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The Rumours Thread

Trifili13

Juniors
Messages
1,135
Well I wonder how we got that culture problem? Perhaps it was because we have spent the last decade and in particular the last 2 years signing mostly journeymen from the bottom of the NRL scrap heap and playing them in first grade at the expense of our local juniors? They’ve spent the best part of a decade slowly stripping the team of any positive identity and every last piece of heart and soul. And they’re just working out there’s a culture problem? What geniuses they are. Welcome to the St.George Illawarra Plodders.
Isn't there a team in the QLD Cup (or similar) called the Clydesdales. Maybe they should become our feeder club, going from Clydesdales to Plodders.
 

Gourley's Socks

Juniors
Messages
455
Seems our Chairman Craig Young has been busy supplying a character reference for Brett Finch, describing him as very caring and having leadership qualities.

I really don't know how to feel about this. Maybe Finch is a great guy and needs a friend right now, but then maybe Albert may be best served in keeping the club out of potential controversy given how poorly they have performed for more than a decade
There might be a clue to the club's poor culture when the chairman considers a convicted child sex offender and self-confessed drug addict a good egg who just made a mistake.
 

Parko1310

Juniors
Messages
1,459
“I can’t believe 3 players went to the Red V awards night,” Cooper wrote in a tweet.

“Actually I can! The club has no loyalty and honour anymore. That all stopped when Wayne Bennett left".

Comments from Matt Cooper on twitter. Perhaps a few of the old boys could come in and help work on our deteriorating culture.
 

Maddragon99

Juniors
Messages
2,075
look im not going to bag musgrove, he's coming to the dragons as a replacement for burgess, if he runs hard and tackles hard for more than 4 games we are in front. all the best mate welcome to the dragons.
I wasn’t bagging the guy, just pointing out that both Liddle & Musgrove have come from a losing culture.

As a comparison, Cronulla paid overs for Finucane last year because of the off-field leadership he brings.

Personally I’m tired of Hook’s Moneyball/dumpster diving approach with acquisitions like Woods, Burgess & F Molo. You can argue both Molo’s went ok for us but Francis wasn’t the Origin caliber leader we were looking for. Francis averaged 92m 21.8 tackles a game less than Lawrie (117/29) & de Belin (99/32.4)
who were our starting props by the end of the year. I think the general consensus is that de Belin’s best position is Lock but he had to start upfront due to Molo’s lack of production.

Musgrove might kill it next year, I hope he does but I won’t be hanging up the bunting for him just yet.
 
Messages
786
2 signings from this seasons spooners

Onwards and upwards

What other goodies do they have in store for us
I actually prefer signings from bottom clubs than top clubs. There is no way in hell a top player comes from the Melbourne or Penrith system and improves at the Dragons. Much more likely to get a good buy from a club with bad management.
 

ChocOConnor

Juniors
Messages
448
I just read article about G Burgess and how he didn’t want to return to training due to his relationship with Hook. Now GB may not be everyone’s cup of tea but he stated the club is great but he didn’t want to go down the path of training for a guy who basically gave him nothing. No confidence in him no plan. I think the BoD have heard enough to know what the problem is. So they are hoping Hook with dig his own grave in the first 6 weeks next year and justify him being sacked. I can’t see any other reason to put up with all this negativity from not only the media and fans. The players that run out are the ones who can’t stand the coach.
 

Illusion

Bench
Messages
3,253
I just read article about G Burgess and how he didn’t want to return to training due to his relationship with Hook. Now GB may not be everyone’s cup of tea but he stated the club is great but he didn’t want to go down the path of training for a guy who basically gave him nothing. No confidence in him no plan. I think the BoD have heard enough to know what the problem is. So they are hoping Hook with dig his own grave in the first 6 weeks next year and justify him being sacked. I can’t see any other reason to put up with all this negativity from not only the media and fans. The players that run out are the ones who can’t stand the coach.
I have a feeling that Hunt is on the nose with players also , so the sooner Hook is hooked and there is no love happening between Hook and Hunt the better ......
 

