The Rumours Thread

[offiah]

What about Ramsey? He is still young and hopefully ready to play fullback in first grade

Por que no los dos? (Why don’t we have both?)

 

[Gareth67]

What about Ramsey? He is still young and hopefully ready to play fullback in first grade next season.

Possum - with respect to yourself and in particular Ramsey , the young man ( at least in my opinion ) will never be the same player he once was .

To be able to return to the field and actually play one of the most physically demanding sports in the world is indeed a miracle in itself. I am certainly not attempting to detract from his proven ability , however after undergoing the type of surgery/ s that the man has he simply will not be able perform at his peak for too long a period .

In saying that I do wish him the very best in his endeavours , but mate just do not expect his very best footy to come to the fore too often as his body will not be able to sustain the constant rigours of top grade rugby league without his health problems reoccurring .

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

Possum - with respect to yourself and in particular Ramsey , the young man ( at least in my opinion ) will never be the same player he once was .

To be able to return to the field and actually play one of the most physically demanding sports in the world is indeed a miracle in itself. I am certainly not attempting to detract from his proven ability , however after undergoing the type of surgery/ s that the man has he simply will not be able perform at his peak for too long a period .

In saying that I do wish him the very best in his endeavours , but mate just do not expect his very best footy to come to the fore too often as his body will not be able to sustain the constant rigours of top grade rugby league without his health problems reoccurring .

It will be a miracle no doubt the path ain’t easy

but watching Ramsey in ressies………he is seriously amazing in his comeback

amazing !!!!

good for him ….. even if that is his ceiling

incredible rebirth of determination…….and delivering !!!

 

[JubileeJeffro]

Ramsey needs weight on his frame to come back. He has the motivation, the speed, the nous. It’s just whether his body lets him get back over 90kgs

 

[jak]

Possum - with respect to yourself and in particular Ramsey , the young man ( at least in my opinion ) will never be the same player he once was .

To be able to return to the field and actually play one of the most physically demanding sports in the world is indeed a miracle in itself. I am certainly not attempting to detract from his proven ability , however after undergoing the type of surgery/ s that the man has he simply will not be able perform at his peak for too long a period .

In saying that I do wish him the very best in his endeavours , but mate just do not expect his very best footy to come to the fore too often as his body will not be able to sustain the constant rigours of top grade rugby league without his health problems reoccurring .

well said mate

 

[Dragon Blood]

Get him as Finau will end up at Canberra reports from DT

With a busted shoulder, might be karma for the Volkman saga they created for us.

 

[OneEyedDragon]

With a busted shoulder, might be karma for the Volkman saga they created for us.

I'm pretty sure when we tried to sign Volkman he was at the Warriors, not the Raiders.

 

[Dragon Blood]

You might be right OED. My bad.

 

[Murfy]

Jayden Campbell

 

[qld redvee]

Jayden Campbell

Would be a nice pick up has pace and versatile

 

[blacksafake]

Possum - with respect to yourself and in particular Ramsey , the young man ( at least in my opinion ) will never be the same player he once was .

To be able to return to the field and actually play one of the most physically demanding sports in the world is indeed a miracle in itself. I am certainly not attempting to detract from his proven ability , however after undergoing the type of surgery/ s that the man has he simply will not be able perform at his peak for too long a period .

In saying that I do wish him the very best in his endeavours , but mate just do not expect his very best footy to come to the fore too often as his body will not be able to sustain the constant rigours of top grade rugby league without his health problems reoccurring .

Well said Gareth

 

[Dracarys]

well said mate

Ditto.

 

[Desperate Dragon]

Jayden Campbell

So what is the rumour??

 

[Dragsters]

Rumour has it.... we suck!

 

[I'm Hornby]

Rumour has it.... we suck!

Can confirm

 

[possm]

A coach of school boys' rugby league to do a better job than our head coach and two assistants.

The two tries scored by Sloan should have been a signal of what to do with the ball. No intellect on the field, probably none at training either.

