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Dragon centres to turn on pace
By PAUL SUTTOR
February 10, 2005
THE Dragons feel the need to use their speed in 2005.
St George Illawarra coach Nathan Brown revealed he would be changing the team's style of play, reviving more of an attacking focus out wide.
Brown said the motive behind the move was simple - the Dragons want to maximise the scoring potency of their international centres Matt Cooper and Mark Gasnier.
"We want to have a bit more ball movement this year," he said.
"We want to get the ball out to our centres. Gaz and Coops are two of the best centres in the game and (back-up centre) Albert Torrens has been a good player for a long time."
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Renowned as one of the National Rugby League's most entertaining teams when the joint venture Dragons were formed in 1999, they have not racked up big points as regularly in recent seasons.
Last year they were far from pedestrian - ranked fifth in points and tries - but Brown believes they can again be one of the NRL's most potent attackers if they create clear space for Cooper and Gasnier, who will miss the first month of the season due to a wrist injury.
They have concentrated on forming attacking combinations over the past fortnight of pre-season training and will fine-tune the system in the trials against South Sydney (February 19 at Aussie Stadium) and Manly (February 26 at Albion Park).
"We started off slow. We've only started doing ball-work two weeks ago when (halves duo) Trent Barrett (knee) and Matthew Head (pneumonia) and a few of the other blokes got out of rehab," Brown said.
"We're getting better at it. I think by the time the season starts, we'll have it pretty much ready."
The Dragons have a fourth centre with attacking firepower in rookie Wes Naiqama, but he won't be fit for round one against the Bulldogs on March 11 because of a chronic foot complaint.
"Wes was ready for first grade last year but every time a spot has come up he has been injured," Brown said.
"When he has played reserve grade, he's played terrific footy."
Brown said Naiqama needed to rest the injury to ensure it didn't deteriorate into a stress fracture
This guy is improving as a coach on a yearly basis. He is not a one dimensional coach, and is willing to change things drastically in order to get the job done. For that, brown is willing and able. If he can manage to imrpove this team by another 20%, as well as that get his players on the paddock, then he will be a successfull footy coach.
By PAUL SUTTOR
February 10, 2005
THE Dragons feel the need to use their speed in 2005.
St George Illawarra coach Nathan Brown revealed he would be changing the team's style of play, reviving more of an attacking focus out wide.
Brown said the motive behind the move was simple - the Dragons want to maximise the scoring potency of their international centres Matt Cooper and Mark Gasnier.
"We want to have a bit more ball movement this year," he said.
"We want to get the ball out to our centres. Gaz and Coops are two of the best centres in the game and (back-up centre) Albert Torrens has been a good player for a long time."
advertisement
advertisement
Renowned as one of the National Rugby League's most entertaining teams when the joint venture Dragons were formed in 1999, they have not racked up big points as regularly in recent seasons.
Last year they were far from pedestrian - ranked fifth in points and tries - but Brown believes they can again be one of the NRL's most potent attackers if they create clear space for Cooper and Gasnier, who will miss the first month of the season due to a wrist injury.
They have concentrated on forming attacking combinations over the past fortnight of pre-season training and will fine-tune the system in the trials against South Sydney (February 19 at Aussie Stadium) and Manly (February 26 at Albion Park).
"We started off slow. We've only started doing ball-work two weeks ago when (halves duo) Trent Barrett (knee) and Matthew Head (pneumonia) and a few of the other blokes got out of rehab," Brown said.
"We're getting better at it. I think by the time the season starts, we'll have it pretty much ready."
The Dragons have a fourth centre with attacking firepower in rookie Wes Naiqama, but he won't be fit for round one against the Bulldogs on March 11 because of a chronic foot complaint.
"Wes was ready for first grade last year but every time a spot has come up he has been injured," Brown said.
"When he has played reserve grade, he's played terrific footy."
Brown said Naiqama needed to rest the injury to ensure it didn't deteriorate into a stress fracture
This guy is improving as a coach on a yearly basis. He is not a one dimensional coach, and is willing to change things drastically in order to get the job done. For that, brown is willing and able. If he can manage to imrpove this team by another 20%, as well as that get his players on the paddock, then he will be a successfull footy coach.
