Not all Doom and Gloom

[SET2JT]

Round 1 only.
our defense was solid. (1 try from a kick and 1 that i didn't see him get to line). We also hit hard forcing a few knock ons.
Usually teams that play simple football the first 10 rounds do ok. Im guessing this is why we hardly offloaded all night.
I believe something needs to be done with the sin bin rule. It doesn't get used enough. Teams like the Storm Roosters Dogs and Bunnies give alot of penalties when the opposition are in their 20. Everytime there is a good hit up and a chance at a quick play the ball they hold longer and are willing to give up the penalty so they can set their line up again. We might have won the penalty count the other night but most of our penalties were 10-20 out were as the storm had the piggy back ones.
Just my thoughts.
Go u Dragons!

 

[bottle]

Love your attitude. This will be like a red rag to the bullshit, sorry bull, though. Expect a smashing.

 

[God-King Dean]

And we have Moltzen.

 

[Weipa Dragon]

Another thought. As I'm surrounded by donkey fans, they are of the opinion that the last time they won a comp(2006) they were flogged 30-4 in the first game by the cowboys. In 2011 we won everything in the beginning of the year only to splutter into the finals for our last finals series. Last year we looked exceptional in our first three games as well only to suffer unimaginably later on. There are signs of a good football team in both the charity shield and against Warrington. I'm kinda glad we are not sprinting out of the blocks. We can do better and we will.

 

[love my saints]

Another thought. As I'm surrounded by donkey fans, they are of the opinion that the last time they won a comp(2006) they were flogged 30-4 in the first game by the cowboys. In 2011 we won everything in the beginning of the year only to splutter into the finals for our last finals series. Last year we looked exceptional in our first three games as well only to suffer unimaginably later on. There are signs of a good football team in both the charity shield and against Warrington. I'm kinda glad we are not sprinting out of the blocks. We can do better and we will.

Number one rule.... respect the ball.
we did that, master that aspect as well as the D and the attack will fall into place.
we have players that sure can turn it on when needed. Id personally rather see us peak mid season onwards rather then peak to soon.
We will master the D, master high completions, then BAMMMM... come home with a wet sail.
Still early days yet

 

[BennyV]

Im convinced!

BRB, putting my house on us to win the premiership.

 

[jenninga]

Dear God.

 

[love my saints]

Im convinced!

BRB, putting my house on us to win the premiership.

Smart move ;-)

 

[rainman44]

Round 1 only.
our defense was solid. (1 try from a kick and 1 that i didn't see him get to line). We also hit hard forcing a few knock ons.
Usually teams that play simple football the first 10 rounds do ok. Im guessing this is why we hardly offloaded all night.
I believe something needs to be done with the sin bin rule. It doesn't get used enough. Teams like the Storm Roosters Dogs and Bunnies give alot of penalties when the opposition are in their 20. Everytime there is a good hit up and a chance at a quick play the ball they hold longer and are willing to give up the penalty so they can set their line up again. We might have won the penalty count the other night but most of our penalties were 10-20 out were as the storm had the piggy back ones.
Just my thoughts.
Go u Dragons!

Our defence was solid because we had the ball all night. That game made me want the year to finish asap. Expected more

 

[_snafu_]

Won't lose another game this season.

 

[Blood Shot Eyes]

Our defence was solid because we had the ball all night. That game made me want the year to finish asap. Expected more

Yes your quite correct...with that much ball and camped in their half for so many sets we really should have expected more....still we live in hope

 

[Father Ted]

And we have Moltzen.

Moltzen paired with Rein. I picked the wrong year to give up valium.

 

[Slippery Morris]

If Saints improve their attack which I am sure they will they will go OK.

Melbourne resorted to some dirty tactics which shows that they were threatened which is good to see. The Dragons earned some respect from the Storm. The refs were very poor, some pretty bad decisions which all went the Storms way. They should have been a man down as well. Not saying Saints should have won but I think Melb were pretty lucky to win.

 

[BennyV]

If Saints improve their attack which I am sure they will they will go OK.