BLM01

First Grade
Messages
9,945
Yes, Young should not have touched this case with a barge pole. The Dragons did not need ANY link to Finch's case.
Maybe true..but he is just sticking up for one his best mates Robert Finch publicly
Wrong or right....Boy oh boy as a father I can imagine Robert would need some mates around him at these times after what he has seen unfold
 
Last edited:

Maddragon99

Juniors
Messages
2,075
I just read article about G Burgess and how he didn’t want to return to training due to his relationship with Hook. Now GB may not be everyone’s cup of tea but he stated the club is great but he didn’t want to go down the path of training for a guy who basically gave him nothing. No confidence in him no plan. I think the BoD have heard enough to know what the problem is. So they are hoping Hook with dig his own grave in the first 6 weeks next year and justify him being sacked. I can’t see any other reason to put up with all this negativity from not only the media and fans. The players that run out are the ones who can’t stand the coach.
If I were Burgess I’d point out;

George Burgess:1 Premiership
Hook: Zero
 

OneEyedDragon

Juniors
Messages
1,546
Maybe true..but he is just sticking up for one his best mates Robert Finch publicly
Wrong or right....Boy oh boy as a father I can imagine Robert would need some mates around him at these times after what he has seen

I can understand that I guess. Unfortunately Young is the face of the Dragons and there is enough rubbish published about the club already. It is difficult to separate the man from the club in these circumstances.
 

Unsainty79

Juniors
Messages
185
I wonder if there is more to what Young is saying: 'we signed him, so we've got to support him' it's almost like an admission of a mistake, or what I read into it as some of the board want him and some don't, and now it's gone to shit, there's almost a bit of 'I told you so'.
 

HenryTatana

Juniors
Messages
1,969
Any chance anyone could post the george burgess article? Cheers.

Matt Cooper fumes at Dragons over awards night sub as George Burgess speaks out​

Matt Cooper has blown up over the current state of the Dragons right as a sacked star spoke up to reveal his broken relationship with the coach.


3 min read
October 18, 2022 - 7:39AM

The Dragons are facing a serious culture crisis with a sacked star revealing his broken relationship with the coach and a club great declaring the place has “no loyalty and honour anymore”.
It all comes amid suggestions coach Anthony Griffin has lost the dressing room, a rumour that’s gained significant traction in recent weeks with request releases from exciting young prospects Jayden Sullivan and Tyrell Sloan.
Watch every match of the Rugby League World Cup LIVE & Exclusive to Fox Sports, on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
Now, veteran front-rower George Burgess has revealed he was clearly on the outer during his first season at the Dragons.
The 30-year-old was released from the final year of his contract on Monday after he came to a mutual agreement with the Dragons.
The Englishman told The Daily Telegraph it would be a “disappointing” end to his career if it was to be his last season in the game given it was highlighted by a strained relationship with the coach.
George Burgess of the Dragons watches on from the bench during the round four NRL match between the Parramatta Eels and the St George Illawarra Dragons at CommBank Stadium, on April 03, 2022, in Sydney, Australia.

George Burgess of the Dragons watches on from the bench during the round four NRL match between the Parramatta Eels and the St George Illawarra Dragons at CommBank Stadium, on April 03, 2022, in Sydney, Australia.
“I just didn’t get along with Hook (coach Griffin) and he made it pretty clear to me, he pretty much wrote me off.
“So I wasn’t too keen to go back to train under him to be honest.
“At the end of the day all you want is a coach to believe in you.

“There is no point me going back there if the coach doesn’t believe in me.”
Burgess refused to delve into the rumours of a split playing group at the Red V, declaring he was “not bagging the club at all”.
His comments emerged just hours after club great Matt Cooper eviscerated the current state of the club in relation to a report that only three current players attended the Dragons’ awards night in the first week of October.
Matt Cooper of the Dragons runs with the ball during the round three NRL match between the St George Dragons and the North Queensland Cowboys at WIN Stadium on March 26, 2010.

Matt Cooper of the Dragons runs with the ball during the round three NRL match between the St George Dragons and the North Queensland Cowboys at WIN Stadium on March 26, 2010.
Cooper, who starred in 244 games for the Dragons, took to Twitter to share his frustration over yet another damaging story emerging out of his beloved team.
“I can’t believe 3 players went to the #redv awards night!!! Actually I can!” Cooper wrote.
“The club has no loyalty and honour anymore. That all stopped when Wayne Bennett left.”

