The Rumours Thread

[TheRev]

I think Flano is all in on Sloan at the moment. Obviously we need a back up fullback, but there aren't many external candidates to recruit that would be comfortable being a backup. Lomax will be the backup this year I think, and we've got Corey Allan to return from injury next year who you would think would be the fullback backup.

Yah I dont mean to replace Sloan, but if we had an Averillo or a Chrichton or a Savage or a Tracey or someone who can properly cover fullback if needed for injury/form, but can also easily play other positions.. then we get 2for1.. and they might well end up being our longterm 1 (if it became needed).. but they would also kill it from centre etc.

I know we have Lomax as fullback cover, but hes not a spine player.. and we have Matt Feagai who I must admit had a rly good game last week (not so good the week before), but hes really a similar player to Lomax.. big hard carries, good under a defensive bomb.. but thats it... he doesnt have any of Lomaxes other perks.. and Matt is really just filling the role until he leaves end of year... cause we have absolutely noone in that position.

 

[Parko1310]

They May Brothers will both be at the Roosters next year.

Based on what? Pure speculation or you've heard something? (Reportedly) Roosters are yet to register their formal interest citing that they aren't sure whether Taylan will fit "culturally". They have Robert Toia coming through who they've got huge wraps on, and Billy Smith has signed a three year extension. Taylan has already put on his instagram the same hashtag as Luai did when he knew he was leaving the Panthers (#lastride), so based on that (yes its speculation), May has already potentially made his mind up on the destination and that it won't be the Panthers. If the Roosters are (supposedly) yet to formalise interest, then how could May know he's leaving now and end up at the Roosters? Obviously this is all reportedly.. other than May's instagram post, that is fact.

 

[St Tangles]

Based on what? Pure speculation or you've heard something? (Reportedly) Roosters are yet to register their formal interest citing that they aren't sure whether Taylan will fit "culturally". They have Robert Toia coming through who they've got huge wraps on, and Billy Smith has signed a three year extension. Taylan has already put on his instagram the same hashtag as Luai did when he knew he was leaving the Panthers (#lastride), so based on that (yes its speculation), May has already potentially made his mind up on the destination and that it won't be the Panthers. If the Roosters are (supposedly) yet to formalise interest, then how could May know he's leaving now and end up at the Roosters? Obviously this is all reportedly.. other than May's instagram post, that is fact.

The Roosters have made enquiries and are not far from announcing the Props resigning.
Take it or leave it just passing on what I've heard.
That's what a rumours thread is for.

 

[Parko1310]

The Roosters have made enquiries and are not far from announcing the Props resigning.
Take it or leave it just passing on what I've heard.
That's what a rumours thread is for.

Yeah was just checking whether it was speculation or something you'd heard...

 

[TheRev]

I figured the rorters wouldnt be far away from keeping the prop now they got rid of JWH, thats sort of what I meant before about whether we could get in before it happened.. assumably not.. and this might mean the Roosters end up in the box seat to sign Taylan also.. the journos say its us and the roosters interested..

 

[Dragon David]

I figured the rorters wouldnt be far away from keeping the prop now they got rid of JWH, thats sort of what I meant before about whether we could get in before it happened.. assumably not.. and this might mean the Roosters end up in the box seat to sign Taylan also.. the journos say its us and the roosters interested..

Now, if a player has a choice of signing for either the Dragons or the Roosters I would say that the preference would be the Roosters even if we offer a bit more.

If we had recently won a couple of grand finals then we might have a chance, we haven't so let's just plod along.

 

[offiah]

Plod along, nothing to see here…

 

[dungay dragon]

Yeah was just checking whether it was speculation or something you'd heard...

Was mentioned on SEN Radio B Fletcher yesterday ...
Nothing more than that....

 

[RedVee]

I watched 360 last night, I know I know. But they had James Graham & Woods on. They were talking about coaches and how they much appreciated those that told them the truth - even if unpalatable - over those that sugar coated it or bull shitted.
At the end I thought I heard Graham say quietly - I was lied to at St George. The segment moved on and nothing more on it.

Anyone else hear that? Was he here under both Mary and Hook?

 

[Dragon David]

I watched 360 last night, I know I know. But they had James Graham & Woods on. They were talking about coaches and how they much appreciated those that told them the truth - even if unpalatable - over those that sugar coated it or bull shitted.
At the end I thought I heard Graham say quietly - I was lied to at St George. The segment moved on and nothing more on it.

Anyone else hear that? Was he here under both Mary and Hook?

Graham signed a 3 year deal with us from 2018 to 2020 to be coached by Mary. Hook didn't start coaching us until 2021. We had one of the worst years under Mary in 2019 coming 15th and Graham was released early by us and he went to St Helens in June 2020 and won the 2020 Super League Grand Final.

