The Rumours Thread

[denis preston]

It is sure frustrating. I’d like to think the club has a plan & commitment for 06. The last 12 years we may have had one as well but the dickheads running the show were not up to it. Here’s hoping things have changed?

Sorry meant 26 !

 

[redandwhite4evr]

Our biggest problem is our defense, and to solve this we need a new defensive coach, so sack Young.
Next problem is we are lacking a marquee prop.
Next problem is that our halves cannot manage a game, kick long into the corners, or kick a field goal. How on earth do we expect to compete with other clubs?

We have two captains, but on-field decisions are poor.

I get that there are freakish players like Mitchell and Lomax who have the ability to kick long distance two point field goals and can also kick a long ball well downfield from a restart but generally I don't get players other than the halves or possibly the No 9 doing the short goal line dropouts. Gutherson tends to do our short dropouts and I'm wondering why this skill has not been something that LKT and KF have been asked to develop given that the halves and no 9 are generally better placed to take a shot during golden point or just at the end of a tight game. Certainly having multiple players who can drop a field goal is preferable otherwise the defence will simply rush up and shut down the Guthersons of this world.

Field goal wins are part of game management- something we continue to struggle with.

 

[Dragon David]

I get that there are freakish players like Mitchell and Lomax who have the ability to kick long distance two point field goals and can also kick a long ball well downfield from a restart but generally I don't get players other than the halves or possibly the No 9 doing the short goal line dropouts. Gutherson tends to do our short dropouts and I'm wondering why this skill has not been something that LKT and KF have been asked to develop given that the halves and no 9 are generally better placed to take a shot during golden point or just at the end of a tight game. Certainly having multiple players who can drop a field goal is preferable otherwise the defence will simply rush up and shut down the Guthersons of this world.

Field goal wins are part of game management- something we continue to struggle with.

I know that not all players have the same capabilities as each other. Each player generally has some "specialty" of some sort for the positions they play in. Some players have many attributes and can be "complete" players and they more or less cost a bomb to secure. However, as a footballer you would think that there are a number of things that they would have learnt to do when just as a kid.

Running, jumping, ducking, weaving, side stepping, kicking, passing, catching, kicking goals. They are generally the sorts of things that a kid would be trained to do when growing up. As they develop they build their bodies with muscle for strength and endurance, make sure that their hearts are strong as well as their lungs and they then learn how to wrestle and tackle and barge and fend and off-load, etc. So, when it comes to kicking field goals for instance wouldn't each boy growing up in league be getting some practice at it and kicking goals for penalties and tries.

When I say that each kid has different capabilities to each other, they can be taught so much when they have skills practise and then the differences are reduced and so in a team there should be a number who can run fast, tackle well, off-load well and kick well including field goals . Why limit these attributes to just one or two in the team for heavens sake? Get more to learn more things. A front row forward for instance has strong legs and power. They should be trained to do kicking high, long kicks in general play, field goals as well not just the halves, fullback, centre.

They are the sorts of things that I would do as a trainer/coach. But who am I? Just a fan of the once mighty RedV Dragons who is patiently waiting for the St George Illawarra Dragons to be a great club again.

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

I get that there are freakish players like Mitchell and Lomax who have the ability to kick long distance two point field goals and can also kick a long ball well downfield from a restart but generally I don't get players other than the halves or possibly the No 9 doing the short goal line dropouts. Gutherson tends to do our short dropouts and I'm wondering why this skill has not been something that LKT and KF have been asked to develop given that the halves and no 9 are generally better placed to take a shot during golden point or just at the end of a tight game. Certainly having multiple players who can drop a field goal is preferable otherwise the defence will simply rush up and shut down the Guthersons of this world.

Field goal wins are part of game management- something we continue to struggle with.

Slightly off tangent, re throw ins in soccer, a few years back Liverpool hired a speacialist who dealt with throwing the ball in, people laughed but the club had analysed that they lost alot of balls to the opposition during the throw ins, they also looked at the passage of play after that, they concluded if they could improve it they could get either more goals or wins from it, which they did, take any advantage you can get.
We could probably look at alot of aspects of the game and find improvements that could benefit the team during the year, especially from scrums, there are so many opportunities where you can attack 3 on 3 putting a move on, creating an extra man, throwing inside passes instead of 2 pass to Lawrie to run it up..

 

[hewi]

Slightly off tangent, re throw ins in soccer, a few years back Liverpool hired a speacialist who dealt with throwing the ball in, people laughed but the club had analysed that they lost alot of balls to the opposition during the throw ins, they also looked at the passage of play after that, they concluded if they could improve it they could get either more goals or wins from it, which they did, take any advantage you can get.
We could probably look at alot of aspects of the game and find improvements that could benefit the team during the year, especially from scrums, there are so many opportunities where you can attack 3 on 3 putting a move on, creating an extra man, throwing inside passes instead of 2 pass to Lawrie to run it up..

‘Great post. I would call it trying to make every post a winner. In the old days it was percentage football, penalty in front take the two, attacking with 2 minutes to half time take the field goal just as Walker did against us. Build pressure by grubbing into the in goal for a repeat set, Widdop was a master at it. Get the little things right, we don’t.

