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Shaun Nona the BRONCO

Crush

Coach
Messages
10,410
I would have thought Nona for McCrone and Mann for Widdop. Everyone accept Mary was of the opinion that McCrone just did not have it and was not up to first grade standard. Why didn't Mary give Nona a go?
Because Nona was even worse than McCrone. Yes hard to believe but in McCrone we had a barely first grade level half that somehow gained a lot of first grade experience. In Nona we had a NOT first grade level player that has never played one game of NRL at age 29 after numerous clubs.
SURELY you cannot blame Mary for not playing Nona last year? Did you see his form in reserves? I don't think he was banging the door down demanding selection.
Mary is shit and has made some horrible selection mistakes but this is not one of them.
 

Overseas dragon

Juniors
Messages
2,275
Because Nona was even worse than McCrone. Yes hard to believe but in McCrone we had a barely first grade level half that somehow gained a lot of first grade experience. In Nona we had a NOT first grade level player that has never played one game of NRL at age 29 after numerous clubs.
SURELY you cannot blame Mary for not playing Nona last year? Did you see his form in reserves? I don't think he was banging the door down demanding selection.
Mary is shit and has made some horrible selection mistakes but this is not one of them.
Worse than Mcrone is that possible CRUSH wow he must be the worst in the world now that's a STATEMENT.......
 

Drakon

Juniors
Messages
1,221
Because Nona was even worse than McCrone. Yes hard to believe but in McCrone we had a barely first grade level half that somehow gained a lot of first grade experience. In Nona we had a NOT first grade level player that has never played one game of NRL at age 29 after numerous clubs.
SURELY you cannot blame Mary for not playing Nona last year? Did you see his form in reserves? I don't think he was banging the door down demanding selection.
Mary is shit and has made some horrible selection mistakes but this is not one of them.
So much misinformation lurks around this forum.

Nona is not 29, he is 27. Birth date 23/9/90 and so was actually 26 for most of last year.

Possm is right. Nona should have been given a run instead of McCrone at half back. There was a lot of rightful bitching about McCrone's kicking game last year. Nona can kick. He has an especially good short kicking game and can certainly kick goals (kicking at close to 80%). He has won 2 ISP premierships and 2 State Championships. He is rated highly by JD. He deserved his chance!

Wakeman deserved his chance too as did Hind.

.....and then there is Cook and Bird. Lets hope Luc , Dufty and Lomax get their fair chance this year.
 
Messages
2,866
When Widdop got injured the forum was crying out for Kurt Mann to get a shot. He did. It didn't work out well.
Now the forum is saying Mary should have played Shaun Nona at that time. Its laughable! If Mary had of played Nona at that time the forum would have crucified him and said why was he playing a reserve grader when we have a superstar 5/8 in Kurt Mann in our squad!
Honestly its like some people hate the coach so much that they blame everything on him. Why anyone is frustrated that Shaun Nona has left our club now is beyond me.
Sweeping statements Crush.
You can't talk about the Forum as if everyone has the same opinion.
In the case of Nona, he was an option for McGregor to use.
He chose to go another way and it didn't work.
Many people equate our demise in 2017 to the point in time when Widdop got injured.
Mann was an option but had no experience at 5/8.
Nona was a specialist 5/8 that may have been a better selection.
Words like "hate" don't sit well with me.
McGregor should however be accountable for the club's results over the last 3 years.
I don't "hate" him - I don't think that way.
For what it's worth, Nona was a JD recruit.
JD showed McGregor up all through 2016 and even led the FG team to a scintillating win against Cronulla in the last round when he filled in for McGregor.
For that reason, Nona was never going to be selected in 2017 regardless of form or aptitude.
So imagine that the club had a choice between 2 rookie coaches after 2016 - McGregor and JD who had just won the reserve grade comp for the second year running in 2 states.
McGregor had no form on the board and oversaw one of the worst seasons of football I have ever seen St. George play.in 2016.
The powers that be chose McGregor...
JD was shown the door...
I think you focus on how people feel about McGregor too much.
I shrug the shoulders because he is what he is.
BUT I am totally pissed at the way that appointment was made.
For me at least, all the negativity flows from the way McGregor was even appointed.
 
