The Rumours Thread

[justadragon]

According to Riccio a major sticking point with JAC is he is asking for a 3 year deal.

He is not in a position to be demanding anything, no club has really shown much. This is his manager once again trying to push for everything. I wouldnt like a 3 year deal for him DD.

 

[Mojo]

FFS! When will these drongos ever understand that cocaine and a career as a ‘professional‘ athlete aren‘t compatible?

You made your bed, lie in It!

 

[TheRev]

was curious how long a contract JAC would be after.. 2yrs seems reasonable.. not horrified by 3 if the dollars werent crazy.. hes 29.5 when next season kicks off.. only issue is if his injuries continue to degrade.

Flanno loves this though when he has all the power... as BigRig mentioned though.. his love of winning deals means we can easily miss all of them.. he has balls of steel, but im at a loss as to how hes going to spend our salary cap if we dont get atleast 1 of Gutho and JAC.. and im sure we could afford 2.

 

[Jubilee]

According to Riccio a major sticking point with JAC is he is asking for a 3 year deal.

3 year deals are for highly desirable players being chased by multiple clubs.

 

[Jubilee]

He is not in a position to be demanding anything, no club has really shown much. This is his manager once again trying to push for everything. I wouldnt like a 3 year deal for him DD.

It is always the three year deals that screw up your pathways. They mess up your roster flexibility and they discourage younger players coming through who will compete for that position. If you want a third year, play really well in your second. We aren't a retirement home.

Ofc, if a player is hot and in the start/middle of his career, and other teams want him, then sure, 3 years can be appropriate.

 

[Mojo]

I love the way NRL has created a situation in which players now expect huge money and long-term security. It’s getting ridiculous.

 

[Desperate Dragon]

He is not in a position to be demanding anything, no club has really shown much. This is his manager once again trying to push for everything. I wouldnt like a 3 year deal for him DD.

Exactly right Justa.
Being driven by his manager more than likely to go high end both for money and a longer term contract.
Highly unlikely he will get that anywhere at the back end of his career in the NRL.
If the quotes from Flanagan are true, there is not room at the Dragons for both JAC and Gutherson, with Gutho being the clear priority now.
There are some suggestions that JAC could end up at South's.
Bennett is way too smart a coach to have Latrell and JAC together at the same club.

 

[SnowDragon]

I love the way NRL has created a situation in which players now expect huge money and long-term security. It’s getting ridiculous.

Add to that if they later feel they are underpaid, the contract means little and they agitate to upgrade or move.

 

[SnowDragon]

Guys, anyone have details about us signing lots of youngsters from north Qld ? Something in telegraph sport

 

[justadragon]

Guys, anyone have details about us signing lots of youngsters from north Qld ? Something in telegraph sport

NRLW girls

 

[TruSaint]

Just announce Gutho FFS.
We need a mature leader who puts it all out there, more than any glamour signings.
On and off the field the guy is a key signing.

 

[BigRedVee]

was curious how long a contract JAC would be after.. 2yrs seems reasonable.. not horrified by 3 if the dollars werent crazy.. hes 29.5 when next season kicks off.. only issue is if his injuries continue to degrade.

Flanno loves this though when he has all the power... as BigRig mentioned though.. his love of winning deals means we can easily miss all of them.. he has balls of steel, but im at a loss as to how hes going to spend our salary cap if we dont get atleast 1 of Gutho and JAC.. and im sure we could afford 2.

Playing hard ball and being cautious with our cap will enable us to buy a few more quality players next season, so I’m happy for Flano to play the long game.

Moving Rava and Lawrie from there over-priced contracts is the key for us and if we can get one of them out this season and buy another proper first grader.

If we can land say Lodge, another prop, Gutho, Atkinson plus Homes it makes a massive improvement on this year’s squad.

 

[Jubilee]

Playing hard ball and being cautious with our cap will enable us to buy a few more quality players next season, so I’m happy for Flano to play the long game.

