Recruitment vs Development; the future of the Dragons

[Maddragon99]

We need to have hook re invent our junior developments and "simply" look outside the system for players to complement and bolster our stocks . This is where talent scouts come into play identifying young talent that drop into our system and develop . look at baths babes - goodwin . robert finch / quinn/ reddy / young / jon jansen - all picked up as younsters thrown in with edge stone starkey shulman etc . Bennett had our juniors added boyd and headhunted some mongrel in smith costigan and weyman
Hooks on the right path and 21 may be a bit tough but I believe we have long term gain happening and I like the fact hook is attempting to get the right players to fit his program ( would like a signing though)
Its much better than that other fella we had - Christ we would be singing in the streets because we would of by now filled our roster with the "next crop of brilliance" that would round out the squad he wanted and would take us to the promised land .... Thank god Hook is the complete reversal

I think in a few years we will indeed be like penrith where we have to decide what juniours are surplus to our needs as the production line is in full throttle

Hook is definitely the right man for the job & yes I agree with you I’m not expecting much in 2021 either other than some improvement in defence & to see the boys stay in the contest. A full season of first grade will be the making of Ramsey, Feagai’s Sullivan etc. We’ll either get JdB back or his cap space freed up in 2021 & Norman’s money back in 2022 so expect to see us very active in the recruitment market for 2022. Angus Crichton would be a great fit.

I’ll make a reluctant prediction, if Hunt doesn’t cut it at halfback in 2021 & Clune comes back in Hunt will be switched to Hooker in ‘22 & ‘23 meaning McInnes will be let go. It’s the only reason why McInnes hasn’t already been extended. There’s no other reason why we’d risk losing him, this is how we lost Frizzel he signed with Newcastle during the last offseason.

 

[FlameThrower]

Hook is definitely the right man for the job & yes I agree with you I’m not expecting much in 2021 either other than some improvement in defence & to see the boys stay in the contest. A full season of first grade will be the making of Ramsey, Feagai’s Sullivan etc. We’ll either get JdB back or his cap space freed up in 2021 & Norman’s money back in 2022 so expect to see us very active in the recruitment market for 2022. Angus Crichton would be a great fit.

I’ll make a reluctant prediction, if Hunt doesn’t cut it at halfback in 2021 & Clune comes back in Hunt will be switched to Hooker in ‘22 & ‘23 meaning McInnes will be let go. It’s the only reason why McInnes hasn’t already been extended. There’s no other reason why we’d risk losing him, this is how we lost Frizzel he signed with Newcastle during the last offseason.

Not sure about that, Cam is 26 & Hunt is 30, why would we let go Cam to keep an old player who has never really lived up to expectations. Seems crazy to risk all of this shuffling around to a player not even signed up originally in the position....

 

[possm]

Not sure about that, Cam is 26 & Hunt is 30, why would we let go Cam to keep an old player who has never really lived up to expectations. Seems crazy to risk all of this shuffling around to a player not even signed up originally in the position....

I don't think it has anything to do with their age or even their ability playing at 9. It has all got to do with salary cap and then contract end dates.

McInnes is off contract at the end of 2021 - the better defender
Hunt is off contract at the end of 2023 - the better in attack

Griffin must have faith in Hunt returning to his best at 7 and so just waiing to confirm this in early 2021.

 

[boardlumps62]

Just watched a clip of Ricky Walford St George v Balmain bloody hell both teams could move that ball around. Ricky was not only a finished he got in the middle looking for the ball and could pass. We bought him from North's I think was he a joy to watch and kick goals. Sometimes you gotta go looking. Coyne was another how good was he.

 

[Maddragon99]

I don't think it has anything to do with their age or even their ability playing at 9. It has all got to do with salary cap and then contract end dates.

McInnes is off contract at the end of 2021 - the better defender
Hunt is off contract at the end of 2023 - the better in attack

Griffin must have faith in Hunt returning to his best at 7 and so just waiing to confirm this in early 2021.

100% agree with you, Cam is a better 9 & a far superior clubman. But if Hunt doesn’t play well enough at 7 & we are more likely to win with Clune, Sullivan or Amone in the halves then the only other option is to play Hunt at 9 in ‘22 & ‘23.

I’ll be gutted to see McInnes go but unfortunately I think it might happen. With Hunt permanently moved to 9 McInnes‘s money can buy a useful forward.

At this point I’ve completely written off Corey Norman, I haven’t seen anything from him to give me any hope he’ll improve in 2021 I hope the 6 jersey is given to Sullivan so he can gain experience

 

[Maddragon99]

Just watched a clip of Ricky Walford St George v Balmain bloody hell both teams could move that ball around. Ricky was not only a finished he got in the middle looking for the ball and could pass. We bought him from North's I think was he a joy to watch and kick goals. Sometimes you gotta go looking. Coyne was another how good was he.

Ricky was one of my favourites as well. 116 try’s (104 for us) one of the best finishers of all time. Only the 1 Origin game unlucky to not play more.

We’ve had some great finishers over the years, Waldord, B Morris, Blacklock Wishart

 

[boardlumps62]

Ricky was one of my favourites as well. 116 try’s (104 for us) one of the best finishers of all time. Only the 1 Origin game unlucky to not play more.

We’ve had some great finishers over the years, Waldord, B Morris, Blacklock Wishart

Yep just have to find another one or two. JP and Ravalawa are triers not the same class. But i like Rava when he crunches a centre lol.

