The Rumours Thread

[Parko1310]

Random testing is cheap and easy.

RLPA will be all over that, won't happen

 

[Jubilee]

The reason Cocaine is player's drug of choice?
Here's the typical detection times by test type:

• Urine: up to 4 days
• Blood: up to 2 days
• Saliva: up to 2 days
• Hair: up to 3 months

I highly doubt the players association will allow 'Hair testing', so unless there is a very strict and costly testing regime, players will get away with it and only get caught via on-line photos and unplanned police stops.

Random saliva testing. If positive, follow it up with blood testing. Simple, not expensive, not invasive. Put it in every NRL contract.

 

[Jubilee]

RLPA will be all over that, won't happen

You are probably right but you wonder what objection they could have to it. They test for PEDs.

 

[maestro1]

It certainly seems that the rules only apply to certain clubs/players but........

If max penalty exceeds 11 years it's hard to see how the NRL could not classify it as serious criminal offence whereby the automatic stand down rule applies. What spin could they possibly weave?

if under 11Yrs then I'd expect the dribble to flow!

If it is over 11 years and nothing is done, then Lancaster and co. need to storm NRL head quarters and demand an explanation/investigation. They should have done that when Munster's bite wasn't made an example of. What were the MRCs words...... About making an example that any form of biting will not be tolerated..... Until it is a News Limited aligned club.

 

[TheRev]

I cannot believe we are sending the couchmans to market, if we lose these guys I will be well and truly pissed off.

I dont think its our choice..

 

[Harry Bath]

Don’t your points 3 & 4 already answer your own question about the quality of the squads or do you also need reminding that the 2022 side had Mybe, Mc Cullough, Mc Guire, Burns, Gosieweski, Woods, Burgess and Amone in its ranks?

If they are equal to the 2024 squad then who would you swap any of them for?

Liddle, Leilua certainly huge upgrades on what we had especially as they weren’t sin binned or constantly suspended like others.

Kyle Flanagan, Tom Eisenhuth were considered good signings or are you saying they aren’t?

3 byes and play the 2 premier teams in the comp during origin was certainly a softer draw and on top of that 2024 had the complete implosion of Souths, Broncos and Eels who have all sacked their coaches.

But somehow in your opinion it was like for like well I don’t agree and TBH I don’t think anyone with a fair mind w

I dont think its our choice..

Whose choice is it?

 

[TheRev]

Whose choice is it?

Toby & Ryans.. they think their worth more, they r entitled to prove it.

 

[Old Timer]

For what it's worth (and it may be worth nothing), Peter Peters claimed on 2KY Sunday morning big sports program that Flanno had effectively caught the Craig Young disease of many years ago when he was in charge of Dragons recruitment. He said that player managers were avoiding him due to him being difficult to deal with resulting in us missing out on players who fans could reasonably have expected us to sign.

As far as I'm concerned if the club (and particularly our very ordinary ex CEO Ryan Webb ) had their act together, Flanno wouldn't be in the position of having to be a (probably) very stressed one man band.

Some player managers have too many players and thus the whip handle when it comes to negotiating.

If kit keeps going that way and more teams come into the comp the problem will get even worse.

Delicate diplomacy and deep pockets required these days and I'm not sure S F or the club has either.

 

[BLM01]

Don’t your points 3 & 4 already answer your own question about the quality of the squads or do you also need reminding that the 2022 side had Mybe, Mc Cullough, Mc Guire, Burns, Gosieweski, Woods, Burgess and Amone in its ranks?

If they are equal to the 2024 squad then who would you swap any of them for?

Liddle, Leilua certainly huge upgrades on what we had especially as they weren’t sin binned or constantly suspended like others.

Kyle Flanagan, Tom Eisenhuth were considered good signings or are you saying they aren’t?

3 byes and play the 2 premier teams in the comp during origin was certainly a softer draw and on top of that 2024 had the complete implosion of Souths, Broncos and Eels who have all sacked their coaches.

But somehow in your opinion it was like for like well I don’t agree and TBH I don’t think anyone with a fair mind would.

Na..dont agree with your rationale and I am very fair minded unlike some and the soft draw picking bits out to suit your narrative does not wash. You see all teams had to play those imploding sides. We only got them once.
We had a comparable squad all up and I dont think KF and Eisenhouth were good signings..average at best just like the 2022 names you mention..ha Burgess played 4 games and others were playing reggies
Liddle played in 2023.. thats right another player improved under Flanno in 2024.
i will stop arguing now as dont agree with you and on your stuff lately never will

 

[BLM01]

I think the Brisbane fans may get a shock when the police finally charge him. (Currently waiting for second results). If positive and the charges do equate to a potential 14yr term, then the NRL have no choice but to stand him down (Consistency)

I see Ezra has voluntarily booked himself into rehab. Seems he is already aware what the result will be.

Well he has apoligised supposedly. Is that an admission

 

[Hound of Dracula]

Random saliva testing. If positive, follow it up with blood testing. Simple, not expensive, not invasive. Put it in every NRL contract.

Very true but IMO unlikely

Last year the terms only allowed players to be tested when in a club environment, either at training or in the pre-season. I reckon there would be many instances of a 2-day break from club (Party, party after Friday night game?) during the season.