Moving Rava and Lawrie from there over-priced contracts is the key for us and if we can get one of them out this season and buy another proper first grader.

If we can land say Lodge, another prop, Gutho, Atkinson plus Homes it makes a massive improvement on this year’s squad.

Rava and Laurie are contracted until end 2026. That just breaks my brain.

 

[TheRev]

Playing hard ball and being cautious with our cap will enable us to buy a few more quality players next season, so I’m happy for Flano to play the long game.

In theory yes.. and I totally get it.. its what winning clubs get to do in negotiations.. but the amount of guys we miss over 50k etc.. tends to end up with us chasing 3rd 4th or 5th priority targets.. we end up with a lot of depth but not a lot of guaranteed first graders.. and we have to hope that the depth outperforms expectations.. but I dunno if missing virtually every target is winning..

Atleast 1 of JAC/Gutho has to come I reckon, or our cap wont be spent.. we may have to 'again' frontload salaries or try to buy out Lawries 2yrs or something.. but im very very nervous about this roster next year in what I think will be the most competitive competition yet.

2026 is a different story.. id be surprised if Atkinson comes a year early.. but would be lovely if he did..

 

[Dragsters]

There's a lot of us who would like Atkinson to come but does anyone have any kind of Intel that suggests he/we are considering it?

 

[TheRev]

Guys, anyone have details about us signing lots of youngsters from north Qld ? Something in telegraph sport

Ayios posted it somewhere, 14 of them lol.. living in a 9 bedroom house.. obviously for the dragons squad, as the steelers nursery is elite.

 

[Desperate Dragon]

Just announce Gutho FFS.
We need a mature leader who puts it all out there, more than any glamour signings.
On and off the field the guy is a key signing.

I agree that Gutherson is just the sort of no nonsense lead by example player we need.
Plus the type of player to school Sloan in the real art of fullback play.
But according to Flanagan's comments today, the ball is in Gutherson's court if he wants to stay at Parramatta next year, or look elsewhere for 2025.
So reading between the lines, no formal offer has even been made to Gutho for 2025.
May well be if Gutherson does join the Dragons, it will not be until 2026.

 

[Jubilee]

There's a lot of us who would like Atkinson to come but does anyone have any kind of Intel that suggests he/we are considering it?

No. All wishful thinking. But we are a good match for him. As of this year and next year at Cronulla he is in NSW cup and behind Trindall. If he comes to us, he goes straight into first grade.

If anyone can give me his number I will give him a call and explain it all to him.

 

[qld redvee]

I agree that Gutherson is just the sort of no nonsense lead by example player we need.
Plus the type of player to school Sloan in the real art of fullback play.
But according to Flanagan's comments today, the ball is in Gutherson's court if he wants to stay at Parramatta next year, or look elsewhere for 2025.
So reading between the lines, no formal offer has even been made to Gutho for 2025.
May well be if Gutherson does join the Dragons, it will not be until 2026.

I'd say gutho has to ask for a release from contract for 25 if the price is suitable

 

[Gareth67]

I agree that Gutherson is just the sort of no nonsense lead by example player we need.
Plus the type of player to school Sloan in the real art of fullback play.
But according to Flanagan's comments today, the ball is in Gutherson's court if he wants to stay at Parramatta next year, or look elsewhere for 2025.
So reading between the lines, no formal offer has even been made to Gutho for 2025.
May well be if Gutherson does join the Dragons, it will not be until 2026.

If Gutherson is indeed looking towards his future security as a player , then for mine it would make more sense to take on a contract that does include season 2025 plus another 2 years .

I am sure that would be a far more attractive arrangement for any prospective club , even if he signed for 2 seasons ( ‘25 & ‘26 ) with an option for a third in the clubs favour .

With the man getting no younger and the fact that he has always given 100% in his matches there is the chance that his longevity will not be greater than 2 seasons .