 

[Dragon David]

‘Great post. I would call it trying to make every post a winner. In the old days it was percentage football, penalty in front take the two, attacking with 2 minutes to half time take the field goal just as Walker did against us. Build pressure by grubbing into the in goal for a repeat set, Widdop was a master at it. Get the little things right, we don’t.

Practise, practise, practise all of the time.

The best players of any sport practise things everyday. In fact anyone who wants to be the best at what they do like golfers, musicians, singers etc go through routines and practise everyday.

Making sure that the little things are done right - as you say hewi.

 

[hook hook]

I get that there are freakish players like Mitchell and Lomax who have the ability to kick long distance two point field goals and can also kick a long ball well downfield from a restart but generally I don't get players other than the halves or possibly the No 9 doing the short goal line dropouts. Gutherson tends to do our short dropouts and I'm wondering why this skill has not been something that LKT and KF have been asked to develop given that the halves and no 9 are generally better placed to take a shot during golden point or just at the end of a tight game. Certainly having multiple players who can drop a field goal is preferable otherwise the defence will simply rush up and shut down the Guthersons of this world.

Field goal wins are part of game management- something we continue to struggle with.

Most fullbacks take the dropouts and kickoffs. It’s the same reason most take the 5th tackle hit up, it’s so there’s a fully set defensive line and a half doesn’t have to rush and cover his position

 

[possm]

Most fullbacks take the dropouts and kickoffs. It’s the same reason most take the 5th tackle hit up, it’s so there’s a fully set defensive line and a half doesn’t have to rush and cover his position

For the remainder of 2025, maybe it should be Holmes at fullback and Gutherson at center.

 

[RedV11]

So if Sione Finau departs our choices for wingers are CT, Feagai, Lawson, Allan and Ravalawa. As Sloan won’t be here next year

 

[qld redvee]

So if Sione Finau departs our choices for wingers are CT, Feagai, Lawson, Allan and Ravalawa. As Sloan won’t be here next year

Let's hope young Jessie Williams can take a spot

 

[Dragsters]

So if Sione Finau departs our choices for wingers are CT, Feagai, Lawson, Allan and Ravalawa. As Sloan won’t be here next year

Sheesh 🫤

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

Let's hope young Jessie Williams can take a spot

maybe
i love the enthusiasm but he will need to evolve via NSW Cup at his build

 

[TheRev]

Jesse has hardly played 2 games in a row.. needs heaps of development time, particularly in defence (he is a bit frantic still), hopefully next year we can clear a NSW Cup spot for him.. hes just gotta stay fit.. and a full preseason would be magic.

I'm an unabashed Sione fan, but just accepted hes not on our radar (until recently it seems), if were gonna let him go we better have someone decent coming.. someone who could cover fullback (a Sloan replacement) would be ideal.

There isnt rly anyone else unless Lawson keeps developing.. Kirk has been out all year also, BRumble I think is gone (but was prob not the one anyway), ultimately some decisions to be made with Tim/Daniel/Shane, because I think the lack of quality winger has been exposing us lately, and I think its finally being recognised as Flanno said it was 1 of the 2 spots he was after.

 

[TheRev]

Something I heard today, forget which podcast, think it was from Chimes the player manager.. said just wait for end of this year when the new teams start trying to pull talent out of an already stretched player base... said it would be 'super league' levels of bidding wars.. that most clubs just wont be able to sign much at all.

That's why the well run clubs have got their young ones all locked up.. its gonna be very interesting.. we don't really have a lot of ours locked up longterm.. trying to stay nimble, but things could get interesting.

 

[mattw5]

Something I heard today, forget which podcast, think it was from Chimes the player manager.. said just wait for end of this year when the new teams start trying to pull talent out of an already stretched player base... said it would be 'super league' levels of bidding wars.. that most clubs just wont be able to sign much at all.

That's why the well run clubs have got their young ones all locked up.. its gonna be very interesting.. we don't really have a lot of ours locked up longterm.. trying to stay nimble, but things could get interesting.

This is why the club pulled the trigger on JDB smart move people are just not seeing it

 

[mattw5]

Su’a is on the radar of Japanese & French rugby clubs now also.

 

[Crush]

So if Sione Finau departs our choices for wingers are CT, Feagai, Lawson, Allan and Ravalawa. As Sloan won’t be here next year

Flano said on the dragons den pod that we are in the market for a winger.

 

[Dragon David]

Flano said on the dragons den pod that we are in the market for a winger.

Yes he did Crush. One of Daniel Anderson's job to secure.

I'm thinking that we really need a fullback that has speed as well as skills to catch and defend. Gutho is too slow in my opinion. Ramsey would have been great if not taken ill with the ulcerative colitis and I don't think that he is any chance of playing first grade again because he doesn't have the all round stamina and he cannot maintain a higher weight because of his special diet that he would be on. Such a pity.

So new half, new prop and new fullback is what I think we have to get for 2026.

 

[I'm Hornby]

Flano said on the dragons den pod that we are in the market for a winger.

And you take him at his word do you?

 

[Macedonian Dragon]

I’d honestly try sign Jake Averillo. He’s versatile, quick and skilful. Can play centre and move Suli to the bench as an impact forward or something. Makes sense to sign Tommy Talau to play wing. It’ll make it easier with his dad already being at the club