The Rumours Thread

[Dragon David]

Got to love the Bulldogs. Now that the new salary cap amount has been announced, the extra money each club is getting is allowing them to pay extras for the players they have already, pay for new guys plus extend players contracts on big deals.

The Bulldogs haven't mucked around with their recruitment and have secured Burton on a long term deal now that there is more money to hand out -
"The Bulldogs have locked in their prized playmaker Matt Burton on a multi-year contract extension through until the end of the 2027 season".

Have we got any money left in our cap or has it all been spent on rejects and has beens and journeymen?

 

[possm]

Got to love the Bulldogs. Now that the new salary cap amount has been announced, the extra money each club is getting is allowing them to pay extras for the players they have already, pay for new guys plus extend players contracts on big deals.

The Bulldogs haven't mucked around with their recruitment and have secured Burton on a long term deal now that there is more money to hand out -
"The Bulldogs have locked in their prized playmaker Matt Burton on a multi-year contract extension through until the end of the 2027 season".

Have we got any money left in our cap or has it all been spent on rejects and has beens and journeymen?

Who is our recruitment team and who replaces Flannagan? I smell a backroom deal involving another person who does not know what they are doing with regard to recruitment/retention.

Surely, we should have millions left over that should be used to bolster the 2023 squad but sadly I believe is being used to front-end current contacts to give Dean Young's 2024 season the very best opportunity to clear out the deadwood and buy some decent players.

 

[Qdf]

Who is our recruitment team and who replaces Flannagan? I smell a backroom deal involving another person who does not know what they are doing with regard to recruitment/retention.

Surely, we should have millions left over that should be used to bolster the 2023 squad but sadly I believe is being used to front-end current contacts to give Dean Young's 2024 season the very best opportunity to clear out the deadwood and buy some decent players.

Again the STGI club keeps their fans in the dark.
We are not respected or cared for by this management team. Yet as soon as it's time for memberships tobe renewed,out go the e-mails. Well I for one, will not renew. This CLUB doesn't deserve loyal members.
Members at STGI are treated like dirt.

 

[Black Panther]

Got to love the Bulldogs. Now that the new salary cap amount has been announced, the extra money each club is getting is allowing them to pay extras for the players they have already, pay for new guys plus extend players contracts on big deals.

The Bulldogs haven't mucked around with their recruitment and have secured Burton on a long term deal now that there is more money to hand out -
"The Bulldogs have locked in their prized playmaker Matt Burton on a multi-year contract extension through until the end of the 2027 season".

Have we got any money left in our cap or has it all been spent on rejects and has beens and journeymen?

Why does anyone have to love the Bulldogs. Many have said this before, but some people/clubs seemed to get a leg up when the salary cap rise was getting discussed. How on earth would the Dogs have signed all those players as well as upgrades if they didn’t have inside info.

What should happen is if you can’t afford all your players and upgrades on the current salary cap, you shouldn’t be able to sign players. Now they will announce the Chrichton signing as well for 2024.

Bulldogs bought not bred..

 

[Dragon David]

Why does anyone have to love the Bulldogs. Many have said this before, but some people/clubs seemed to get a leg up when the salary cap rise was getting discussed. How on earth would the Dogs have signed all those players as well as upgrades if they didn’t have inside info.

What should happen is if you can’t afford all your players and upgrades on the current salary cap, you shouldn’t be able to sign players. Now they will announce the Chrichton signing as well for 2024.

Bulldogs bought not bred..

I have been a Bulldogs hater for as long as 1967. I was loving it when they were at the bottom of the heap for the past 5 years particularly in 2021 when they ended up with the wooden spoon. I'm just so pissed off with them having this rebuild and getting Gould and Ciraldo to work at the club.

As you say BP, the Bulldogs bought not bred.

 

[The Word]

Who is our recruitment team and who replaces Flannagan? I smell a backroom deal involving another person who does not know what they are doing with regard to recruitment/retention.

Surely, we should have millions left over that should be used to bolster the 2023 squad but sadly I believe is being used to front-end current contacts to give Dean Young's 2024 season the very best opportunity to clear out the deadwood and buy some decent players.

