The Rumours Thread

[JubileeJeffro]

I was just looking at contracts last night, Sione and Couchmans r the standouts that r off contract in Nov... I could have sworn we had the Couchies well locked up.. so this is quite intriguing, esp given we are also signing bigger props.. hopefully Flanno can sort that out.. proper dragons kids with bright futures.

Yep Couchmen extended at the start of last year until end of 2025…thieves can approach Nov 1 this year…time to lock them down until end 2027 I reckon.

 

[Harry Bath]

Yep Couchmen extended at the start of last year until end of 2025…thieves can approach Nov 1 this year…time to lock them down until end 2027 I reckon.

Need to lock them up for 3 more years at least maybe 4

 

[TheRev]

Yep Couchmen extended at the start of last year until end of 2025…thieves can approach Nov 1 this year…time to lock them down until end 2027 I reckon.

If I had of realised.. then there is a little bit more urgency to let Ryan play some 1st grade... tbf he gets his chance these next 2 weeks with his brother out... probably longer actually given BMM is out now.


He's been 18th man for a while.. but he must be a little frustrated.. I think Tobys game time has been good for his age.

 

[Dragon David]

Can someone find out who the recruitment head at the Dragons is at the moment. Is it a somebody or a nobody? Is it someone or no-one? Is he a busy body or a slow body? Things don't appear to be happening there!!!!

I heard Flanno say that the Board has not given the green light on some of the "suggested" recruits. So it seems to me that there is the continuing problem in that room at the top with the old fuddy duddies at logger heads again.

By the time they come to their senses and reach an agreement the guys we are wanting could have flown the coop and we end up with no-one.

 

[Harry Bath]

Someone will definitely snap them up if we don't. They are unironically better than all our other forwards. The Couchmen, halangahu, Latu and Tonga could easily replace our whole starting forward pack in the next few years bar Su'a probably.

I think Flanagan should start trialing these guys now if the rules allow?, there is absolutely nil chance they will make the 8 , Flanagan is falling into the Hook dilemma where there is no progress once the season is still mathematically possible to make the 8 so the same old hacks are rolled out week after week

 

[KogarahWarrior]

Yeah, the Couchmen have definitely put on weight & grown in confidence since 2023. Also, great to remember they’re not 21 for another 6 weeks.

tbh I don't get the talk about their bodyweight. I've never seen either of them get pushed over in a tackle. Bodyweight defo plays a part in being a forward ofc but being 90-100kg isn't bad. It's more about how powerful you are and how strong your leg drive is. The Couchmen aren't meant to be one of those 121kg wrecking balls. They're big, strong, athletic, skilful and quite fast - Toby almost ran down Teddy a few weeks ago while everyone else just stood and watched. We need forwards like the Couchmen.

 

[KogarahWarrior]

Out of curiosity who do Millward and Haran know that actually got them their jobs? We all know they're nepo babies but I'd like to know what the connection is

 

[Dragon David]

Somebody has jumped the gun and have put Stefano Utoikamanu signed up to the Bulldogs on Wikipedia - not reliable source of course but most times is right.

No mention on Homes and Saifiti on Wiki coming to us.

 

[Nanadragon]

The same message I get whenever I've tried to get into Jubilee Ave. No one ever seems to do anything about it though.
By the way the ads on this page are getting insane. I'm now getting a video player bottom right hand corner every page I go to. Time for an ad blocker methinks.

I'm getting the annoying ad too on each new page.

 

[Desperate Dragon]

Somebody has jumped the gun and have put Stefano Utoikamanu signed up to the Bulldogs on Wikipedia - not reliable source of course but most times is right.

No mention on Homes and Saifiti on Wiki coming to us.

Maybe it was Gus just doing an update???

 

[Desperate Dragon]

Yes they can talk to other clubs come October

Does anyone in the game truly believe that there are very few if any who adhere to this 1st November date for talking to players??
It's the NRL, so there will always be loopholes and work arounds for those who choose to follow that path.

