What's new
The Front Row Forums

Register a free account today to become a member of the world's largest Rugby League discussion forum! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Biggest changes needed in 2022

Forbes Creek Dragons

First Grade
Messages
5,078
I believe that the way we are developing with a lot of young guys coming through, particularly in the spine it is vital we put some specialist coaching into them to develop them properly. The two things I would do would be to get a real topline coach to coach reserve grade, possibly Flanno who would also be a fallback if we decide to part ways with Hook and get some specific spine players to come in and do some consultancy work with our young guys. If they wanted to keep it in house I guess we could keep Soward but an increased role and maybe try to get Darius Boyd to come in and do some work with Sloan on defensive stuff etc and tactical things.
In a perfect world I would get Slater, Thurston and Smith but I can't see that happening. Thoughts on things that would improve us next season?
 

Slippery Morris

First Grade
Messages
7,395
Definitely change the coaching structure. As for getting Cronk, Slater or Smith in the coaching ranks why not. Worth a crack. Fittler would be a good option as well as he can sniff out talent and I like his selections for NSW. Some people doubted his selections at first especially Wighton and they proved to be great for the team. And look at how he got Sims playing. He will also attract some big names. Can't go much worse that it already is.
 

Gippsy

Bench
Messages
4,688
1. Scrap the compressed defensive structure
2. Bring in an attacking structure. I dunno, how about something innovative such as having a deep backline and running onto passes?? Maybe a set move from a scrum?
3. For God's sake, try something different other than a one-out hitup on the 4th tackle.
4. The tacklers to get to their feet before the opposition play the ball.
5. Buy some monster forwards good enough to be in the starting side.

So, yeah, blow the place up, change the coaching completely, learn the basics and get rid of half of the playing roster
 

Dragon David

First Grade
Messages
7,380
Besides what you posters have said so far, we need some sport psych guy to talk to our guys and get them back a lot of confidence and instil in them the will to win attitude. Our attitude on the field has got to improve and each of the players need to be playing more for each other rather than for anyone else.

The emotional toll has taken a lot out of our guys this year, so on top of their fitness and health programs, they need psychological enhancement programs to bring back self belief and confidence in themselves.
 

Forbes Creek Dragons

First Grade
Messages
5,078
Besides what you posters have said so far, we need some sport psych guy to talk to our guys and get them back a lot of confidence and instil in them the will to win attitude. Our attitude on the field has got to improve and each of the players need to be playing more for each other rather than for anyone else.

The emotional toll has taken a lot out of our guys this year, so on top of their fitness and health programs, they need psychological enhancement programs to bring back self belief and confidence in themselves.
That meditation guy last year and Mary's leadership course must have done nothing last year.
 

Mojo

Bench
Messages
3,347
I believe that the way we are developing with a lot of young guys coming through, particularly in the spine it is vital we put some specialist coaching into them to develop them properly. The two things I would do would be to get a real topline coach to coach reserve grade, possibly Flanno who would also be a fallback if we decide to part ways with Hook and get some specific spine players to come in and do some consultancy work with our young guys. If they wanted to keep it in house I guess we could keep Soward but an increased role and maybe try to get Darius Boyd to come in and do some work with Sloan on defensive stuff etc and tactical things.
In a perfect world I would get Slater, Thurston and Smith but I can't see that happening. Thoughts on things that would improve us next season?
Fair enough but, please, not Darius. Until Corey’s recent performances I didn’t think Darius could be surpassed in the dismal end to an NRL career stakes.
 

Forbes Creek Dragons

First Grade
Messages
5,078
Fair enough but, please, not Darius.
He might not be the best bloke but he definitely squeezed the absolute maximum of his ability out of what he had. He was a great defensive fullback with great fundamentals of the game and definitely could draw and pass. Has a connection to our last premiership (CC medalist) and maybe would take the job unlike Slater. Im not saying he is the only option and he might not even want to but I'm just opening up the conversation. Players like Pap has players like Slater to lean on, if he was at our club he'd have no one including a senior player to learn off. I believe we have a real gem in Sloan and we need to do what we can to allow him to reach his potential.
 

Dragonslayer

First Grade
Messages
7,679
Iggest changes needed for '22.

