The Rumours Thread

[Biglance]

For what it's worth, in Hoops blog today he was asked the question about what Luciano would do.
Said it is too close to call as the Dragons and Raiders offers are very similar.
Definitely looks like if big Luc is going to leave the Cows he will have to take a fairly large pay cut.

He's not coming to us apparently. Raiders won out

 

[Rod Coil]

He's not coming to us apparently. Raiders won out

Bullet dodged.

 

[TheRev]

Man we sure dodged a lot of bullets this off-season!

 

[thebigredv]

Bullet dodged.

That’s completely dependant on his final contract price. We need to jump on opportunities when they arise so long as the player/manager are not taking us for extortion.

 

[possm]

Well, edge forward is not our main concern. To me, our 11 and 12 performed well in the first half of the Charity Shield.

Our halves are the problem. Hunt is a blocker and his attitude is toxic. Select him at hooker and Liddle at 14. Let Kyle live or die on his performance at 7 and bring in our best 6 as Kyle's partner. Hopefully, Hunt still spit the dummy and free up another 900k in our cap.

Our attack was pedestrian and one-out.

Our fullback made too many errors and should be sent back to reserve grade.

The experiment of Bird at center and Lomax on the wing just didn't work and never made sense to me.

My preferred 17 right now is:
1. Rumble
2. Tuipulotu
3. Lomax
4. Suli
5. Ravalawa
6. Marschke
7. Flannagan
8. Molo
9. Hunt
10. De Belin
11. Eisenhuth
12. Su'A
13. RFM

14. Liddle
15. Lawrie
16. Fifita
17. Sele

 

[This Year?]

Our young lad was a die hard Dragons fan and cried in 2018 when they lost that final. This year says he doesnt care now and has dropped out of playing NRL to play soccer

Does he still want to see games - nope

Does he ask for merchandise that is nrl related - nope wants soccer stuff

Lucky he wasn't one in the 90's.

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

He's not coming to us apparently. Raiders won out

Based on Sua playing left second row on the weekend.......... I think we would all prefer Sua signed on and playing left edge every week.......and signed on at the right price.

Hopefully the Luc possibility accelerated Sua making a call on his contract extension at the Dragons?

But I did like the x factor Luc brings we get in the 20m area of the opposition as there are not many like him.

The right edge backrow........Eisenhuth was so bloody professional and clinical on the weekend. What a low priced addition for 2024.................... and I wonder if Tom can stay for one more season to allow the young guys to move into the starting team at the right time.

I mean the expensive Kaloamatungi did not stand out at all first half vs Eisenhuth and in fact Kaloamatungi looked exhausated by the end of the 2nd qtr with Eisenhuth and co running at him every second play.

 

[Biglance]

Based on Sua playing left second row on the weekend.......... I think we would all prefer Sua signed on and playing left edge every week.......and signed on at the right price.

Hopefully the Luc possibility accelerated Sua making a call on his contract extension at the Dragons?

But I did like the x factor Luc brings we get in the 20m area of the opposition as there are not many like him.

The right edge backrow........Eisenhuth was so bloody professional and clinical on the weekend. What a low priced addition for 2024.................... and I wonder if Tom can stay for one more season to allow the young guys to move into the starting team at the right time.

I mean the expensive Kaloamatungi did not stand out at all first half vs Eisenhuth and in fact Kaloamatungi looked exhausated by the end of the 2nd qtr with Eisenhuth and co running at him every second play.

I have to agree Tom was really polished

 

[Parko1310]

Eisenhuth showed what he will bring in I think our first defensive set. Was involved in a tackle where an offload got away, he rolled out quickly and was the first to make contact on the souths player who received the offload. Great effort play, and shut down the possibility of us being stripped for numbers or pulled out of our systems.

 

[Crush]

That’s completely dependant on his final contract price. We need to jump on opportunities when they arise so long as the player/manager are not taking us for extortion.

Yep, it’s the self defence mechanism all dragons fans have developed.
We are after who? Great throw the check book at him!
Then when we don’t get him, dodged a bullet there, phew!

 

[since77]

Based on Sua playing left second row on the weekend.......... I think we would all prefer Sua signed on and playing left edge every week.......and signed on at the right price.

Hopefully the Luc possibility accelerated Sua making a call on his contract extension at the Dragons?

But I did like the x factor Luc brings we get in the 20m area of the opposition as there are not many like him.

The right edge backrow........Eisenhuth was so bloody professional and clinical on the weekend. What a low priced addition for 2024.................... and I wonder if Tom can stay for one more season to allow the young guys to move into the starting team at the right time.

I mean the expensive Kaloamatungi did not stand out at all first half vs Eisenhuth and in fact Kaloamatungi looked exhausated by the end of the 2nd qtr with Eisenhuth and co running at him every second play.