Messages
2,866
Because Nona was even worse than McCrone. Yes hard to believe but in McCrone we had a barely first grade level half that somehow gained a lot of first grade experience. In Nona we had a NOT first grade level player that has never played one game of NRL at age 29 after numerous clubs.
SURELY you cannot blame Mary for not playing Nona last year? Did you see his form in reserves? I don't think he was banging the door down demanding selection.
Mary is shit and has made some horrible selection mistakes but this is not one of them.
I don't agree at all.
I think Nona proved himself in 2016 and showed he was at least a capable back up.
Widdop got injured early in 2017 so the opportunity was there to play him.
OD is right about our kicking game - it was shit and cost us dearly over the last 2 seasons.
At least Nona would have provided a decent kicking game and been a replacement goal kicker of some repute taking over while Widdop rehabilitated.
 

Crush

Coach
Messages
10,410
Sweeping statements Crush.
You can't talk about the Forum as if everyone has the same opinion.
In the case of Nona, he was an option for McGregor to use.
He chose to go another way and it didn't work.
Many people equate our demise in 2017 to the point in time when Widdop got injured.
Mann was an option but had no experience at 5/8.
Nona was a specialist 5/8 that may have been a better selection.
Words like "hate" don't sit well with me.
McGregor should however be accountable for the club's results over the last 3 years.
I don't "hate" him - I don't think that way.
For what it's worth, Nona was a JD recruit.
JD showed McGregor up all through 2016 and even led the FG team to a scintillating win against Cronulla in the last round when he filled in for McGregor.
For that reason, Nona was never going to be selected in 2017 regardless of form or aptitude.
So imagine that the club had a choice between 2 rookie coaches after 2016 - McGregor and JD who had just won the reserve grade comp for the second year running in 2 states.
McGregor had no form on the board and oversaw one of the worst seasons of football I have ever seen St. George play.in 2016.
The powers that be chose McGregor...
JD was shown the door...
I think you focus on how people feel about McGregor too much.
I shrug the shoulders because he is what he is.
BUT I am totally pissed at the way that appointment was made.
For me at least, all the negativity flows from the way McGregor was even appointed.
And you make statements like Nona was a JD recruit and for that reason was never going to get selected regardless of form or aptitude. Do you know that for a fact Dennis? Or is that just what you believe? I think that is absolute garbage and that you have created that idea.
How was Nonas form btw in reserve grade in 2017? I don't think it was great.
Anyway, not keen to spend Sunday going around in circles talking about the past what could have should have would have been.
Hopefully for your sake this year we either suck and we will get a new capable coach or we are strong and then we wont need to talk about the coach anymore.
 

Crush

Coach
Messages
10,410
Great post Dennis.
I still remember your statement goggles that Taane Milne and Kurt Mann will be household names one day. Do you still think that is the case? Taane may get his chance with the tigers this year to really make it big. It didn't work out at the Roosters or Dragons really. Kurt Mann is never going to be a household name as a utility player that sits on the bench for 70 mins.....
 

BennyV

Referee
Messages
22,441
Mann as a back up for Widdop was fine, he held the left edge together well and proved to be quite creative with ball in hand.
Nona should have been selected for McCrone in an effort to improve overall kicking game and assist the right edge.

That being said, lol@this thread. Did will be lucky to play half a season in first grade, no big loss at all.
 
Messages
2,866
And you make statements like Nona was a JD recruit and for that reason was never going to get selected regardless of form or aptitude. Do you know that for a fact Dennis? Or is that just what you believe? I think that is absolute garbage and that you have created that idea.
How was Nonas form btw in reserve grade in 2017? I don't think it was great.
Anyway, not keen to spend Sunday going around in circles talking about the past what could have should have would have been.
Hopefully for your sake this year we either suck and we will get a new capable coach or we are strong and then we wont need to talk about the coach anymore.
It is just my opinion Crush.
This is not a court room where hard evidence takes precedence.
Take a Bex and calm down - would love to be proven wrong about McGregor and win a premiership in 2018.
Nothing would make me happier.
 

