R 3 Parra

[The Word]

Others may have scored the tries but in my view the main damage-makers against us in the last few years have been Mitchell Moses and Junior Paulo. We have more mobile forwards than I can remember for a while so I'm hoping they let them loose to get up off the line quick and give Moses something to think about, hopefully without ruining the defensive line. We've never been able to handle his movement.
I was at Parra last year when they came from behind to beat us. The thing I remember the most was Junior suddenly deciding to take our forwards on single-handedly. He went on several rampages in the second half, leaving a trail of dragons forwards sprawled across the Western Sydney turf. He changed the momentum and broke us physically letting other players score the tries and take the glory. He does not look the same player this year, maybe father time is catching up.
At least I won't have to watch a Lomax field goal take the game away from us. Watching the game with my 13 year old son, and Lomax had been his hero at the dragons. Welcome to the heartbreak of sport son. Seeing Lomax's idiotic screaming after he slotted the goal was tough to take.

 

[Old Timer]

@since77 but for the record of all.
Likewise I too enjoy some of OldTimer's posts - although they are constant in the down-beating of the Flanos (who last l checked, he was coaching our team not the oppositions).
And my response was to OldTimers post that was pointing out to me that the Dragon's are anything but great.

My sumarrised response was:
* our supporters are seen has anything but "True Supporters" within the game.
* I tried to trigger that we were all born to follow this team. (l was pushing towards "So let's all get behind them").
* I raised that "yes losing hurts" - unwritten is that losing is what makes winning feel so good.
* I tried to acknowledge that while "supporters" here have the right to criticise - l also have the right to call out constant blind less criticism. Agreed - maybe l could have acknowledged Oldtimers "facts" but l was pissed - and not in a 6-pack+ sort of way.
* I mentioned that the constant criticism is a cancer eating away at the renowned passion of supporting this club.
* l did suggest that OldTimer could attend training or to the Dragons Admin Offices as a way of driving improvement (which could have been a little personal but again pissed at the constant bagging). It was more a view as to what can be done - and reflected the "actions speak louder that words" thought process.
* I closed with "Yes I look for the good in our team" because l believe that is the role of a supporter.

l DO NOT accept the constant down riding of our club is providing a way forward. The airing of our dirty linen has not changed a damn thing and will not without the correct follow up via correct channels. Axing our coach would only add extra costs to the budget - which we can't afford and is un-Australian. What better coach exists that will improve the Dragons? Even Craig Bellamy failed at State of Origin when the chemistry didn't fit. Apart from Ryles - Flano was the next best (and available) fit. Even when the great Wayne Bennett got to our club he was surprised by the infrastructure Browny and previous coaches had in place; some may suggest that he then eroded it - the same great Wayne Bennett that many would have you believe did so much for this club. The wish lists of players who represent a way forward is usually 'dreaming' and unrealistic. Pointing to the fact that the coach has the same last name as the "6" doesn't solve anything. there is a spilt match between Kyle and the others (pointing quickly that Kane is still in need of time in reserves).
Pointing at coach's game plans is delusional if you are unaware of the actual game plans and usually just criticize without providing solutions. The game against Melb on the weekend seemed fast and unrelenting - and at the end we fell to them having at fast footed fullback still fresh and wanting to make up for his previous error/s. And that's not a let's dump on Gutho... its just how the game blew apart at the end... send the Melb "1" to the bin and we have a different result. Buts thats how sport is. You can't throw out all that defence in the preceding 60 mins - just because one of last year's GF teams beat the team favoured to win a spoon if anything. Last l looked Melb were favoured by many experts as this year's stand out 2nd line favourites.Is there anyone out there that thinks we shouldn't have competed for the first 60 so that we could run home in the back 20 mins? We need to build on that 60... and our supporters should be cheering that we will.

PS: l hope that LPT is just precautionary.

My criticism is because of the continued sameness of what we do and what we have become.

I don’t hate the club nor do I want to follow any other team I just wish that we had the professionalism that once underpinned all things about our club.