 

[shiloh dc]

For the past 7 years we have been rebuilding and it appears we have made little or no progress. Look at our spine - Our 1 is a good player but is at the tail end of his career. Our 6 & 7 are nowhere near where they need to be. We have two hookers when most teams have one and arguably the better one is taking up the back's bench spot so when we get an injury in the backline we struggle to cover it with a back.
Contrast this with Parra who one year ago were a complete basket case. Papali is a gun fullback. Whilst their 5/8 is a WIP their half Moses is pure class. They now have a good young hooker in De Silva. Added to this they have 2 class wingers and some real solid forwards. They definitely look as though they will be much much stronger in 2026.
How have they turned it around in 1 year and we can't in 7 years? The mind boggles!

 

[I'm Hornby]

For the past 7 years we have been rebuilding and it appears we have made little or no progress. Look at our spine - Our 1 is a good player but is at the tail end of his career. Our 6 & 7 are nowhere near where they need to be. We have two hookers when most teams have one and arguably the better one is taking up the back's bench spot so when we get an injury in the backline we struggle to cover it with a back.
Contrast this with Parra who one year ago were a complete basket case. Papali is a gun fullback. Whilst their 5/8 is a WIP their half Moses is pure class. They now have a good young hooker in De Silva. Added to this they have 2 class wingers and some real solid forwards. They definitely look as though they will be much much stronger in 2026.
How have they turned it around in 1 year and we can't in 7 years? The mind boggles!

Yes agree, Iongi is actually the usual fullback though and has had a great season. Papalii will likely play 6 next year, but yes both are guns and were found over the off season by Ryles and signed to the eels, neither are eels juniors.

How impressive that a rookie coach can identify two amazing juniors unwanted from the dogs and penrith and bring both through, well done to him and them.

No one can say that a rookie coach couldn't improve the dragons in the same way.

 

[shiloh dc]

I believe anyone could pull together a better team.
All one has to do is set criteria for each position and an appropriate tolerance level for each position.
Example - for a winger the criteria (not in any order) are -
1. ability to fine the line (score when most cannot ala Nightingale)
2. return a kick
3. catch a high ball
4. speed
5. defend

the tolerance level could be 60% for a non spine position - that's 3 out of 5. If we apply it to Sloan - well he bats at 20% - just speed. So straight away you would pass on him. What about Christian Tuipulotu -well he bats at 40% - Ability to find the line and return a kick. He too would be overlooked unless you believe you can get him to 60% by improving his defence. Sadly, based on this criteria not one of our current wingers would be kept.

What about 5/8 - the criteria are -
1. defend
2. pass the ball both sides
3. make a long cutout passes
4. Kick
5. back-up

As this is a spine position the tolerance level would be 80% - that's 4 out of 5. If we apply to LKT - he bats at 40%. He is a good passer but his defence, kicking and backing-up are lacking. So he too would fail to make the team.

Honestly, by stripping back recruitment and retention to such a basic approach would yield better results than the crap that has been going on for the past 7 years.

 

[Fox 45]

I believe anyone could pull together a better team.
All one has to do is set criteria for each position and an appropriate tolerance level for each position.
Example - for a winger the criteria (not in any order) are -
1. ability to fine the line (score when most cannot ala Nightingale)
2. return a kick
3. catch a high ball
4. speed
5. defend

the tolerance level could be 60% for a non spine position - that's 3 out of 5. If we apply it to Sloan - well he bats at 20% - just speed. So straight away you would pass on him. What about Christian Tuipulotu -well he bats at 40% - Ability to find the line and return a kick. He too would be overlooked unless you believe you can get him to 60% by improving his defence. Sadly, based on this criteria not one of our current wingers would be kept.

What about 5/8 - the criteria are -
1. defend
2. pass the ball both sides
3. make a long cutout passes
4. Kick
5. back-up

As this is a spine position the tolerance level would be 80% - that's 4 out of 5. If we apply to LKT - he bats at 40%. He is a good passer but his defence, kicking and backing-up are lacking. So he too would fail to make the team.

Honestly, by stripping back recruitment and retention to such a basic approach would yield better results than the crap that has been going on for the past 7 years.

You are spot on, a simple but effective approach to recruitment. The dragons way is:
1: a journeyman
2: past their best
3: has played for the west tigers
4: slow
5: a good bloke