Crush

Coach
Messages
10,410
It is just my opinion Crush.
This is not a court room where hard evidence takes precedence.
Take a Bex and calm down - would love to be proven wrong about McGregor and win a premiership in 2018.
Nothing would make me happier.
OK, in future I will use language like "some on the forum said....." instead of "the forum said......."
I don't want to make any sweeping statements now!
 

goggles

Juniors
Messages
245
I still remember your statement goggles that Taane Milne and Kurt Mann will be household names one day. Do you still think that is the case? Taane may get his chance with the tigers this year to really make it big. It didn't work out at the Roosters or Dragons really. Kurt Mann is never going to be a household name as a utility player that sits on the bench for 70 mins.....
And you accuse me of holding onto quotes Crush!!!
For what it's worth:
Milne left the Roosters as a 20 year old, so not sure what you were expecting him to achieve there? He's now leaving us a 22 year old, having played 17 first grade games in 2 years, plus taking part in a world cup. Alas, if we had a different coach, it could have been far different. I think he will go on to have a very successful career, playing plenty of first grade for the Tigers and yes - becoming a household name. He certainly has the skill set.
Mann should be one of our first backs picked, thus becoming a household name. But once again, as you say, he will likely get 5-10 minutes off the bench each week. Hopefully this changes, as there are plenty of others (with more credentials than I) that rate him. If it does, I have no doubt he will go on to become a household name as well. He certainly has the ability.
It all comes down to opportunities Crush; some people get plenty and deliver very little (think: McCrone and Mary, two people we have vastly different opinions of), whilst others get very little opportunity, but in that time show that they actually have something (e.g. Mann and Milne).
Do you think it's good coaching/management to have one of the four reserves regularly sitting on the bench for 70 minutes?
Was it worth trying Milne for a decent period over Aitken or Lafai at some stage?
Was it worth trying Mann for a decent period over Nene or NIghty at some stage?
 

Crush

Coach
Messages
10,410
And you accuse me of holding onto quotes Crush!!!
For what it's worth:
Milne left the Roosters as a 20 year old, so not sure what you were expecting him to achieve there? He's now leaving us a 22 year old, having played 17 first grade games in 2 years, plus taking part in a world cup. Alas, if we had a different coach, it could have been far different. I think he will go on to have a very successful career, playing plenty of first grade for the Tigers and yes - becoming a household name. He certainly has the skill set.
Mann should be one of our first backs picked, thus becoming a household name. But once again, as you say, he will likely get 5-10 minutes off the bench each week. Hopefully this changes, as there are plenty of others (with more credentials than I) that rate him. If it does, I have no doubt he will go on to become a household name as well. He certainly has the ability.
It all comes down to opportunities Crush; some people get plenty and deliver very little (think: McCrone and Mary, two people we have vastly different opinions of), whilst others get very little opportunity, but in that time show that they actually have something (e.g. Mann and Milne).
Do you think it's good coaching/management to have one of the four reserves regularly sitting on the bench for 70 minutes?
Was it worth trying Milne for a decent period over Aitken or Lafai at some stage?
Was it worth trying Mann for a decent period over Nene or NIghty at some stage?
Firstly, I am not sure we have different opinions of both McCrone and Mary. Mary yes but McCrone no. He played 140 too many NRL games IMO. His decision making and kicking game was erratic and not 1st grade level. Im not sure what your opinion of McCrone is but I presume it is also negative.
To answer your questions- Do I think its good management to have a reserve utility sitting on the bench for 70 minutes? Absolutely not, its ridiculous.
Was it worth trying Milne for a period over lafai and Aiken? Yes it was but unfortunately he didn't set the world on fire in his somewhat limited time there and rumours were that he was sulking and not putting in the effort in reserves.
Was it worth playing Mann over nighty or Nene? Definitely not nighty, his form was excellent. Mann over Nene, yes that would have been a good option. I would like nighty and Mann as our wingers.
 

