Strong rumour.. BMoz, gone

[gonz]

If you have any faith in Paul McGregor's ability to rebuild anything or win anything then you are terribly deluded. He's shown nothing in any serious role, ever. And as for ability as a player, Brett Morris has achieved more in his career than Mary could dream of, and Brett isn't even 30 yet.

The club is in a dark period. Darker than when Brett's old man was forced out due to managerial ineptitude back in the 80's.

Mcgregor does have a book of excuses though

 

[nrlnrl]

In case you guys haven't read yet... http://www.dragons.com.au/news/2014/09/16/club_update_brett_morris.html

thanks, but that was mentioned on page 11

 

[st.phil]

Morris would be a dynamic centre. Or fullback for that matter. I think it's the best solution.

Then offload Beale, farrel.

Agreed and hopefully behind the moving on of beale and farrell

 

[TheViking]

Agreed and hopefully behind the moving on of beale and farrell

Doesn't someone have to want to take their contracts though?

Also if B Moz want's to leave to play with J Moz this doesn't change anything.

 

[TheLithgowDragon]

A few points to note
- B Moz's best is behind him
- Bulldogs going further downhill under Des than ever before because he has destroyed their homegrown nursery in exchange for buying players in -(Note Bulldogs NYC came last and NSW cup near last this year. Traditionally they have been near the top of the table) He did the same thing at Manly
- Although Bennett helped us win a comp he subsequently tore the guts out of the club by taking good players with him and leaving a patient in charge of the asylum (Price). We will take a few years to get over this.
- B Moz's money might help us retain some young guns coming through the club.

 

[FlameThrower]

A few points to note
- B Moz's best is behind him
- Bulldogs going further downhill under Des than ever before because he has destroyed their homegrown nursery in exchange for buying players in -(Note Bulldogs NYC came last and NSW cup near last this year. Traditionally they have been near the top of the table) He did the same thing at Manly
- Although Bennett helped us win a comp he subsequently tore the guts out of the club by taking good players with him and leaving a patient in charge of the asylum (Price). We will take a few years to get over this.
- B Moz's money might help us retain some young guns coming through the club.

Sorry disagree on all of the above apart from the Bennentt comment. I have no faith any supposed freed up cash will be used wisely to retain any future talent,. Secondly I don't see any available experienced names coming to the Club in near future. We are in trouble...and frankly the silence from Doust and board on this is unacceptable. In meantime we've more or less told the half a dozen players they are not wanted? With not a single name linked to replace them that is even partially confirmed by the Club... Sounds like perfect storm brewing...

 

[dragonreddy]

Agreed and hopefully behind the moving on of beale and farrell

More to the point WILL they be able to move on Beale, Farrell and Hunt just to name a few for starters ,all are on good money and I wouldn't imagine in high demand at other clubs after their performances here, why would any of them leave for far less money.

Judging by reports these players aren't in McGregors plans for next year so what then have a million dollars worth of cap playing in the Cutters, certainly seemed to have backed themselves into a corner, because these players are well within their legal right to enforce the club to honour their contracts

www.nrl.com/merrin-unsure-of-morris-future/tabid/10874/newsid/8916/default.aspx CLICK ON THE MERRIN UNSURE ARROW.

 

[watatank]

What bollocks, he is a winger because that's the position he plays. It's arguable that 450k parked on the wing is too much let alone 600k. The point is BMoz's manager is upping the ante now before Mulholland can commit any more of our salary cap leaving nothing in 12 months time. So that being the case Mary & Pete need to make the hard decisions as to who is going to be our long term fullback. And yes another point altogether is we probably have the most expensive centre in the game now. The 150k extra should be spent in the forwards not the backline.

Just on Dugan at centre, it's just another example of the mismanagement of the squad. He's probably the most expensive centre in the game now as you said but more than that it has left us without a decent fullback and has pushed Farrell, on reasonable money at the very least, out of the position we originally signed him for, possibly out of the top 17 altogether.