 

[Maddragon99]

Yep just have to find another one or two. JP and Ravalawa are triers not the same class. But i like Rava when he crunches a centre lol.

I want JP moved to the backrow in ‘21 his 77 tackle busts & 167m per game (both team highs) would be handy on an edge. He doesn’t have the pace to be a finisher but he could turn into a very good edge runner.

 

[Maxwell]

Seeing Hook in action at Penrith he will not stand for any rubbish or trouble from any player, he will drop any person regardless of who or what they are if they are not performing . And when he can he will go and watch lower grade players checking on their progress.you will find a spade is a spade and that’s how he will coach. Mary probably stayed 3 years too long with out results , Ilikethe fact Hook is signed 2 years with an option ,makes him and his staff work harder, I think there will be changes,during the season.

 

[getsmarty]

Seeing Hook in action at Penrith he will not stand for any rubbish or trouble from any player, he will drop any person regardless of who or what they are if they are not performing . And when he can he will go and watch lower grade players checking on their progress.you will find a spade is a spade and that’s how he will coach. Mary probably stayed 3 years too long with out results , Ilikethe fact Hook is signed 2 years with an option ,makes him and his staff work harder, I think there will be changes,during the season.

Good post except Mary stayed 8 years too long....LOL

 

[goldiesaintz]

Good post except Mary stayed 8 years too long....LOL

I concur, Your Honour.

 

[Maxwell]

Good post except Mary stayed 8 years too long....LOL

Yes probably when they got rid of Price they should have made a better decision. That’s what these blokes are assist coaches , and for a reason they are learning. Appoint some one else and keep these blokes as they were , learning the trade.

 

[denis preston]

Hook is definitely the right man for the job & yes I agree with you I’m not expecting much in 2021 either other than some improvement in defence & to see the boys stay in the contest. A full season of first grade will be the making of Ramsey, Feagai’s Sullivan etc. We’ll either get JdB back or his cap space freed up in 2021 & Norman’s money back in 2022 so expect to see us very active in the recruitment market for 2022. Angus Crichton would be a great fit.

I’ll make a reluctant prediction, if Hunt doesn’t cut it at halfback in 2021 & Clune comes back in Hunt will be switched to Hooker in ‘22 & ‘23 meaning McInnes will be let go. It’s the only reason why McInnes hasn’t already been extended. There’s no other reason why we’d risk losing him, this is how we lost Frizzel he signed with Newcastle during the last offseason.

Great observation MD. Hunt has us by the balls and after taking up his ( bloody crazy ) option of another year , he is not going nowhere. The Mcinness inaction is all about this. If we cant have a million dollar a year performance from Hunt as 7 then we will just hope for a 600 to 700k performance as hooker. Either way we need to get some payback from the massive outlay.

 

[getsmarty]

Yes probably when they got rid of Price they should have made a better decision. That’s what these blokes are assist coaches , and for a reason they are learning. Appoint some one else and keep these blokes as they were , learning the trade.

With all due respect Maxwell....the first thing Bennett did was to make McGregor surplus to requirements.... that should have been a big enough clue for people on the board.

 

[redv13]

With all due respect Maxwell....the first thing Bennett did was to make McGregor surplus to requirements.... that should have been a big enough clue for people on the board.

Yep and as soon as Bennett left who was the first worm to pop it’s ugly head up....

 

[TruSaint]

Yep and as soon as Bennett left who was the first worm to pop it’s ugly head up....

Bennett endorsed Price.

 

[getsmarty]

Bennett endorsed Price.

Price wasn't great....was left with a weakened squad....McGregor kept telling us year after year he had The Team he wanted........along with every other excuse under the sun including blaming everyone else....

 

[Inisai Toga]

Bennett endorsed Price.

Yes, doesn’t mean they had to appoint them though. In my opinion both Price and McGregor were wrong selections from the Board. People at the club appeared to fall for the bullshit that they now had learnt the ‘processes” from Bennett and the rest would/should simply fall into place. Trouble is it’s never just about the ‘process’, it’s usually about the ‘people’ and Bennett had this one also covered; the others hadn’t developed this craft to the necessary level in their respective career stages. Costly decisions!

 

[Maddragon99]

Yes, doesn’t mean they had to appoint them though. In my opinion both Price and McGregor were wrong selections from the Board. People at the club appeared to fall for the bullshit that they now had learnt the ‘processes” from Bennett and the rest would/should simply fall into place. Trouble is it’s never just about the ‘process’, it’s usually about the ‘people’ and Bennett had this one also covered; the others hadn’t developed this craft to the necessary level in their respective career stages. Costly decisions!

We can blame McGregor for the Norman & Hunt contracts he thought he could buy his way out of trouble instead of coaching out of trouble. Clune & Sailor were in the system McGregor should have been looking to develop them rather than taking an easy option.

Anyway we’ve turned the corner & things are looking up. Success is on the way it’s only a matter of time. It’s just unfortunate McInnes will be left without a chair when the music stops.

 

[rasaint]

Good on you Getsmarty for providing a bit of balance for Steve Price.

He was handed a very weakened squad in 2012. We could cover all the ins and outs but let’s say the recruitment of Mark Gasnier 2010 ( glad we did) on back loaded deal took away Jeremy Smith, Neville Costigan, Jarrod Saffy , Darius Boyd at his best, even Adam Cuthberson who went well for us in 2011 and followed Bennett to Newcastle in 2012.

In other words no go forward eliminated and salary cap crunched for years. Sounds familiar?

price didn’t have a chance, regardless of perceived lack of ability.