Sole Competition leaders

[big pat]

sorry i just realised, i'm in the wrong thread.

 

[Slippery Morris]

Slater will defiantely be fullback and with Lote Tuquiri carving them out wide he may get 1 wing spot at Boyd's expense. Folau and Tuquiri wingers. Inglis and Tonga will probably be the Centres. Pretty big backline.

The less players playing SOO the better for the Saints.

The hardest game for them to back up from is the City v Country game. Waste of time that game is. Saints play Manly the following day. That will be tough. Hopefully Jeremy Smith and Prior are back that week. That's with either of them getting selected.

 

[big pat]

this is what i mean, lote has been gone for what 7 years, but a media frenzy will have him in the team as oppose to boyd who has been loyal, and is in good form.

 

[TheRev]

With all our injuries, losing another 3-4 of our best players will make things really tough!

On Boyd, I would not have him in the QLD Squad, you would be crazy not to have Slater the origin try-machine at fullback, with specialist wingers. The only thing is there are a few key injuries to Hodges/Yow Yeh & Hunt is gone, so I guess it opens up some slots, and they might consider a reshuffle and fit Boyd in (it might be a good blooding for future years).

Also, Boyds speciality this season has been helping out with setting up Dragons play, but with Thurston, Lockyer, Smith in the squad, I dont know how many opportunities Boyd would have to help out.

 

[Spartan - Dragon]

Slater will defiantely be fullback and with Lote Tuquiri carving them out wide he may get 1 wing spot at Boyd's expense. Folau and Tuquiri wingers. Inglis and Tonga will probably be the Centres. Pretty big backline.

The less players playing SOO the better for the Saints.

The hardest game for them to back up from is the City v Country game. Waste of time that game is. Saints play Manly the following day. That will be tough. Hopefully Jeremy Smith and Prior are back that week. That's with either of them getting selected.

I'd be over the moon if Tuquri gets selcted over Boyd, imagine how good he'll come out and play.

 

[Gaba]

qld selectors dont like changing team, unless there are injuries or out of form , retirement

Boyd was on the wing or a centre last year think it will be the same as this year , cant see boyd being dropped

 

[Hansta]

tonga isnt a certainty, they could easily put falau in the centres, and with inglis injured who knows how long he will be out.

QLD would be stupid not picking Boyd on the wing. Rock Solid in defence, makes yardage from kick returns, often breaking the 1st tackle or 2, and he is up their in the dally m's so i cant see them leaving him out.

 

[TheRev]

tonga isnt a certainty, they could easily put falau in the centres, and with inglis injured who knows how long he will be out.

QLD would be stupid not picking Boyd on the wing. Rock Solid in defence, makes yardage from kick returns, often breaking the 1st tackle or 2, and he is up their in the dally m's so i cant see them leaving him out.

yeah there will be changes because of Hunts leaving + injuries to Hodges, Yow Yeh & apparently Inglis which I didnt know about, thats 4 forced changes there already.

The question is would Slater or Boyd be more effective on the wing? Ask yourself who you would rather have coming at you in broken play?

Its been the same problem NSW & Queensland have had for years with Hayne & Slater playing out of position, Its a last resort imo.. Centers & Wingers get so used to attacking and defending on 1 side, and if you take them away they lose that perfection that comes from repetition & familiarity.

 

[tevoro]

I dont understand why there is such hype in Origin this year. It was pretty much Origin before a ball was kicked in Round 1. Whats changed this year compared to last?

Back to topic, funny how the Storm lose 2 games in a row and apparently their coach is thinking of dropping players.

 

[BIKER_DRAGON]

Move the Grand Final forward to July and the Dragons would have it in the bag. LOL On a serious note, I think this years team has the endurance to last out the year toughen up that bit extra in September and take a grand final win in October. I think a lot of lessons were learned from last year.

 

[Ronnie Dobbs]

Biker my man, that is the most sensible thing yu have ever written. I agree that lessons were learnt. Last year was all effort. This year they know what is expected within the team and they are in their groove. I think they are playing a bit within themselves.
They've hardly set the world on fire this year and haven't done it for near on 80 minutes in any game, but are a game clear at the top of the table with 5 comprehensive wins. The Storm outplayed us fair and square and I'm sure the boys would have learnt from that too. I think we will have plenty up our sleeves come the back end of the year, given a good run with injuries.

 

[BIKER_DRAGON]

Biker my man, that is the most sensible thing yu have ever written. QUOTE]

Don't hold that bit of hypocrisy against me.:lol:

 

[Dea]

I'm sure we have learnt from last year and are believing for great things at the end of the season. But until then I am enjoying the ride! And every week we win is another week I enjoy. 5 from 6, 6 from 7, 7 from 8... Every weekends a good one for me

 

[maestro1]

I wouldnt worry too much about Origin, based on all the forums and what the media say, there will only be 3-4 Dragons players in the origin teams max.
Boyd, B Moz, Weyman and Creagh. (and Creagh is no certainty apparently...)
Apparently the rest of the team arent worthy of mentioning.
Not with the likes of Pearce, Carney, Gidley, Tahu, Bird, Minicello etc... all being so awesome and in form... (Carney and Pearce going well but see how they go this Sunday against a decent team that can defend)
Having a 5-1 record and beating all other top teams apparently means little to selectors.

(If you cant tell I am being sarcastic/bitter above. Whilst I dont like to see the Dragons depleted, there are some blokes who deserve a rep shot but just cant seem to get one. Scott, Soward, Hunt, Young, Cooper, Hornby (although he retired), and Prior should all be in the mix, but are getting very few wraps from the media.)

We were minor premiers last season and couldn't manage 1 player in the Australian team (until an unjury to someone made way for Brett Morris). What makes you think they'll pick Soward, Scott, etc, this time.

 

[This Year?]

The way I see it is that the Dragons are just over 1/3 of the way to securing a finals spot, with top 4 being their aim. The defence of this team is the cornerstone of their success so far, but they have a long way to go with their attack against teams who defend well.

 

[big pat]

the only two teams i've seen defend as good as saints, is storm and manly.

 

[Acka]

I'm not convinced Boyd will get a start for QLD.
He plays ok at the moment, but QLD has a wealth of talent in the backs and he may not be needed.

Good news for Dragons!

He won't get a start at fullback as Billy Slater has that position all sewn up. I'd imagine Boyd will be on the wing or in the centres.

 

[TheRev]

I'm sure we have learnt from last year and are believing for great things at the end of the season. But until then I am enjoying the ride! And every week we win is another week I enjoy. 5 from 6, 6 from 7, 7 from 8... Every weekends a good one for me

Very well said! This is what i try to explain to my lovely bulldog and parramatta supporting friends, that yes winning a premiership is very important, but lets enjoy whats happening 'right now' also!

After years of horror watching inconsistent Dragons sides lose games they should win, and win games they should lose, its nice to finally be able to watch a game without popping any blood vessels.