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At first I hated the idea of signing Cobbo but if you look at his stats he’s a real tackle buster and a metre eater. Two things you want from a good FB. Plus he’s only 22 and has big game experience. I think his current deal is 625k and he wouldn’t leave QLD for less than 800k and a chance to...

Cobbo is the best off contract winger (statistically anyway)

Statistically speaking Montoya and Wilson are a big downgrade from Fox. Although in Montoya's defence he has far more tackle breaks and running metres... Wilson (left) Montoya (middle) and Fox (far right)

Yeah for sure. Who was that dickhead that played for the Cows a while back that beat up his missus? Robert Lui? Lifetime ban right there. You can’t have women in league round and at the same time let people that have been convicted of this continue playing. But again, it’s left up to the clubs…

Haha yes I definitely agree. I was just trying to think of random headlines off the top of head. Jarryd Hayne and Ponga in the toilet came to mind, but my point is that ALL off field shit (regardless of severity) should be handled by the NRL and not by the clubs. Obviously sniffing some blow...

Yeah that’s right. The NRL should hand down punishment and suspension/terminations.

Yep I get that my point is that we shouldn't even be able to sign a player that has been caught: (a) Beating his missus (b) Doing coke in a dunny (c) Convicted of rape etc etc The NRL needs to step in because right now, even if you sack a dickhead for being a dickhead, that dickhead can simply...

These decisions about disciplinary action and sacking/suspensions should not be in the clubs hands. The integrity unit should be doing this and ensuring that offenders can’t simply sign with another club… The whole system is shit and needs an over hauling…

Yeah I checked his age too. Still should have some good footy left in him.

Haha I think it actually would be…

Not a bad replacement if he does get sacked…

FFS really?! Players get away with anything nowadays. Someone needs to make a real NRL card game or board game for a bit of fun. Throw a mental health card in there which is like a wild card. Leaked white powder photo = back 10 squares (picture of Latrell/Andrew Johns on that one)... You can...

There's talk now the Bronx are gonna sack Ezra Mam and use the funds to sign Ben Hunt. Surely they can't keep Ezra after he put a four year old girl in the hospital...

Josh Addo Carr was on carnivore diet. He’s a meat eater

His stats are worse than Hughes!

Oh really?! I didn't see that in the other thread... I could see the Dragons wanting to part ways with those two.

Trade rumour: Hunt and Blake Lawrie to the Dogs Fox, Joash Papalii and Karl Oluapu to the Dragons Rumour is the Dragons are also getting Gutho. Blake Wilson staying… Listen to the thing here… https://megaphone.link/NTETP6406265292...

I know we're all used to making changes every off season because we've been so unsuccessful for so long, BUT last season was the first time we've made finals in how long?! Remember it's a very young squad (one of the youngest in the NRL) so these guys will only improve! Sexton is a great...

It’s true he has his weaknesses… Try scoring/highlight machine though!

How much would you pay Faalogo to play fullback? The word is he has an agreement with the Storm that if Papi resigns he’s allowed to negotiate… You’d have to give him assurances that the fullback jersey is his too. But he is that good you can pretty much just pass the ball to him and he’ll...

Nrl.com has Thompson listed as 107KG and when you compare that with the likes of AFB (123KG) and Haas (117kg) it seems the lighter more mobile props is where the position is heading. With the fatigue in the game through the six again rules we need lighter middles with a big motor. Take the two...

Here's all three of our starting props stats side by side to ponder... If we're calling Curran a prop? I think we are.. He seems to be beating the "real" props in key areas anyway...

Sam Hughes stats 2024 season:

Exactly. If we could get a middle rotation going that are pumping out numbers like that we would be fine.

Interestingly, Xavier Willisons stats don't look too different form Thompsons:

Max Kings stats left and Thompson on the right. Although their stats look similar Thompson is a big improvement on Hughes who puts out nowhere near those numbers...

So who is your 1 to 5?

