The Rumours Thread

[Ronnie Dobbs]

With the cap increase coming they could just throw an extra 500K and make it av 1.1m per year.

Why not. They are literally spending 1.1m on Lawrie and Sloan right now lmao

Correct. The extra will be absorbed by inflation.

 

[Slippery Morris]

Saints are offering 5 years the others 4. He surely must be considering the extra year of 1 mil guaranteed. I don't think Saints are out of it as people think as the extra year is surely playing on his mind. 2 premiership winning coaches or a rookie who could end up like O'Brien, Kearney and all these other ex-rookie coaches who achieved nothing but where talked in high regard. Should be out of Saints and Souths you would think.

 

[Mojo]

He is being offered the opportunity to be a long term leader of a great young group of emerging forwards in a team at the turning point. It’s an opportunity for him to establish himself as one of the greats.
(I’m hoping he’s reading this!).
Cmon KK!!!

 

[The Word]

I'd be making sure his manager knows we might have some wiggle room if necessary to get the deal over the line.

 

[saints4ever]

If the manager is worth his sauce, he has already sounded out all clubs about what the deals are and given the chance to upgrade
He clearly did this with Souths hence why the 11th hour desperation attempt

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

Flat lining S4e ?

 

[saints4ever]

Flat lining S4e ?

code blue. but there's no saving us

 

[possm]

Isn't it funny that Glover (nil NRL games) and Ilias (not able to be deemed a regular NRL player) didn't want to bide their time and back themselves and wait for a First Grade opportunity, yet, Savala (after establishing himself in first grade in 2025) is happy to stay and wait for his opportunity. Money seems to be the biggest difference. Savala knows that Politis will make sure it is financially better for him to stay.

When Kyle was struggling with form, Glover should have been given a chance to shine.

 

[dragon thomo]

Your right about Glover Possm but with our front row it would of been putting a lamb to the slaughter. In the end he should have been given a chance

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

code blue. but there's no saving us

I mean it does have a bit of a CCR feel about it just now

Better run through the jungle


Thought I heard a rumblin'
Calling to my name
Two hundred million guns are loaded
Satan cries, "Take aim"

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

When Kyle was struggling with form, Glover should have been given a chance to shine.

I think risk management is more about “if Glover doesn’t shine” but maybe Benny Bennet can make him shine from Rd 1 at the Bunnies !

Yabai !!!

 

[UDGE]

So some think we should pay massive overs to get KK here .
Remember Bunt how did that go , f@#kn s!@t house from memory .
Ok so he ends up here on a mill a year . Then some of the young lads just , well turn out to be better , it happens .
Then you have a scenario where you lose one or two rising saints stars in the near future to keep a has been . As a lot of people have stated he's no where near a million dollar player , many say very over rated and he's injured.
Be careful what you wish for .

 

[Bayside Dragon]

So some think we should pay massive overs to get KK here .
Remember Bunt how did that go , f@#kn s!@t house from memory .
Ok so he ends up here on a mill a year . Then some of the young lads just , well turn out to be better , it happens .
Then you have a scenario where you lose one or two rising saints stars in the near future to keep a has been . As a lot of people have stated he's no where near a million dollar player , many say very over rated and he's injured.
Be careful what you wish for .

And that star player could be one season-ending injury away from putting us back where we started from. Much rather we invested in junior pathways like Penrith, Storm, Raiders and Broncos.

 

[thebigredv]

The young forwards need an established hard-headed leader.

Anyway, we are not getting one for 2026 so I guess we can all just continue the debate about paying overs for players vs signing no one for another year to come while we languish between 17th and 11th.

 

[Nutz]

When is the last time we signed a high end rep quality Sydney based player?

Sua I suspect and questionably Frizzell before him.

Gutho, Cook at the end of the road Suli well hardly top end, Widdop & Mann ex Storm, Hunt ex Broncos, Molo ex Qld, Holmes ex Cowboys.

If not for the out of town imports by Bennett we might still be waiting for a premiership.

Old Timer and @RedVee, what can be done to turn this once super club around and start winning Premierships again.
I'm reading a lot about the front office, signings, relocation and travelling.
My Tigers have been playing that tune since 05.
Maybe there is something in this as it's a carbon copy of our problems.
If Sydney clubs had to adopt group clubs and play half their home games there, Saints and the Tigers would be clubhouse leaders as they say in golf .

 

[Old Timer]

Old Timer and @RedVee, what can be done to turn this once super club around and start einning Premierships again.
I'm reading a lot about the front office, signings, relocation and travelling.
My Tigers have been playing that tune since 05.
Maybe there us something in this as it's a carbon copy of our problems.
If Sydney clubs had to adopt group clubs and play half their home games there, Saints and the Tigers would be clubhouse leaders as they say in golf .

Not easy any of it and whilst many disagree with me IMO if not for a crop of wonderful juniors in the Bennett period we would still be waiting.

