The Rumours Thread

[twinkletoes]

We need to be as ruthless as Bulldogs. They sacked Barrett after I think Magic Round in Brisbane where they played the most boring one off style of football I've ever seen and after a string of losses. Our football this season apart from 2 halves against Roosters and Souths has been the same. Make the decision now and not at the end of the season and then start the recruitment process. At least give a new coach half a chance of establishing a roster and support staff etc instead of wasting half of next season.

My only concern is that once McCullough, Woods, McGuire, Kerr, Burgess etc leave there will be an almighty hole in the forward roster with very little depth to fill it in the short term. I keep hearing from Hunt, Griffin, Webb that we have a plan and are heading in the right direction....I would like to know what that plan is exactly and how it is being implemented because for the life of me I can't see it..

 

[Dragon David]

I'd like to say that there are so many good analysts on this forum and I'd like to thank them for their great inputs.

 

[Qdf]

we should be blooding Muhleisen now for the rest of the season, whats the use of keeping Macca there, should be Mbye and the kid, but our risk taker coach knows there is a mathematical chance of making the finals,

Good call on Mulheisen.
Making the finals.

 

[randomdragon]

Need better coaching for reserve grade. I’m not too sure what’s happening with jersey flegg possibly @George Dragon could shed some light on jersey flegg. Reserve grade coach literally has no credentials besides an assistant to a jersey flegg side yet he still got the job.

 

[Dragon David]

Need better coaching for reserve grade. I’m not too sure what’s happening with jersey flegg possibly @George Dragon could shed some light on jersey flegg. Reserve grade coach literally has no credentials besides an assistant to a jersey flegg side yet he still got the job.

The reserve grade really started off poorly in about the first 4 games and then came good winning 4 straight by good margins then the results were up and down to the last loss to the Jets.

They have won 9 and drawn one and lost 10 games so pretty close to how the first grade is going.

I think the whole coaching team need to be revitalised and that includes getting rid of Hook.

Hook to me was only appointed as there were not many other "suitable" applicants. He was the best of a bad lot in my opinion. The critical thing as far as I am concerned is that the Board extended him to the end of 2023 at the start of this year before a ball was kicked. If they hadn't, Hook might have "tried harder", not that he hasn't been, to get a renewed contract or on the other hand, the Board could now be interviewing for a new coach, which could happen soon anyway and pay him out but I doubt this will happen.

 

[justadragon]

Need better coaching for reserve grade. I’m not too sure what’s happening with jersey flegg possibly @George Dragon could shed some light on jersey flegg. Reserve grade coach literally has no credentials besides an assistant to a jersey flegg side yet he still got the job.

you are a 100% right, and who do you blame for that when we get a coach with no credentials in charge of KOE, which in the big picture is a very important part of the structure. What job in the world that requires specialist knowledge and coaching experience would you give to someone with no credentials, you guessed it the Dragons KOE job, mind you we had a HC with really no credentials for many years as well,

 

[possm]

When will Craig Young and his fellow Board members take responsibility for the MESS our club is in?

 

[possm]

If we were looking at what is in the best interest of our club, I'm sure it would be a halves combination of two of the following 3 players, Amone / Sullivan / Kyle Flanningan. Hunt to hooker or to be released.

 

[dannyt]

When will Craig Young and his fellow Board members take responsibility for the MESS our club is in?

 

[Mojo]

We don't have to release Hunt! Who has said he is insisting on playing at 7, anyway - some gossip mongering, rag-writing journo? I suspect it's pure gossip. But, in any case, we have Hunt, Sullivan and Muhleisen - all capable hookers. I know many say the latter two 'aren't ready' but a guy with 300 games under his belt isn't killing it in the hooker role either, is he? Hunt and Sullivan are also capable halfbacks. Why are we talking about getting rid of or loosing either or both of these good players, when there's an obvious option for some really creative rotations and combinations in these key positions. It's so irritating that we have such a talented squad but we play such a conservative style of footy and endlessly self-flagellate until good footballers get totally pissed-off.
FFS, there's an obvious problem in the coaching structures. Come on guys, with this squad you can practically train for the basics skills, work on a good defensive structure, which surely only requires that you study some other sides. It's not something you have to invent from scratch! Put some speed in at dummy half and then, just let the team play their natural attacking footy. Jees. we spend a small fortune every year just trying to do this!? It's the Saint George rugby league club, not under 16's schoolboys footy. Get real!

 

[redv13]

Need better coaching for reserve grade. I’m not too sure what’s happening with jersey flegg possibly @George Dragon could shed some light on jersey flegg. Reserve grade coach literally has no credentials besides an assistant to a jersey flegg side yet he still got the job.

