The Rumours Thread

[Dragon Blood]

I'm much the same Dragon Blood. It has become so obvious to me that we just don't have the players. I mean we do have players, but boy oh boy they are not worth a penny most of them.

When you have Lomax conceding points and being useless in general play, when you have Bird who just isn't an edge player nor anything that suits the team. When you have Macca, Woods, Mbye, and other forwards who are ineffective, you cannot win the bigger games and that is what we want. No use just beating the lower teams, its winning against the better teams that matter.

Looking at what is coming up, I cannot see us winning too many games. Souths will be hard next Thursday.

We needed someone who could help us score more points tonight, like Sullivan, but Mr Hook made the wrong decision and left him out. Hook, you are a dumb arse.

Dragon David with respect, thank you for seeing the same things I am. Hook is way past the modern game, and I watched the 9 coverage tonight and they gladly announced we had the oldest side in the comp this round. I would say oldest and slowest and most boring to watch.

Still baffled we let Duffty go for Mbye with the right coaching at a cheap utility value., I think Duffty would have been a better and cheaper 14 than Mbye all day long for a long time.

We will never get near the top 4 spot with just one playmaker/kicker. Too much responsibility on Hunt and the rest of the comp know it and close it down. Amone is not the answer at this stage 1/2 way through the comp at 6. I would drop Amone to bench then play Hunt at 6 and Bud at 7 and have Mbye/Mcullah/Amone fight it out for 9.

If Hunt refuses to play 9 then f**k him off because he is not a team player, whilst getting accolades for his 9 position state and national level at 9.

In saying all of the above if I was coach I would have a spine of
1. Ramsey (best we have ATM after losing Dufty)
6. Hunt also at 9
9. Hunt preferably
7. Sullivan 100%
6. Hunt 1st choice, Amone (if Hunt at 9), Mbye 14, McCulluh 19

Forwards:
13 JDB
12 Sua
11 B/Burns, M Molo
9 Hunt
8 F Molo
10 McGuire


Back 2 to 5 :-
Frustrating..........
Slowmax needs a reality check and possibly some "gifted one" time in Ressies
Suli, was shown the door by Manly for a reason, cant pass either way and so many opportunities go to ground or opposition from just being a dumb merkin (probably the best on ground tonight though)

- Wingers no speed whatsoever apart from Rava's brute strength to get over the line when he ever gets the minute chance.
- Faigai boys, haven't set the NRL on fire and lack speed from what I have seen so far over the last couple of seasons.

So in summary from what I have seen in the last 18 months, out of all the juniors, I would say that Sullivan is the player to build a team around, the rest can go and explore other options.

 

[Dragon David]

Dragon David with respect, thank you for seeing the same things I am. Hook is way past the modern game, and I watched the 9 coverage tonight and they gladly announced we had the oldest side in the comp this round. I would say oldest and slowest and most boring to watch.

Still baffled we let Duffty go for Mbye with the right coaching at a cheap utility value., I think Duffty would have been a better and cheaper 14 than Mbye all day long for a long time.

We will never get near the top 4 spot with just one playmaker/kicker. Too much responsibility on Hunt and the rest of the comp know it and close it down. Amone is not the answer at this stage 1/2 way through the comp at 6. I would drop Amone to bench then play Hunt at 6 and Bud at 7 and have Mbye/Mcullah/Amone fight it out for 9.

If Hunt refuses to play 9 then f**k him off because he is not a team player, whilst getting accolades for his 9 position state and national level at 9.

In saying all of the above if I was coach I would have a spine of
1. Ramsey (best we have ATM after losing Dufty)
6. Hunt also at 9
9. Hunt preferably
7. Sullivan 100%
6. Hunt 1st choice, Amone (if Hunt at 9), Mbye 14, McCulluh 19

Forwards:
13 JDB
12 Sua
11 B/Burns, M Molo
9 Hunt
8 F Molo
10 McGuire


Back 2 to 5 :-
Frustrating..........
Slowmax needs a reality check and possibly some "gifted one" time in Ressies
Suli, was shown the door by Manly for a reason, cant pass either way and so many opportunities go to ground or opposition from just being a dumb merkin (probably the best on ground tonight though)

- Wingers no speed whatsoever apart from Rava's brute strength to get over the line when he ever gets the minute chance.
- Faigai boys, haven't set the NRL on fire and lack speed from what I have seen so far over the last couple of seasons.

So in summary from what I have seen in the last 18 months, out of all the juniors, I would say that Sullivan is the player to build a team around, the rest can go and explore other options.

Good on you Dragon Blood for your post. Nicely put.

Just like our coach, the players, where they are definitely needed are old and slow. Our team makes too many mistakes, just too many to maintain any pressure in both attack and defence.

