Recruitment vs Development; the future of the Dragons

[This Year?]

Dragons & Steelers have their own Harold Matthew’s & SG Ball teams but we only have one Canterbury Cup team, the Cutters.

When you think about it it’s an enormous advantage to have double junior development systems.

It definitely is! Funneling the HM and SG teams into the Cutters should give a huge advantage and a very competitive pathway to 1st grade.

 

[Dragonslayer]

It definitely is! Funneling the HM and SG teams into the Cutters should give a huge advantage and a very competitive pathway to 1st grade.

The CC team is St George Illawarra Dragons, not the Cutters.

The Cutters havent been our reserve grade name for a number of years now.

 

[Maddragon99]

The CC team is St George Illawarra Dragons, not the Cutters.

The Cutters havent been our reserve grade name for a number of years now.

Ok thanks for that

 

[Maddragon99]

It definitely is! Funneling the HM and SG teams into the Cutters should give a huge advantage and a very competitive pathway to 1st grade.

Yes well now we have coach who has a develop first recruit second policy.

I read today that Drew Hutchison has just been extended by the Roosters, there’s another kid we gave up on too soon. He did his knee & we punted him.

Why the f@ck we went out & spent $2M on dud halves when we had Hutchison, Clune, Sailor & Bird in the system.

 

[possm]

Sometimes I wish we had an Illawarra and Saints side in Canterbury Cup. In this way we would have more room for promising juniors to come into first grade.

 

[SBD82]

Sometimes I wish we had an Illawarra and Saints side in Canterbury Cup. In this way we would have more room for promising juniors to come into first grade.

On balance it’s probably preferable to have the larger area to draw from, but I think it can work both ways.

Look at the combination that Cleary has with Luai and a couple of others that he came through the juniors with. A good crop of juniors can be cultivated to play a style of football together, meaning that they have established combinations when they enter first grade.

This is what I think should be the greater vision for our club; Developing a style of play that fits our culture, then bringing the juniors up through the grades to play this style.

Add flexibility to accommodate the talents of special juniors, and only fill the gaps with external recruits when we have a specific need, and they are a good fit for our culture and style of play.

 

[Maddragon99]

On balance it’s probably preferable to have the larger area to draw from, but I think it can work both ways.

Look at the combination that Cleary has with Luai and a couple of others that he came through the juniors with. A good crop of juniors can be cultivated to play a style of football together, meaning that they have established combinations when they enter first grade.

This is what I think should be the greater vision for our club; Developing a style of play that fits our culture, then bringing the juniors up through the grades to play this style.

Add flexibility to accommodate the talents of special juniors, and only fill the gaps with external recruits when we have a specific need, and they are a good fit for our culture and style of play.

I suspect it would be cost prohibitive as well

 

[matPORTS]

I agree with the notion that nurturing our local talent is the way forward for us, along with astute signings to plug holes in our roster as we try to turn the taps of our junior base back on. We have a coaching team now who will certainly promote this notion.

But the new coaching staff have certainly got their work cut out... the previous regime has left a mess to clean up. Some of the players on the market from outside the club whom we've discussed ad nauseam on these forums, while talented, are not 'Dragons signings' and nor is throwing the wheel barrow at them going to fix the mess and deeper negative issues that currently lie within the club.

Holding onto the 'right' junior talent is where the challenge will ultimately be, especially around all the inevitable distractions and noise of 'will he or won't he stay' or 'how could we possibly let him go' etc etc (and this is where Penrith are going to start to feel the pain very quickly as they attempt to redeem their 2020 grand final disappointment).

 

[getsmarty]

Sometimes I wish we had an Illawarra and Saints side in Canterbury Cup. In this way we would have more room for promising juniors to come into first grade.

Dylan Morris the latest Australian talent to sign up for Whitehaven
By Helen Thompson Audience and Content Editor

New Haven signing Dylan Morris




0 comment
The Aussies keep coming at Whitehaven as talented youngster Dylan Morris is flying into the squad for the 2021 Betfred Championship season.

Morris, 22, is joining Haven on a one-year deal after coming through the St George-Illawarra Dragons system.

