Ravalawa

[Gardenia]

Well to start with, hunt and probably Lawrie and probably a few more are on overs

So get rid of Lawrie for a start

 

[nrlnrl]

three open spots in the roster and immediate needs are Prop/Centre/Utility

The most likely targets we are after here are Saifiti/Talagi/one of Marshcke Brown or even Volkman or Schuster who have been doing off field stuff with Kyle Stanley.

We have three other spots in the roster i think we could try to free up - Ravalawa/Fifita and Lawrie but the replacements would need to make us stronger.

Latu/Stewart/Egan/Tonga and Corey Allan are all joining the top 30 next year along side Cook. Latu was confirmed directly to me by club management.

Also Halangahu into top 30 from 2025.

 

[FlickFlano]

Also Halangahu into top 30 from 2025.

I thought the same thing based of media quotes and the like. I was curious about both him and Finau Latu and their top30 status for next year so i asked senior club management directly.

Their response Latu Top 30 in 2025 and Halangahu held back until 2026.

Obviously given the abilities of senior management at the club this could be wrong.

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

I thought the same thing based of media quotes and the like. I was curious about both him and Finau Latu and their top30 status for next year so i asked senior club management directly.

Their response Latu Top 30 in 2025 and Halangahu held back until 2026.

Obviously given the abilities of senior management at the club this could be wrong.

That was my understanding also is that Halangahu is "in the extended NRL squad" ie Supp player 2025

Halangahu only moving down to Wollongong after school and hasnt done a full pre season yet with the NRL

Tonga and Latu have done a full pre season with the NRL Squad this last one 23/24 and ready for their second come Nov 2024

I didnt realise that Halangahu and Latu are actually child hood best friends despite that year or so age gap.

Smart recruiting.

 

[TheRev]

Why can't they move Cake on instead???

Its going to be very difficult to move Cake on.. for arguments sake lets say hes on 500k.. who is picking him up in the NRL? Even the UK im not sure they'd take him.. and if they did its 200k at best. Plus we have to replace him with someone, so we are probably looking at 450k out of pocket to offload him for 2025 and again 450k in 2026.

That said.. Flanno might decide that its worth it to free up that Top30 spot.. but im starting to think we might be stuck with Cake for next season atleast in reserve grade.. until another club have a change of heart or Cake wants to retire or is open to UK etc.

Ravalawa and Fifita however are 2 guys I think we can get pretty much all our money back from.

 

[FlickFlano]

I doubt any NRL team would take Cake now .. he is that vanilla it isnt funny. Fifita sure on a low end top 30 deal he would get a gig and Rava would easily get money in the UK.

 

[Dragonslayer]

The parallels between Ravalawa and Sivo are quite striking.

 

[BLM01]

Agree - he gets the merit award for most improved not sure about top of the class.

Good on Flanno for getting the best out of him. Not sold on flicking Rav though. Same as letting Lomax go not sold at this stage. If we could land decent replacements, it would be a different story.

I hear you re Rav but he has had plenty of time to become a real good all round winger / or a keeper for us. No other NRL club are chasing him as we push. Says a lot really and sad how he has regressed over the past couple of years.
Back in 2021 he was one of the 1st backs picked.

 

[Dragon David]

I hear you re Rav but he has had plenty of time to become a real good all round winger / or a keeper for us. No other NRL club are chasing him as we push. Says a lot really and sad how he has regressed over the past couple of years.
Back in 2021 he was one of the 1st backs picked.

In his earlier years with us Rav's style of wing play was acceptable. Going forward and today the wingers are generally faster, taller, able to take the high kicks from the half back, and fly in the air touchdowns followed by a nice rollover after charging to the line. Also capable of defending on the flanks. Rav has neither of these skills and Flanno knows this and I presume many of the other coaches in the NRL.

 

[TheRev]

I dont think its the on the field stuff thats the issue with Rav, you have to appreciate that there are standards for the group, and if hes not meeting them, you cant ignore it.

On the field it would have to be his defensive reads that would be the #1 issue, he seems strong under a high ball.. doesnt get phased by an aerial challenge like Sloaney does.. in attack hes ok.. sides seem to be better at stopping him now.. I go back to that week Bostock on debut stopped him twice.. its the first time ive seen someone stop him scoring with half a chance.. but since then it happens all the time, even in NSW Cup, he ran over a young winger in his first week, but in week 2 when another fijiian was opposing him.. he got stopped dead every time.

 

[hewi]

I think Rava suffers from 3 things. 1) Coached by the peanut and Griffin. 2) The NRL/REFS targeted him 3) modern wingers need height, speed plus leg drive and unfortunately he only has 1 out of the 3

 

[BLM01]

In his earlier years with us Rav's style of wing play was acceptable. Going forward and today the wingers are generally faster, taller, able to take the high kicks from the half back, and fly in the air touchdowns followed by a nice rollover after charging to the line. Also capable of defending on the flanks. Rav has neither of these skills and Flanno knows this and I presume many of the other coaches in the NRL.