Flegg are doing fine under Willie Talau. The reserve grade coach Russ Aitken is an absolute flop and he needs to be f**ked off asap back to Helensburgh Tigers. Useless!!

 

[randomdragon]

Flegg are doing fine under Willie Talau. The reserve grade coach Russ Aitken is an absolute flop and he needs to be f**ked off asap back to Helensburgh Tigers. Useless!!

Yes I like willie, they have had a tough month or 2 but hopefully can turn it around

 

[redv13]

Yes I like willie, they have had a tough month or 2 but hopefully can turn it around

They’ve dropped the last 3 but their last win vs the chooks at Central Coast was brilliant. The Week after they lost to Newie by 8 and they are running 2nd. Roosters, Knights top 2 then a gap to 3rd so the Flegg boys aren’t far away. Willie is doing a very good job with the 21’s and bringing in some young kids from SG Ball

 

[mightydragon]

Can he take that other flop Haran with him?

Flegg are doing fine under Willie Talau. The reserve grade coach Russ Aitken is an absolute flop and he needs to be f**ked off asap back to Helensburgh Tigers. Useless!!

 

[RedVee_8]

Talk that Mac is being shopped to Super League
Would be more than useful over there

I wondered if he’d get James Grahams gig

 

[Jeremy Dragon]

reserve grade coach Russ Aitken is an absolute flop and he needs to be f**ked off asap back to Helensburgh Tigers. Useless

Not a good f**kin sign to see him in the coaches box instead of Gentle

 

[slippery5]

I'd like to say that there are so many good analysts on this forum and I'd like to thank them for their great inputs.

My pleasure.LOL

 

[slippery5]

Hoops on MMM hinted at behind scenes of McCullough possible palm off to super league

 

[True_Believer]

both lower grade teams got hammered on the weekend and if you watched the highlights of KOE against the jets you would see why we are -100 and more, it shows clearly the standard there is way below par and it also explains why Sloan hasnt made any progress there either, I reserve the right to say it could also have something to do with his attitude but even still KOE and JF need a lot of work, its no wonder none of the first graders dont feel any pressure from below, its just not there anyway.

This is what some have been saying for months now. This is bigger than the first grade team. It's a bigger task across the whole organisation. From grades below JF right up to first grade.

I haven't seen JF but some are saying Talau is doing a good job with the team and bringing through/mentoring some good young players. So if this is the case, we need to try and get him to stay there because that's just the first piece in the puzzle. If not we need to move him on and find someone with an eye for talent and someone who can mentor these young players.

For KOE, we need a new coach. Once the young players hit that level, they are stalling and not making any progress. I know people seem to think players need to learn their craft in first grade, but that's just gimping 2 teams on the hope they will make it. We need quality coaching in that interim step and currently we don't have it. As you say justa, there just isn't any pressure from below. The KOE team is performing worse than the first grade team.

Then to first grade. When we signed Gentle I was concerned. His track record as a defensive coach at the Broncos before coming here was abysmal. They leaked like a sieve and yet we signed him up? Yes Hook has the last say, but realistically, why have assistants if the coach does everything? I don't know if Hook had a say in his ACs or whether it was all done by the club, but from the KOE coaches, to the assistant coaches to the strength and conditioning coaches we need to get it right.

I am by no means saying that Hook is the right person for the job. But what I am saying is that unless we get that whole production line right, and set up a coach for success, then it won't matter which coach we get in.

 

[mickeylane]

We need to be as ruthless as Bulldogs. They sacked Barrett after I think Magic Round in Brisbane where they played the most boring one off style of football I've ever seen and after a string of losses. Our football this season apart from 2 halves against Roosters and Souths has been the same. Make the decision now and not at the end of the season and then start the recruitment process. At least give a new coach half a chance of establishing a roster and support staff etc instead of wasting half of next season.

My only concern is that once McCullough, Woods, McGuire, Kerr, Burgess etc leave there will be an almighty hole in the forward roster with very little depth to fill it in the short term. I keep hearing from Hunt, Griffin, Webb that we have a plan and are heading in the right direction....I would like to know what that plan is exactly and how it is being implemented because for the life of me I can't see it..

With those players playing there already is a hole!! You can add Kerr, Grosiewski, Faamausilli, Ford to the departing forwards... we will need to recruit 10 forwards..Id be going for near first string forwards like Lane from Parra, Nikora, Royce Hunt (sharks), Tapine (Raiders)