Cooper’s comments came after St George Illawarra chairman Craig Young fronted up to the disappointing awards night turnout from the players.
Young, also a legend of the club, refused to minimise the story or blow it off as media spin as he told The Daily Telegraph it was “disappointing to say the least”.
“We had eight or nine players who had World Cup commitments and their absence was understandable.
“However the other players should have been there. When I played you couldn’t wait to get there.
“It’s not like you have to pay for anything. It’s free food and drink. There’s no excuse.”
The club chairman agreed the culture at the Dragons needed to be improved ahead of a 2023 season in which coach Anthony Griffin is under intense pressure to hold onto his job.

 

Parko1310

Juniors
Messages
1,459

Matt Cooper fumes at Dragons over awards night sub as George Burgess speaks out​

Matt Cooper has blown up over the current state of the Dragons right as a sacked star spoke up to reveal his broken relationship with the coach.


3 min read
October 18, 2022 - 7:39AM

The Dragons are facing a serious culture crisis with a sacked star revealing his broken relationship with the coach and a club great declaring the place has “no loyalty and honour anymore”.
It all comes amid suggestions coach Anthony Griffin has lost the dressing room, a rumour that’s gained significant traction in recent weeks with request releases from exciting young prospects Jayden Sullivan and Tyrell Sloan.
Watch every match of the Rugby League World Cup LIVE & Exclusive to Fox Sports, on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
Now, veteran front-rower George Burgess has revealed he was clearly on the outer during his first season at the Dragons.
The 30-year-old was released from the final year of his contract on Monday after he came to a mutual agreement with the Dragons.
The Englishman told The Daily Telegraph it would be a “disappointing” end to his career if it was to be his last season in the game given it was highlighted by a strained relationship with the coach.
George Burgess of the Dragons watches on from the bench during the round four NRL match between the Parramatta Eels and the St George Illawarra Dragons at CommBank Stadium, on April 03, 2022, in Sydney, Australia.

George Burgess of the Dragons watches on from the bench during the round four NRL match between the Parramatta Eels and the St George Illawarra Dragons at CommBank Stadium, on April 03, 2022, in Sydney, Australia.
“I just didn’t get along with Hook (coach Griffin) and he made it pretty clear to me, he pretty much wrote me off.
“So I wasn’t too keen to go back to train under him to be honest.
“At the end of the day all you want is a coach to believe in you.

“There is no point me going back there if the coach doesn’t believe in me.”
Burgess refused to delve into the rumours of a split playing group at the Red V, declaring he was “not bagging the club at all”.
His comments emerged just hours after club great Matt Cooper eviscerated the current state of the club in relation to a report that only three current players attended the Dragons’ awards night in the first week of October.
Matt Cooper of the Dragons runs with the ball during the round three NRL match between the St George Dragons and the North Queensland Cowboys at WIN Stadium on March 26, 2010.

Matt Cooper of the Dragons runs with the ball during the round three NRL match between the St George Dragons and the North Queensland Cowboys at WIN Stadium on March 26, 2010.
Cooper, who starred in 244 games for the Dragons, took to Twitter to share his frustration over yet another damaging story emerging out of his beloved team.
“I can’t believe 3 players went to the #redv awards night!!! Actually I can!” Cooper wrote.
“The club has no loyalty and honour anymore. That all stopped when Wayne Bennett left.”

Cooper’s comments came after St George Illawarra chairman Craig Young fronted up to the disappointing awards night turnout from the players.
Young, also a legend of the club, refused to minimise the story or blow it off as media spin as he told The Daily Telegraph it was “disappointing to say the least”.
“We had eight or nine players who had World Cup commitments and their absence was understandable.
“However the other players should have been there. When I played you couldn’t wait to get there.
“It’s not like you have to pay for anything. It’s free food and drink. There’s no excuse.”
The club chairman agreed the culture at the Dragons needed to be improved ahead of a 2023 season in which coach Anthony Griffin is under intense pressure to hold onto his job.

Much appreciated HT, thanks.
 

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