Our wins this year have not been totally convincing and we have only beaten one team ahead of us (Roosters), all others below us on the table. Our attack is nothing and with more losses than wins it shows that our defence is no good.

The key to all of this is that the squad lacks speed. We need speed in all parts of the game. Play the ball fast, pass the ball fast, defend fast, attack fast. They are too slow. Breaks we make are easily defended by the opposition.

Hook needs to inject players with speed and endurance and must have at least 2 good kickers in general play. Last night the Cowboys had 3 - Townsend, Dearden and Drinkwater - so good.
We have Hunt. Amone nothing much and no-one else meaning Hunt takes the pressure.

I wonder if they even have races during training to see who our speedsters are?

Sullivan on his return from injury in reserves was part of getting our KOE team winning. He is quick, strong defender, can kick in general and kick goals. He should be the half but with Hook being coach and Hunt being the captain and half, won't happen.

We looked totally inept against the Cowboys virtually right from the start. The bye did not do us any favours. The Cows played the week before and a couple of players backed up from Origin and they still beat us convincingly.

NRL great calls out Dragons star for ‘cheap’ play as ’shocking’ moment exposes bigger issue

Ennis calls out Dragons star for ‘cheap’ play as ’shocking’ moment exposes bigger issue

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[BBTB]

Dragon David with respect, thank you for seeing the same things I am. Hook is way past the modern game, and I watched the 9 coverage tonight and they gladly announced we had the oldest side in the comp this round. I would say oldest and slowest and most boring to watch.

Still baffled we let Duffty go for Mbye with the right coaching at a cheap utility value., I think Duffty would have been a better and cheaper 14 than Mbye all day long for a long time.

We will never get near the top 4 spot with just one playmaker/kicker. Too much responsibility on Hunt and the rest of the comp know it and close it down. Amone is not the answer at this stage 1/2 way through the comp at 6. I would drop Amone to bench then play Hunt at 6 and Bud at 7 and have Mbye/Mcullah/Amone fight it out for 9.

If Hunt refuses to play 9 then f**k him off because he is not a team player, whilst getting accolades for his 9 position state and national level at 9.

In saying all of the above if I was coach I would have a spine of
1. Ramsey (best we have ATM after losing Dufty)
6. Hunt also at 9
9. Hunt preferably
7. Sullivan 100%
6. Hunt 1st choice, Amone (if Hunt at 9), Mbye 14, McCulluh 19

Forwards:
13 JDB
12 Sua
11 B/Burns, M Molo
9 Hunt
8 F Molo
10 McGuire


Back 2 to 5 :-
Frustrating..........
Slowmax needs a reality check and possibly some "gifted one" time in Ressies
Suli, was shown the door by Manly for a reason, cant pass either way and so many opportunities go to ground or opposition from just being a dumb merkin (probably the best on ground tonight though)

- Wingers no speed whatsoever apart from Rava's brute strength to get over the line when he ever gets the minute chance.
- Faigai boys, haven't set the NRL on fire and lack speed from what I have seen so far over the last couple of seasons.

So in summary from what I have seen in the last 18 months, out of all the juniors, I would say that Sullivan is the player to build a team around, the rest can go and explore other options.

Yes that team last night was a disaster. This current team,
With Bird, Woods,McCullough & Mbye playing hooker is utterly abysmal. They don't seem to know what they are supposed to be doing. Thinking they may not be having a go, Woods must go he's way passed it, take McCullough with you. Need Bud to play 5/8. Another kick option. Also add some "spark". Lomax needs to pull his "head in".If he can't get it together drop him , his form sucks.Must get some new blood in the forwards.
Those old f.cks just don't make the grade.
Really can't stand watching this utter crap that's being dished up by these nohopers
Week after week.
I am also thinking that whatever HOOK is supposed to be doing with this DAD'S army team is not working. Hook and Gentle as a coaching team are looking useless to me.

 

[Illusion]

Yes that team last night was a disaster. This current team,
With Bird, Woods,McCullough & Mbye playing hooker is utterly abysmal. They don't seem to know what they are supposed to be doing. Thinking they may not be having a go, Woods must go he's way passed it, take McCullough with you. Need Bud to play 5/8. Another kick option. Also add some "spark". Lomax needs to pull his "head in".If he can't get it together drop him , his form sucks.Must get some new blood in the forwards.
Those old f.cks just don't make the grade.
Really can't stand watching this utter crap that's being dished up by these nohopers
Week after week.
I am also thinking that whatever HOOK is supposed to be doing with this DAD'S army team is not working. Hook and Gentle as a coaching team are looking useless to me.

Again none of our forward ran 100m 3 or 4 of theirs did ...... So what does that tell us , aging slow for the modern game .....