Holding onto your own juniors and cultivating them whilst also doing that type of development with a few kids from the regions has to be the foundation of any club that wisheto be successful.

Having a coach that is proven in the art of getting the very best out of players and getting them to rep level is also important.

Trouble is with player managers getting huge money by manipulating their players and clubs alike any sense of fair trading is almost impossible and then of course there is the issue of tpa’s and under the table deals.

In respect of attracting stars from other clubs perhaps clubs that finish out of the 8 should get extra cap allowances depending how far down the ladder they finish.

 

[RedVee]

Old Timer and @RedVee, what can be done to turn this once super club around and start einning Premierships again.
I'm reading a lot about the front office, signings, relocation and travelling.
My Tigers have been playing that tune since 05.
Maybe there us something in this as it's a carbon copy of our problems.
If Sydney clubs had to adopt group clubs and play half their home games there, Saints and the Tigers would be clubhouse leaders as they say in golf .

G’day @Nutz,

Gee that’s a question. I’ll try.
1. A front office & Board with ambition.
2. Build the junior pathways.
3. Season the juniors that rise to the top with the best possible outsiders.
4. Build the off field network of business and “famous” supporters that could assist players with mentoring, and possibly post career opportunities.
4a. The same group or others might be able to assist in TPA’s.

I think the first two of these have commenced. No 3 we are having huge difficulties with, a real problem area. No 4 I think is happening, but 4a seems a problem area as well.

Where we are ahead of your Tigers is that we are close to having just one identity. St George Illawarra Dragons, main jersey is white with a Red V. Only one emblem - a Dragon or St George with a Dragon.

Whereas, I have learned from you and from recent events - the problem with two emblems, a tiger with a magpie looking over his shoulder as it were. Two competing requirements for home/main jersey - can it be orange? Or black? We are lucky that the foresight was there at our formation to settle those sticking points.

Unfortunately with clubs formed by JV, there will always be some people dissatisfied. I think we have less of that than you. Our main gripe (imo) has all stemmed from a decade (plus) of point 1 not being met, and probably being a full 180 degrees from where we needed them.

 

[Nutz]

G’day @Nutz,

Gee that’s a question. I’ll try.
1. A front office & Board with ambition.
2. Build the junior pathways.
3. Season the juniors that rise to the top with the best possible outsiders.
4. Build the off field network of business and “famous” supporters that could assist players with mentoring, and possibly post career opportunities.
4a. The same group or others might be able to assist in TPA’s.

I think the first two of these have commenced. No 3 we are having huge difficulties with, a real problem area. No 4 I think is happening, but 4a seems a problem area as well.

Where we are ahead of your Tigers is that we are close to having just one identity. St George Illawarra Dragons, main jersey is white with a Red V. Only one emblem - a Dragon or St George with a Dragon.

Whereas, I have learned from you and from recent events - the problem with two emblems, a tiger with a magpie looking over his shoulder as it were. Two competing requirements for home/main jersey - can it be orange? Or black? We are lucky that the foresight was there at our formation to settle those sticking points.

Unfortunately with clubs formed by JV, there will always be some people dissatisfied. I think we have less of that than you. Our main gripe (imo) has all stemmed from a decade (plus) of point 1 not being met, and probably being a full 180 degrees from where we needed them.

Bloody heck mate, what an awesome response. You should be on the Dragons board

 

[Nutz]

Not easy any of it and whilst many disagree with me IMO if not for a crop of wonderful juniors in the Bennett period we would still be waiting.

Holding onto your own juniors and cultivating them whilst also doing that type of development with a few kids from the regions has to be the foundation of any club that wisheto be successful.

Having a coach that is proven in the art of getting the very best out of players and getting them to rep level is also important.

Trouble is with player managers getting huge money by manipulating their players and clubs alike any sense of fair trading is almost impossible and then of course there is the issue of tpa’s and under the table deals.

In respect of attracting stars from other clubs perhaps clubs that finish out of the 8 should get extra cap allowances depending how far down the ladder they finish.

Well said.
I believe dodgy managers like Moses are given the tools and the keys to rip clubs apart.
They fill the heads of potential stars, like Lachlan Galvin, with world beater status after he has only just made his debut.
If you've got an hour spare I can explain and convince you that an NRL Apprenticeship Scheme would work.
It's the answer to problems like paying overs for potential, senior players getting more out of the cap as they have deserved it and you take away the unscrupulous power and behaviour of dodgy managers.

 

[Nutz]

It helps to have a great nursery but having the club backed to the hilt seems to be more important, no better example than the successful rorters.
I think having a coach like bellyache who can set the bar high and is uncompromising and the players lift or go home. Simple.
He hasn't missed the finals yet has he?
Flannigan is also uncompromising, maybe if he built his own roster like bellyache did, you guys would be right up there.
Bellyache did have the luxury of having several superstars to build his club around , but still, the high bar was set from the getgo.