Veteran Aaron Woods has put his younger St George Illawarra teammates on notice, urging them to lift their game in 2023 or risk another season without playing in the NRL finals.
The Dragons boast some of the most exciting young playmakers in the competition, with Jayden Sullivan, Tyrell Sloan and Junior Amone all tipped as genuine superstars of the future.
Halfback Sullivan and fullback Sloan had limited opportunities in 2022, playing only 13 games between them as coach Anthony Griffin favoured Ben Hunt and Cody Ramsey in their positions of choice.
Sullivan and Sloan both requested releases during the off-season before backflipping and affirming their commitment to the Dragons.
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Now that they’ve pledged to stay put, the pair have been singled out by Woods as two of the young stars in need of consistency next season.
Tyrell Sloan of the Dragons. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
“We’ve got some really good young players that have been good for the last couple of years but they’re first-graders now,” Woods told reporters.
“We can’t just say that they’ve got ability. They’ve got to come out and do it.
“They have to own that jersey. For us, we want them to dominate games and dominate for long periods, not just show us glimpses of what they’ve got.
“We want them to come out and dictate games.”
Woods said healthy internal competition could help drive standards up at the Dragons, who made headlines last week after tempers boiled over into a scuffle at training.
“We had a bit of a push and shove last week and it just shows that it means a lot to the boys,” Woods said.
“They’re competing really hard every day and that’s what we want.”
Woods dismissed suggestions the scuffle was further evidence of a divide at the Dragons; only three senior players attended the club’s awards night this season, reviving rumours of player unrest under Griffin, who is known as a hard taskmaster.
Aaron Woods. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
“As a group we’ve had a pretty tough pre-season. We had a good week down at Bawley Point and we got to bond a bit and get to know about our players.
“That extra bit of bonding does help.”
Fellow forward Jack de Belin said it was full steam ahead on the Dragons’ quest to play in the finals for the first time since 2018.
“We’ve all got a clear focus at the moment and we’re all very united. It’s one team, one dream,” he said.
Heyou
Roar Rookie
Undies… we call em undies :silly:
KenW
Roar Rookie
Leaving his own performance aside, he is right. Amone was starting to show some consistent good performances by the end of last year. He needs to roll that into next year and not go back into his shell. Sullivan and Sloan seem likely to get more opportunities, it's on them to do the same. Their forward pack lacks punch but is consistent, the backline young and exciting. I'm very concerned about the hooker role, but otherwise the Dragons could be just about anywhere on the table based on the performances of these young guys.
Bernie
Roar Rookie
i hear you. today i have Medicins sans Frontiers and an online betting agency. hmmm, tricky, both want my hard earned - i wonder who the most ethical is??
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
Bernie, not all all, these search engines will pick up anything . I get crap ads all the time .
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
Not directed at you . Generalisation. The internet is a weird beast . I get weird shit ads as well . Search engines immediately pick up stuff .
Bernie
Roar Rookie
must be Sharons new media connections. look for him to join Gal on the sideline in a contest for the most inane, obvious comment of a game.
Bernie
Roar Rookie
you lost me Big D, am i being a thicky?
UAP
Guest
It's like the pied piper reading these comments. Perhaps I am delusional or I need glasses but I didn't think Aaron Woods was all that bad this year. Not world class but adequate nevertheless. All Sloan and Sullivan needs is consistent game time and all will be well but I can't see it happening under Griffin.
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
Once you type Danny ? Frawley you're gone .
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
What he is saying is don't do what I do , do what I say . :laughing: :laughing:
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
Doesn't it inspire you . :laughing: :laughing:
andrew
Roar Rookie
Has Aaron kissed the Blarney Stone recently? He seems to be the go to man at Saints whenever someone wants a story. Aaron, I hope you're doing a lot of sprint training, I don't want to see you ambling around the field following that snail around.
Redcap
Roar Guru
Go back to 8kun, Sheepy.
danwain
Roar Rookie
Really really inappropriate, what a terrible comment
Phil
Roar Rookie
I'll drink to that.
Phil
Roar Rookie
As a Saints fan I don't know what to make of Aaron Woods and his comments. Maybe Nat is right and he's auditioning for a media gig. To say Sloane, Sullivan and Amone are first graders now is a comment worthy of getting a spot alongside Kent or Rothfield. Those three lads are not established yet but have potential. Woods is saying the right things to build confidence however Saints still have Griffin and no up market new signings. Bluster and bravado doesn't win games but no harm in trying.
Tony
Roar Guru
:laughing:
Bernie
Roar Rookie
then they should be dominated by beer, old Holdens, beer, old sporting match results and beer.
Robbo
Roar Rookie
Yep get the young blokes out there and tell them this is the changing of the guard. Show us what you got...... Go Dragons !!!!!!
Tony
Roar Guru
Bernie, I think the adds are generated by your search history :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: