Round 9 V Storm

[BrissyRedV]

St George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor has named his mandatory 21-man squad for the Dragons' Round 9 clash against the Melbourne Storm at WIN Stadium, Wollongong on Sunday, April 30.

The Dragons will have to make do without skipper Gareth Widdop (knee) who suffered a medial injury and will miss at least the next six weeks.

Kurt Mann will slot into five-eighth from the bench, with Taane Milne returning to the utility role from the interchange.

The Dragons will also celebrate the 100th NRL game of back-rower Tyson Frizell ahead of his return to the Australian Test side in May. He will also captain the side in Widdop's absence.

The Emergency Services Cup will also be on the line in this top of the table clash against the Storm.

NRL Squad for Round 9 v Melbourne Storm:

1. Josh Dugan
2. Nene Macdonald
3. Euan Aitken
4. Tim Lafai
5. Jason Nightingale
6. Kurt Mann
7. Josh McCrone
8. Russell Packer
9. Cameron McInnes
10. Paul Vaughan
11. Tyson Frizell (c)
12. Joel Thompson
13. Jack de Belin
Interchange:
14. Tariq Sims
15. Leeson Ah Mau
16. Hame Sele
17. Taane Milne
18. Jai Field
19. Blake Lawrie
20. Luciano Leilua
21. Jacob Host

Players unavailable:

Gareth Widdop (knee) – Round 14

Drew Hutchison (knee) – season

Will Matthews (hip) – indefinite

Kiti Glymin (shoulder) – indefinite

Levi Dodd (knee) – season

http://www.dragons.com.au/news/2017/04/27/nrl_team_round_9_v_m.html

 

[Dragonslayer]

On a side note to this team announcement/;

Havili and Lafai's court case was resolved today and looks like all is ok.

 

[getsmarty]

Coach's Preview: Round 9
Thu 27th April, 04:00PM
A A



St George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor previews the Dragons' Round 9 clash against the Melbourne Storm at WIN Stadium, Wollongong on Sunday, April 30.

http://www.dragons.com.au/news/2017/04/27/coach_s_preview_roun.html

 

[mickeylane]

Team looks solid except for goal kicker

 

[mickeylane]

Good interview by Mary - obviously has confidence in Mann - I can see us being a lot more attacking w Mann at 5/8

 

[ALSGI]

Perfect Storm is brewing with Slater no doubt wanting to prove a point after being left out of the Kangaroos and his opposite number this weekend being picked in the Test, albeit at Centre. Slater will be playing for a Qld jumper, Duges for a contract.

Mann replacing Widdop, Wow he would be excited and pumped for this opportunity and will have a few sleepless nights no doubt. He has ability but will he handle the pressure? I think he will at WIN. A lot of us on here wanted him at 6 at the start of the year with Widdop suggested anywhere from FB to reggies, so I'm looking forward to seeing him with a chance in the 6 jumper. What a moment for him !! I think McCrone will have more pressure on him than Mann tbh.

Smith, Cronk and Slater will be licking their lips for this one. McInnes, JDB, Friz, Vaughan, Packer and Thompson will be too because our pack is our only advantage.

Mary's up against Supercoach.

Cecchin's Ref again !!!!! He'll be looking at our boys a lot closer and won't like the criticism from last week. Might work for us if Smith and co shut the f**k up.

NRL.com preview is tipping Storm by 14?

I reckon we got this in a close one. Mann to score as well as set up one up for Lafai. Forwards to step up yet again and take the heat of our halves.

Dragons back to 1st on the ladder by Sunday night. Happy days, next please.

 

[Dragonslayer]

Team looks solid except for goal kicker

That will be either Lafai or Dugan

 

[BradMackay]

I have not shared the confidence others have had in Mann to be a 5/8th. This is his dream scenario - filling the shoes of Widdop. Head thinks he will stink but heart hopes he kills it and become a Mundine like spark off the bench when or if Widdop returns.

 

[BrissyRedV]

Perfect Storm is brewing with Slater no doubt wanting to prove a point after being left out of the Kangaroos and his opposite number this weekend being picked in the Test, albeit at Centre. Slater will be playing for a Qld jumper, Duges for a contract.

Mann replacing Widdop, Wow he would be excited and pumped for this opportunity and will have a few sleepless nights no doubt. He has ability but will he handle the pressure? I think he will at WIN. A lot of us on here wanted him at 6 at the start of the year with Widdop suggested anywhere from FB to reggies, so I'm looking forward to seeing him with a chance in the 6 jumper. What a moment for him !! I think McCrone will have more pressure on him than Mann tbh.

Smith, Cronk and Slater will be licking their lips for this one. McInnes, JDB, Friz, Vaughan, Packer and Thompson will be too because our pack is our only advantage.

Mary's up against Supercoach.

Cecchin's Ref again !!!!! He'll be looking at our boys a lot closer and won't like the criticism from last week. Might work for us if Smith and co shut the f**k up.

NRL.com preview is tipping Storm by 14?

I reckon we got this in a close one. Mann to score as well as set up one up for Lafai. Forwards to step up yet again and take the heat of our halves.

Dragons back to 1st on the ladder by Sunday night. Happy days, next please.

If our pigs can keep marching us forward and the defence can maintain the rage, it all comes down points and how we can score them. I look forward to seeing what Mann can produce in this regard.

