TruSaint
Referee
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2 it will be, me thinks. Fairly confident.
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Hahaha ......... Matty Fxcking Johns. This is your compass? Who has ever listened to anything Matty Johns says. His best work was "Reg Reagan".
... No I'm not Kyle or Shane, but I'm sure you are either Mrs Young or Mrs Hornby.
Bennett isn't against working with players who have had off field dramas. Wendall, Latrell, Milford and I'm sure there are more.
I am pretty happy with how things are going. We are going to need the dominoes to topple the right way to get Gutho and JAC and say, Atkinson, and it looks like Lodge is a done deal, and then we might snag another strong prop, and clear out some dead wood, and we might have to tolerate Hunt for another year, but Rome wasn't built in a day.
What are your thoughts on #7 for 2025 if Hunt is scraped off our shoes? KF?
With Gutho an unknown Jubilee, I'm unsure, but I would even take a KF at 7 and LKT at 6. Just as long as Hunt does not disrupt our preseason.
Are we there yet?
No we are not there yet and pls stop kicking the back of my seat.
All of these journos have different information in Weidlers column this morning he said discussions with Gutho & the Dragons centred around 2026 this guy is saying they haven’t even met to discuss yet. So much hinges on Ben Hunt until we move him on no one will be getting signed.Surely there is still money available .
Why Hunt-Dragons drama will roll on as Eels roster overhaul continues
By Dan Walsh
October 20, 2024 — 4.33pm
Ben Hunt’s management will not talk to rival clubs until his Kangaroos commitments wrap up after the Dragons told him a 2025 release would not be considered before he entered Australian camp.
As Parramatta look to unsigned half Ronald Volkman as a depth signing and Maika Sivo’s release to Super League edges closer, tension between the Dragons and Hunt continues to simmer after the club granted its highest-paid player early permission to explore the 2026 market.
https://archive.md/MEkGX#
https://archive.md/MEkGX#
After being told extension talks would be revisited based on how Hunt starts the 2025 season, his camp is prepared to push for an immediate exit rather than waiting another year. Hunt has had multiple release requests rejected over the past 18 months.
As reported by this masthead on Sunday, Hunt is wary of his contract dramas being a distraction for Mal Meninga’s side.
His camp’s disappointment in the timing of St George Illawarra’s decision – two weeks before Hunt is a free agent on November 1 – has been relayed to the club and coach Shane Flanagan.
Despite being linked to the Dolphins and Bulldogs, Hunt has told his management that he does not want to entertain any talks until after the Pacific Championships final on November 10.
Hunt was told before departing for Kangaroos duties that a 2025 release was not in the Dragons’ plans and that he would be expected to return in January for pre-season training.
Hunt’s captaincy is likely to again come under the microscope given the ongoing drama around his future.
With the Dragons planning for Hunt’s salary – estimated at around $950,000 next year – to be carried on their cap, the club is anticipating only being able to afford Clint Gutherson or Josh Addo-Carr, not both former NSW Origin backs.
Gutherson shapes as the Dragons’ recruitment priority after he was recently granted permission to explore his options early as well, given his experience and ability to play fullback.
Eels captain Clint Gutherson is weighing up his future.CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES
Eels coach Jason Ryles has told the Parramatta skipper that an extension could not be offered given the uncertainty around his move to a utility role.
Gutherson has not made a decision on his future and is yet to meet with Flanagan, while the Eels are considering making a bid for former Warriors playmaker Volkman as a back-up half.
Manly have expressed interest in the 22-year-old in a similar role after an off-season signing saga that ended in the Dragons being issued a $40,000 NRL fine.
Volkman has recovered from the shoulder injury that scuppered his Dragons move last January and left him $175,000 out of pocket until a confidential settlement with the club was reached two months ago.
Sivo, meanwhile, is expected to link with ex-Eels coach Brad Arthur at Leeds as a deal nears completion.
Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould hinted at the developments during commentary of Saturday’s Fiji-Papua New Guinea Test where Sivo was part of a Fijian side humbled by the Kumuls.
The 31-year-old winger was permitted to look elsewhere by the Eels earlier this year and has a long-standing relationship with Arthur after being recruited from Penrith in 2019.
Sivo’s 104 tries in blue and gold from 115 appearances ranks him behind only Luke Burt (124), Jarryd Hayne (113) and Brett Kenny (110) in club history.
Sivo struggled for form at times in 2024, and was dropped by Arthur earlier this year, before reclaiming his spot late in the season under interim coach Trent Barrett.
The Eels are expected to contribute to Sivo’s 2025 salary, as they will with Reagan Campbell-Gillard’s three-year Gold Coast deal after he was released at the start of the month
Dragons could do the same
hunt can be our most expensive reserve grade player if we can't move him on.
Wait, what? What?
He is unbelievable isn’t he?
Matty Johns, Pfff
Allan and a few others were also signed.
I agree so much I personally think flanno did a good job this year with limited quality players that he inherited. He will continue to improve our side but give him time and get off his back a bit. He has already identified our biggest problem (Hunt) and called him on it in his end of year review. As for last year he didn't really have a choice but to ask Hunt to stay. If he didn't keep him then he would come into a new team without a half. Now he is sorting things out give him time. In my opinion best coach we have had since Bennett. Not that is saying much but be patient he may surprise the non believers in a few years especially if he can take advantage of our juniors.