As for the rest, Morris is consistently one of our best players, regardless of position at least he's justifying his pay somewhat. It's not about who is our long term fullback anyway, because Morris is still signed next year and we have no one lined up. I think the reason we are even discussing Morris because he's actually a player that other clubs would be interested in. I don't know how many clubs are lining up to sign players like Hunt, Beale or Farrell (unless we heavily subsidised them), especially now with Dugan at centre.

 

[watatank]

More to the point WILL they be able to move on Beale, Farrell and Hunt just to name a few for starters ,all are on good money and I wouldn't imagine in high demand at other clubs after their performances here, why would any of them leave for far less money.

Judging by reports these players aren't in McGregors plans for next year so what then have a million dollars worth of cap playing in the Cutters, certainly seemed to have backed themselves into a corner, because these players are well within their legal right to enforce the club to honour their contracts

www.nrl.com/merrin-unsure-of-morris-future/tabid/10874/newsid/8916/default.aspx CLICK ON THE MERRIN UNSURE ARROW.

Miss this post but yep, this would be why we would have to resort to (and why we are discussing) releasing Morris

 

[watatank]

Just on spending more money on forwards, for me that's just another indication of poor squad management? We spend big money on backline players and halves, sign young forwards cheaply on long term deals and expect them and others to do the job, which they clearly aren't.

Whichever way you look at it, the club has messed up. This isn't about what are we willing to pay a winger, it's about who is making the decisions regarding the player roster and contracts.

 

[dragonreddy]

Just on spending more money on forwards, for me that's just another indication of poor squad management? We spend big money on backline players and halves, sign young forwards cheaply on long term deals and expect them and others to do the job, which they clearly aren't.

Whichever way you look at it, the club has messed up. This isn't about what are we willing to pay a winger, it's about who is making the decisions regarding the player roster and contracts.

For sure , the appointment of Peter Mullholland is a good one but it shouldve been done after Bennett left in 2012, now he has to fix up the legacy of the Boys Club, hope he loves a challenge.

 

[Get2dachopper!]

Everything has been mismanaged since Bennet left. Have a look at the GF winning team. I have never seen a team dismantled like ours after winning a comp. We won the comp 4 years ago and only have 4 players from that team. If Merrin and Moz leave then that only leaves Creagh and Flo. Even with the excuse that some players were getting on in age, there was no succession planning. Hence the panic buys in Dugan, Marshall & Farrell.
1. Boyd: Given, he was always going to leave
2. Morris: On the verge of leaving
3. Gaz: Retired too early. No succession plan for another specialist right centre
4. Cooper: Retired too late. No succession plan for another specialist left centre
5. Nightingale: NA
6. Soward: Chased out of the club by Price. Replaced by Widdop
7. Hornby: No succession plan. Drinkwater and Williams burnt by Price. Marshall panic buy
8. Costigan: He was 'one player we had to lose after winning GF', ala Luke O'Donnell
9. Young: Retired. His position covered somewhat by Rein
10. Weyman: Chased out of the club by Price. No suitable replacement bought
11. Scott: Allowed to leave. No suitable replacement bought
12. Creagh: NA
13. Smith: Another 'player that needed to leave after winning GF'

14. Fein: Retired.....a year too late
15. Merrin: Possibly to be lost to Broncos
16. Prior: Played in a GF winning side, still young, but allowed to walk. His replacement Thompson
17. Saffy: As per above. Allowed to leave. his replacement, Frizzell

Idiots get paid to do this as their full-time job, yet I've whipped this up in 5 minutes. Time to pull your finger out boys and do your friggin job properly!

 

[Saint Angelo]

So here's Ricky Stuart crying out for rep players whilst our club is having a clearance sale down at the dragons store.

Come on down, Australian internationals, origin players, going cheap !!!!!

