Hunt chase puts Flanagan in no-win situation

[John Matrix]

While I feel for flanno because he doesn't have the skill to improve his game, his role does come with conditions to be good enough to play in league.

All this attention is of his own hands.

 

[Dannyboi88]

I like the pursue or Ben hunt I think he is a hooker through and through but as a half it’s what we need even if he is on the wrong side of 30 not too many out and out halfs come available
Bring on the chinese Gussy

 

[Dognacious]

Hunt would be the better player short term but Sullivan has more years ahead of him and would be a lot cheaper. If u aren't after the quick fix that won't last then Sullivan is the better option

 

[Malla]

So Gus doesn’t think Averillo is the answer at fullback? I’m shocked!

 

[Interestingg]

Well there you go, Gus officially doesn’t rate Averillo and Kyle (which we already knew) and the search to replace half our spine is no longer private. Seems like a smokescreen though because he never tells the media any truth. Wonder who the real targets are

 

[maltalian_dog]

Gus is on overdrive in mind games department. Maybe he’s trying to show hunt we are really serious and would value him more than what the dragons do.. the other side is he’s pressuring dragons to make a decision and pay him what he wants

 

[Cappuccino]

"the man managing the Dragons’ salary cap and recruitment is Shane Flanagan"
Who wrote this article? Is this factual?

Your boy @Cappuccino has never posted a fake article before

 

[Cappuccino]

Well there you go, Gus officially doesn’t rate Averillo and Kyle (which we already knew) and the search to replace half our spine is no longer private. Seems like a smokescreen though because he never tells the media any truth. Wonder who the real targets are

Nrl talent isn't as big as it used to be. I trust Gus to get us one long term and one stop gap solution and have a factory pumping out 1 to 2 nrl stars a year like we have traditionally always done

 

[diddly]

During the first half yesterday Flanagan actually ran backwards - not his usual sideways jog - to find a player even further behind him to pass it to with his usual drop play. He has no attacking game.

 

[Robbothedestroyer]

Could well be a smokescreen but it does send a clear msg to Flanagan his days are numbered and find another club

 

[wendog33]

I know what we're all saying is true that Button needs an organising half...but...shouldn't we be expecting a little more from a likely $800+ player.

A great 7 is wonderful to have ...but...if there's only a 34 year old available, in a years time, is this wise?

Burton should really be running the show and a half of the calibre of BBO or Hayward should be serviceable to develop, if Burto was playing to his capabilities.

Souths have Ilias/Walker.

We could work on that 7 problem with what we have.... if Burton stepped up.

Maybe he really would be better at Fullback and can earn that kinda money from that position.

BTW this is not a bagging of Burto. He will be a star but maybe we do need an organising 5/8 instead of an organising 7 which we can't seem to find or manufacture.

Finding another 5/8, with Burto fullback, MIGHT be the better solution to a problem we can't seem to fix.

Keep all the options open.

 

[KiwiDog7]

Hopefully Flanno has a good farewell game next week his last in dogs colours

Later bo

 

[Malla]

Well there you go, Gus officially doesn’t rate Averillo and Kyle (which we already knew) and the search to replace half our spine is no longer private. Seems like a smokescreen though because he never tells the media any truth. Wonder who the real targets are

Anyone who rates Averillo has zero clue about footy

 

[Total Fool]

I know what we're all saying is true that Button needs an organising half...but...shouldn't we be expecting a little more from a likely $800+ player.

A great 7 is wonderful to have ...but...if there's only a 34 year old available, in a years time, is this wise?

Burton should really be running the show and a half of the calibre of BBO or Hayward should be serviceable to develop, if Burto was playing to his capabilities.

Souths have Ilias/Walker.

We could work on that 7 problem with what we have.... if Burton stepped up.

Maybe he really would be better at Fullback and can earn that kinda money from that position.

BTW this is not a bagging of Burto. He will be a star but maybe we do need an organising 5/8 instead of an organising 7 which we can't seem to find or manufacture.

Finding another 5/8, with Burto fullback, MIGHT be the better solution to a problem we can't seem to fix.

Keep all the options open.

Is it too much to ask for a Fullback that can make the tackles & isn’t scared of taking the hard hit ups? Burton ain’t the answer at 1 because he ain’t doing both unfortunately

 

[Disposable Hero]

I know what we're all saying is true that Button needs an organising half...but...shouldn't we be expecting a little more from a likely $800+ player.

A great 7 is wonderful to have ...but...if there's only a 34 year old available, in a years time, is this wise?

Burton should really be running the show and a half of the calibre of BBO or Hayward should be serviceable to develop, if Burto was playing to his capabilities.

Souths have Ilias/Walker.

We could work on that 7 problem with what we have.... if Burton stepped up.

