The Rumours Thread

[Slippery Morris]

Bulldogs culture is poor as we saw at the end of the season. Players complaining about the coach, getting flogged at training, the marquee guys playing with no heart, etc. If they fail again in 2024 players will keep away from them. Also the guys let go may come out and bag them if they have good seasons like Averilo, and the guy that was told to wrestle the team, Alamoti plus others. They will be under pressure with all the changes they have made to make top 8. Gus will down play it as if to say they are not expecting to make 8 to save his backside but the club will expect to make it with the outlay of cash they are spending on players.

As for Tigers, they will be in the same boat as Dogs but not as much as they are not expected to make 8 because they are not buying half of Penrith.

If Saints improve which I feel they will, I think this time next season they will have no issue attracting players. Ben Hunt is also to blame with his poor media bashing of Saints. No Qlder would want to come to Kogarah/Wollongong Goal based on his comments.

 

[SaintArsenal]

Bulldogs culture is poor as we saw at the end of the season. Players complaining about the coach, getting flogged at training, the marquee guys playing with no heart, etc. If they fail again in 2024 players will keep away from them. Also the guys let go may come out and bag them if they have good seasons like Averilo, and the guy that was told to wrestle the team, Alamoti plus others. They will be under pressure with all the changes they have made to make top 8. Gus will down play it as if to say they are not expecting to make 8 to save his backside but the club will expect to make it with the outlay of cash they are spending on players.

As for Tigers, they will be in the same boat as Dogs but not as much as they are not expected to make 8 because they are not buying half of Penrith.

If Saints improve which I feel they will, I think this time next season they will have no issue attracting players. Ben Hunt is also to blame with his poor media bashing of Saints. No Qlder would want to come to Kogarah/Wollongong Goal based on his comments.

Referring to the bolded - I think this time next year is too late. Unless you are talking about 2026

 

[RedVee_8]

Just goes to show the double standards in the NRL. An offender gets picked up by a rival club and vice versa. Why not just hold and help rehabilitate. Now I know some will say we don’t tolerate dom violence yet we have taken offenders on board before.
And now we have the club wanting to pay a squillian to get him back. He must’ve shown potential to have warranted his retention. Our past coaches wouldn’t have known potential if it bit them on the arse! Damned if you do and damned if you don’t.

Don’t disagree but from memory I think he had a couple of previous strikes against him.

 

[Slippery Morris]

Saints picked up Dugan as Raiders stood him down so we sort of cannot complain. Same with Packer. Sad thing is as soon as their contracts were up they packed their bags and left for Sharks and Tigers.

 

[Inisai Toga]

Saints picked up Dugan as Raiders stood him down so we sort of cannot complain. Same with Packer. Sad thing is as soon as their contracts were up they packed their bags and left for Sharks and Tigers.

Yes but they received ridiculously good offers imo (good luck to them)…., and i can understand Saints hesitation in not matching those offers.

 

[Rocket Rod]

Saints picked up Dugan as Raiders stood him down so we sort of cannot complain. Same with Packer. Sad thing is as soon as their contracts were up they packed their bags and left for Sharks and Tigers.

In hindsight it was a good move

 

[BlackDuckSaint]

In hindsight it was a good move

It was a great move. Dugan was paid "Fullback Money" to be an average centre and Russell Packer was paid premier prop money and hardly got on the field.

Tigers signed Russell Packer and Ben Matulino in the same year thinking it was going to be the answer... Worst pair of signings ever... Aside from Maguire and Woods

 

[Crush]

It was a great move. Dugan was paid "Fullback Money" to be an average centre and Russell Packer was paid premier prop money and hardly got on the field.

Tigers signed Russell Packer and Ben Matulino in the same year thinking it was going to be the answer... Worst pair of signings ever... Aside from Maguire and Woods

McCulloch and Mbye?

 

[BlackDuckSaint]

McCulloch and Mbye?

Oof... That's up there... Beale and Williame?

 

[qld redvee]

Oof... That's up there... Beale and Williame?

Maranta

 

[Rocket Rod]

Maranta

Burgess and that pair of useless forwards from the titans forgot their names. Wonder why

 

[Parko1310]

According to the Mole, we were in for Tom Eisenhuth, but have lost out to Penrith. He may or may not grab a bench spot for them next year , but just as likely he'll be in reserves and I'm sure on less money than what we could offer. Christ can we can get any deals done? Someone has to be held accountable and the only thing that hasn't changed at the top of the footy department is Ben Haran...

 

[blacksafake]

According to the Mole, we were in for Tom Eisenhuth, but have lost out to Penrith. He may or may not grab a bench spot for them next year , but just as likely he'll be in reserves and I'm sure on less money than what we could offer. Christ can we can get any deals done? Someone has to be held accountable and the only thing that hasn't changed at the top of the footy department is Ben Haran...

Are we really disappointed in missing out on him though.

 

[since77]

According to the Mole, we were in for Tom Eisenhuth, but have lost out to Penrith. He may or may not grab a bench spot for them next year , but just as likely he'll be in reserves and I'm sure on less money than what we could offer. Christ can we can get any deals done? Someone has to be held accountable and the only thing that hasn't changed at the top of the footy department is Ben Haran...

lol let's add yet another bog average forward to our roster.

 

[Parko1310]

Are we really disappointed in missing out on him though.

lol let's add yet another bog average forward to our roster.