 

[dragonsrule10]

I haven't heard the rumour of Merrin possibly leaving to go to Brisbane. What is there to that rumour?

 

[getsmarty]

I haven't heard the rumour of Merrin possibly leaving to go to Brisbane. What is there to that rumour?

Merrin was on both Channel 7 and 9 news this evening. He expressed his frustration at his contract extension talks going on so long. Asked if he was leaving, he said words to the effect not if I get what I want sorted out. He also mentioned how it has become a business and loyalty seemed to play little part in contract negotiations.

 

[tumbidragon]

Merrin was on both Channel 7 and 9 news this evening. He expressed his frustration at his contract extension talks going on so long. Asked if he was leaving, he said words to the effect not if I get what I want sorted out. He also mentioned how it has become a business and loyalty seemed to play little part in contract negotiations.

That doesn't sound good

 

[Miller was a legend]

FMD these wankers in the press make plenty of assumptions

 

[LOYAL DRAGON]

http://www.dragons.com.au/news/2014/09/16/club_update_brett_morris.html

The St George Illawarra Dragons, contrary to media speculation, have not offered Brett Morris to other Clubs, nor have they suggested that he test his market value external to the Dragons.
The Dragons today reiterate that the Club has been in negotiations for a number of months to extend Brett Morris’ contract at the Dragons.
Brett Morris signed a contract in 2012 for seasons 2013, 2014 and 2015 and is therefore under contract until the end of next season.
The Club understands that there are no rules that prevent player managers from talking to other Clubs about contracted players.
The Dragons are aware that another Club has offered Brett Morris more money than his contract sum at the Dragons for the 2015 season.
The Dragons announced last week the appointment of Peter Mulholland as Director of Recruitment and Retention.
Mulholland has this week begun working through the Club's salary cap and roster for 2015 and beyond, in conjunction with Head Coach Paul McGregor.

 

[Capital_Dragon]

http://www.dragons.com.au/news/2014/09/16/club_update_brett_morris.html

The St George Illawarra Dragons, contrary to media speculation, have not offered Brett Morris to other Clubs, nor have they suggested that he test his market value external to the Dragons.

But when Brett Morris' agent suggested the above they didn't do anything to stop it happening and it has backfired on them big time. Also they haven't mentioned whether or not Morris asked for a release, probably out of respect for his privacy, but it does mean they can conveniently avoid the question.

The Dragons today reiterate that the Club has been in negotiations for a number of months to extend Brett Morris? contract at the Dragons.

So after a few months where is the sticking point and why isn't he locked in? Money? If Morris is on $450k and you have others like Benji, Widdop and Dugan on $500k+ what did they expect Morris to do?

Brett Morris signed a contract in 2012 for seasons 2013, 2014 and 2015 and is therefore under contract until the end of next season.

Stating the obvious and we all know that means nothing if he decides to go.

The Club understands that there are no rules that prevent player managers from talking to other Clubs about contracted players.

Again stating the obvious but how about saying something like we are working hard to retain his services.

The Dragons are aware that another Club has offered Brett Morris more money than his contract sum at the Dragons for the 2015 season.

So it is about money and someone forgot to carry the 5 when working out how much we'd have left to pay our existing top players after the kneejerk buys of the past few years.

The Dragons announced last week the appointment of Peter Mulholland as Director of Recruitment and Retention.
Mulholland has this week begun working through the Club's salary cap and roster for 2015 and beyond, in conjunction with Head Coach Paul McGregor.

Too little too late for Morris by the sounds of it.

I'm all for moving on top players as part of a coordinated strategy to make way for new blood. Penrith have done this beautifully. What we have though at the Dragons is a dog's breakfast.

 

[Saintsified]

How do you know unless it happens? Penrith were criticised and they ignored it now look at them.

Time will tell...as good as Morris and Merrin are maybe by no fault of their own they have become toxic to the club themselves and need to be moved on.

Let's judge next year same time.