No evidence of this front-loading of contracts strategy is there Possm?
I genuinely think that if a top line forward became available and actually wanted to sign with us then the club would go for him, we have the spots and the money.
Unfortunately there don't seem to be any quality forwards looking for a new club at the moment.
For me, the real issue is that the long term strategic planning on how to manage the salary cap over the last 10 years has been appalling. It's handicapped anything the coaches have tried to do, and it's handicapped the club's potential success.

 

[Gareth67]

Who is our recruitment team and who replaces Flannagan? I smell a backroom deal involving another person who does not know what they are doing with regard to recruitment/retention.

Surely, we should have millions left over that should be used to bolster the 2023 squad but sadly I believe is being used to front-end current contacts to give Dean Young's 2024 season the very best opportunity to clear out the deadwood and buy some decent players.

Pos , I have been wondering if some of our cap is being spent on exotic holidays by those with their snouts in the trough ?

 

[possm]

I have been a Bulldogs hater for as long as 1967. I was loving it when they were at the bottom of the heap for the past 5 years particularly in 2021 when they ended up with the wooden spoon. I'm just so pissed off with them having this rebuild and getting Gould and Ciraldo to work at the club.

As you say BP, the Bulldogs bought not bred.

There are some club administrators who know how to play the dirty game of salary cap management; including getting a heads-up on future salary cap level. One savvy administrator is Phill Gould who SGI brought in to produce a phony review to try and save Mary. Instead, they should have hired him to replace Haran.

Look at the stars Gould has signed up for the Dogs and imagine those players in the SGI ranks today. And look at the work he did for Penrith with regards to their junior pathways etc., there is no reason why our Illawarra district could not surpass this standard.

 

[denis preston]

No evidence of this front-loading of contracts strategy is there Possm?
I genuinely think that if a top line forward became available and actually wanted to sign with us then the club would go for him, we have the spots and the money.
Unfortunately there don't seem to be any quality forwards looking for a new club at the moment.
For me, the real issue is that the long term strategic planning on how to manage the salary cap over the last 10 years has been appalling. It's handicapped anything the coaches have tried to do, and it's handicapped the club's potential success.

I do suspect though that yet again the club has been caught out with the salary cap increase and lack of any solid strategies in recruitment & retention , other than pay as much as it costs to retain Hunt, Debellin & Lomax yet miss out on recruitment of high quality forwards available at the same time. Who is involved in our recruitment?

 

[Dragon David]

There are some club administrators who know how to play the dirty game of salary cap management; including getting a heads-up on future salary cap level. One savvy administrator is Phill Gould who SGI brought in to produce a phony review to try and save Mary. Instead, they should have hired him to replace Haran.

Look at the stars Gould has signed up for the Dogs and imagine those players in the SGI ranks today. And look at the work he did for Penrith with regards to their junior pathways etc., there is no reason why our Illawarra district could not surpass this standard.

Yes, I agree possm. That phony review - what a joke that was.

 

[RedVee_8]

Remember though, that we have to spend the cap (just about all of it) under the NRL rules no matter who we sign. At the teams with lesser squads that means there are a few players getting overs.

 

[BLM01]

Well if things are bad at the Dragons and Hook is not liked as many report I wonder how the Broncos are going after Cobbo's 1 minute answer to the podcast question about how good is his coach.
Not a glowing endoresement either. I hope the media run wild with this too!
BTW Maybe we can convince Cobbo to come down the RED V. He is one player I would rush to sign.
And one or two on this forum were having shots of our young ones new to 1st grade training about speaking in the public domain. Fed dinkim. We are not alone it seems!

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

Well if things are bad at the Dragons and Hook is not liked as many report I wonder how the Broncos are going after Cobbo's 1 minute answer to the podcast question about how good is his coach.
Not a glowing endoresement either. I hope the media run wild with this too!
BTW Maybe we can convince Cobbo to come down the RED V. He is one player I would rush to sign.
And one or two on this forum were having shots of our young ones new to 1st grade training about speaking in the public domain. Fed dinkim. We are not alone it seems!

That's two players who have "bagged" Walters coaching style so far..
We offered Cobbo a contract or had discussions about him before he hit the scene, i remember reading about it..