 

[Alec's-saints]

i get the feeling both teams will be flat, short turnaround. i reckon saints in a close one. Mann has to stick to our structures and play simple and not try anything silly. give duges and our centres more ball mcinnes will need to run more also. 18-12 saints

 

[Blood Shot Eyes]

If our pigs can keep marching us forward and the defence can maintain the rage, it all comes down points and how we can score them. I look forward to seeing what Mann can produce in this regard.

I hope our pigs can go forward in this game ...I know both teams had short turn arounds but after watching both games on Anzac Day I reckon our blokes got bashed a bit more than theirs did......I hope the ref gets onto the Storm in regards to their continuing abuse of intentional penalties in particular when the opposition are close to their line....you watch they are prepared to lay all over the attacking team when they are more than a converted try ahead thus resetting their defence knowing full well the opposition wont kick for goal....and if they are continually penalised then sly dog Smith will start questioning the ref whilst his players have a breather.......its one of the oldest tricks in the book and seeing they are a protected species like The Donkeys noone will get 10 in the bin like they should

 

[blacksafake]

So who's been named as assistant ref to Smith

 

[Crush]

Perfect Storm is brewing with Slater no doubt wanting to prove a point after being left out of the Kangaroos and his opposite number this weekend being picked in the Test, albeit at Centre. Slater will be playing for a Qld jumper, Duges for a contract.

Mann replacing Widdop, Wow he would be excited and pumped for this opportunity and will have a few sleepless nights no doubt. He has ability but will he handle the pressure? I think he will at WIN. A lot of us on here wanted him at 6 at the start of the year with Widdop suggested anywhere from FB to reggies, so I'm looking forward to seeing him with a chance in the 6 jumper. What a moment for him !! I think McCrone will have more pressure on him than Mann tbh.

Smith, Cronk and Slater will be licking their lips for this one. McInnes, JDB, Friz, Vaughan, Packer and Thompson will be too because our pack is our only advantage.

Mary's up against Supercoach.

Cecchin's Ref again !!!!! He'll be looking at our boys a lot closer and won't like the criticism from last week. Might work for us if Smith and co shut the f**k up.

NRL.com preview is tipping Storm by 14?

I reckon we got this in a close one. Mann to score as well as set up one up for Lafai. Forwards to step up yet again and take the heat of our halves.

Dragons back to 1st on the ladder by Sunday night. Happy days, next please.

ALSGI, I have lost a bit of confidence tbh. Not only losing Widdop but it seems we have gone back to the one out stuff a bit. We need to chance our arm against storm. I doubt we can out-storm the storm. That is just hang in there. Only chance is to blow them away.

 

[OzDragon]

On a side note to this team announcement/;

Havili and Lafai's court case was resolved today and looks like all is ok.

...yay?

 

[coast_dragons]

ALSGI, I have lost a bit of confidence tbh. Not only losing Widdop but it seems we have gone back to the one out stuff a bit. We need to chance our arm against storm. I doubt we can out-storm the storm. That is just hang in there. Only chance is to blow them away.

Not quite sure how you come to the conclusion they have gone back to the one out stuff based off 40 minutes of football.

The conditions didn't help for a free flowing game then shuffling the team for an entire 40 minutes made things even more difficult.

Losing Widdop certainly made things difficult but its not like the Roosters ran away with the game infact they can thank their lucky stars they won and to me they are no better then the Dragons.

The storm is the bench mark again this year but they struggled to ve the Warriors and they can be beaten.

 

[Crush]

Not quite sure how you come to the conclusion they have gone back to the one out stuff based off 40 minutes of football.

The conditions didn't help for a free flowing game then shuffling the team for an entire 40 minutes made things even more difficult.

Losing Widdop certainly made things difficult but its not like the Roosters ran away with the game infact they can thank their lucky stars they won and to me they are no better then the Dragons.

The storm is the bench mark again this year but they struggled to ve the Warriors and they can be beaten.

Yeah I was basing it more on the cowboys 2nd half I guess.
I am watching Broncos now up by 28 and still throwing the ball around trying to score points.
I think Dragons in the same position would shut up shop so to speak and try to complete sets with no errors.
Maybe I am getting ahead of myself and being unfair on them but I would love to see the dragons continue to play expansive footy even when they have a commanding or slight lead

 

[Belta]

If we show up with the same intensity, complete our sets and take our opportunities I believe we will give ourselves a chance. Their forwards are big and run hard but I feel our forwards have been playing well enough to contain them. Just hoping the ref does not feel the need to blow the pea out of the whistle, penalties for for the sake of blowing the whistle killed us against the Rooters. Need a near perfect game to get this one IMO, anything less will result in a loss. Go the Dragons

 

[emu62]

So who's been named as assistant ref to Smith

A up and comer by the name of Cronk

 

[WA 'S OWN RED V]

I struggle to watch storm games looks more like UFC than footy.
Get bored watching scam smith and co sleep in the ruck. The NRL seem to like it though.

 

[BringTheNoise]

McCrone and McInnes really need to step up big time for this one and really take ownership of this team while Widdop is out.

Mann is a natural footballer, he should just be allowed to play his natural game without the burden of trying to takeover Widdop's role in the side.