Rumours and Stuff

[Poupou Escobar]

Before the club set up the recruitment committee system, BA and Bernie Gurr were it. BA targeted and brought Lane, Junior, Sivo and Fergo to the club in one offseason, which underlines he does have a grasp on what’s needed, not at all sure the strict committee agreement works all the time. In a sense that has been a hurdle since it was set up.

Knowing what’s needed is the easy part. Fitting it all under the salary cap is what separates the big clubs from the rest.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

The recruitment team need to stop finding excuses and reasons to signing blokes with a bit of talent.

Most players has flaws/baggage.

Lomax needs a fresh start somewhere else. Just like Luke Brooks has been worn down by hanging out with average players and side.

We have been too risk-adverse for too long when it comes to these type of players.

Its gotten us to where we are but we need to take a punt/chance on somebody eventually while we are in the Moses/Drown/Gutho/Reg premiership window.

Dylan Brown has always been a risk for one reason or another (back injury through to sex crime) and he would be on massive coin.

 

[The Colonel]

People are remembering 2021 Lomax, not 2023 Lomax where forwards were running him down.

He played hardly any football in 2021, but I get where you are coming from. He has been signed to a big deal as the Dragons were desperate not to lose him. He hasn't really shown much since 2020 TBH and would have to come with the Dragons paying a lot of money. I don't think he is a centre at all and no upgrade on Bailey or Harper.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Development players can play from round 1 now.

They could last year as well. Merkins fixated on which players are in the bottom of our top 30 forget that Lumelume played in round one last year. If they’re contracted they’re in the squad.

 

[JokerEel]

and we have 2 injuries and suspension?

Greig in starting with Offa

Hands
Makatoa
Moretti/Ogden
Kelma

Big list of replacement forwards Reg only played 14 games last year we missed Lane for most of the season. We still missed the 8 even with Matto in the side..


Grieg
Makatoa
Moretti
Rodwell
Ogden
Doorey
Toni
Guymer
Brazil
Tuivaiti

 

[JokerEel]

if we lose 2 forwards during the year. We lose Matterson, we would need the outside backs to perform like panfers outside backs.

So can these guys do that?

Shouldn't out backs already be doing that

Not sure losing Matto should make a lick of difference.

 

[JokerEel]

They could last year as well. Merkins fixated on which players are in the bottom of our top 30 forget that Lumelume played in round one last year. If they’re contracted they’re in the squad.

The great Lumelume I don't think he was a development player? I think we had to ask for him to be able to play?

 

[yy_cheng]

Big list of replacement forwards Reg only played 14 games last year we missed Lane for most of the season. We still missed the 8 even with Matto in the side..


Grieg
Makatoa
Moretti
Rodwell
Ogden
Doorey
Toni
Guymer
Brazil
Tuivaiti

True, so take out Matto and put in Lomax, do we still have a better chance of making the 8?

 

[JokerEel]

True, so take out Matto and put in Lomax, do we still have a better chance of making the 8?

Yep

 

[Delboy]

Knowing what’s needed is the easy part. Fitting it all under the salary cap is what separates the big clubs from the rest.

So, are you suggesting the Eels aren’t a big club.Most stats would dispute that. When the committee is extremely cautious and conservative, as ours appear to be, then that becomes a problem. They should be solving the issue, not looking like they are surrendering to it.

Pou, no need to argue everything that is posted, just accept someone else has an opinion.

 

[yy_cheng]

So, are you suggesting the Eels aren’t a big club.Most stats would dispute that. When the committee is extremely cautious and conservative, as ours appear to be, then that becomes a problem. They should be solving the issue, not looking like they are surrendering to it.

Pou, no need to argue everything that is posted, just accept someone else has an opinion.

Depends on what you mean buy BIG?

# members?

If you are talking about attracting players, i reckon we are second tier.

1st Tier would be Broncs, Easts, Panfers, Dogs, maybe Souths
2nd Tier would be Parra, Melbourne, Manly, North Queensland

 

[oldmancraigy]

and we have 2 injuries and suspension?

Greig in starting with Offa

Hands
Makatoa
Moretti/Ogden
Kelma

While I appreciate that isn't ideal, that bench is still not terrible...
Obviously in your scenario, if with RCG and Paulo are out, we are pretty screwed anyway.... any team that loses it's most significant 2 forwards will struggle to replace them with depth.

The counter argument is that if all are fit, then we are capping our potential without a strike outside back. Ie, the spend ratios are just off...

I'm not arguing for Lomax at 800k BTW!! But I do think Matto may be surplus to requirements.