Gutho is still signed for next season so unless we're swapping him for Fox then we're getting him in 2026 which means he'll be 32 years old. I think most fans wouldn't want prime Gutho let alone old man Gutho... Am I right?

Gutherson 21 and Connor 22 games (2024) Career wise Clint has player way more of course…

Titans have 3 fullbacks already?

Yeah the stats don’t look that different and he’d be on a third of the coin

This seems like a case one step backwards and two step forwards. Is Fox a better winger than MM? Yes! But what if they’re freeing up cap space to sign Leo Thompson, Lazarus Vaalepu or Xavier Wilison? If that’s the plan I’m all for it because we all know we need middles more than wingers...

He's better than Fox in yardage and has way more tackle breaks. Plus he's gonna be cheaper too. Hopefully freeing up cap space for a big signing.

Josh AKA The Fox stats on the left and Montoya on the right: Josh had more tries with 11 and MM had 8. The thing to keep in mind is the warriors had a shit season so MM probably had limited opportunities. Definitely looks like a down grade statistically speaking...

Tracey stats left and Gutho on the right:

Earlier in the year Sporting News put out a power ranking of the top 17 best fullbacks in the NRL and Tracey didn't even make the top 17! It went something like this: 17. Will Kennedy (off contract) 16. Keano Kini 15. Tyrell Sloan 14. Clint Gutherson (off contract) 13. Jahream Bula 12. AJ...

He was having a great game against the Roosters before Dom Young knocked his head off! I suppose the interesting thing with Taffe is we never had the chance to see him with Sexton at HB because in the early parts of the season we had Hutch there... AND if he finishes that Roosters game the way...

Fox sports are saying: Eels are interested in signing talented Bulldogs fullback Joash Papalii for next season. A No.1 by trade, Papalii’s arrival would see him challenge Isaiah Iongi for the club’s fullback jersey, though the young gun has the versatility to play multiple positions, and even...

Who is our long term fullback? Connor Tracey will be 29 next year and has had an injury ravaged career although he's coming off a career best season and seems to have cemented himself as our first choice FB over Blake Taffe, Kiraz and Papalii. The Storm are prepared to table a monster $3...

So we’re a chance!

https://www.melbournestorm.com.au/teams/nrl-premiership/melbourne-storm/lazarus-vaalepu/

Keen to watch this guy! Off contract in November and has potential as big as his quads. I reckon the Storm will struggle to keep him after signing Stefano which is probably why they are trying to move Welch on...

Haha maybe not but it wouldn't be big business if they were wrong all the time! $$$$$

Bookmakers are freaking masterminds. If they’re saying we’re a chance I wouldn’t second guess them. Most of us just look at who has the better team on paper but they take in to account way more than that…

Dragons won a GF in 2010 with Boyd, Hornby, Soward and Young. From memory they were the best defensive side that year too. So maybe there's hope for us.

Unless they're not keeping them all... Moeaki Fotuaika is on 750k and rumour is they're trying to move him on

Very interesting! I like a good rumour. So RCG to the Titans (confirmed) and Mo to the Bronx. Haas to sign with a mystery club... I'd imagine that Brisbane are trying to free up cap space to sign Sam Walker too. Word is Walker is chasing 1.4 so they're gonna have to offload someone if they wanna...

So let me get this straight... You think Sam Walker is an elite halfback in the NRL Moses is shit. Moses who won an origin series decider in QLD from 1 nil down is an achievement not even Nathan Cleary has been able to do. For all his club success he's never been able to win an origin series...

Is Ben Hunt really that good a halfback? If he was surely the Dragons would have been more successful in his time there. I know he looks great playing for QLD but that's at hooker. Maybe I don't watch enough of watch enough of the Dragons games but personally I wouldn't be getting rid of...

In about 2-3 years Walker could be the next big thing and may well be the QLD halfback but at this stage he's just a tier below the guys with "runs on the board" like DCE, Hughes, Cleary and Reynolds. Clubs would be crazy to sign him on 1.4 considering he hasn't done anything yet besides show...