Flanagan clearly wanted him and I'm backing the coach. I'm disappointed he's already not being given the tools he wants/needs to succeed. It's the premise of missing out, rather than the player himself. That being said, is Tom Eisenhuth going to be a star? No, not at all. But he's a solid role player, and we have to remember how thin our depth is. I've said it before and I'll say it again, absolutely everywhere on the park we're an injury away from disaster. And for 2024 especially, who are we going to sign in the front row that's better than Eisenhuth? Crickets. He's been a good contributor to a top 4 team for a long time now, and now the premiers want him too. With them losing Leniu, I wouldn't be surprised to see him grab that available bench spot. If not, he'll be next man up for them if injury/suspension occurs. He'll be good through the origin period for them. Plus he brings a wealth of experience and leadership capabilities, two things our squad is sorely lacking. On a 1-2 year deal he would've been a solid contributor to our squad whilst we build. And if we can't get someone over who's going to be fielding max 1-2 year offers, with any contract potentially being his last in the NRL, for more money presumably since we need to spend 90% of the cap, then how are we going to lure the bigger fish?

Because it's already starting to all fall apart in that department. Dearden is really the only unknown at this stage that's a big name and we were interested in, but he's likely to re-sign with NQ. AFB will not come once other clubs can move their cap around to afford him. Manu - forget about it. As I said, someone needs to be held accountable because we fail time and time again, even when the cards (the $$) are stacked in our favour.

 

[offiah]

Is the point that we even miss out on bog average players with a probably first grade spot to play reserve grade elsewhere?

 

[Dragon David]

Flanagan clearly wanted him and I'm backing the coach. I'm disappointed he's already not being given the tools he wants/needs to succeed. It's the premise of missing out, rather than the player himself. That being said, is Tom Eisenhuth going to be a star? No, not at all. But he's a solid role player, and we have to remember how thin our depth is. I've said it before and I'll say it again, absolutely everywhere on the park we're an injury away from disaster. And for 2024 especially, who are we going to sign in the front row that's better than Eisenhuth? Crickets. He's been a good contributor to a top 4 team for a long time now, and now the premiers want him too. With them losing Leniu, I wouldn't be surprised to see him grab that available bench spot. If not, he'll be next man up for them if injury/suspension occurs. He'll be good through the origin period for them. Plus he brings a wealth of experience and leadership capabilities, two things our squad is sorely lacking. On a 1-2 year deal he would've been a solid contributor to our squad whilst we build. And if we can't get someone over who's going to be fielding max 1-2 year offers, with any contract potentially being his last in the NRL, for more money presumably since we need to spend 90% of the cap, then how are we going to lure the bigger fish?

Because it's already starting to all fall apart in that department. Dearden is really the only unknown at this stage that's a big name and we were interested in, but he's likely to re-sign with NQ. AFB will not come once other clubs can move their cap around to afford him. Manu - forget about it. As I said, someone needs to be held accountable because we fail time and time again, even when the cards (the $$) are stacked in our favour.

Certainly it looks like similar trends to previous years. Our club just isn't attractive and that is part of the continuing lack of better signings. We could have either Bennett, Bellamy, Cleary or Robbo and still not get those players we need to make us a force. The image of the club from all of the bad years and Hunt's wanting out has made us look a poor destination maybe?

Money isn't always the thing to dangle to get players even if we will have a significant amount in 2025. The image of the Dragons to players needs a massive uplift imo.

 

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

It's probably the best result for him. He comes from the Blue Mountains originally, still has family there, he's almost guaranteed some first grade games when the Penrith stars are playing Origin. For us he's 31 years old, nearing the end of his career, probably a few injury concerns. I doubt we were all that interested in him. Probably offered minimum salary same as Penrith.

 

[blacksafake]

Flanagan clearly wanted him and I'm backing the coach. I'm disappointed he's already not being given the tools he wants/needs to succeed. It's the premise of missing out, rather than the player himself. That being said, is Tom Eisenhuth going to be a star? No, not at all. But he's a solid role player, and we have to remember how thin our depth is. I've said it before and I'll say it again, absolutely everywhere on the park we're an injury away from disaster. And for 2024 especially, who are we going to sign in the front row that's better than Eisenhuth? Crickets. He's been a good contributor to a top 4 team for a long time now, and now the premiers want him too. With them losing Leniu, I wouldn't be surprised to see him grab that available bench spot. If not, he'll be next man up for them if injury/suspension occurs. He'll be good through the origin period for them. Plus he brings a wealth of experience and leadership capabilities, two things our squad is sorely lacking. On a 1-2 year deal he would've been a solid contributor to our squad whilst we build. And if we can't get someone over who's going to be fielding max 1-2 year offers, with any contract potentially being his last in the NRL, for more money presumably since we need to spend 90% of the cap, then how are we going to lure the bigger fish?

Because it's already starting to all fall apart in that department. Dearden is really the only unknown at this stage that's a big name and we were interested in, but he's likely to re-sign with NQ. AFB will not come once other clubs can move their cap around to afford him. Manu - forget about it. As I said, someone needs to be held accountable because we fail time and time again, even when the cards (the $$) are stacked in our favour.

Are we sure Flanno clearly wanted him ?

 

[Dragon David]

What a load of unbelievable shit. The Bulldogs have confirmed the signings of Kurt Mann, Drew Hutchison, Jake Turpin and Poasa Faamausili. Bastards.

Roosters announce two key re-signings; Storm lock up three with extensions: Transfer Centre

Roosters announce two key re-signings; Storm lock up three with extensions: Transfer Centre

www.foxsports.com.au

How much have they got in their kitty. They have virtually signed a team in the off season.

Something is amiss here boys. How in hell have they been able to attract these guys? Well I'm not concerned with Poasa's signing but the others are goodies as back-ups.

Their image under Gould and Laundy must be paying dividends. What is wrong with us? We are lucky to sign one player let alone 8-9 players like the Bulldogs have so far done. Again, bastards!!!!