 

[BLM01]

That's two players who have "bagged" Walters coaching style so far..
We offered Cobbo a contract or had discussions about him before he hit the scene, i remember reading about it..

Yep it is and few others wanted out including Haas.

If we did I think it was just talk but
Maybe its time to get serious about luring him away from his current contract even though we cant talk OFFICIALLY till Nov 2023 or 24 . Strike while the iron is hot although we need to be sure about who will be coaching him
Wing or fullback or even centre

 

[possm]

Yep it is and few others wanted out including Haas.

If we did I think it was just talk but
Maybe its time to get serious about luring him away from his current contract even though we cant talk OFFICIALLY till Nov 2023 or 24 . Strike while the iron is hot although we need to be sure about who will be coaching him
Wing or fullback or even centre

While Hook is coach, we won't lure any great players without paying way over the market price.

So, sack Hook now, Get Hasler talking to targets who we cannot legally talk to at present, and see if he can convince them to ask for a release. After that, hire Hasler as head coach.

 

[offiah]

You think Hasler would go sneaky recruit for us before we offer him the gig?

 

[hewi]

The difference between us and the donkeys is if Walters doesn’t deliver they will shaft him ASAP ,us, well we would probably renew his contract on Anzac Day then see if he delivers in the next two years before finally doing something about it.

 

[Illusion]

The difference between us and the donkeys is if Walters doesn’t deliver they will shaft him ASAP ,us, well we would probably renew his contract on Anzac Day then see if he delivers in the next two years before finally doing something about it.

Yep , what you say is sad , because it's true ..... Been done before .......

 

[Slippery Morris]

Saints look to really be basing 2023 on their junior talent. Not a bad thing as nothing worse than losing them to a team and seeing them excel and become stars. If and that is a big If Griffin plays them which he should have done more so in 2022 (especially the forwards) then they may come good in 2023 with a mid table finish then 2024 may be a huge year for Saints. The dope Griffin has just delayed them with terrible selections in 2021/2 with his favourites and has-beens from Qld.

Saints saving the $$ for upgrades to their juniors when Dogs come sniffing around if they have a good 2023.

I think the club is also seeing how the Cowboys or Souths go in 2023 and if they have another good season, Young or Hornby will be the next coach in line. Griffin was there to fill the gap whilst these 2 go some experience under good up and coming coaches. The poor guys previously spent their time under Mary and chinless which would not have helped them at all so at least they learnt some better methods to bring back to the club when they do return.

That is my theory for this lack of activity when it comes to bringing in players or a decent coach. The 2 assistant coaches will probably be gone hence low profile if a new coach comes in as he will want to bring in his own assistants unless they really impress and by that if Saints have a better than expected season they may keep their jobs as Griffin has failed miserably and is only their due to contractual agreement and not performance.

 

[Lethal25]

Saints look to really be basing 2023 on their junior talent. Not a bad thing as nothing worse than losing them to a team and seeing them excel and become stars. If and that is a big If Griffin plays them which he should have done more so in 2022 (especially the forwards) then they may come good in 2023 with a mid table finish then 2024 may be a huge year for Saints. The dope Griffin has just delayed them with terrible selections in 2021/2 with his favourites and has-beens from Qld.

Saints saving the $$ for upgrades to their juniors when Dogs come sniffing around if they have a good 2023.

I think the club is also seeing how the Cowboys or Souths go in 2023 and if they have another good season, Young or Hornby will be the next coach in line. Griffin was there to fill the gap whilst these 2 go some experience under good up and coming coaches. The poor guys previously spent their time under Mary and chinless which would not have helped them at all so at least they learnt some better methods to bring back to the club when they do return.

That is my theory for this lack of activity when it comes to bringing in players or a decent coach. The 2 assistant coaches will probably be gone hence low profile if a new coach comes in as he will want to bring in his own assistants unless they really impress and by that if Saints have a better than expected season they may keep their jobs as Griffin has failed miserably and is only their due to contractual agreement and not performance.

Not sure Hornby has any interest coming back to the club. As far as I'm aware they moved him on despite him wanting to stay