The Rumours Thread

[Iron Mike]

He’s hardly put his feet under the desk as an nrl assistant coach at Saints and already you have him earmarked as the head coach for 2024. Steady on mate

No disrespect to Ben Wolfe , who may well turn out to be a fine coach , but this will be Ben’s first job as NRL assistant coach. He has previously coached at Titans under 20’s and then at QLD Cup level with Tweed Heads.
Where’s Ryan Carr has been at assistant coach level at Parramatta, South’s and recently spent time under Trent Robinson at the World Cup . Ryan would get the interim coach role over Ben after Hook is moved on.

 

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

Don't really think Hook is a 1st grade coach. He was obviously selected by our Board because they could manipulate him. Into constructing a cheap inept team of misfits and journeymen. I think the Board are the real problem. They also know, with a "top self coach"they don't have the same power to manipulate & put their pathetic viewpoints on him.
Just like Bennett when he arrived, his stipulation was,
he ran the team. No exception. In other words no Board no DOUST sticking their head in and upsetting the team. Bennett new how much the front office was messing up the team.

I agree that the Board are the real problem, but I disagree that they selected Hook because he could be manipulated. They advertised the job and got three applicants, Anthony Griffin, David Furner and Dean Young. I'd reckon Hook is least likely to be manipulated out of those three. Is Hook a First Grade Coach? That's the issue. He was the pick of the applicants, but unfortunately the game seems to have passed him by.

 

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

You think D.Young will do a Bradbury ? I don't want to see him anywhere near the club. I'm not really a Hasler fan but he's miles ahead of Young in qualifications.

Will Dean Young do a Bradbury? I hope not, but he seems to fit the Boards "Let's buy cheap" philosophy. I'd rather see the Board get the best coach available regardless of the cost. I suspect the Chairman of the Board struggles to hire anyone on a higher salary than himself.

 

[Gareth67]

I agree that the Board are the real problem, but I disagree that they selected Hook because he could be manipulated. They advertised the job and got three applicants, Anthony Griffin, David Furner and Dean Young. I'd reckon Hook is least likely to be manipulated out of those three. Is Hook a First Grade Coach? That's the issue. He was the pick of the applicants, but unfortunately the game seems to have passed him by.

Agree Johnno , to me Griffo was the better choice of the 3 and certainly was not chosen as he could be easily manipulated .

Unfortunately his biggest problem was that he inherited a team that had a very bad attitude and culture , in fact the culture of the Big Red V was no longer apparent .

With respect to Dean Young , I feel that if he was the next Dragon coach he also would fail . The only thing that will get the Dragons back on track is a hard taskmaster who will make the hard decisions and also not play favourites.

The only thing that is important is the overall success of the team and if the new chap needs to step on a few toes to get the Dragons out of the bottom of the ladder then so be it .

The board needs to think this through thoroughly before reaching a decision as to whom shall take on the coaching reins at St.George Illawarra .

 

[BLM01]

there is no evidence:

1. that Dean Young is already lined-up to be the next head coach,

2. that Des Hasler has any interest in being the next head coach.

there is a heap of evidence that Hunt won’t play hooker.

Agree but I would sign Hasler now
Problem is he will be too hard and disciplined in pre-season on our lot and they will want out, (more of them anyway)

 

[Crush]

How are Tigers able to recruit?
What do they possess that dragons do not?

 

[OneEyedDragon]

Agree Johnno , to me Griffo was the better choice of the 3 and certainly was not chosen as he could be easily manipulated .

Unfortunately his biggest problem was that he inherited a team that had a very bad attitude and culture , in fact the culture of the Big Red V was no longer apparent .

With respect to Dean Young , I feel that if he was the next Dragon coach he also would fail . The only thing that will get the Dragons back on track is a hard taskmaster who will make the hard decisions and also not play favourites.

The only thing that is important is the overall success of the team and if the new chap needs to step on a few toes to get the Dragons out of the bottom of the ladder then so be it .

The board needs to think this through thoroughly before reaching a decision as to whom shall take on the coaching reins at St.George Illawarra .

All true @Gareth67 , but the club can only hire a coach that is available and willing to take the job. That can severely limit the options. I, for one, originally thought Hook would be a good choice from the available options. Maybe it is nobodys fault, but it hasn't worked out so far.

 

[possm]

I'd say, the Dragons have written off 2023 in order to gift Dean Young a big spending spree on recruitment. Just look at the number of players coming off contract. Also, look at who is coming off contract.

For me, this is the most likely situation given the track record of management.

 

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

The Tigers have built themselves a decent pack their backline and halves are ordinary at best

That's what I don't get about their strategy. Their two best halves in 2022 were Hastings and Madden neither of whom were on big money and both of whom they let go. Instead they kept Luke Brooks.

Anyway, that's not our problem.

 

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

How are Tigers able to recruit?
What do they possess that dragons do not?

Dunno. But they're based in Sydney, so maybe it's a more attractive destination for a player already living in Sydney, or for a player wanting to move to Sydney? Or because Tim Sheens exudes more confidence, ability and integrity than our Board and management does? Or the fact that they have a centre of excellence whereas we can only point to a development application? Or maybe it's because they have hit rock bottom so the only way is up, whereas we can still fall further? You'd have to ask the players to know for sure.