Reynolds has played in multiple grand finals, is a premiership winner and played SOO. Moses led NSW to a series victory from one nil down to win in QLD in game 3 and is a Daly M halfback of the year. Sam Walker despite showing real potential hasn’t done anything yet so his name doesn’t belong...

Sure but if you put one of those elite players (like Cleary or Hughes) into the Tigers or Raiders then they are making the finals. Simple as that. That’s the difference between the elite and the rest. Look at the difference a fit Adam Reynolds made to the Broncos last season and what’s...

Well I was referring to when he's actually on the field. Which is rarely but still...

I reckon the halfback tiers would look something like this Elite Cleary DCE Hughes Adam Reynolds Mitch Moses Very good Ben Hunt Good (but potentially great) Katoa Walker Nicho Hynes Sexton Bang Average Fogarty Townsend Hastings Sezer Boggo Hutchinson

If we keep Sexton you’d have to think he’ll be on 700k max which means we’ll still have plenty of cap space to sign some good young middle forwards like Leo Thompson or Lazarus Vaalepu. Rumours are Sam Walker is chasing 1.4 a season although that was before he did his ACL and Ben Hunt wouldn’t...

Yeah he was signed on a big money deal purely on potential and never lived up to the hype. Turns out he made a pretty good utility though so CC would have loved him

Hodkinson was underrated and we haven’t had a better halfback since! Crazy to think we let a genuine rep level halfback go to keep Moses Mbye but that shows how important these decisions are.

Yeah we made the GF but both sides that beat us had better halfbacks (Cronk and Reynolds) which really shows the value of getting these decisions right.

Resigning Toby Sexton is actually a HUGE decision and really important for the next two years because let's assume Woods isn't going to be ready until at least 2026 and even then - Being ready to play first grade and being ready to win a comp is two very different things. So let's say (option...

Yeah fair enough.

Wilson, Lazarus and Leo Thompson are easily the best middles off contract in November and could command more but I'd be offering them 2-3 year deals on about 5-600k with incentives for finals/rep honours etc Who knows, maybe their clubs release them early to free up cap space for next season...

These three are the future of our forward pack and are all off contract and available to negotiate early November. I'd be going in for all three and hoping to come away signing at least one or two. Lazarus is a beast and should get a run in the GF with NAS likely out suspended

Yeah in that system and team he is but let’s assume his defence would improve under CC. TBH though I can’t really see him in a Dogs jersey

He’s definitely played centre for NSW and maybe even Australia. Easily top 5 left centres in the game and is capable of creating something out of nothing

Surely no one’s touching T Baz with his record now… I do wonder if there’s any coach clauses there though

Yeah true. CC seems to see them as locks but I see your point

Llias is a good defender and I’d imagine that would appeal to Ciraldo. At the moment if Sex or Burton goes down we’re stuck with an untested rookie in Woods or Drew Hutchinson

Not sure if Gus and Cam would go for it but I reckon the bunnies would trade him for Lachlan Ilias. If Burton or Sexton get's injured we're little light on in the halves...

Yeah I think you're right. I reckon there will be a club/coach that will take a punt on him because he's a beast and good in yardage. Very interesting that Dragons and Bulldogs are discussing trades though... There's definitely some middle forwards there that would strengthen our pack. I...

According to News Corp, the St George Illawarra Dragons offered a player swap for Addo-Carr involving Mikaele Ravalawa for next season, but the Bulldogs subsequently rejected the offer. It is no surprise that the potential swap deal was rejected, considering Ravalawa is on the outs of the...

By Ethan Lee Chalk (ZERO TACKLE) St George Illawarra Dragons captain Ben Hunt has been linked with a shock move to a Sydney club for next season as his time at the Red V looks set to come to a close. Ever since reports emerged that he was seeking a release in the middle of last year, Hunt's...

Welch is the one that the Storm are looking to offload. I could see him in a Dogs jersey too.