1. A hooker or back up hooker from the bench with variety and spark. Macca plays too long at dummy half, especially in the last 15 mins. Unfortunately, the 'reserve' dummy half plays exactly the same game as Macca. A Tom Starling type would be a good foil for Macca. I didn't see enough in young Lussick to warrant a contract other than a backup to the backup and at very minimum $$.
2. Our defense at times was deplorable. Was it the defensive coach or was it the lack of fitness and stamina? One or both need to make way for a younger or more dynamic person. A point here also is that Elliot didn't travel to the QLD bubble, originally staying behind to 'look after' the players that didn't travel. Wise choice.
3. Suspensions played a huge toll on our season. Besides the BBQ suspensions, Rava, Maguire (and again for him at thexstart of '22) and Fui, all copping 'heavy' suspensions that, in particular, over the last few rounds have now been let go by the MRC. IMO, this has made them gun-shy, just the fear of a tackle gone wrong for these guys, and i'll throw in Sims in this group as well. For example Fui was put on report last night for what? It didn't even result in a charge but the psyche effect would then make him hesitant and it showed. Everytime I see Rava go in for a missile tackle now I uold my breathe and wait for 'on-report' Mika. We need to rid ourselves of this 'fear' over the off-season. How, is the big Q.
4. Getting bak 'home' will help.
5. We have 4, 5 or 6 spots remaining, depending a few who yet maybe 'tapped'. Careful recruiting is needed. Seen a couple of names bandied about, most suggested based on 'old form', and I think we have enough 'old form' players already. I'm happy with the recruitement so far, although Mbye still leaves me scratching my head as where he plays.

Will probably add to this list later, but for now those 5 points seem to be the initial changes needed.
 

Maddragon99

Juniors
Messages
2,075
My opinion of Griffin & Co. are well known, if Griffin stays then new younger assistants are needed.

The constant pick & stick approach with underperforming players like Norman & Beale has to change. Even the imbecile Michael Ennis was calling for Norman to be replaced at halftime against Souths.

Our go forward is pretty bad & got worse after we lost Vaughan. Some help is coming but we’re still 2 or 3 quality forwards short particularly if we lose Sims.

Our line speed is very patchy, the boys do fire up at times but generally it’s very passive allowing the opposition to march up the field. An entirely new defensive structure is needed along with a new defensive coach.

Jack Bird is an enigma to me, he tries his guts out but he’s not big or fast enough to be a genuine threat at Centre. I honestly don’t know where he plays next year but we definitely need to recruit a strike centre.

To be perfectly honest 2022 is looking like a rebuild year to me, freshened up coaching staff, rebuilt forward pack & a lot of inexperienced players in the backline.

Amone & Sullivan aren’t as progressed as they could have been due to Norman’s automatic selection every week. Same goes for Sloan, I just didn’t understand Bird’s stint at fullback & Dufty returning for one game. That whole experiment made no sense at all.

I’m not seeing a top 8 finish next year but it is very possible that we lay the foundations for a successful 2023.
 

jeffdragon

Bench
Messages
3,441
Many thing's need to change.
Hook chopping and changing.
Our structure is shit.
Dufty bird fb, picking Norman this year.
Second phase play and when the forwards get the ball they're are standing still.
Run from the back fence .
Not like lawrie standing like a statue.
 

Mojo

Bench
Messages
3,347
He might not be the best bloke but he definitely squeezed the absolute maximum of his ability out of what he had. He was a great defensive fullback with great fundamentals of the game and definitely could draw and pass. Has a connection to our last premiership (CC medalist) and maybe would take the job unlike Slater. Im not saying he is the only option and he might not even want to but I'm just opening up the conversation. Players like Pap has players like Slater to lean on, if he was at our club he'd have no one including a senior player to learn off. I believe we have a real gem in Sloan and we need to do what we can to allow him to reach his potential.
I agree with you FC. Sloan is a gem. The use of excellent mentors would be great. I don’t know anything about the way the coaching and development actually operates at the Dragons but there shouldn’t be any lack of suitable mentors in a club with this pedigree. That may be part of the problem. NRL talent seems to be such a meat market these days, it seems that all the talent and skills are being focused in and on the top teams and, as a result, pedigree is becoming meaningless. I’ve always thought one of the defining features of rugby league was ‘badge loyalty’ but it‘s more a monetary competition than a tribal one these days, apparently.
 

