Poppa's Corner: Remember Dylan Brown, he used to play for us

Watching last night, I don't believe Dylan is anywhere the level he was attaining.

Whether it is the ACL tear (definitely lost pace) but his body language showed to me in pre and post game interviews he doesn't want to go anywhere. I think he sees Parra is home and whilst no one can complain for him taking the 13m, I wonder if he will ever be happy in the Knights wilderness.

I have always been a DB fan, but I also think we burn't him out in the last 2 seasons and confused his role in the process.

I now see DB as a 600pa player and if he maintained his original potential say 800k. i.e my implication is he has lost 25% as a player.

WE have most probably won the jackpot as I think we have seen the best of him whereas I question his future now. I would be surprised if he retains his NZ Test status when you look at the Warriors and their young half.

Watching his current game he is missing tackles, whereas previously he hardly missed a thing. He has also lost confidence in the line, doesn't know or understand his role by the rules that made him recognised in the first place.

We are very lucky and whilst it has been said repeatedly, I cannot believe how dumb the Knights are as he will never be the play maker they have signed for. O'Sullivan has a lot to answer for!

I think there is an impatience, particularly among young playmakers who think they should be playing first grade before they're ready.

I think their managers have something to answer for as well. Stefano is another example in that situation. He was asking for an Origin clause in his contract before he played Origin.

I still think both Talagi and Sanders sold themselves short by moving so quickly given the contract situations of Moses and Brown. There was a risk that Moses didn't remove those clauses and we'd be in a bidding war to retain him. We could have gone from 2 established halves to having to go to market while the 2 juniors we had brought through were busy playing reserve grade at other clubs.

Sanders has spent his entire time in Canberra in reserve grade. Cleary has spoken regularly about being a work in progress and I know Panthers fans have been annoyed with his defensive lapses. How he thought he should be an NRL half while getting bullied physically every week is beyond me.

You could extend that to Matt Arthur, although his departure was partly tied to his dad. He's been plugging away in reserve grade when, had he stayed at Parra, it's likely he'd be battling with Smith for that starting hooker spot.

"I was concerned about the experience of our props handling the first 20 minutes when it was reported Hasse would likely miss the game due to a quad injury...but apparently he is likely to play so we should be OK. I'd start King with Hasse and have…"

"I won't get excited about Galvin until he's actually here. Even if he wanted to play for Parra more than any other club, I don't trust Issac not to indiscriminatly steer him towards the biggest pot of money elsewhere. Plus, if I was a young half,…"

Replies

- - - - SuperEel 22 > Coryn Hughes May 19, 2025 at 11:08am
        
        Up until last year Sanders had never played 80 minutes. He definitely needed more development time.
        
        Was I surprised he left? Not really.
        
        To the Raiders though? Yeh, absolutely. Sticky has never shown himself to a great developer of halves. The best Raiders halfbacks of his tenure have been seasoned professionals, not young blokes. Ethan Strange has played well as a 5/8, but I think a lot of that is down to Fogarty taking on all of the organisation and kicking work, allowing Strange to pick his moments.
        
        Coryn Hughes > SuperEel 22 May 19, 2025 at 11:17am
        
        Don't know what it is Super are these kids getting poor advice are they wanting everything to quickly.It's as though there missing something if they don't make FG by a given ageand learning there trade in Cup is like a failure or something.
        
        Sanders if he stayed I have no doubt he would have got an opportunity here with Moses a shoe in for SoO and injury and what not.I didn't understand like you mention how Canberra was the chess move to advance his career.
        
        Talagi ok fair enough he wanted an opportunity and riff was a better choice for him whose to argue with that a steady stable opportunity playing outside the best and under a proven coach and a tried and true system get that move.
        
        DB same same he's given us 10 yrs we got as far as we could with him a record deal life changing money and years can't turn it down it's just to good.
        
        Sanders move still puzzles me out of those 3.
        
        SuperEel 22 > Coryn Hughes May 19, 2025 at 2:10pm
        
        I think there is an impatience, particularly among young playmakers who think they should be playing first grade before they're ready.
        
        I think their managers have something to answer for as well. Stefano is another example in that situation. He was asking for an Origin clause in his contract before he played Origin.
        
        I still think both Talagi and Sanders sold themselves short by moving so quickly given the contract situations of Moses and Brown. There was a risk that Moses didn't remove those clauses and we'd be in a bidding war to retain him. We could have gone from 2 established halves to having to go to market while the 2 juniors we had brought through were busy playing reserve grade at other clubs.
        
        Sanders has spent his entire time in Canberra in reserve grade. Cleary has spoken regularly about being a work in progress and I know Panthers fans have been annoyed with his defensive lapses. How he thought he should be an NRL half while getting bullied physically every week is beyond me.
        
        You could extend that to Matt Arthur, although his departure was partly tied to his dad. He's been plugging away in reserve grade when, had he stayed at Parra, it's likely he'd be battling with Smith for that starting hooker spot.
- Poppa > Offside May 19, 2025 at 9:40am
  
  Sandon Smith is a great alternative to Galvin at half the price Offside! Also gives us a live alternative to Moses if he is injured. Good as our back ups are. We haven't had someone like him that can play half as well as 5/8.
  - LB > Poppa May 19, 2025 at 10:45am
    
    True Poppa, having someone that can fill both spots in a pinch. I reckon last time we had that was probably Finch in 2010's. Norman could take control but effected his game too much.
    - SuperEel 22 > LB May 19, 2025 at 3:14pm
      
      Finch left us in 2009, LB. Yep, that long ago.
      - Uncle Wizardssleeve- Indigenous Elder-Freemason Hunter -He/Him > SuperEel 22 May 19, 2025 at 5:15pm
        
        Let's pretend like Finch never happened please... let him never be spoken of again.
      - LB > SuperEel 22 May 19, 2025 at 7:37pm
        
        My apologies, not sure how i missed that one.
  - Offside > Poppa May 19, 2025 at 5:05pm
    
    I like him plus hes a central coast boy so that's a plus.
    
    I think all our eggs are in the Galvin basket
Bob mertens May 18, 2025 at 5:57pm

The most pathetic 5/8 in the comp bar none, How on earth has he signed the richest contract in the game.. couldn't even lift against his future team the bloke is not first grade standard.