Probably the most interesting thing with this news is what it means for our salary cap… When you look at sides like the Storm they’ve got a million a season (each) tied up in 4 spine players. Then you look at our cap/spine and we’ve got Reed on 650k, Burton 750k, Tracey signed just for an...

First halfback to take us to the finals in how many years? Definitely earned an extension. He has a great short kicking game too.

FORMER TITAN'S BELMORE BONUS Courier Mail Sport Titans reject Toby Sexton is set to clinch a contract extension after steering the Bulldogs to a fairytale finals series. Sexton's career was at the crossroads last year when he joined the Bulldogs mid-season after being released by the...

Having a settled side is gonna make recruitment easier too. They know who the coach is gonna be, the spine etc etc That way next time a marquee player comes on the market we don’t have to pay massive overs for them because they can see the culture, camaraderie and commitment to the club and...

Haha I’ve noticed that

Toby is only 23 and will continue to improve. Who knows but - in a few years guys like DCE, Reynolds, Hunt, Moses, Foran, Cody Walker will all have retired and he could be one of the better and more experienced halves going around...

Folksey’s old shoulder pads are enchanted and can only be worn by those deemed worthy!

I don’t get people saying we need a halfback. We finally have a halfback that takes us to the finals and you want to get rid of him? We need middles and if we get that Toby will look even better behind a rolling forward pack that’s owning the middle and creating ruck speed. Plus anyone you do...

Two points I'd like to make: 1. Toby Sexton only played half a season for us and next year he'll get the full season. So barring injuries there's no Drew Hutchinson experiments anymore and we had a pretty good record/winning percentage with Sex in the side. 2. Blake Taffe will not start the...

Yeah speed isn't the end of the world for wingers nowadays. Look at the guys like Brian To'o and even Kiraz. The yardage game is super important off kick returns and even more so when you have a smallish forward pack like us... Realistically we're probably not gonna get someone like Staggs...

https://articles.listnr.com/sport/nrl/leo-thompson-on-canterbury-bankstown-bulldogs-radar/?fbclid=IwY2xjawFYWNtleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHW2FkrRssTMVUs16eRY2ujPFJhn136bFWlyfz90Y0ExPv8rlfMdHg8eulg_aem_51losWVqRMzS_Qu4v9wkBQ

If Fox does leave we could play Staggs left centre and push Xerri to the wing and that would definitely be an upgrade. No way we need Cobbo though.

Seems like he'd just be a depth signing because we're losing Skelton and possibly Wilson if the rumours are true...

Signing to replace Skelton Nope

Old footage but this guy...

DOGS ON THE HUNT Via Courier Mail Sport By Peter Badel The Bulldogs are circling Broncos outside back Josiah Karapani. Sport Confidential understands Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo is looking to add depth to his backline stocks and Karapani is on the Bulldogs’ radar. The 22-year-old winger or...

Half the time he’s injured/unavailable then here we are, the biggest and most important game he’s had in a Bulldogs jersey and he says he can’t play?! Obviously it would have been harder to turn up and front the media rather than wait a week (or even longer if we lose) and front up when the...

Yeah I agree but if you put names and former clubs aside and said we could sign a : Rep level prop who has played for his state and country Played in a grand final In his prime and has a good 2/3 years left 6 foot 4 and 117kgs Can compete with the best props in the NRL and comes off the...

RCG has a better resume than Thompson. 850k on a 2/3 year deal and by the end of the contract our kids will be ready. 900k if he shaves the moustache

I can’t believe some people are against signing this dude! He would immediately be our best prop and the next isn’t even close. Former rep player coming into his prime. Handy for teaching the young middles and has big game experience which includes state of origin and a grand final. The only...

The thing that blew our defensive stats out against top 8 sides is the losses to Manly and Cows the last 2 weeks (both scoring around 40 points) and then you've got losses to the Roosters and Sharks earlier in the season where they scored 20 something points. So without getting too deep into...