The Rumours Thread

[Mojo]

BAPTISM of fire is an over-used term in sporting parlance, but there's no other way to describe Connor Muhleisen's pre-Christmas wrestling match with UFC featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski.

Preseasons are hard enough without mixing it up with the best featherweight to ever grace the sport of Mixed Martial Arts. It was a tough day to be the odd one out.
"We've been doing our wrestle with Alex all preseason and he came to WIN Stadium to do a bit of wrestling with us," Muhleisen said.

"There happened to be an odd number of boys when we looked around so I got chucked with him. He definitely made me work for it. I said to him 'I don't know how you do this for 25 minutes mate, it's bloody hard'.
"You're not going out-wrestle him, he's the champion of the world for a reason. I just had to cop it on the chin and do my best."
Little wonder he didn't find his first taste of NRL action against Parramatta last week too much of a leap, grabbing a try and making a decent fist of time on the paddock.
"Going into the game I just wanted to earn the respect of the boys, make my tackles and bring a bit of energy," he said.
"I didn't want to overplay my hand and I thought I did that pretty well. It was my first real taste against proper NRL players and I felt pretty comfortable. From the first tackle I knew I was sweet and could handle myself and do well."
It was the first time he came on the radar for most fans, but insiders at the club have huge wraps on the 21-year-old who may well crack the NRL at some stage this season given the club's skinny hooking ranks.

Moses Mbye and Josh McGuire have proven adept as fill-in dummy-halves but, as far as genuine No. 9s go, Muhlheisen is number two to Andrew McCullough - at least on paper.
It's not something he's giving too much thought to, with his immediate focus on turning his current train-and-trial deal into a development contract for 2022. Whatever minutes he gets late in Saturday's Charity Shield will be his final pitch to that end.
"It's been a goal since I was born really, like any footballer, but I'm not one to look too far ahead," Muhleisen said.
"I had a bit of a chat with Hook (Anthony Griffin) before that trial and he really just simplifies it for us younger boys. He just gives you a couple of jobs he really wants you to nail down.
"He spoke to me before the trial and said, early in the season, it's just about getting your defence on, making your tackles and hitting the right options.
"That's what my focus was going into the game. I didn't want to overplay my hand and that came from that conversation.
"Macca's done it for a long time and I'm just trying to learn off him at the moment. If I do that and an opportunity comes, hopefully I'm ready to take it with both hands."
Should he crack it, he'll become yet another member of the Steelers class of 2019 having been vice-captain of a team featuring the likes of Jayden Sullivan, Talatau Amone, Mat and Max Feagai, Tyrell Sloan and current Bulldogs centre Aaron Schoup.
"We knew we had a gun team but when you're that age first grade seems so far away and so far out of reach," Muhleisen said.
"It was a very talented group, and we knew at the time, but probably didn't know how much so. When you look back at it, six or our 1-7 have all played NRL now.
"Over the last couple of years seeing Sully, Junior and the Feagai boys playing first grade and handling themselves, it gives you that confidence in your own ability. If those boys can do it then I can do it as well."
Griffin will welcome back a cavalcade of stars in Saturday's Charity Shield, with skipper Ben Hunt heading the list of big guns named for the annual showdown.
Who partners the 32-year-old in round one is the biggest question facing Griffin. With Sullivan sidelined by a hamstring complaint, Amone got first crack against the Eels and is named to partner Hunt against the Rabbitohs.
He will likely enjoy big minutes with veteran halves contender Moses Mbye ruled out of the game with a quad injury. Tariq Sims (calf) is also unavailable, while the club confirmed on Wednesday that Max Feagai will require surgery on a fractured fibula suffered in last week's win over the Eels.
Aaron Woods, Jaydn Su'A, Zac Lomax, Blake Lawrie, Jack de Belin and Jack Bird will also get their first taste of football for the year, the latter named in the back row.

I like Mulheisen a lot. I hope we see a fair bit of him in 1st grade this year.

 

[Crush]

Rumour that Kyle Flannigan on the verge of a huge 10 million dollar contract with dragons, he’ll take over from Ben Hunt as our halfback.

 

[Dragon David]

I like Mulheisen a lot. I hope we see a fair bit of him in 1st grade this year.

In my opinion, he is earmarked to be our future hooker, unless another club offers him a deal that he cannot refuse. He had lots of wraps on him but with no games in lower grade because of the pandemic, we really didn't get to see or hear much of him.

His trial run against the Eels showed that he has talent and if he is judged fairly by the coaches, he should get a run if McCullough is injured and keep Mbye as the specialist utility.

 

[George Dragon]

He had lots of wraps on him but with no games in lower grade because of the pandemic, we really didn't get to see or hear much of him

Connor played in the trials last year.
He played 10 Flegg games and 3 NSW cup games. That includes playing Nsw Cup and Flegg games back to back.
So there was plenty to see if you were looking.

 

[mickeylane]

H

In my opinion, he is earmarked to be our future hooker, unless another club offers him a deal that he cannot refuse. He had lots of wraps on him but with no games in lower grade because of the pandemic, we really didn't get to see or hear much of him.

