The Rumours Thread

[dragonsornothing]

Has anyone thought Dce could be getting home sick too ? And end up with his good mate Foran and favourite coach Hasler ?

 

[St Tangles]

I'd like to see a signing or 2 come our way soon.
We need something positive our way.

 

[Dragon David]

I'd like to see a signing or 2 come our way soon.
We need something positive our way.

Do we still have Haran doing the recruitment for the Dragons? If so, he won't attract anyone of note. Hopefully Shane F is doing it instead and we will get a couple that meets our needs.

We do need some quality signings and if we can get them soon then we won't end up with the dregs.

 

[maestro1]

Do we still have Haran doing the recruitment for the Dragons? If so, he won't attract anyone of note. Hopefully Shane F is doing it instead and we will get a couple that meets our needs.

We do need some quality signings and if we can get them soon then we won't end up with the dregs.

We need speed and resilience. Sloan has speed, but his defensive resilience is low. He needs to toughen up and attack the high ball and anybody who breaks through our defenses. Look at other young fullbacks like Walsh....they just seem to be made of tougher stuff. Someone (and hopefully Flanagan does it), gets in his ear about NRL footballers have to be tough and defend their line as if their lives depend on it. Don't let any high ball bounce. Speed and toughness is what this game is about

 

[maestro1]

I posted this in another thread but thought it belonged here

I can tell you one really good front rower who we should chase. He left the NRL quite young and in fabulous form .......

Siosiua Taukeiaho​

Only thing is, I think the Roosters sent him away temporarily so they could sign Brandon Smith....They'll now probably bring him back on a much reduced deal (He would have picked up the difference with his Super League contract. I thought it was odd that they let him go as he was in the top 5 front rowers last year, still young and seemingly getting better. He can kick goals as well and is a forward leader, has won premierships as well.

 

[JubileeJeffro]

Sloan to me looks like he needs 5kgs of bulk onto his frame to be effective in defence… mainly it seems like attitude though, even contesting the high balls…Have to be prepared for putting your body on the line in the collision, which he does not do at present.
he appears to have like a shoulder pad on one of his shoulders, perhaps he is nursing an injury there

 

[Old Timer]

I posted this in another thread but thought it belonged here

I can tell you one really good front rower who we should chase. He left the NRL quite young and in fabulous form .......

Siosiua Taukeiaho​

Only thing is, I think the Roosters sent him away temporarily so they could sign Brandon Smith....They'll now probably bring him back on a much reduced deal (He would have picked up the difference with his Super League contract. I thought it was odd that they let him go as he was in the top 5 front rowers last year, still young and seemingly getting better. He can kick goals as well and is a forward leader, has won premierships as well.

Wonderful assessment.

 

[Gardenia]

Do we still have Haran doing the recruitment for the Dragons? If so, he won't attract anyone of note. Hopefully Shane F is doing it instead and we will get a couple that meets our needs.

We do need some quality signings and if we can get them soon then we won't end up with the dregs.

Surely Flanagan will take on this role. Part of his sell was he is good at building a Roster.

 

[TheRev]

There is a saying that the only thing you cant teach is toughness.. and for me thats what was missing in Dufty and what was always missing in Sloan.. when I think of the debut's of players like Brimson and Bula.. tiny guys with complete commitment to the collision from Day 1.

We cant afford to keep spending years on maybes, a lot of close games are lost on these couple of basic defensive lapses in every game.. and it has real consequences on the club.. the question is does Flanno think he can turn Sloane around or not? Atleast he has worked with him before... but I would love to see Holmes or someone of that toughness out back.. but it would certainly come from nowhere as we really havent seen a signing in what feels like 2yrs..

 

[Como Connection]

There is a saying that the only thing you cant teach is toughness.. and for me thats what was missing in Dufty and what was always missing in Sloan.. when I think of the debut's of players like Brimson and Bula.. tiny guys with complete commitment to the collision from Day 1.

We cant afford to keep spending years on maybes, a lot of close games are lost on these couple of basic defensive lapses in every game.. and it has real consequences on the club.. the question is does Flanno think he can turn Sloane around or not? Atleast he has worked with him before... but I would love to see Holmes or someone of that toughness out back.. but it would certainly come from nowhere as we really havent seen a signing in what feels like 2yrs..

A fit Ramsey would be good.
CC

 

[thebigredv]

There is a saying that the only thing you cant teach is toughness.. and for me thats what was missing in Dufty and what was always missing in Sloan.. when I think of the debut's of players like Brimson and Bula.. tiny guys with complete commitment to the collision from Day 1.

We cant afford to keep spending years on maybes, a lot of close games are lost on these couple of basic defensive lapses in every game.. and it has real consequences on the club.. the question is does Flanno think he can turn Sloane around or not? Atleast he has worked with him before... but I would love to see Holmes or someone of that toughness out back.. but it would certainly come from nowhere as we really havent seen a signing in what feels like 2yrs..

Great post.

Loved watching Sloan gliding through defensive lines so far but the rest of his game is awful.

We got rid of Dufty and that did not come back to bite us. Great player for Super League.
I'd be giving Sloan one season max under Flanagan and then bring in someone tougher if he can't get the defence right. All for persisting with the young ones got to be a little tougher and I feel Shane will be higher with standards than the last three coaches.

 

[TheRev]

All for persisting with the young ones got to be a little tougher and I feel Shane will be higher with standards than the last three coaches.