 

[Inisai Toga]

Again none of our forward ran 100m 3 or 4 of theirs did ...... So what does that tell us , aging slow for the modern game .....

Or the side didn’t hold the ball for long enough for them to achieve that target.

 

[slippery5]

Heard that he injured his groin again.

Rubbing his abductor muscle which is very painful & debilitating.

 

[BBTB]

Or the side didn’t hold the ball for long enough for them to achieve that target.

Absolutely a bunch of NOHOPERS.

 

[BBTB]

Good on you Dragon Blood for your post. Nicely put.

Just like our coach, the players, where they are definitely needed are old and slow. Our team makes too many mistakes, just too many to maintain any pressure in both attack and defence.

Our wins this year have not been totally convincing and we have only beaten one team ahead of us (Roosters), all others below us on the table. Our attack is nothing and with more losses than wins it shows that our defence is no good.

The key to all of this is that the squad lacks speed. We need speed in all parts of the game. Play the ball fast, pass the ball fast, defend fast, attack fast. They are too slow. Breaks we make are easily defended by the opposition.

Hook needs to inject players with speed and endurance and must have at least 2 good kickers in general play. Last night the Cowboys had 3 - Townsend, Dearden and Drinkwater - so good.
We have Hunt. Amone nothing much and no-one else meaning Hunt takes the pressure.

I wonder if they even have races during training to see who our speedsters are?

Sullivan on his return from injury in reserves was part of getting our KOE team winning. He is quick, strong defender, can kick in general and kick goals. He should be the half but with Hook being coach and Hunt being the captain and half, won't happen.

We looked totally inept against the Cowboys virtually right from the start. The bye did not do us any favours. The Cows played the week before and a couple of players backed up from Origin and they still beat us convincingly.

NRL great calls out Dragons star for ‘cheap’ play as ’shocking’ moment exposes bigger issue

Ennis calls out Dragons star for ‘cheap’ play as ’shocking’ moment exposes bigger issue

www.foxsports.com.au

Thinking Hunt to 5/8 Bud to halfback. McCullough out.
Amone out. Mbye #14.
Forwards.....Woods out.
Jayden Hunt in.

 

[Number of the Beath]

I'm not Hunt-bashing, but I think that he might be a bit of a roadblock. He does a great job in the #9 for Queensland, but he's a born and bred #7 for us.
Except that he isn't.
He does have a knack of pulling out the odd 40-20 but otherwise his kicking game is unremarkable - where did the cheeky cross-field kicks from the trial games go - and his game management is C- at best. If Cherry-Evans got busted, Qld still wouldn't want Benny in the #7.
Hook is clearly complicit - enabling him to stay there. And Hook has been quite happy to have words with the likes of Sloan and Dufty in the past but can't say to Hunt "It's for the good of the team that you play #9 cos your old mate AM has as much go-forward as a moose in a wind tunnel."
If we don't give the Amone-Sullivan halves pairing a chance to grow and flourish we'll end up losing one or both of them and possibly bollocks their careers in the process. Like Tristan Sailor - who was never quite "ready", except that he was.
Though I suppose we can replace them both with some journeyman plodders while we wait for the next crop of youngsters to stymie.

 

[BLM01]

My rumour is the left field appointment of Flanno to list management to be only for a future list he will manage on field. I still believe Flanno is getting primed to take over
Hooks extension was purely a exercise for player managers and potential resignings to show some certainity within the club
They reported at the time that his payout if he is cut is not great.
Flanno is taking time to find who and what he wants and needs. We all know how certain current coaches and their contracts are especially if you are bottom 8.
3 coaches sacked in the past month deals expired at the end of 2023.

 

[OneEyedDragon]

My rumour is the left field appointment of Flanno to list management to be only for a future list he will manage on field. I still believe Flanno is getting primed to take over
Hooks extension was purely a exercise for player managers and potential resignings to show some certainity within the club
They reported at the time that his payout if he is cut is not great.
Flanno is taking time to find who and what he wants and needs. We all know how certain current coaches and their contracts are especially if you are bottom 8.
3 coaches sacked in the past month deals expired at the end of 2023.

I quite like this rumour @BLM01 . As Picard said - "Make It So"!

 

[Dragon David]

My rumour is the left field appointment of Flanno to list management to be only for a future list he will manage on field. I still believe Flanno is getting primed to take over
Hooks extension was purely a exercise for player managers and potential resignings to show some certainity within the club
They reported at the time that his payout if he is cut is not great.
Flanno is taking time to find who and what he wants and needs. We all know how certain current coaches and their contracts are especially if you are bottom 8.
3 coaches sacked in the past month deals expired at the end of 2023.