The other part he is not strong which is a requirement for wingers is kick chase and keeping up with the play in attack

 

[Gardenia]

Its going to be very difficult to move Cake on.. for arguments sake lets say hes on 500k.. who is picking him up in the NRL? Even the UK im not sure they'd take him.. and if they did its 200k at best. Plus we have to replace him with someone, so we are probably looking at 450k out of pocket to offload him for 2025 and again 450k in 2026.

That said.. Flanno might decide that its worth it to free up that Top30 spot.. but im starting to think we might be stuck with Cake for next season atleast in reserve grade.. until another club have a change of heart or Cake wants to retire or is open to UK etc.

Ravalawa and Fifita however are 2 guys I think we can get pretty much all our money back from.

Thanks Rev - I get it now

 

[since77]

Its going to be very difficult to move Cake on.. for arguments sake lets say hes on 500k.. who is picking him up in the NRL? Even the UK im not sure they'd take him.. and if they did its 200k at best. Plus we have to replace him with someone, so we are probably looking at 450k out of pocket to offload him for 2025 and again 450k in 2026.

That said.. Flanno might decide that its worth it to free up that Top30 spot.. but im starting to think we might be stuck with Cake for next season atleast in reserve grade.. until another club have a change of heart or Cake wants to retire or is open to UK etc.

Ravalawa and Fifita however are 2 guys I think we can get pretty much all our money back from.

I did hear a podcast featuring some NRL "journos" this week and it was the first time I've ever heard Lawrie's name as being possibly shopped around. Sticking point would be he's contracted for a few years yet (terrible recruitment decision by Dragons management).
Hopefully there's something to it, would love to see his spot go to an actual first grade standard player.

 

[Dragon David]

I did hear a podcast featuring some NRL "journos" this week and it was the first time I've ever heard Lawrie's name as being possibly shopped around. Sticking point would be he's contracted for a few years yet (terrible recruitment decision by Dragons management).
Hopefully there's something to it, would love to see his spot go to an actual first grade standard player.

"terrible recruitment decision by Dragons management". Agreed since77.

That decision was made through Ben Haran on behalf of Hook in January 2023. Me thinks that if Flanno was the head coach at that time he would not have got Haran to re-sign him. I've never rated Lawrie.

 

[True_Believer]

I dont think its the on the field stuff thats the issue with Rav, you have to appreciate that there are standards for the group, and if hes not meeting them, you cant ignore it.

On the field it would have to be his defensive reads that would be the #1 issue, he seems strong under a high ball.. doesnt get phased by an aerial challenge like Sloaney does.. in attack hes ok.. sides seem to be better at stopping him now.. I go back to that week Bostock on debut stopped him twice.. its the first time ive seen someone stop him scoring with half a chance.. but since then it happens all the time, even in NSW Cup, he ran over a young winger in his first week, but in week 2 when another fijiian was opposing him.. he got stopped dead every time.

Were you referring to this game? I think this was Bostocks debut and, at least in the highlights, Rav runs straight over the top of him.

Dragons vs Dolphins

 

[TheRev]

I did hear a podcast featuring some NRL "journos" this week and it was the first time I've ever heard Lawrie's name as being possibly shopped around. Sticking point would be he's contracted for a few years yet (terrible recruitment decision by Dragons management).
Hopefully there's something to it, would love to see his spot go to an actual first grade standard player.

No doubt we have been trying to shop him around for most of the year I'd reckon.. but I feel like our bargaining power in any negotiation would be almost zero.. I just cant see any deal that Flanno would be happy with in the NRL.. maybe in the UK.. maybe.. but Lawrie would have to really want it..

"terrible recruitment decision by Dragons management". Agreed since77.

That decision was made through Ben Haran on behalf of Hook in January 2023. Me thinks that if Flanno was the head coach at that time he would not have got Haran to re-sign him. I've never rated Lawrie.

It was a dark time, a coach and a recruitment team completely out of their depth.. combined with a struggling club that would be unable to sign much... and there would still have been some optimism around Lawrie at that point.. he does sound like a great bloke to have around, ppl spoke about how engaging he was to fans and media compared to the rest of the squad.. there is a leader in him.. and he looked a lot fitter coming into 2024.. he has heart... but his football doesnt seem at the level it needs to be... he either needs more size or more footwork, and he has neither.... what do you do with that.. I dont think another coach is going to get it out of him... but maybe the standard of the UK would be ok.. I am looking forward to seeing him in NSW Cup next week, see if he stands out at that level.

Were you referring to this game? I think this was Bostocks debut and, at least in the highlights, Rav runs straight over the top of him.

Dragons vs Dolphins

Pretty sure thats the game but I dont remember that try! But im sure he stopped him once or possibly twice later on.. id have to go rewatch the game, it wont be in the highlights.. it was the day I knew we had f***ed up, teenage kids shouldnt be defending like that in 1st grade.

 

[saintmar]

I think Rava suffers from 3 things. 1) Coached by the peanut and Griffin. 2) The NRL/REFS targeted him 3) modern wingers need height, speed plus leg drive and unfortunately he only has 1 out of the 3

I would rather be lining up against a fast tall winger then the power of the beast who I know would steam roll me. Just ask Siva