 

[King-Gutho94]

NRL 2024: Dragons star Zac Lomax attracts interest from Eels, Roosters | Sport Confidential​

Dragons star Zac Lomax is reportedly unhappy at the club and the backline star is now attracting interest from two powerhouse rugby league clubs.

Parramatta has emerged as a potential suitor for St George Illawarra’s Zac Lomax who remains uncertain about his positional switch.
The Eels have made no secret of their desire to land a strike outside back and are understood to be watching with interest to see if there are any changes to Lomax’s situation at the Dragons.

As it stands, Dragons officials are acutely aware that Lomax is unhappy with new coach Shane Flanagan’s decision to move him from his preferred centre spot and play him on the wing.

That move has sparked rumours of discontent however it is understood that Lomax has yet to formally ask for a release from his contract worth about $800,000 a season until the end of 2026.

At just 24 there would be an obvious market for Lomax who has long been touted as an Origin player.

The Roosters are another club with significant salary cap space next season given the departure of Joseph Suaalii, the likely retirement of Daniel Tupou and rugby bound Joey Manu. Despite being spoken about as a potential Origin player, Lomax has not been able to play consistent football.

He was in the headlines at times last year under former coach Anthony Griffin after he was shifted from his preferred right side of the field to the left. He was then axed from first grade.

To Lomax’s credit, publicly he has said all the right things.

“That’s where Flanno thinks is best for the team at the moment so we run with it,” Lomax said just before last month’s Charity Shield. “I think that’s the best option for the team at the moment for me is (playing on the) wing.”

Lomax will play wing for the first time since round two, 2020 when the Dragons take on the Titans to start their season on Saturday night.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-2024-dragons-star-zac-lomax-privately-unhappy-over-positional-switch-sport-confidential/news-story/0582a88787666a949fe6ca969b970713

 

[Delboy]

Depends on what you mean buy BIG?

# members?

If you are talking about attracting players, i reckon we are second tier.

1st Tier would be Broncs, Easts, Panfers, Dogs, maybe Souths
2nd Tier would be Parra, Melbourne, Manly, North Queensland

That was the point of the post, as a club we are big in members, financially stable, modern home ground, COE under construction etc, competitive roster, decent junior base .
The board needs to find the key to become first tier, Broncos and the detestable Roosters have advantages, not sure we should be behind any of the others. Being cautious does not benefit the club when there is a need to be filled in the roster, in reality the board should be doing more in the second city that is Parramatta to attract benefits .

 

[emjaycee]

The recruitment team need to stop finding excuses and reasons to signing blokes with a bit of talent.

Most players has flaws/baggage.

Lomax needs a fresh start somewhere else. Just like Luke Brooks has been worn down by hanging out with average players and side.

We have been too risk-adverse for too long when it comes to these type of players.

Its gotten us to where we are but we need to take a punt/chance on somebody eventually while we are in the Moses/Drown/Gutho/Reg premiership window.

Where have they done this?
I cannot recall any "excuses and reasons" coming out of our recruitment team (or anyone in the club) for why we haven't signed anyone.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

i agree. Matto has little to no "impact". i feel like we have enough of those players. he is a princess too. i feel like he would be an easy player to move on and we wouldnt notice much difference. I'd love for us to have a player who is a real impact player off the bench. a couple of short stints to get some momentum rolling or maybe a centre who has some attacking flare but may have a defensive weakness or two. we have a team full of "reliable" players and it makes us to predictable.

Except our attack has been better than our defence for the past two years, and about half the time since 2017:

Year	Attack ranking	Defence ranking
2023	6th	11th
2022	4th	8th
2021	7th	4th
2020	9th	3rd
2019	3rd	7th
2018	16th	13th
2017	8th	9th

 

[Delboy]

Where have they done this?
I cannot recall any "excuses and reasons" coming out of our recruitment team (or anyone in the club) for why we haven't signed anyone.

That’s true, then again they haven’t signed anyone of note, seems that the days of off season excitement and healthy discussion are gone under the current admin. Very bland, which may have been necessary after the debacle of the previous board, time to be aggressive
now.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Look I think Lomax is ok but is he really what we need? Especially at his current price.

And this is the point. At the right price any club would want him. But overpaid stars hurt their clubs by reducing the amount they can spend on the rest of the team. It doesn't matter how good they are. If they're on too much they are not providing value.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

and the way Potato Head doesn't seem to learn from his mistakes and burns them out the way he does.

I hope the players aren't burnt out from pre-season training. Maybe they should've taken it easy? I guess we'll know by the end of the year. If we don't win the comp it means I was right.

 

[TheCrowe]

We love a desperation signing. Hope the Rorters are serious. They can easily fit $800k under the sombrero.
We can do better.
I actually think Morgan and Sivo may work out ok .