I like your rumour BLM01. Was that a rumour or speculation from our media people about Flanno saying he is waiting for the Bulldogs to call him? This of course has died in the water and there appears no other clubs are chasing Flanno - not overtly anyway.

 

[Slippery Morris]

Hey BLM01, I thought that to but as soon as the Dogs coaching position became available, Flanno jumped at the chance to let them know he was keen.

If Saints are smart they appoint Flanno as interim for the rest of the year ASAP and see how he goes. They can still make top 8 and lets be serious, the way they are going they are not going to make it unless they play Warriors and Dogs 3 times in the next few rounds. They are so far behind the top 8 sides it ain't funny. Even Titans made them look like they belong in the wooden spoon battle more than the top 8 fight.

 

[possm]

I'm not Hunt-bashing, but I think that he might be a bit of a roadblock. He does a great job in the #9 for Queensland, but he's a born and bred #7 for us.
Except that he isn't.
He does have a knack of pulling out the odd 40-20 but otherwise his kicking game is unremarkable - where did the cheeky cross-field kicks from the trial games go - and his game management is C- at best. If Cherry-Evans got busted, Qld still wouldn't want Benny in the #7.
Hook is clearly complicit - enabling him to stay there. And Hook has been quite happy to have words with the likes of Sloan and Dufty in the past but can't say to Hunt "It's for the good of the team that you play #9 cos your old mate AM has as much go-forward as a moose in a wind tunnel."
If we don't give the Amone-Sullivan halves pairing a chance to grow and flourish we'll end up losing one or both of them and possibly bollocks their careers in the process. Like Tristan Sailor - who was never quite "ready", except that he was.
Though I suppose we can replace them both with some journeyman plodders while we wait for the next crop of youngsters to stymie.

I agree! so while ever we have Hunt in our squad, we should play him at hooker and bring these two young guns through in the halves. Yes, they will make mistakes and yes they might even lose us a game or two but that is happening now anyway without any upside.

I'd say it best wee do it this season because if Sullivan turns out to not be the one and if Amone does not improve, we might just be in the market for a halves partner for Hunt and a hooker.

 

[slippery5]

My rumour is the left field appointment of Flanno to list management to be only for a future list he will manage on field. I still believe Flanno is getting primed to take over
Hooks extension was purely a exercise for player managers and potential resignings to show some certainity within the club
They reported at the time that his payout if he is cut is not great.
Flanno is taking time to find who and what he wants and needs. We all know how certain current coaches and their contracts are especially if you are bottom 8.
3 coaches sacked in the past month deals expired at the end of 2023.

I'm liking

 

[slippery5]

Hey BLM01, I thought that to but as soon as the Dogs coaching position became available, Flanno jumped at the chance to let them know he was keen.

If Saints are smart they appoint Flanno as interim for the rest of the year ASAP and see how he goes. They can still make top 8 and lets be serious, the way they are going they are not going to make it unless they play Warriors and Dogs 3 times in the next few rounds. They are so far behind the top 8 sides it ain't funny. Even Titans made them look like they belong in the wooden spoon battle more than the top 8 fight.

Remember Brother, Gould sacked Griffin when the Panthers were in the top 4, he believed they were there on talent & not coaching !!!!!!!!!!

 

[Dragon David]

Big rumour has it from Andrew Webster is that Cam Ciraldo is heading to the Dragons when Hook's contract finishes. He said you heard it right here. I'm waiting for my source to let me know where that "right here" is.

 

[Dragon David]

Big rumour has it from Andrew Webster is that Cam Ciraldo is heading to the Dragons when Hook's contract finishes. He said you heard it right here. I'm waiting for my source to let me know where that "right here" is.

Andrew Webster was speaking on the Footy Show this morning when he announced this. Saying that Ciraldo is choosing the Dragons because of the juniors that are coming through our system.

 

[blacksafake]

My rumour is the left field appointment of Flanno to list management to be only for a future list he will manage on field. I still believe Flanno is getting primed to take over
Hooks extension was purely a exercise for player managers and potential resignings to show some certainity within the club
They reported at the time that his payout if he is cut is not great.
Flanno is taking time to find who and what he wants and needs. We all know how certain current coaches and their contracts are especially if you are bottom 8.
3 coaches sacked in the past month deals expired at the end of 2023.

Would our club be smart enough to do something like this

Like the rumour though.

 

[Coffs dragon]

Big rumour has it from Andrew Webster is that Cam Ciraldo is heading to the Dragons when Hook's contract finishes. He said you heard it right here. I'm waiting for my source to let me know where that "right here" is.

I like that rumour and really sounds too good to be true.
Certainly big wraps on him in charge of the Panthers defence.
3 clubs that have sacked their coaches are all supposedly chasing him and hopefully we are the 4th and the successful winner for his services.