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The Rumours Thread

Tez

Juniors
Messages
152
There are a lot of 18 year old players that have carved up lower grades only to falter in first grade.

No doubt the dragons are doing this but have to make sure we are not letting go of young juniors to pay a fortune for an untested kid. Very delicate balancing act.

And i dont mean to play the race card, and this is a slightly uninformed view, but taking an 18 year old indigenous kid away from his family and everything he has known for his whole life, definitely would be hard for him. It would be hard for anyone but i reckon even harder for indigenous youngsters.
We already have Tyrell Sloan tied up. He is in our system so will have no potential separation issues. They are same age and are fullbacks with utility value. They are very different style players, though very talented. Sloan is lighter and has fine skills while Cobbo is a power player. I wouldn't mind having both at the club given their points of difference and utility value and especially if Matt Dufty leaves.
 

denis preston

First Grade
Messages
8,775
I thought the pathways program gave the young players belief that a position or positions were open to them in the future should they deserve it . We dont need to block these with these sort of signings , backs we have covered , it is forwards we need, young with potential and current high quality NRL standard.
 

boardlumps62

Juniors
Messages
1,481
There are a lot of 18 year old players that have carved up lower grades only to falter in first grade.

No doubt the dragons are doing this but have to make sure we are not letting go of young juniors to pay a fortune for an untested kid. Very delicate balancing act.

And i dont mean to play the race card, and this is a slightly uninformed view, but taking an 18 year old indigenous kid away from his family and everything he has known for his whole life, definitely would be hard for him. It would be hard for anyone but i reckon even harder for indigenous youngsters.
Yes I understand what you are saying it's a big move to take young boys no matter where they are from to the big smoke or away from their families. We have the capability to look after them but sometimes their family move to help the transition. For indigenous lads do we still have the likes of Ricky Walford and Jeff Hardy involved with the club. We do have some families that would take them in I'm sure. Doesn't always work.
 

Willow

Assistant Moderator
Messages
110,054
Yes I understand what you are saying it's a big move to take young boys no matter where they are from to the big smoke or away from their families. We have the capability to look after them but sometimes their family move to help the transition. For indigenous lads do we still have the likes of Ricky Walford and Jeff Hardy involved with the club. We do have some families that would take them in I'm sure. Doesn't always work.
Ricky Walford is still very much involved with the Club. Plus Nathan Blacklock recently called for more to be done and Clubs to appoint an indigenous counsellor.
 

Auntie.Gerald

First Grade
Messages
7,279
In early May Will Kennedy was......"Leading into round nine, Kennedy is ranked fourth among fullbacks for tries scored (six) and has produced four try assists."

https://www.zerotackle.com/rugby-league/players/william-kennedy/

He hasnt signed on as yet to the Sharks. I think he has upside as a better defending FB vs Dufty and in a top 4 finals type game i think he would be less isolated and give us better kick returns. His assists and tries aint shabby at all.

Should we go for Kennedy and sign him over Normie now...............He has upside too play FB and or 5/8.

So plenty of flexibility for FB or 5/8 and probably at a good value contract ie $400k to $500k pa?

any thoughts on upside or downside?
 

Maddragon99

Juniors
Messages
2,075
In early May Will Kennedy was......"Leading into round nine, Kennedy is ranked fourth among fullbacks for tries scored (six) and has produced four try assists."

https://www.nospam21.com/rugby-league/players/william-kennedy/

He hasnt signed on as yet to the Sharks. I think he has upside as a better defending FB vs Dufty and in a top 4 finals type game i think he would be less isolated and give us better kick returns. His assists and tries aint shabby at all.

Should we go for Kennedy and sign him over Normie now...............He has upside too play FB and or 5/8.

So plenty of flexibility for FB or 5/8 and probably at a good value contract ie $400k to $500k pa?

any thoughts on upside or downside?
Kennedy goes pretty well but I want to see a month of Ramsey at the back before I decide anything
 

BLM01

First Grade
Messages
9,975
In early May Will Kennedy was......"Leading into round nine, Kennedy is ranked fourth among fullbacks for tries scored (six) and has produced four try assists."

https://www.nospam21.com/rugby-league/players/william-kennedy/

He hasnt signed on as yet to the Sharks. I think he has upside as a better defending FB vs Dufty and in a top 4 finals type game i think he would be less isolated and give us better kick returns. His assists and tries aint shabby at all.

Should we go for Kennedy and sign him over Normie now...............He has upside too play FB and or 5/8.

So plenty of flexibility for FB or 5/8 and probably at a good value contract ie $400k to $500k pa?

any thoughts on upside or downside?
Downside - Sharks have Him as their No 1 signing internally and about to offer a contract... so too late
Upside - good player improved a hell of a lot this year and always troubles the Dragons- even for Newtown in reggies he carved us at times
Thoughts - Dufty will get resigned
 

Maddragon99

Juniors
Messages
2,075
Downside - Sharks have Him as their No 1 signing internally and about to offer a contract... so too late
Upside - good player improved a hell of a lot this year and always troubles the Dragons- even for Newtown in reggies he carved us at times
Thoughts - Dufty will get resigned
You’re probably right. I’ve got a feeling Hook will hedge his bets & offer Dufty a 12mth extension. Other clubs have the same trepidations we have about Dufty which is why no one else is actively pursuing him.

I still think Dufty’s best role in the team is as a bench utility or 18th man. The club can be patient & develop Ramsey who’s a natural fullback or go out & spend coin on Hynes or Kennedy. Either way I don’t think Dufty will be our first choice fullback in 2022.
 

redandwhite4evr

Juniors
Messages
1,932
There are a lot of 18 year old players that have carved up lower grades only to falter in first grade.

No doubt the dragons are doing this but have to make sure we are not letting go of young juniors to pay a fortune for an untested kid. Very delicate balancing act.

And i dont mean to play the race card, and this is a slightly uninformed view, but taking an 18 year old indigenous kid away from his family and everything he has known for his whole life, definitely would be hard for him. It would be hard for anyone but i reckon even harder for indigenous youngsters.

Dufty was one of the carvers you refer to.
 

Forbes Creek Dragons

First Grade
Messages
5,078

Maddragon99

Juniors
Messages
2,075
I have heard Corey Norman publicly state he wouldn’t move to England because he hates the cold weather. I can’t see him going to Canberra unless it’s for overs and I can’t see them paying overs.
I know I remembered the same thing but this is literally the first time there’s been any kind of speculation about Corey. He’ll probably end up in Qld reggies with Beale.
 

Forbes Creek Dragons

First Grade
Messages
5,078
I know I remembered the same thing but this is literally the first time there’s been any kind of speculation about Corey. He’ll probably end up in Qld reggies with Beale.
I reckon with his business commitments in Sydney he will end up signing for a Sydney team as a backup half and play reggies for the rest of his days with the odd stints here and there when injury strikes. Maybe the bunnies could use him as a backup if Benji doesn’t play on.
 

Maddragon99

Juniors
Messages
2,075
I reckon with his business commitments in Sydney he will end up signing for a Sydney team as a backup half and play reggies for the rest of his days with the odd stints here and there when injury strikes. Maybe the bunnies could use him as a backup if Benji doesn’t play on.
Does anyone know what the status of Sullivan is? The poor kid hasn’t played all year which hasn’t helped our cause either. I suspect Norman’s future will be influenced by what impact Sullivan has later this year.
 

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