Small changes for the good are not lost on me but they are not enough to counter the sense of continued and somewhat systemic failures.

Nepotism & old boy culture.

Bargain basement signings.

1 or 2 good signings every pancake day & rarely in unison and then expected to carry the rest on their shoulders.

Loss of both good & emerging players that should have remained In the Big Red V.

The fact that more players go backwards than substantially improve when they get to our 1st grade side.

Senseless & costly extensions of dud players and non performing coaches.

The complete lack of speed especially in the backs.

The complete lack of punch in the forwards.

The complete lack of professionalism to win the close contests there for the taking.

The fact that we predominantly play the same way for the majority of the season regardless of the results or the coach.

The fact that we keep making the same errors and infringements.

The fact that we keep losing to teams that we should beat.

Constantly not making the 8 let alone making the 4 let alone winning the comp.

I am of the opinion that a few close losses intermingled with a few wins or looking competitive against the best sides until we run out of puff is not enough for me to stop advocating for the many changes that are needed for us all to be much happier including the players.

I have followed this club faithfully for > 65 years up hill & down dale and will continue to do so and when I look at our rich heritage will speak out against mediocrity.

For the record I have written to the club over the years and their responses have been totally inadequate so I use this place as a vent.

 

[Redvdragons21]

My criticism is because of the continued sameness of what we do and what we have become.

I don’t hate the club nor do I want to follow any other team I just wish that we had the professionalism that once underpinned all things about our club.

Small changes for the good are not lost on me but they are not enough to counter the sense of continued and somewhat systemic failures.

Nepotism & old boy culture.

Bargain basement signings.

1 or 2 good signings every pancake day & rarely in unison and then expected to carry the rest on their shoulders.

Loss of both good & emerging players that should have remained In the Big Red V.

The fact that more players go backwards than substantially improve when they get to our 1st grade side.

Senseless & costly extensions of dud players and non performing coaches.

The complete lack of speed especially in the backs.

The complete lack of punch in the forwards.

The complete lack of professionalism to win the close contests there for the taking.

The fact that we predominantly play the same way for the majority of the season regardless of the results or the coach.

The fact that we keep making the same errors and infringements.

The fact that we keep losing to teams that we should beat.

Constantly not making the 8 let alone making the 4 let alone winning the comp.

I am of the opinion that a few close losses intermingled with a few wins or looking competitive against the best sides until we run out of puff is not enough for me to stop advocating for the many changes that are needed for us all to be much happier including the players.

I have followed this club faithfully for > 65 years up hill & down dale and will continue to do so and when I look at our rich heritage will speak out against mediocrity.

For the record I have written to the club over the years and their responses have been totally inadequate so I use this place as a vent.

Not allowed to be negative on this forum apparently

 

[Bayside Dragon]

My criticism is because of the continued sameness of what we do and what we have become.

I don’t hate the club nor do I want to follow any other team I just wish that we had the professionalism that once underpinned all things about our club.

Small changes for the good are not lost on me but they are not enough to counter the sense of continued and somewhat systemic failures.

Nepotism & old boy culture.

Bargain basement signings.

1 or 2 good signings every pancake day & rarely in unison and then expected to carry the rest on their shoulders.

Loss of both good & emerging players that should have remained In the Big Red V.

The fact that more players go backwards than substantially improve when they get to our 1st grade side.

Senseless & costly extensions of dud players and non performing coaches.

The complete lack of speed especially in the backs.

The complete lack of punch in the forwards.

The complete lack of professionalism to win the close contests there for the taking.

The fact that we predominantly play the same way for the majority of the season regardless of the results or the coach.

The fact that we keep making the same errors and infringements.

The fact that we keep losing to teams that we should beat.

Constantly not making the 8 let alone making the 4 let alone winning the comp.

I am of the opinion that a few close losses intermingled with a few wins or looking competitive against the best sides until we run out of puff is not enough for me to stop advocating for the many changes that are needed for us all to be much happier including the players.

I have followed this club faithfully for > 65 years up hill & down dale and will continue to do so and when I look at our rich heritage will speak out against mediocrity.

For the record I have written to the club over the years and their responses have been totally inadequate so I use this place as a vent.

And how's that gone for you?

 

[Old Timer]

And how's that gone for you?

Strange question to ask.

 

[thebigredv]

My criticism is because of the continued sameness of what we do and what we have become.

I don’t hate the club nor do I want to follow any other team I just wish that we had the professionalism that once underpinned all things about our club.

Small changes for the good are not lost on me but they are not enough to counter the sense of continued and somewhat systemic failures.

Nepotism & old boy culture.

Bargain basement signings.

1 or 2 good signings every pancake day & rarely in unison and then expected to carry the rest on their shoulders.

Loss of both good & emerging players that should have remained In the Big Red V.

The fact that more players go backwards than substantially improve when they get to our 1st grade side.

Senseless & costly extensions of dud players and non performing coaches.

The complete lack of speed especially in the backs.

The complete lack of punch in the forwards.

The complete lack of professionalism to win the close contests there for the taking.

The fact that we predominantly play the same way for the majority of the season regardless of the results or the coach.

The fact that we keep making the same errors and infringements.

The fact that we keep losing to teams that we should beat.

Constantly not making the 8 let alone making the 4 let alone winning the comp.

I am of the opinion that a few close losses intermingled with a few wins or looking competitive against the best sides until we run out of puff is not enough for me to stop advocating for the many changes that are needed for us all to be much happier including the players.

I have followed this club faithfully for > 65 years up hill & down dale and will continue to do so and when I look at our rich heritage will speak out against mediocrity.

For the record I have written to the club over the years and their responses have been totally inadequate so I use this place as a vent.

Don't worry, you are not alone.

Looking back, I didn't know how good we had it, even when we were scraping into finals series every other year. Should have savoured it even more. Now we lack the genuine care and know-how as a club to get us competing with the big boys. Our records have been dragged through the mud. There really is not much evidence out there to refute that, though yes, not everything is negative, and we get glimmerings from time to time.

Just remember, for every forum member on here that wants to berate others for pointing out how poorly run we are, there are another ten ex-posters who gave up commenting on this club years ago. Silence.
If we were ever to rise again, they'd be back but I'll stick it out, yelling at clouds because I love this club so much and clearly so do you.

 

[Stewartliddle]

Don't worry, you are not alone.

Looking back, I didn't know how good we had it, even when we were scraping into finals series every other year. Should have savoured it even more. Now we lack the genuine care and know-how as a club to get us competing with the big boys. Our records have been dragged through the mud. There really is not much evidence out there to refute that, though yes, not everything is negative, and we get glimmerings from time to time.

Just remember, for every forum member on here that wants to berate others for pointing out how poorly run we are, there are another ten ex-posters who gave up commenting on this club years ago. Silence.
If we were ever to rise again, they'd be back but I'll stick it out, yelling at clouds because I love this club so much and clearly so do you.

If we ever were to rise again.. how about When? Not very positive of you champ

 

[Stewartliddle]

My criticism is because of the continued sameness of what we do and what we have become.

I don’t hate the club nor do I want to follow any other team I just wish that we had the professionalism that once underpinned all things about our club.

Small changes for the good are not lost on me but they are not enough to counter the sense of continued and somewhat systemic failures.

Nepotism & old boy culture.

Bargain basement signings.

1 or 2 good signings every pancake day & rarely in unison and then expected to carry the rest on their shoulders.

Loss of both good & emerging players that should have remained In the Big Red V.

The fact that more players go backwards than substantially improve when they get to our 1st grade side.

Senseless & costly extensions of dud players and non performing coaches.

The complete lack of speed especially in the backs.

The complete lack of punch in the forwards.

The complete lack of professionalism to win the close contests there for the taking.

The fact that we predominantly play the same way for the majority of the season regardless of the results or the coach.

The fact that we keep making the same errors and infringements.