The fullback/halfback spent six years at St George before returning to his junior club, Kiama Knights, in 2020 as no reserve grade rugby was being played because of Covid-19.

Haven coach Gary Charlton is excited by what he has seen of Morris and believes he will be an asset to his squad next year.

“Dylan looks an exceptional talent, he has plenty of pace, good footwork and is an exciting player,” said Charlton.

“He knows how to score a try and that is always a bonus.

"We think he will complement what we have and are looking forward to seeing him at the Rec.”

Morris is also looking forward to playing in England.

He added: “I’m excited to be coming to the UK.

"It’s something I’ve wanted to do and when the opportunity came along with Whitehaven I couldn’t turn it down.

“It will be a different experience as it’s a different game over there but I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Morris hails from a rugby league family with his father Steve 'Slippery' Morris having played for St George Dragons and Eastern Suburbs as well as having a season with Leeds in 1987/88. The half back/wing also played for New South Wales and Australia.

Morris’ half brothers Josh and Brett Morris both play for Sydney Roosters and have represented New South Wales and Australia.

Haven chairman, Tom Todd, was delighted to welcome him on board. He said: “Again I would like to welcome another Australian to the club. Dylan Morris, the half brother of Brett and Josh Morris, has joined Whitehaven from St George in Sydney.

“He is 22 years of age and very fast and shows a lot of skill. Of course St George is resonant with a lot of older Whitehaven fans as the club the legendary Dick Huddart signed for when he left St Helens for southern shores.


“Dylan plays in the half backs and also at full back. The squad the club is putting together continues to take shape and looks very promising.

“Even more thanks goes to Mark Stamper and the football committee for a lot of hard work and also a special mention to the Vice President’s association for their continued support with funding for these overseas players.

“If you are not a member I advise you to consider joining as it’s a way of direct action to bring talent to the Recreation Ground.”


https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/sport/18809085.dylan-morris-latest-australian-talent-sign-whitehaven/

 

[SaintPeter]

Agree 100% with promotion of our juniors, but it needs to be done wisely and with strategic purchases as well.
Worth remembering, we won the comp when Wayne came along, and (from memory) we had bought to the club: Weyman, Saffy, J Smith, Costigan, Boyd, Soward, Fien, and Priddis (was B Scott a junior?)
Anyway, some talent there !! Good team that!!

 

[Dragon David]

Agree 100% with promotion of our juniors, but it needs to be done wisely and with strategic purchases as well.
Worth remembering, we won the comp when Wayne came along, and (from memory) we had bought to the club: Weyman, Saffy, J Smith, Costigan, Boyd, Soward, Fien, and Priddis (was B Scott a junior?)
Anyway, some talent there !! Good team that!!

Yes, with those players and with us having Wayne we had very good years from 2009-2011. Wayne giving notice to go to Newcastle in 2012 had a detrimental effect on where we ended up in 2011. I think if we had signed Wayne for 5 years, we would have won the GF in 2011 and who knows, we could have won the GF's in 2012 and 2013!!

 

[Dragon David]

Gee I must say Dylan Morris looks like his Dad. Good luck to him. I thought that he showed some enterprise when he played in the lower grades for us, however, as we say, we cannot keep them all and he is one that I hope will one day come back to us with more experience under his belt.

 

[Maddragon99]

Dylan Morris the latest Australian talent to sign up for Whitehaven
By Helen Thompson Audience and Content Editor

New Haven signing Dylan Morris




0 comment
The Aussies keep coming at Whitehaven as talented youngster Dylan Morris is flying into the squad for the 2021 Betfred Championship season.

Morris, 22, is joining Haven on a one-year deal after coming through the St George-Illawarra Dragons system.

The fullback/halfback spent six years at St George before returning to his junior club, Kiama Knights, in 2020 as no reserve grade rugby was being played because of Covid-19.

Haven coach Gary Charlton is excited by what he has seen of Morris and believes he will be an asset to his squad next year.

“Dylan looks an exceptional talent, he has plenty of pace, good footwork and is an exciting player,” said Charlton.

“He knows how to score a try and that is always a bonus.