Forbes Creek Dragons

First Grade
Messages
5,078
I agree with you FC. Sloan is a gem. The use of excellent mentors would be great. I don’t know anything about the way the coaching and development actually operates at the Dragons but there shouldn’t be any lack of suitable mentors in a club with this pedigree. That may be part of the problem. NRL talent seems to be such a meat market these days, it seems that all the talent and skills are being focused in and on the top teams and, as a result, pedigree is becoming meaningless. I’ve always thought one of the defining features of rugby league was ‘badge loyalty’ but it‘s more a monetary competition than a tribal one these days, apparently.
Since the JV we have produced very few genuine gun spine players
from my memory.

Fullback: I don’t think we’ve produced one, the best one we’ve had is Boyd, obviously brought over with his dad in 2009. Converted from a winger though during his time.

5/8: You could put Mundine and Barrett in the locally produced product and they are touching on great but not quite up with the Fitlers or Daley’s of the time, and both before the JV started.

Halfback: Probably one of our consistently weakest positions, Hornby a utility turned fullback turned halfback was probably the best but I’d put him more in the well coached did a job for us type player than a complete player who regularly toyed with defences.

Hooker: Browny was the best locally produced hooker but he was prior to the JV. Since then we’ve had local players like Gorrell who did a job, Dean Young who was a great utility but not an out and out hooker in the mould of Buderus.

I’m not saying all our players need to be juniors but it’s surprising how few spine players we seem to produce and even that we have had in general at the same time when you think about it. In terms of forwards and especially wingers/centres we’ve regularly pumped out greats even all time greats. Ryles, Bailey, Cooper, Gasnier, Morris x2. Garrick and Saab aren’t going too bad either much to my deep pain.
 

Maddragon99

Juniors
Messages
2,075
I agree with you FC. Sloan is a gem. The use of excellent mentors would be great. I don’t know anything about the way the coaching and development actually operates at the Dragons but there shouldn’t be any lack of suitable mentors in a club with this pedigree. That may be part of the problem. NRL talent seems to be such a meat market these days, it seems that all the talent and skills are being focused in and on the top teams and, as a result, pedigree is becoming meaningless. I’ve always thought one of the defining features of rugby league was ‘badge loyalty’ but it‘s more a monetary competition than a tribal one these days, apparently.
Both Sloan & Ramsey will be improved next year after a offseason in the gym & some pro sprint training.
 

Dragsters

First Grade
Messages
5,331
I posted this earlier in the gameday thread but it probably sits better here for now...

Whist I wasn't expecting miracles, it was a very disappointing season in many respects and coaching was indeed one of them.

Griffin has a full off-season and next season with some new recruits and a bunch of promising youngsters to improve our lot and prove his with worth.

Twelve months on though, I can't help but wonder where would be if we had indeed courted and signed Shaun Wane this time last year?

We will never know the answer but can only hope things improve dramatically under the current coaching regime...
 

matPORTS

Juniors
Messages
546
1. A hooker or back up hooker from the bench with variety and spark. Macca plays too long at dummy half, especially in the last 15 mins. Unfortunately, the 'reserve' dummy half plays exactly the same game as Macca. A Tom Starling type would be a good foil for Macca. I didn't see enough in young Lussick to warrant a contract other than a backup to the backup and at very minimum $$.

Mitch Rein off contract and seemingly playing for his life at the moment. Maybe we should take a look?

Whoops?!
 

Forbes Creek Dragons

First Grade
Messages
5,078
I posted this earlier in the gameday thread but it probably sits better here for now...

Whist I wasn't expecting miracles, it was a very disappointing season in many respects and coaching was indeed one of them.

Griffin has a full off-season and next season with some new recruits and a bunch of promising youngsters to improve our lot and prove his with worth.

Twelve months on though, I can't help but wonder where would be if we had indeed courted and signed Shaun Wane this time last year?

We will never know the answer but can only hope things improve dramatically under the current coaching regime...
Wane was the one I wanted too but it looks like that ship has sailed. Who knows in 2023? At very least a lot of dead wood will be gone, the salary cap cleaned up a lot and the juniors plenty NRL hardened so I do believe even the most ardent Hook haters would have to admit whoever takes over will take over in a better position than Hook walked into which is a huge positive.
 

Latest posts

Top