Hunt carried us and we only finished 10 th.
Couldn't really compete with any decent teams.
Only reason we finished 10th was the terrible performance of the ones behind us.
Doesn't give any Dragons fan any confidence.

 

[Black Panther]

Any of you guys excited about BMM? I certainly was when he signed with Penrith many years ago. Not sure what the staff are expecting from him now though, seems an odd signing to me.

He does seem to be well past his best, but time will tell. I hope he goes well this year.

 

[Saints Forever]

Suggest we judge BMM on his performances on the field in 2023 rather than on his past “history”

 

[The Villain]

Any of you guys excited about BMM? I certainly was when he signed with Penrith many years ago. Not sure what the staff are expecting from him now though, seems an odd signing to me.

He does seem to be well past his best, but time will tell. I hope he goes well this year.

We should have offered him a 5 year deal. He’s only 32 after all

 

[saints4ever]

wont work, used the axe on the youngsters and didn't use the same critical barometer towards the old brigade like Woods. The disgraceful hypocrisy and complete lack of communication and coaching to those that needed it most meant they sooked, kicked, screamed and want out ,
The players of our future, that we desperately need, just dont respect him

Fixed it

 

[BLM01]

Dragons welcome Ben Murdoch-Masila

The Dragons are pleased to welcome Tongan international Ben Murdoch-Masila to the club for the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

www.dragons.com.au

Yes happy New Year to you too NRL Drgaons releasing this on 1/1/23
There you go DD.. they listened to you!

 

[Budpower]

im FAR more excited about the Gorilla than that powderpuff walking ego Burgess last year , welcome to the GREATEST club of all time mighty bro, go hard play well, boy do we need you to fire!

 

[thebigredv]

Any of you guys excited about BMM? I certainly was when he signed with Penrith many years ago. Not sure what the staff are expecting from him now though, seems an odd signing to me.

He does seem to be well past his best, but time will tell. I hope he goes well this year.

The club is in a holding pattern after the brilliant board in all their wisdom prematurely re-signed 2 coaches in the last 4 years (Mary 2019 Hook 2022).
There's not a great deal that can be achieved in terms of vision when things are this way. Therefore, given the circumstances I am pleased with the signing of BMM. We've had aged/"past it" props join us and contribute well in past (eg. Vaughan, Graham, Packer) and I see him in this mold, unlike Woods who was clearly done years before the Sharks got hold of him.

BMM brings mongrel, and if we can get a bit of momentum he will be a handful for some of the lesser packs in the comp much like he was when we played Warrriors.

 

[blacksafake]

So the guys writing for Foxsports say that we will be wooden spooners in 2023. I'm saying that they will be wrong but we will be near bottom (I like to use reverse psychology).

"Dragons get the wooden spoon

St George Illawarra haven’t had much to cheer about since their premiership in 2010 and things aren’t looking great on the horizon.


They have an ageing list and several young guns requested released this summer, while coach Anthony Griffin has been accused of playing favourites.

The only positive is when Hook is inevitably sacked the new coach will likely clean out the roster and 2024 might have some promise."

Are we an ageing side ?

 

[Yow]

Our recruitment has been poor.
Hunt carried us and we only finished 10 th.
Couldn't really compete with any decent teams.
Only reason we finished 10th was the terrible performance of the ones behind us.
Doesn't give any Dragons fan any confidence.

I have short memory but we beat Rorters Souths also we were unlucky against the Scum and Penrith and Broncos with sin bins when we leading or even .

 

[jeffdragon]

I have short memory but we beat Rorters Souths also we were unlucky against the Scum and Penrith and Broncos with sin bins when we leading or even .

Conceded 48 v Eels.
56 v Chooks .
Almost 50 v Storm.
Lost 2 to sharks and Cowboys.
We only had Ben Hunt out v the broncs in Bris when they had half a team out.
Dont know how we bt the tigers in the 2nd last game.
You can say the Chooks were unlucky to lose to us on Anzac Day.