Not sure whether the RLPA agreed to new terms last year during the bitter collective bargaining period.

It seems very difficult to obtain any statistics on the number of tests run this year.

No matter what, like the AFL, clubs will try to beat the system to protect the better players and the governing body likely to turn a blind eye to avoid a black eye.

When have we heard of a player suspended for 12 months after a second positive from official testing? Never.

In my mind, only the mentally challenged get caught!

Edited - I.E. for Cocaine

 

[TruSaint]

How old is Rangi Chase ? Asking for a friend.

 

[Jubilee]

Very true but IMO unlikely

Last year the terms only allowed players to be tested when in a club environment, either at training or in the pre-season. I reckon there would be many instances of a 2-day break from club (Party, party after Friday night game?) during the season.

Not sure whether the RLPA agreed to new terms last year during the bitter collective bargaining period.

It seems very difficult to obtain any statistics on the number of tests run this year.

No matter what, like the AFL, clubs will try to beat the system to protect the better players and the governing body likely to turn a blind eye to avoid a black eye.

When have we heard of a player suspended for 12 months after a second positive from official testing? Never.

In my mind, only the mentally challenged get caught!

I have wondered about some of the player physiques. It is one thing to be in heavy training and ripped, but no one trains heavy weights in-season, there just isn't the recovery time. And then there is the catabolic (muscle-consuming) effect of playing and training long minutes in an endurance sport. No one ever sees big, ripped cyclists.

Anyway, few have ever been pinged. Xerri. Jarrod Mullen.

 

[justadragon]

Dragons target Storm star to play No.7 amid conjecture over Hunt’s future — Transfer Whispers

Dragons target Storm star to play No.7 amid conjecture over Hunt’s future — Transfer Whispers

www.foxsports.com.au

Hasn't he already said that he wants to stay at the Storm ? I wouldnt mind trying for Pezet, he would be more likely to go.

 

[Old Timer]

Na..dont agree with your rationale and I am very fair minded unlike some and the soft draw picking bits out to suit your narrative does not wash. You see all teams had to play those imploding sides. We only got them once.
We had a comparable squad all up and I dont think KF and Eisenhouth were good signings..average at best just like the 2022 names you mention..ha Burgess played 4 games and others were playing reggies
Liddle played in 2023.. thats right another player improved under Flanno in 2024.
i will stop arguing now as dont agree with you and on your stuff lately never will

You love being selective so maybe this will help you as to who played 1st grade regularly in 2022

Even though Burgess might only play 4 and Burns 4 or 5 and Gos whatever if you add them all up it means better players didn't play that number of games.

I see that you still think it is a comparable squad so please tell me who you would swap from the 2024 roster for the players listed below.

NRL 2022 - St George Illawarra Dragons - RLP

Details of St George Illawarra Dragons in the NRL 2022 season.

www.rugbyleagueproject.org

 

[qld redvee]

Well he has apoligised supposedly. Is that an admission

And apparantly looking at rehab

 

[possm]

Yeah, it’s as good as admitting he has a drug problem. Also it seems pretty obvious he had no licence and he was in the accident. drugs and no licence pretty much means he has a significant amount of fault. Ie he is in trouble.

Personally I think checking himself in is an attempt to get ahead of the problem and be seen as a victim. But maybe I’m cynical.

Let's forget about Mamm and just release Hunt for a good prop or a good center. Flanno can find a halfback from elsewhere.

 

[Victoire]

Na..dont agree with your rationale and I am very fair minded unlike some and the soft draw picking bits out to suit your narrative does not wash. You see all teams had to play those imploding sides. We only got them once.
We had a comparable squad all up and I dont think KF and Eisenhouth were good signings..average at best just like the 2022 names you mention..ha Burgess played 4 games and others were playing reggies
Liddle played in 2023.. thats right another player improved under Flanno in 2024.
i will stop arguing now as dont agree with you and on your stuff lately never will

Dive in and hit that ignore button on the old crank. The water is fine in here

 

[possm]

De Belin's career is almost over, M Molo I can't imagine gets another extension, Eisenhuth doesn't have long left, RFM is coming off contract and may not be re-signed. There is plenty of opportunity opening up for the Couchman's and I doubt they want to leave and I would say we want to keep them. I don't see us losing either of them at this stage. If we do, we are even worse than I possibly imagined. There is probably already an agreement of some sort, whether it be a done deal, or a wait and see how much first grade they play early next season to determine their value for their next contract/s. I don't feel it's a pressing matter if the club wants to keep players who also want to stay. A deal will get done, but in saying that, we do have to remain vigilant and not just piss around like we've done in the past.

I'm certain that Flanno knows what he has got, who he want to let go, and who he wants to keep. I'm also sure that the right players to fill the gaps will become available. Just be patiant fnst

 

[SAP58]

Reported in a Facebook St George Illawarra group I am a member of. I didn’t hear the podcast just relaying the post

“DRAGON fans
SOURCE JAMES GRAHAM PODCAST
Flanno was on James podcast and told James we are speaking to a Rugby Player Flanno didn't say who or which position the player plays
That's is all for the moment”