It's a difficult task.. there are only a small percentage of juniors that are going to make that final jump to 1st grade.. and trying to 'pick the winner' is such a hard job.. its also very challenging managing the fans who get really attached to their favourites... I always feel for the other guys who dont get opportunity but never make the papers.. Ramsey was one such player, was working his guts out for so long in reserves, but fans were only interested in Sloane.. Stewart is another one who probably will never get a contract.. but at one point was ahead of Sloane in the pecking order.. its a cruel process.

One of the things I really am looking forward to with Flanagan, is having a coach that i trust to make mostly the right decisions.. and if the player has it.. I think Shane is well placed to bring it out of them.. thats what I havent felt under Hook or Mary.. I didnt trust those guys to a) coach young talent or b) select based on form (whether promotion or demotion).

Also, due to our poor results for so long.. us fans are desperate for young players to be promoted to 1st grade (the players seem desperate too), but in a stronger system, the players seem more content to work their way up in NSW Cup, which is really important too.. very few players can skip reserve grade and make it in the NRL.. we have tried it with a few like Amone, Sloan, Dufty come to mind.. all 3 of them I was filthy with their selections, because I rly felt they had to prove they could handle reserve grade first.. longterm I think it can really ruin their career also. Toby Couchman probably one of the few who seemed to manage NRL at a young age.. but hes a rare egg.. and he still has a long journey ahead of him.

 

[jak]

Not a bad option. He might get pinged for a few forward passes...

good one,well played sir

 

[Phantom V]

It's a difficult task.. there are only a small percentage of juniors that are going to make that final jump to 1st grade.. and trying to 'pick the winner' is such a hard job.. its also very challenging managing the fans who get really attached to their favourites... I always feel for the other guys who dont get opportunity but never make the papers.. Ramsey was one such player, was working his guts out for so long in reserves, but fans were only interested in Sloane.. Stewart is another one who probably will never get a contract.. but at one point was ahead of Sloane in the pecking order.. its a cruel process.

One of the things I really am looking forward to with Flanagan, is having a coach that i trust to make mostly the right decisions.. and if the player has it.. I think Shane is well placed to bring it out of them.. thats what I havent felt under Hook or Mary.. I didnt trust those guys to a) coach young talent or b) select based on form (whether promotion or demotion).

Also, due to our poor results for so long.. us fans are desperate for young players to be promoted to 1st grade (the players seem desperate too), but in a stronger system, the players seem more content to work their way up in NSW Cup, which is really important too.. very few players can skip reserve grade and make it in the NRL.. we have tried it with a few like Amone, Sloan, Dufty come to mind.. all 3 of them I was filthy with their selections, because I rly felt they had to prove they could handle reserve grade first.. longterm I think it can really ruin their career also. Toby Couchman probably one of the few who seemed to manage NRL at a young age.. but hes a rare egg.. and he still has a long journey ahead of him.

Good post Red V. I have to give credit to Hook for introducing young Ramsey into the fold even at the expense of Sloan. I liked how he was a busy footballer and always looked for the ball, whereas Sloan at times doesn’t want to be anywhere near it.
I sure Flanno can bring out the best in him otherwise I think he’s on borrowed time I’m afraid.

 

[JubileeJeffro]

A lot of talk Manly salary cap in trouble after the brooks and schuster signings..flanno might have a chat to a couple perhaps.. Garrick and Paseka I wouldn’t mind having added to our squad

 

[BadnMean]

Toby sexton for Ben Hunt yep sure that’s a like for like. If I was the dragons.
You pay us for the last 2 years as we have wasted all that money on doing what BH wants and he spits at us from a distance.
If not play and get paid or play at cutters and let’s see how you enjoy being stomped on like you have just done to that jersey. We have a billionaire backer who if he wants to make a statement that he cares for the team stumps up BH pay for 2 years and makes him suffer for humiliating us. And St George leagues has almost 49 million in the bank asset rich and no debt. So BH you never game kicks off at 1.39 next weekend

You realise if you sit him out for 2 years then you guys are the ones playing every week with a million dollars less salary cap than every other club? He still stays on your cap.

 

[Mojo]

We need speed and resilience. Sloan has speed, but his defensive resilience is low. He needs to toughen up and attack the high ball and anybody who breaks through our defenses. Look at other young fullbacks like Walsh....they just seem to be made of tougher stuff. Someone (and hopefully Flanagan does it), gets in his ear about NRL footballers have to be tough and defend their line as if their lives depend on it. Don't let any high ball bounce. Speed and toughness is what this game is about

I predict Flanno wont play Sloan at fullback - at least not at this stage of his career. It's been too big a leap, too early for him.

 

[baggygreen man]

Sloan to me looks like he needs 5kgs of bulk onto his frame to be effective in defence…

Been saying the same. Extra bulk will give him confidence to show more intend in defense and contesting the bomb. At the moment there is no shortage of effort but he seems to be trying to rag doll his man rather than smash him. Still we cant be too hard on the kid as there are 12 others that need to be making his job easier so he does not have to take on two, sometimes three as the last line of defense.

 

[baggygreen man]

I predict Flanno wont play Sloan at fullback

He has ball skills, like to see him in the halves. He'd provide more structure than our present ones. Help strengthen his defensive game too.

 

[TheRev]

Who would he play instead of Sloan at fullback though? There will hopefully be a signing to come, our Cody 2023 money expires in 2 months though..