Agree. Sua was great. Really hope they re-sign him. And I've got to say I was surprisingly impressed with Eisenhuth. Wasn't thrilled about his signing at first but he showed a really good work ethic and you could see the Melbourne system at work in the way he played. He could be a really good influence in the forward pack.

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

Eisenhuth showed what he will bring in I think our first defensive set. Was involved in a tackle where an offload got away, he rolled out quickly and was the first to make contact on the souths player who received the offload. Great effort play, and shut down the possibility of us being stripped for numbers or pulled out of our systems.

i saw that one also
so impressed with his ability to stay alive and shut down second play
scary thing is that Tom has had a limited pre season also due to a couple niggles
wait till he is 100% fit.
These value experienced players allow you to go hard with other signings in key roles due to their professionalism and above average stats

 

[Dragon David]

He's not coming to us apparently. Raiders won out

That is a shame to me. He has the attacking skills out wide that we need. It is OK to have the likes of Su'a and Eisenhuth out wide as well for defensive reasons but we do need someone who can attack and off load as both Su'a and Eisenhuth don't have this quality in their kit bags.

Top notch defence is the key to winning close matches and also to bring about a better against number in the ladder but I love it when the attack is in full swing and the tries roll on for us - haven't seen this often enough so I hope that once Flanno can get the troops to be as tight as you know what and then go all out to improve our attacking skills - we need to desperately - the adrenaline gets my heart pumping which we all need to happen.

 

[JubileeJeffro]

Yep, it’s the self defence mechanism all dragons fans have developed.
We are after who? Great throw the check book at him!
Then when we don’t get him, dodged a bullet there, phew!

Leilua is no great loss. did nothing of note for us, the tigers, the cowboys and soon to be the raiders.
Cant believe the price he is paid for the little he contributes. We should not be spending over 700k a year on a couple of moments of magic each month

 

[Dragons4me]

Leilua is no great loss. did nothing of note for us, the tigers, the cowboys and soon to be the raiders.
Cant believe the price he is paid for the little he contributes. We should not be spending over 700k a year on a couple of moments of magic each month

Correct.
The question to be answered is how long do we wait for the headline "Dragons miss out on another one!"
Not too long at all I suspect.

 

[SEAT 1A]

Luc would have been a great pick up however, it looks as though he's out of our market price and contract length and RFM should be playing this week.

 

[Dragon David]

Luc would have been a great pick up however, it looks as though he's out of our market price and contract length and RFM should be playing this week.

I'm wondering that if LL is "out of our market price and contract length" then are we expecting to get terrific deals on the "better" players than LL - not likely as we should have had a couple already signed, sealed and delivered by now. In other words would we keep waiting for a "cheaper, shorter bargain" player to come our way (maybe another reject or journeyman) and will that happen in the next year or later when prices will no doubt be higher? Any body of any worth I feel for sure that other clubs will be trying to sign as well so there will always be that scenario too.

We need some guys now and the cost and duration of their contracts would have to be good enough to attract them to our club. LL wanted to come to the Dragons as they have reported but we could not accept his terms. We just go around in circles and if we do happen to reach some sort of agreement with a player they change their mind and sign elsewhere anyway.

I give up!!!!

 

[JubileeJeffro]

I'm wondering that if LL is "out of our market price and contract length" then are we expecting to get terrific deals on the "better" players than LL - not likely as we should have had a couple already signed, sealed and delivered by now. In other words would we keep waiting for a "cheaper, shorter bargain" player to come our way (maybe another reject or journeyman) and will that happen in the next year or later when prices will no doubt be higher? Any body of any worth I feel for sure that other clubs will be trying to sign as well so there will always be that scenario too.

We need some guys now and the cost and duration of their contracts would have to be good enough to attract them to our club. LL wanted to come to the Dragons as they have reported but we could not accept his terms. We just go around in circles and if we do happen to reach some sort of agreement with a player they change their mind and sign elsewhere anyway.

I give up!!!!

I think signing LL just because he is available, at crazy dollars would be a real sign of desperation and would likely mean we lose SuA as he would expect the same if not more.
LL is a bench player, who is already overpaid at the Cowboys. Hopefully RFM can provide the burst of energy we need on the edge. He played his best football there, not as a middle.

 

[Phantom V]

Re Luciano, I’m not too fussed either way. He’s not worth his asking price and if the Raiders pick him up good luck to them. He’s a good impact player on his day but I think we’ve already got a great pick up in Eisenheuth with money in the bank and RFM just might surprise us yet.

 

[Belta]

This will be the reason I have to finally give the game up. It’s not a level playing field but a game of how good are your financiers. I doubt Souths and Roosters fans see it this way but we’ve been frozen out well and truly. Sour grapes? Yep but that doesn’t discount that it’s wrong. Will have to eventually pay overs for people or continue to run out with a team full of Paul Turners.

As hard as I try, and I really do try, I struggle to maintain any passion for NRL for the very reason you have just explained. I still remain hopeful I will get my mojo back, having played and followed the greatest game of all my entire life.