Key statistics don't match up with Dragons recent form slump.
The enigma which is the dragons .. so what does it mean?
- we have a leg less half back who cannot take advantage of decent stats... if we can sustain these stats next year- Hunt will make the difference
- We have a coach who is out of his depth.... who has a one page play book.. which fails to adapt plans to the opposition .. thus ultimately we are predictable
- We lack the killer instinct .. losing too many close games.
- . Unfortunately the only stat that truly matters is the win column
- Is too much focus spent on KPI's rather than playing what is in front of them.
DAVID RICCIO, The Sunday Telegraph
August 5, 2017 9:35pm
THEY’RE key statistics of which Craig Bellamy demands every week.
Numbers which Shane Flanagan and Trent Robinson crave.
Yet despite leading a string of benchmark statistics across the NRL, St George-Illawarra are inexplicably on the verge of throwing away a spot in this year’s finals series.
Ahead of their 10-point collapse in 11-minutes to South Sydney at the SCG on Friday night, The Sunday Telegraph has learned the Dragons were rated first or second in at least six categories across the NRL.
They were rated number one in the NRL for metres gained. First also, for tackle breaks and offloads; better than Melbourne, better than the Roosters and Cronulla.
And while Saints also sat second for most-tries, linebreaks and metres after contact in the tackle before playing Souths, defensively the Red-V are far from horrible, sitting mid-table for tries conceded, metres conceded and breaks conceded.
KEY STATISTICS
Metres gained 1st
Metres conceded 8th (Sharks 1st)
Tries 2nd (Storm, 1st)
Tries conceded 7th (Sharks 1st)
Linebreaks 2nd (Cowboys, 1st)
Breaks conceded 5th (Sharks 1st)
Metres after contact 2nd (Cowboys, 1st)
Missed tackles 1st
Tackle breaks 1st
Inefective tackles 1st
Dropped balls 7th (Broncos 1st)
Penalties conceded3rd (Tigers best)
Play the balls 81-100m: 11th (Panthers 1st)
However, having lost three of their past four matches, including a four-point loss to the Raiders, a seven-point loss to Newcastle and the Rabbitohs by two-points, the eighth-placed Dragons could drop out of the top-eight if Penrith beat the Wests Tigers this afternoon.
If the Dragons playing group don’t realise they’re on the verge of a wasted season, they’ll slip to another side below them on the ladder; the Gold Coast Titans at Kogarah on Saturday.
Beaten by teams they need to beating to be considered a threat in September, the Dragons are also showing why they paid $1.2m for Brisbane halfback Ben Hunt to join the club next year.
As the statistics prove, the Dragons pack have had no issue dominating their opposition forward pack with Tyson Frizell, Paul Vaughan, Jack De Belin and Russell Packer leading the way.
However, despite being resourceful and willing, current halfback Josh McCrone is lacking the class and polish of rival half-back’s, including Hunt, as he pushes towards his longest season since 2014 with Canberra.
Gutted by the loss to the Rabbitohs Dragons coach Paul McGregor couldn’t be more direct after the match when asked how critical the clash with the Gold Coast was.
“Every week is important at this time of year, but it makes next week pretty important,’’ McGregor said.
“We’ve worked so hard to have someone take it (finals) away from us.’’
Meanwhile, scans on Tuesday will reveal the full extent of Josh Dugan’s ankle injury.
Either Taane Milne or Kurt Mann would be called upon to fill the void of Dugan in the centres if he’s ruled out.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...p/news-story/dcd1c77a26e1798e4056a07d0235f360