 

[Dragon David]

Maybe it was Gus just doing an update???

I am betting that Stefano ends up at the Dogs. The usual late announcement but possibly have spoken to him weeks ago but not in the coffee section of the Canterbury Leagues Club - just quietly giving him how great the club will be next year. I think with his wife and child being settled in Sydney and near family and friend is what Stefano would want to maintain. If he was single, he would go to the Storm for sure.

 

[TheRev]

Does anyone in the game truly believe that there are very few if any who adhere to this 1st November date for talking to players??
It's the NRL, so there will always be loopholes and work arounds for those who choose to follow that path.

I think Anasta answered that on 360 over a few days where he basically gave up the pretence that he wasnt already negotiating with Newcastle re: Pezet.

The point of that Nov 1 deadline was for 2026 players, what i dont recall happening before... are the number of players we are currently seeing being shopped early by their club.. or more specifically being 'allowed to negotiate' for the following year... sometimes via a contract clause and sometimes just twisting the clubs arm.

 

[JubileeJeffro]

I am betting that Stefano ends up at the Dogs. The usual late announcement but possibly have spoken to him weeks ago but not in the coffee section of the Canterbury Leagues Club - just quietly giving him how great the club will be next year. I think with his wife and child being settled in Sydney and near family and friend is what Stefano would want to maintain. If he was single, he would go to the Storm for sure.

He has said as much.. ‘not about premierships it’s about family’..
And likely some jobs for his family working the door at Laundy hotels…
This bulldogs recruitment revival with Goose Gould at the helm with a Billionaire backer looks eerily similar to the roosters formula..call me a conspiracy theorist but there has to be some side hustles going on at Belmore.. the so called family club is starting to look ridiculously stacked with new recruits…

 

[Sir Donald Reacharound]

Can someone find out who the recruitment head at the Dragons is at the moment. Is it a somebody or a nobody? Is it someone or no-one? Is he a busy body or a slow body? Things don't appear to be happening there!!!!

I heard Flanno say that the Board has not given the green light on some of the "suggested" recruits. So it seems to me that there is the continuing problem in that room at the top with the old fuddy duddies at logger heads again.

By the time they come to their senses and reach an agreement the guys we are wanting could have flown the coop and we end up with no-one.

https://www.dragons.com.au/news/202...-millard-as-recruitment-and-pathways-manager/

 

[Dragsters]

I'm getting the annoying ad too on each new page.

Same.Get rid of asap please, it's a real turn off to browsing here...

 

[Dragon David]

https://www.dragons.com.au/news/202...-millard-as-recruitment-and-pathways-manager/

Thanks Sir Donald

I was aware of Shane Millard but he was away sick for sometime and maybe still off, I don't know. He could have returned. I was being a bit facetious with my post. I was just having a go at the lack of anything positive coming through that isn't a rumour. It could very well be Millard, Haran, Millward and Flanno all in the mix and with just a switch of the button out will come someone who has the final say on who we sign.

 

[Biglance]

I think Anasta answered that on 360 over a few days where he basically gave up the pretence that he wasnt already negotiating with Newcastle re: Pezet.

The point of that Nov 1 deadline was for 2026 players, what i dont recall happening before... are the number of players we are currently seeing being shopped early by their club.. or more specifically being 'allowed to negotiate' for the following year... sometimes via a contract clause and sometimes just twisting the clubs arm.

do u think some of it is due to new teams coming in and the impact of the dolphins

 

[JubileeJeffro]

He has said as much.. ‘not about premierships it’s about family’..
And likely some jobs for his family working the door at Laundy hotels…
This bulldogs recruitment revival with Goose Gould at the helm with a Billionaire backer looks eerily similar to the roosters formula..call me a conspiracy theorist but there has to be some side hustles going on at Belmore.. the so called family club is starting to look ridiculously stacked with new recruits…

Well there you go, Storm it is!

 

[Dragsters]

No longer a rumour, Stefano confirmed to the purple cheating scum...