Melbourne resorted to some dirty tactics which shows that they were threatened which is good to see. The Dragons earned some respect from the Storm. The refs were very poor, some pretty bad decisions which all went the Storms way. They should have been a man down as well. Not saying Saints should have won but I think Melb were pretty lucky to win.

I disagree with all that highlighted above.
Melbourne weren't threatened at all, their grubby tactics come from being a team full of grubs, not from feeling threatened. We didnt look like threatening to score a try once. It was pathetic.
I dont know what indication you have of us earning respect. I thought quite the opposite - theres a bigger chance they were laughing at some of the attacking 'plays' we attempted.
Refs were poor both ways. When at the game with my red-and-white glasses, I though Melbourne were constantly offside and holding down in the tackle, but a lot of the time we were just as bad.
And no, they weren't lucky to win. Our popgun attack never once looked like breaking them. We were comprehensively outplayed by a far better coached (although not necessarily more talented) team.

 

[coast_dragons]

Marhsall and Widdop like have no idea how to play together they are and will be a problem then you throw in a dh who makes mistakes and a fullback who has no idea how to pass and your spine is f**ked.

The halves crabbing sideways is ridiculous don't they know how to straighten the attack they have been in first grade long enough to make decisions on the run who cares if Mary doesn't like it he's useless anyway.

 

[giboz71]

The Storm are not an elite side any more. I'm guessing they'll be at edge of the 8 most of the year.

My fear is... we had all our guns available. Marshall, Widdop, Dugan, Nighty, Frizzell, Thompson, Merrin. And we had nothing against one of the weaker teams. We have no one else to replace these guys if they aren't good enough?

What's going to happen against the Rabbits, Panthers, Roosters and even the Eels now?

I'm guessing we will improve, but it will need to be dramatic if we do anything this year.

 

[Saints Forever]

The defence was certainly better than last year. That is a major positive.

The major negative was that with so much ball we could not score. No creativity, one dimensional.

Understand Mary has picked his best team and feels he needs to play that team barring injuries for a number of games in a row, 5-10 is my guess.

We will improve, however so will the opposition.

Lets hope Mary improves.

 

[BankstownDragon]

I disagree with all that highlighted above.
Melbourne weren't threatened at all, their grubby tactics come from being a team full of grubs, not from feeling threatened. We didnt look like threatening to score a try once. It was pathetic.
I dont know what indication you have of us earning respect. I thought quite the opposite - theres a bigger chance they were laughing at some of the attacking 'plays' we attempted.
Refs were poor both ways. When at the game with my red-and-white glasses, I though Melbourne were constantly offside and holding down in the tackle, but a lot of the time we were just as bad.
And no, they weren't lucky to win. Our popgun attack never once looked like breaking them. We were comprehensively outplayed by a far better coached (although not necessarily more talented) team.

Benny,

This is a spot on review as I see it.

Further to that I believe we were lucky not to loose by a lot more, as Storm dropped the ball just when they seemed to be getting on top..

Anyway, hopefully this week will be a better show...not holding my breath but I would love to be surprised!

 

[hazzbeen]

The Storm are not an elite side any more. I'm guessing they'll be at edge of the 8 most of the year.

My fear is... we had all our guns available. Marshall, Widdop, Dugan, Nighty, Frizzell, Thompson, Merrin. And we had nothing against one of the weaker teams. We have no one else to replace these guys if they aren't good enough?

What's going to happen against the Rabbits, Panthers, Roosters and even the Eels now?

I'm guessing we will improve, but it will need to be dramatic if we do anything this year.

Mate you are spot on......If we loose a few more games Mary has to blood the young blokes....did not happen under Price when we were on a loosing streak . Resulted in loosing young talented players and not having players ready to step up with 1st grade experience...

 

[TonyT6]

Number one rule.... respect the ball.
we did that, master that aspect as well as the D and the attack will fall into place.
we have players that sure can turn it on when needed. Id personally rather see us peak mid season onwards rather then peak to soon.
We will master the D, master high completions, then BAMMMM... come home with a wet sail.
Still early days yet

Interesting to note the team with the highest completion rate was Manly and the 3 worst were Souths, chooks & parra