Life's Good

Coach
Messages
13,971
Maybe he was unlucky not to play FG with us.
Maybe he wasn’t good enough to be chosen.
Maybe he didn’t have the trust of his teammates to demand selection.
Maybe, sh*t happens.
Maybe(more like definitely)none of us know the real answer & it’s convenient to lump this at the foot of the club(not that they are squeaky clean).
But seriously, a thread about a player to never make FG & has moved on from the club.
How soon until Round 1?
 

Crush

Coach
Messages
10,410
Maybe he was unlucky not to play FG with us.
Maybe he wasn’t good enough to be chosen.
Maybe he didn’t have the trust of his teammates to demand selection.
Maybe, sh*t happens.
Maybe(more like definitely)none of us know the real answer & it’s convenient to lump this at the foot of the club(not that they are squeaky clean).
But seriously, a thread about a player to never make FG & has moved on from the club.
How soon until Round 1?
LG, I think we are all getting a bit antsy in here at the moment mate. There is literally nothing to discuss that we haven't already covered a million times over. The thread titles mean nothing as all threads just end in "well it doesnt matter anyway because until we sack the coach nothing matters".
Seriously cannot wait for the season to start. The off-season is horrible.
Think I will take a break for a week or two. Come back with some fresh topics to discuss!
 

Life's Good

Coach
Messages
13,971
LG, I think we are all getting a bit antsy in here at the moment mate. There is literally nothing to discuss that we haven't already covered a million times over. The thread titles mean nothing as all threads just end in "well it doesnt matter anyway because until we sack the coach nothing matters".
Seriously cannot wait for the season to start. The off-season is horrible.
Think I will take a break for a week or two. Come back with some fresh topics to discuss!
I hear you there mate. It’s why I have been floating in & out over the last few weeks.
 

kit66

Bench
Messages
3,576
Maybe he was unlucky not to play FG with us.
Maybe he wasn’t good enough to be chosen.
Maybe he didn’t have the trust of his teammates to demand selection.
Maybe, sh*t happens.
Maybe(more like definitely)none of us know the real answer & it’s convenient to lump this at the foot of the club(not that they are squeaky clean).
But seriously, a thread about a player to never make FG & has moved on from the club.
How soon until Round 1?

So....players from Cutters / lower grades that never make it to firsts aren't to be discussed. Anything else ? Maybe you can make us a list. Either that or stay out of threads that aren't up to your standards.

Nona I think was well down the list of options for 1st grade halves anyway when Widdop went down, with players like McCrone, Field, Mann ( not that I think he's a half at all - back up only as last resort ) And don't forget that Drew Hutchinson would likely have been given a shot if no for his his injury and if not sooner. That's not to say Nona didn't serve us well and played some great games for the Cutters, especially in 2016 he deserves some respect. I enjoyed watching him play and I honestly feel for him not getting on the big stage where I don't think he would have let us down. People saying he was sh*t are talking sh*t. I hold nothing against Mary either for not picking him considering the other options, would have been a huge call - our first game without Widdop was against a red hot Melbourne side.
 

Saint_JimmyG

First Grade
Messages
5,067
So much misinformation lurks around this forum.

Nona is not 29, he is 27. Birth date 23/9/90 and so was actually 26 for most of last year.

Possm is right. Nona should have been given a run instead of McCrone at half back. There was a lot of rightful bitching about McCrone's kicking game last year. Nona can kick. He has an especially good short kicking game and can certainly kick goals (kicking at close to 80%). He has won 2 ISP premierships and 2 State Championships. He is rated highly by JD. He deserved his chance!

Wakeman deserved his chance too as did Hind.

.....and then there is Cook and Bird. Lets hope Luc , Dufty and Lomax get their fair chance this year.

The issue isn't whether Nona is 27 or 29; the fact remains he is on the wrong side of 20, and still hasn't registered a single NRL game despite playing for numerous clubs.
 

Drakon

Juniors
Messages
1,221
The issue isn't whether Nona is 27 or 29; the fact remains he is on the wrong side of 20, and still hasn't registered a single NRL game despite playing for numerous clubs.

Don't let the truth get in the way of a forced argument!

You think if JD was our coach in 2017 Nona wouldn't have played first grade?
 
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