The 2023 season now seems like it ended many, many months ago.
With a large number of players returning to pre-season training, attention has quickly and firmly turned to the 2024 campaign.
With a new season comes new hope, new opportunities and most importantly of all, new recruits!
Today I'm going to rank the ins, outs and re-signings of each of the clubs who finished outside of the finals in 2023.
Not every player will be mentioned, just the ones I see making an impact.
2. St George Illawarra Dragons
Major ins: Kyle Flanagan, Hame Sele
Major outs: Jayden Sullivan
Re-signed: Jack de Belin, Blake Lawrie, Jacob Liddle, Mikaele Ravalawa
Incoming coach Shane Flanagan very obviously sees deficiencies in his squad. I've lost count of the amount of players he and the Dragons have been linked to.
In Kyle Flanagan they have brought in a halves partner for Ben Hunt. That was the number one need. Flanagan played his best footy to date under the guidance of his father.
Hame Sele's arrival adds aggression and size to a pack that was loudly yelling out for help.
The only player of note to depart the club was Jayden Sullivan, a player that replaced and probably even upgraded upon.
Blake Lawrie had a monster 2023 while Jacob Liddle was among the red V's best almost every week. Both clever re-signings.
With the greatest of respects to Flanagan and Sele, neither look capable of dragging the Dragons out of the bottom few next season.
Watch this space because Flanagan Sr has his eyes on some superstar recruits. As it stands though, the Dragons have hardly improved at all.
Grade: D
Jeez Dan – Get Terry to proof-read the content before you publish it !
Wraps for Raps (did the guy arrive in a big ball of cotton-wool?)
Theyโre for Their
Due for Duo
Broncos for Bronson etc
Anyway:
– D for the Dragons is really mean. Theyโve got rid of Hook and signed Flanagan Senior. They havenโt let Ben Hunt walk. The attitude and motivation in the squad has go to be much higher than it was this time last year. Even if they didnโt sign anybody new, those two actions alone have got to be worth a comfortable B
– C for the Titans is a bit mean. Theyโve re-signed Mo and Tino and five good guys. They didnโt break the bank (somehow!) and could still afford Palasia. That has to worth a B at least.
– C for the Dogs is generous. The quality of the guys leaving is greater than the quality of the recruits, (even with Crichton). D for me.
– C for Parra is generous. Signing only Morgan Harper (no offence to him) is not good enough for a pass mark. D for me.
– C for the Cows is equally generous.
– Bunnies look like a B to me, but I won’t squabble over the A