The fact that we keep losing to teams that we should beat.

Constantly not making the 8 let alone making the 4 let alone winning the comp.

I am of the opinion that a few close losses intermingled with a few wins or looking competitive against the best sides until we run out of puff is not enough for me to stop advocating for the many changes that are needed for us all to be much happier including the players.

I have followed this club faithfully for > 65 years up hill & down dale and will continue to do so and when I look at our rich heritage will speak out against mediocrity.

For the record I have written to the club over the years and their responses have been totally inadequate so I use this place as a vent.

Some of these bootlickers don't understand a public forum. No balls some of these Muppets, apparently the ignore button doesnt work? Maybe they use multiple accounts to play possum

 

[2218]

Strange question to ask.

Pretty valid question after your post. You said that you use the forum to vent, which is a form of relieving stress by putting your feelings into words and then having those words put into perspective and validated by other forum users. So maybe he wants to know is venting effective in reducing your stress and mental well being?

 

[Hound of Dracula]

Don't worry, you are not alone.

Looking back, I didn't know how good we had it, even when we were scraping into finals series every other year. Should have savoured it even more. Now we lack the genuine care and know-how as a club to get us competing with the big boys. Our records have been dragged through the mud. There really is not much evidence out there to refute that, though yes, not everything is negative, and we get glimmerings from time to time.

Just remember, for every forum member on here that wants to berate others for pointing out how poorly run we are, there are another ten ex-posters who gave up commenting on this club years ago. Silence.
If we were ever to rise again, they'd be back but I'll stick it out, yelling at clouds because I love this club so much and clearly so do you.

Hey BigredV

I feel the exact same way as you feel about being berated for pointing out how poorly run, we are.

The posters who sometimes just want to talk footy or feel a bit of optimism are also being smashed for it.

Your points are more than valid, but it’s the constant unconstructive, harsh criticism from some that’s turning this place into a toxic misery contest.

After over 6,500 posts, I just don’t believe you are one of them. There is a balance.

I know you are a true fan who feels the losses just as hard as we all do.

But you won't get much enjoyment on this site when only the stressful, overly negative, posters remain.

Misery begats misery!

 

[Gareth67]

On a more positive note , Dragons to get back onto the path of securing this season’s premiership by defeating the Parramatta Eels on the weekend by 10+ .
Hopefully that will shut the forum’s doomsayers up for at least a week .

 

[Flinstone]

On a more positive note , Dragons to get back onto the path of securing this season’s premiership by defeating the Parramatta Eels on the weekend by 10+ .
Hopefully that will shut the forum’s doomsayers up for at least a week .

Don't get too carried away, this isn't the positive only thread, even the coach said were not winning a premiership this year.

But yes, love to see a win this week, we all need a win, especially the players, it can hurt their confidence if they keep putting in the effort but lose.

 

[Slippery Morris]

On a more positive note , Dragons to get back onto the path of securing this season’s premiership by defeating the Parramatta Eels on the weekend by 10+ .
Hopefully that will shut the forum’s doomsayers up for at least a week .

Spot on, if we want to remove the negative posts Saints need to win more games. For those that do not like negative posts, maybe get on the forum after a win or better still ignore the comments. If you can see from the opening sentence that it will be negative, just keep scrolling.

I find talking to people in person about the Saints that combine positive and negative views is far better than the ones that just focus on the positives. Same would apply with posts. You can't just focus on one or the other.

I find it strange how some of the posts are so doom and gloom after playing 2 rounds against 2 top 4 sides. Did they really expect 1 or 2 wins? If so, it shows how high their expectations are and will expect more lows than highs this year that is for sure. Saints are not there yet to have such high expectations but hopefully they are not far away.

 

[Gareth67]

Don't get too carried away, this isn't the positive only thread, even the coach said were not winning a premiership this year.

But yes, love to see a win this week, we all need a win, especially the players, it can hurt their confidence if they keep putting in the effort but lose.