"We think he will complement what we have and are looking forward to seeing him at the Rec.”

Morris is also looking forward to playing in England.

He added: “I’m excited to be coming to the UK.

"It’s something I’ve wanted to do and when the opportunity came along with Whitehaven I couldn’t turn it down.

“It will be a different experience as it’s a different game over there but I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Morris hails from a rugby league family with his father Steve 'Slippery' Morris having played for St George Dragons and Eastern Suburbs as well as having a season with Leeds in 1987/88. The half back/wing also played for New South Wales and Australia.

Morris’ half brothers Josh and Brett Morris both play for Sydney Roosters and have represented New South Wales and Australia.

Haven chairman, Tom Todd, was delighted to welcome him on board. He said: “Again I would like to welcome another Australian to the club. Dylan Morris, the half brother of Brett and Josh Morris, has joined Whitehaven from St George in Sydney.

“He is 22 years of age and very fast and shows a lot of skill. Of course St George is resonant with a lot of older Whitehaven fans as the club the legendary Dick Huddart signed for when he left St Helens for southern shores.


“Dylan plays in the half backs and also at full back. The squad the club is putting together continues to take shape and looks very promising.

“Even more thanks goes to Mark Stamper and the football committee for a lot of hard work and also a special mention to the Vice President’s association for their continued support with funding for these overseas players.

“If you are not a member I advise you to consider joining as it’s a way of direct action to bring talent to the Recreation Ground.”


https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/sport/18809085.dylan-morris-latest-australian-talent-sign-whitehaven/

I’d love to read one of these articles when it says, ‘Barn storming second rower’ rather than fullback

 

[BLM01]

I’d love to read one of these articles when it says, ‘Barn storming second rower’ rather than fullback

I find it hard believe at 21 & 22 years of age he had dreams playing in the UK
i would’ve thought he would’ve had dreams playing in the NRL before then

 

[Maddragon99]

I find it hard believe at 21 & 22 years of age he had dreams playing in the UK
i would’ve thought he would’ve had dreams playing in the NRL before then

Morris is a big name to carry in Rugby League maybe he wanted to make it on his own.

 

[R&WTILLIDIE]

Josh Addo Carr signs with the bulldogs...who we getting? Some 35 year old nufty who can barely make first grade for the London Sillinannies

 

[redv13]

Josh Addo Carr signs with the bulldogs...who we getting? Some 35 year old nufty who can barely make first grade for the London Sillinannies

If JAC was a prop or 2nd rower then I’d be upset but he’s a winger. A good winger but not what we need. No loss to be honest

 

[Maddragon99]

If JAC was a prop or 2nd rower then I’d be upset but he’s a winger. A good winger but not what we need. No loss to be honest

$2M over 4yrs ($500k per) for guy with a proven track record, pretty good value compared to Norman. JAC is pretty close to the top for meters gained 6th in tries scored. Looks like.Canterbury are going to be competitive in the next few years.

 

[Crush]

If JAC was a prop or 2nd rower then I’d be upset but he’s a winger. A good winger but not what we need. No loss to be honest

Add to JAC- Flanagan, Cotric, Green.
They are making some very good signings.

I'm worried about the Dragons roster.
Its very weak.
Its all good to say that the coaches will get the young blokes playing to a level but you need some experienced top line players in your 17.

We need to sign some forwards.
Lawrie, Blacker, Ford, Ellis.
These guys are depth players and should be pushing the starting guys for a position, not BE the starting forwards.

Same with Pereria, Ravalawa, Williame, these guys are reserve graders.
If any of them get selected we are in trouble.

 

[redv13]

$2M over 4yrs ($500k per) for guy with a proven track record, pretty good value compared to Norman. JAC is pretty close to the top for meters gained 6th in tries scored. Looks like.Canterbury are going to be competitive in the next few years.

We’re not comparing JAC to Norman or any other forward. He’s a winger, we have plenty of young talent coming through out wide and hopefully they are managed well under Griffin and his staff. Let’s not compare apples to oranges to lemons. We need forwards, not outside backs. Give me props and 2nd rowers with talent and mongrel