The Rumours Thread

[Gareth67]

hope he's cheaper than his mate.

That is my concern jak. Apparently he and Cook both encouraged Keaon to make the move South to Wollongong. Perhaps Su’a may be expecting some type of ‘ finders ‘ fee , if so I just hope that he does not overprice himself as he is such a tremendous player for the Big Red V .

 

[Macedonian Dragon]

Su’A should activate his player option on his 700k per year contract in 2027 to play alongside his mate Keaon then we should try extend him till 2029 when he’s 32 on 700k per year. That should be enough.

 

[SnowDragon]

Su’A should activate his player option on his 700k per year contract in 2027 to play alongside his mate Keaon then we should try extend him till 2029 when he’s 32 on 700k per year. That should be enough.

Su’a has been our number 1 forward for a while. He is an origin player, or on the border of it. 700k is not overpaying him imho, and I’m happy to bump him to be increased up even for 26 (while we have cap space I assume). If I was signing him for 28-29, it’s towards the end of his career I’d think 700is fair, maybe 750 or even more if the cap goes up considerably (but hey, what do I know).

by 2027 I think we have 3 experienced players in Su’a, KK and Kerr, then rely on 2nd stringers and more importantly the youth. How to make all that fit? But i Guess I’m saying he is one of our top 2 experienced forwards and hence needs to be treated as such.

 

[maestro1]

If we lose Su'a on top of letting Debellin leave we partially nullify the Keoan signing. KK will need some help leading the pack. We actually need KK, Su'a and another top level, experienced middle over the next 2 seasons. We need to move Cake (immediately)and possibly Guler once the young guys start to dominate. Hame Sele can be one of the experienced guys, if he can stay fit.

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

If we lose Su'a on top of letting Debellin leave we partially nullify the Keoan signing. KK will need some help leading the pack. We actually need KK, Su'a and another top level, experienced middle over the next 2 seasons. We need to move Cake (immediately)and possibly Guler once the young guys start to dominate. Hame Sele can be one of the experienced guys, if he can stay fit.

Jesse Colquhoun would still be a target for me along or Lyndsay Smith both for 2027.

Pretty explosive tall middle / edge with 6 clubs reported chasing Colquhoun.

Jesse Colquhoun

Jesse Colquhoun of Cronulla Sharks player profile including contract information, NRL news, stats and rumours.

www.zerotackle.com

Near by at Cronulla and by 2027 will be quite the player.

I think if Elliot is willing to sign a one year deal I would take him for 2026 given such a lack of options available but we need another experienced middle. He has matured a lot since married and a dad.

 

[RedV Resurgence]

Jesse Colquhoun would still be a target for me along or Lyndsay Smith both for 2027.

Pretty explosive tall middle / edge with 6 clubs reported chasing Colquhoun.

Jesse Colquhoun

Jesse Colquhoun of Cronulla Sharks player profile including contract information, NRL news, stats and rumours.

www.zerotackle.com

Near by at Cronulla and by 2027 will be quite the player.

I think if Elliot is willing to sign a one year deal I would take him for 2026 given such a lack of options available but we need another experienced middle. He has matured a lot since married and a dad.

Jessie is a Collegians junior as per his sharks profile, so would fit in.

 

[possm]

If we lose Su'a on top of letting Debellin leave we partially nullify the Keoan signing. KK will need some help leading the pack. We actually need KK, Su'a and another top level, experienced middle over the next 2 seasons. We need to move Cake (immediately)and possibly Guler once the young guys start to dominate. Hame Sele can be one of the experienced guys, if he can stay fit.

8. KK
10. T Couchman
11. Leilua/Egan
12. Su;A
13. Stewart

15. Kerr
16. Tonga
17. Halangahu

Seems like a powerful forward pack to me. With a perfect mix of youth and experience, it should provide the Dragons with a solution to the main problem faced for many years: a forward pack with a soft underbelly.

 

[RedVee]

Jessie is a Collegians junior as per his sharks profile, so would fit in.

But he’d be fighting with Hamish Stewart for the 13 jersey.

I think he would be a good get even with that. The pack positions would have to work themselves out on form. Which is a good thing.

 

[JubileeJeffro]

8. KK
10. T Couchman
11. Leilua/Egan
12. Su;A
13. Stewart

15. Kerr
16. Tonga
17. Halangahu

Seems like a powerful forward pack to me. With a perfect mix of youth and experience, it should provide the Dragons with a solution to the main problem faced for many years: a forward pack with a soft underbelly.