His trial run against the Eels showed that he has talent and if he is judged fairly by the coaches, he should get a run if McCullough is injured and keep Mbye as the specialist utility.

He may see 1st grade earlier this year. I can’t see Macca lasting the whole season .. games is very fast and injury may catch up w him

 

[Dragon David]

H

He may see 1st grade earlier this year. I can’t see Macca lasting the whole season .. games is very fast and injury may catch up w him

Hi Mickey

George Dragon has said that Connor is on a T & T contract so he cannot play first grade. Please see above.

 

[Mojo]

Hi Mickey

George Dragon has said that Connor is on a T & T contract so he cannot play first grade. Please see above.

Hypothetical question: what’s involved in / is it possible for a player to advance from T&T to 1st grade during the season?

 

[Dorothy the Winowhore]

Hypothetical question: what’s involved in / is it possible for a player to advance from T&T to 1st grade during the season?

There is talk of clubs being allowed to use players from outside their top 30 due to possible covid outs

 

[mightydragon]

Hi Mickey

George Dragon has said that Connor is on a T & T contract so he cannot play first grade. Please see above.

Can't they put him on a development contract?

 

[Dragon David]

Can't they put him on a development contract?

Maybe George can answer this? I feel that Flanno and Haran will have this young gun secured for the future.

On another note, just read on Foxsport News that the Redcilffe Dolphins are looking at Amone. He is a gun and the Dragons cannot let him go. We need him in combination with Sullivan when Hunt's contract is up. Hunt will be 34 in 2024 so I'm guessing that his last year will be 2023 after which the Amone/Sullivan should be our halves. Amone's deal ends 2023 so a new contract definitely needs to be done. Sullivan signed to the end of 2025.

The Foxx spray that should ignite Bulldogs; Bennett plots another NRL raid: Jimmy Brings

The Foxx spray that should ignite Bulldogs; Bennett plots another NRL raid: Jimmy Brings

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[Rocket Rod]

I thought that other clubs can’t chase until after nov1 of the final contract year

 

[lemnoc]

I thought that other clubs can’t chase until after nov1 of the final contract year

Makes a good headline and story, so lets go with it.

 

[cussy]

Maybe George can answer this? I feel that Flanno and Haran will have this young gun secured for the future.

On another note, just read on Foxsport News that the Redcilffe Dolphins are looking at Amone. He is a gun and the Dragons cannot let him go. We need him in combination with Sullivan when Hunt's contract is up. Hunt will be 34 in 2024 so I'm guessing that his last year will be 2023 after which the Amone/Sullivan should be our halves. Amone's deal ends 2023 so a new contract definitely needs to be done. Sullivan signed to the end of 2025.

The Foxx spray that should ignite Bulldogs; Bennett plots another NRL raid: Jimmy Brings

The Foxx spray that should ignite Bulldogs; Bennett plots another NRL raid: Jimmy Brings

www.foxsports.com.au

I reckon the target is Ben hunt- he is off contract 23.

 

[Dragon David]

I reckon the target is Ben hunt- he is off contract 23.

It wouldn't surprise me if this happened.

 

[SGMax]

Amone isn't available till 2024 and can't be signed until Nov this year, so Dolphins aren't gonna sit on their hands their first year in the hope of this signing.
They are going to try and get the best 5/8 they can as soon as possible for their first year and its unlikely anyone of quality would sign for just one season then step aside.

 

[jak]

Maybe George can answer this? I feel that Flanno and Haran will have this young gun secured for the future.

On another note, just read on Foxsport News that the Redcilffe Dolphins are looking at Amone. He is a gun and the Dragons cannot let him go. We need him in combination with Sullivan when Hunt's contract is up. Hunt will be 34 in 2024 so I'm guessing that his last year will be 2023 after which the Amone/Sullivan should be our halves. Amone's deal ends 2023 so a new contract definitely needs to be done. Sullivan signed to the end of 2025.

The Foxx spray that should ignite Bulldogs; Bennett plots another NRL raid: Jimmy Brings

The Foxx spray that should ignite Bulldogs; Bennett plots another NRL raid: Jimmy Brings

www.foxsports.com.au

out of all the young kids amone is the one i would want to keep most of all

 

[Rocket Rod]

out of all the young kids amone is the one i would want to keep most of all

We don’t want to lose any of Sloane Sullivan and Amone this should be the spine for years to come

 

[OneEyedDragon]

We don’t want to lose any of Sloane Sullivan and Amone this should be the spine for years to come

Throw in Muhleisen(?) at hooker and it could be a 10 year quality spine, or am I being too enthusiastic/hopeful?

 

[Dragon David]

Throw in Muhleisen(?) at hooker and it could be a 10 year quality spine, or am I being too enthusiastic/hopeful?

If we can sign up Muhleisen and retain the 3 Amigos long term together with maintaining effective big and strong Forward recruitment for years to come, we will be a formidable force.

The club has got to look to the future with top planning to be successful like the Roosters and Storm.

 

[randomdragon]

The Dragons can finally leave demons of the past behind

This is the cleanest the slate has been for St George Illawarra for a long time.

www.illawarramercury.com.au

Is anyone able to post this article