 

[Gareth67]

All true @Gareth67 , but the club can only hire a coach that is available and willing to take the job. That can severely limit the options. I, for one, originally thought Hook would be a good choice from the available options. Maybe it is nobodys fault, but it hasn't worked out so far.

Yes O.E.D I agree , the ranks of decent coaches are all but thinned out . And I also was glad that Griffin was chosen do the job , but as we are aware he has failed to do so .

The point that truly irks me is that is the ‘ twilight year ‘ signings that he made and has continued on with for season 2023 .

Every fan would like to see an improvement upon the efforts of the previous season however it would seem that we will be in for one of our worst seasons ever .

 

[Iron Mike]

I'd say, the Dragons have written off 2023 in order to gift Dean Young a big spending spree on recruitment. Just look at the number of players coming off contract. Also, look at who is coming off contract.

For me, this is the most likely situation given the track record of management.

Possm
You are on the money here. Still available for 2024 is the best young forward in the game Jeremiah Nanai . Could Dean Young entice Jeremiah to come down with him to Saints ? If not Liam Martin and Spenser Liniu are also available for 24.
I can’t see any of these guys coming to Saints unless they know who the Head coach will be. The longer the decision takes the less likely we are to land any of these guys.

 

[RedVee_8]

Possm
You are on the money here. Still available for 2024 is the best young forward in the game Jeremiah Nanai . Could Dean Young entice Jeremiah to come down with him to Saints ? If not Liam Martin and Spenser Liniu are also available for 24.
I can’t see any of these guys coming to Saints unless they know who the Head coach will be. The longer the decision takes the less likely we are to land any of these guys.

I think I’ve read over the last month that all those guys have been resigned by their clubs.

 

[kit66]

How are Tigers able to recruit?
What do they possess that dragons do not?

The promise of Tim Sheens as coach. But Sheens hasn't coached at NRL level since 2012, which is not to say he's lost it but he's got some catching up to do.
They've made some good signings in Papali'i, Koroisau, Bateman and Klemmer but they've lost Tamou, Tuilagi, Peachey, Leilua, Roberts, Musgrove and Hastings so they're not that much better off, if at all and their halves and backs and depth are still shyte.

 

[Crush]

The promise of Tim Sheens as coach. But Sheens hasn't coached at NRL level since 2012, which is not to say he's lost it but he's got some catching up to do.
They've made some good signings in Papali'i, Koroisau, Bateman and Klemmer but they've lost Tamou, Tuilagi, Peachey, Leilua, Roberts, Musgrove and Hastings so they're not that much better off, if at all and their halves and backs and depth are still shyte.

Of those they’ve lost, only Leilua and Hastings are quality.
Koroisau, Bateman are very big signings, we’d be celebrating those signings. Papali’i is a good get too. Klemmer, meh decent but nothing to get excited about.
But can you imagine how excited this forum would be if Dragons had signed any of them?

 

[Lethal25]

I agree that the Board are the real problem, but I disagree that they selected Hook because he could be manipulated. They advertised the job and got three applicants, Anthony Griffin, David Furner and Dean Young. I'd reckon Hook is least likely to be manipulated out of those three. Is Hook a First Grade Coach? That's the issue. He was the pick of the applicants, but unfortunately the game seems to have passed him by.

Two things stick out about this. One they had to advertise and two the quality of the applicants.

 

[Lethal25]

The promise of Tim Sheens as coach. But Sheens hasn't coached at NRL level since 2012, which is not to say he's lost it but he's got some catching up to do.
They've made some good signings in Papali'i, Koroisau, Bateman and Klemmer but they've lost Tamou, Tuilagi, Peachey, Leilua, Roberts, Musgrove and Hastings so they're not that much better off, if at all and their halves and backs and depth are still shyte.

Losing Tamou and Peachey would be the equivalent of us losing Woods and Mbye, a massive win. Tigers are miles in front from a recruitment perspective

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

Of those they’ve lost, only Leilua and Hastings are quality.
Koroisau, Bateman are very big signings, we’d be celebrating those signings. Papali’i is a good get too. Klemmer, meh decent but nothing to get excited about.
But can you imagine how excited this forum would be if Dragons had signed any of them?

All of them walk into our 17 without a doubt and make us a top 4 side or there abouts

 

[Qdf]

Of those they’ve lost, only Leilua and Hastings are quality.
Koroisau, Bateman are very big signings, we’d be celebrating those signings. Papali’i is a good get too. Klemmer, meh decent but nothing to get excited about.
But can you imagine how excited this forum would be if Dragons had signed any of them?

Yeah, the Dragons need a COACH.The reason the Tigers have attacked decent players is Tim Sheens.

 

[Dragon David]

Yeah, the Dragons need a COACH.The reason the Tigers have attacked decent players is Tim Sheens.

I thought Papali'i and Koroisau were "signed" up when Maguire was the coach?