If you heard him say that he was lied to then it would have been interesting to hear if the panel asked him what over.

 

[baggygreen man]

Matt Feagai who I must admit had a rly good game last week (not so good the week before), but hes really a similar player to Lomax.. big hard carries, good under a defensive bomb.. but thats it..

I say leave him where he is, seems to be building a good partnership with his brother. He has proven the past two years he is not FG standard, specially defensively.

 

[baggygreen man]

What's sad is that we should have a fleet of outside backs ready for 1st grade right now.. but we lost them.. and it wasn't our choice.

Do elaborate Rev.

 

[baggygreen man]

May slips straight into Birds position and Bird fly's off to UK super league

Oh yes, make it happen.

 

[steerlerbab]

I say leave him where he is, seems to be building a good partnership with his brother. He has proven the past two years he is not FG standard, specially defensively.

Agree. He is not FG at the moment. Specially his defence. 2022 when he first came up to FG, he had a good step and scored couple of freakish tries (one against Broncs I still remember). Maybe it was coached out of him or had an injury in 2023. Anyway, with our roster, I expect to see him back in FG this year if there is one or two injuries.

 

[baggygreen man]

Hope we don't lose Tamale to the Eels - we only just poached him from Union.

You could count on one hand the outside backs lining up to play top grade, compared to the number of forwards. Is Imperative we keep two of few, Tamale and Finau.

 

[RedVee]

Graham signed a 3 year deal with us from 2018 to 2020 to be coached by Mary. Hook didn't start coaching us until 2021. We had one of the worst years under Mary in 2019 coming 15th and Graham was released early by us and he went to St Helens in June 2020 and won the 2020 Super League Grand Final.

If you heard him say that he was lied to then it would have been interesting to hear if the panel asked him what over.

No one asked.
But the conversation was mostly about being dropped, being told how you were performing, what you need to do to get back into the first team. Etc

 

[steerlerbab]

Agree. He is not FG at the moment. Specially his defence. 2022 when he first came up to FG, he had a good step and scored couple of freakish tries (one against Broncs I still remember). Maybe it was coached out of him or had an injury in 2023. Anyway, with our roster, I expect to see him back in FG this year if there is one or two injuries.

Well, After thinking about Matt Feagai, I thought what really went wrong in 2023. So went searching and found this in youtube. It is highlights Matt Feagai from 2022.


Seriously, I would have thought he would be a regular first grader by 2024. That try against Broncs (around 9th minute), he stepped 7 Broncos. Anyway, there were few nice ones that he linked with Ramsey too.

Surely we were jinxed. Apart from Sloan, all these young guys coming up together, have more or else failed. yes, jinxed. There can be no other explanation.

 

[Dragon David]

No one asked.
But the conversation was mostly about being dropped, being told how you were performing, what you need to do to get back into the first team. Etc

I would think that many of our players who played under Mary's ways of coaching were not that happy. You could see it with Brett Morris's stints during the after match press conferences, same with Gareth Widdop and I suppose James Graham.

With Shane Flanagan though, he will be open and honest with his players and that's the way to maintain the respect that the players should have of their coach.

 

[Dragon David]

Well, After thinking about Matt Feagai, I thought what really went wrong in 2023. So went searching and found this in youtube. It is highlights Matt Feagai from 2022.


Seriously, I would have thought he would be a regular first grader by 2024. That try against Broncs (around 9th minute), he stepped 7 Broncos. Anyway, there were few nice ones that he linked with Ramsey too.

Surely we were jinxed. Apart from Sloan, all these young guys coming up together, have more or else failed. yes, jinxed. There can be no other explanation.

They were great highlights of Matt Feagai, thanks. We looked like world beaters in those highlights and gee I wish that Cody Ramsey didn't have that medical problem as he also shone. Hunt looked very happy as well.

What happened in 2023 then? Hook wasn't wanted and got the sack. Hunt wasn't happy and I'm thinking many of the others were the same. It was as if they said what's the use and gave up during that time leading up to Hook's sacking and their attitude changed when Ryan Carr took over but too late.

I don't think we were jinxed but the guys were dispirited or disheartened in a big way.

The Dragons have been down for way too long and getting out of the doldrums will take a while to overcome.

We need to secure several game winners. Powerful props and fast backs and become defensively stronger. Wean out all of the weaknesses.

 

[Parko1310]

May day: Dragons target Terrell as part of package deal with siblings

St George Illawarra are making a late play for Terrell May, with the added lure of the prop possibly joining the Red V with brothers Tyrone and Taylan.

www.smh.com.au