Maybe he really would be better at Fullback and can earn that kinda money from that position.

BTW this is not a bagging of Burto. He will be a star but maybe we do need an organising 5/8 instead of an organising 7 which we can't seem to find or manufacture.

Finding another 5/8, with Burto fullback, MIGHT be the better solution to a problem we can't seem to fix.

Keep all the options open.

Ecpectations are like mother in laws.
Unrealistic and will lie cheat and steal to get what they want.

The only reason we have won the games we is because of Burto and JAC combination.

If you want a diamond to shine you have to polish. And the decent half with be Burtos polish.

Burto is 22 in his first NRL year leading a team and you want more expectation.

We need quality across the spine. Not just 1 position. Unless you want to be the JT Cows and we all know how thatbended.

 

[wendog33]

Is it too much to ask for a Fullback that can make the tackles & isn’t scared of taking the hard hit ups? Burton ain’t the answer at 1 because he ain’t doing both unfortunately

It really isn't good enough.

Really crossing my fingers that Gus and Ciro have the answers.

Unfortunately our club has been very poor and new recruits start off world beaters then seem to slacken off....guys playing for new contracts do the same.

Just hoping Mahoney and Kiks dont go the same way.

Some very drastic changes and standards of performance need to be instilled in this roster.

 

[diddly]

It really isn't good enough.

Really crossing my fingers that Gus and Ciro have the answers.

Unfortunately our club has been very poor and new recruits start off world beaters then seem to slacken off....guys playing for new contracts do the same.

Just hoping Mahoney and Kiks dont go the same way.

Some very drastic changes and standards of performance need to be instilled in this roster.

Even an average half and fb would make a difference.

Still believe that the game hasnt changed that much - without dominating the middle, or at least finishing even through the middle - winning will be rare.

 

[wendog33]

Even an average half and fb would make a difference.

Still believe that the game hasnt changed that much - without dominating the middle, or at least finishing even through the middle - winning will be rare.

Agree. It's why Gus says it's going to take a couple of years bc he has to clear out players and the Losing culture.

I am still disappointed that guys who are, or who have potential to be a lot better, are still playing poorly. I can't excuse low effort no matter who is playing around you.

Hope the new coach doesn't either.

 

[JackDog]

Is it too much to ask for a Fullback that can make the tackles & isn’t scared of taking the hard hit ups? Burton ain’t the answer at 1 because he ain’t doing both unfortunately

DWZ did both of those. He was an idiot, continually went missing and didn’t know how to pass, but he did both of those.

 

[D- voice]

Ben Hunt is likely to be just one of the halfbacks the Bulldogs speak to as they accelerate their quest to land a No.7 and No.1 in the coming months.

It’s an open secret the Bulldogs are looking to offload Kyle Flanagan, but even if they can’t, it appears they will bring someone in over the top of him.

Fullback is also a priority and the Dogs will examine prospective No.1s carefully. They have already been linked to Penrith’s Stephen Crichton, who has played predominantly as a centre, but has had impressive stints at fullback.

Hunt’s meeting with Canterbury on Friday is an interesting one. It comes on the back of revelations on Channel Nine that he has been made a very low offer by the Dragons.

“Yes, I met with Ben and his manager,” Bulldogs general manager of football Phil Gould told me. “He is a very impressive person, but at no point did we talk about an offer or money. It was a conversation to get to know him. I simply said if things don’t work out we’d like to chat to him then.

“We are after a halfback and a fullback. Ben Hunt is an obvious choice and he has a lot of the qualities a club looks for.”

The Bulldogs’ interest puts pressure on the Dragons to act on their star halfback. If Hunt does
re-sign with St George Illawarra, Canterbury will most likely target his understudy, Jayden Sullivan.

There is another element to this story: the man managing the Dragons’ salary cap and recruitment is Shane Flanagan, the father of Kyle, the player the Bulldogs are trying to replace. It appears to be a lose-lose-lose situation for Flanagan snr. If he signs Hunt and doesn’t let Sullivan go, he will have a disgruntled player at his club. If he signs Hunt and lets Sullivan go, his son will be on the outer at Canterbury. And if he doesn’t sign Hunt, who is off contract at the end of 2023, he may go to the Bulldogs and replace his son anyway. This relates to a story we broke earlier this year where we revealed Canterbury were proposing a swap deal, Sullivan for Flanagan. It didn’t happen.

Now the coach is secured the one thing for sure Gus is in position to get the ball rolling...
Will the targets be Hunt and Crichton or are they a smokescreen for what's to come ?
Only Gus knows what Gus is really up to !
1 & 7 have now been publicly acknowledged as two positions needing upgrade BUT despite loosing so many forwards nothing is said about a PROP, why ?