There are 2 Couchmen that should be in the 17.. Ryan a bit forgotten as out all last year, but looking fit and ready to go in 26.
I think this is Leilua’s last year with us.

 

[TheRev]

There are 2 Couchmen that should be in the 17.. Ryan a bit forgotten as out all last year, but looking fit and ready to go in 26.

I've always thought this too.. but Ryan wouldnt be in the starting 13... and I dunno if hes on the bench or not for Round 1.. cause guys like Kerr, Sele, Ryan, Leilua, Nick, Tonga, Halangahu are all fighting for 3 spots (with the hooker), Coutts might pressure mid season also.... this assumes perhaps Guler/Stewart/Toby r the starting middles.. I mean as always 1-2 injuries and everything changes ofcourse.. how infrequently is everyone fit....

Also depends how Ryan comes back from the ACL I guess, and then it comes back to (imo) whether we want a smaller body like Ryan who is fit....or a bigger body impact from guys like Nick or Leilua.. and are we still chasing another middle?

Even in 2027 im not positive.. I know a few are leaving, but im sure we arent done recruiting + KK.. and the young brigade will be close to demanding selection.. its quite a puzzle imo... who plays what position moving forward..

 

[possm]

There are 2 Couchmen that should be in the 17.. Ryan a bit forgotten as out all last year, but looking fit and ready to go in 26.
I think this is Leilua’s last year with us.

You are right! Ryan was out for most of last year and if fit and ready to go, he should figure in the selection process.

In his final season with the Draggons, Leilua will most certainly lif his game, gut Egan is his logical replacement who won't be returning from injry until sometime in March 2026.

 

[Wolfgang90]

Ryan played a bit on the edge too

 

[The Word]

Both the twins are mobile, good leg speed, good footy brains and technique. I’m sure they could play anywhere across the forwards in need.

But yes, it will depend on getting the mix right between smaller and bigger bodies. Which is why in my opinion Halangahu may jump above some of the older juniors at some point this season as he has a more powerful frame.

 

[possm]

Both the twins are mobile, good leg speed, good footy brains and technique. I’m sure they could play anywhere across the forwards in need.

But yes, it will depend on getting the mix right between smaller and bigger bodies. Which is why in my opinion Halangahu may jump above some of the older juniors at some point this season as he has a more powerful frame.

I agree. Halangahu and Tonga are the players that will step up in 2026.

KK and T Couchman are likely to be the run-on props, so if anyone must give way for Ryan Couchman is would likely be Kerr. Tonga is a must for the bench in the prop rotation.

 

[possm]

Maybe the fullback problem could be solved by switching Gutho and Holmes, as Holmes still has plenty of speed.

Finding suitable wingers and halves will then be the only task left for Flanagan.

 

[carltonsouth79]

8. KK
10. T Couchman
11. Leilua/Egan
12. Su;A
13. Stewart

15. Kerr
16. Tonga
17. Halangahu

Seems like a powerful forward pack to me. With a perfect mix of youth and experience, it should provide the Dragons with a solution to the main problem faced for many years: a forward pack with a soft underbelly.

Interesting listening to Luke Keary on Jammers pod cast he said he thought KK best on an edge where he said he was a monster

 

[SnowDragon]

Interesting listening to Luke Keary on Jammers pod cast he said he thought KK best on an edge where he said he was a monster

Yeah, I heard that too. However, we have signed him as a middle I think, that’s what we need from him now. Maybe later he may move if team dynamics changes, but I think unlikely. We have Su’a and Egan, not to mention Halangahu and Nick, even a Couchman who can play edge. What we lack is the alpha and leader in the middle and this is what we get from KK.

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

When said best on the edge

doesn’t mean we won’t rocket KK at the line off the side of the ruck

for that still is is strength but we have also seen how much he can do thru the middle which gets us down into the zone of points !

I think he will be used a little like Luc or where best

Luc does a decent amount of hitups and metres just to the side of our ruck and we might see near the line in attack them hitting that left channel together when in attack - yeah boi !!!!!

 

[JubileeJeffro]

Egan also not back until round 10 so he will contribute in back half of the season and probably better in 27 after a full off season. Halangahu looks to have gotten fitter also. Leilua for me just doesn’t get involved enough, could do a lot more.
Depth is finally a good problem to have.

 

[chowiesplatterpoo2]

This is definitely a team on the rise, you can see the forwards coming together. It's the halves and outside backs that, I don't have too many concerns about but they are more of a mystery as to where it all is headed and how well it will do