I can assure you Freddy , that I fully realize that there are many positive posts on most of the threads . However most unfortunately of late there appears to be a hard -core group of posters whom seem intent on being anything else but negative .

The flak that Old Timer has received today is an example
of that , shame , but that seems to be the current trend . Some on here truly need to put the scathing comments to one side , if they are unable to do so then for pity sake just do not comment at all .

Upon reflection I believe I have predicted the wrong score line in my earlier post and as such using my Gar- culator I shall change it to - Dragons by 20 ! Now that is being very positive in any one’s language .

 

[Redvdragons21]

On a more positive note , Dragons to get back onto the path of securing this season’s premiership by defeating the Parramatta Eels on the weekend by 10+ .
Hopefully that will shut the forum’s doomsayers up for at least a week .

No chance. Be lucky to win 4 games all season with this pathetic roster.

 

[Flinstone]

No chance. Be lucky to win 4 games all season with this pathetic roster.

4 or not, come Sunday afternoon i bet you will still be watching the game.

 

[Redvdragons21]

4 or not, come Sunday afternoon i bet you will still be watching the game.

Absolutely I’ll be watching the game, still to see improvement from 2011. Hopefully one day we play some decent footy. 0-3

 

[InFlannoWeTrust]

Don't get too carried away, this isn't the positive only thread, even the coach said were not winning a premiership this year.

But yes, love to see a win this week, we all need a win, especially the players, it can hurt their confidence if they keep putting in the effort but lose.

Imagine If he said we will win and end up 8th/9th/ 10th how would you react! You would call him a liar and should be sacked because he said we should win. Giving fans false hope.
ANY fan who’s realistic should take a hard look at the squad we have , the juniors we have playing with not that much nrl experience and they should be able to tell you we wouldn’t win the comp.
Because I can tell you, I know we wont win the comp and probs won’t get that close till 2028/2029/2030Thats my opinion. But I hope we make the 8. Simple as that.

 

[SAP58]

I can assure you Freddy , that I fully realize that their are many positive posts on most of the threads . However most unfortunately of late there appears to be a hard -core group of posters whom seem intent on being anything else but negative .

The flak that Old Timer has received today is an example
of that , shame , but that seems to be the current trend . Some on here truly need to put the scathing comments to one side , if they are unable to do so then for pity sake just do not comment at all .

I believe I have predicted the wrong score line in my earlier post Dragons by 20 ! Now that is being very positive in any one’s language .

I generally move past the negative posts, everyone is entitled to their opinion BUT i really enjoy Old Timer’s & other supporters posts that are passionate supporters & only give their view on how this team can improve without being negative or in some cases abusive. I joined this forum as i have supported the Dragons all my life & always will but I have at times question whether i continue to be involved with some of the negative comments made. We are all disappointed when their performance is below par but i am confident we are working towards better results. Those who are as old as me will remember when Penrith were the easybeats. Lets give the current management some time to get our club back to where we should be & performing like we should I may not see it but we live in hope. I will no doubt get some flack for my comments but so be it, its my opinion & I stand by them.

 

[possm]

Spot on, if we want to remove the negative posts Saints need to win more games. For those that do not like negative posts, maybe get on the forum after a win or better still ignore the comments. If you can see from the opening sentence that it will be negative, just keep scrolling.

I find talking to people in person about the Saints that combine positive and negative views is far better than the ones that just focus on the positives. Same would apply with posts. You can't just focus on one or the other.

I find it strange how some of the posts are so doom and gloom after playing 2 rounds against 2 top 4 sides. Did they really expect 1 or 2 wins? If so, it shows how high their expectations are and will expect more lows than highs this year that is for sure. Saints are not there yet to have such high expectations but hopefully they are not far away.

To avoid negative posts, the club needs to reflect on some of its past decisions and take measures to ensure this type of decision is not repeated in the future.

The salaries of Lawrie, Sloan, and Kyle would more than cover the purchase of a leading fullback.

If we let a player go, we should replace him with a player of equal or better ability.

Junior players such as Bosstock should alway b retained.