broncos v dragons

[Reyter]

Hornby has been great for the Dragons for a long time and rarely plays a "bad" game but IMO they need more than "a solid, workman like" halfback. I'm in favor of giving K. Stanley a chance in the halves with Soward and C. Stanley or Green to take his spot in the centers. Also of bringing King into the 17 ASAP. If it doesn't work out they can revert back but while being very competitive all year, I very much doubt they can win the competition as they are now.

 

[Fire]

The momentum did change when Matt Prior dropped the ball, but we shouldn't be too hard on him or blame Price for putting him in the team. Sometimes players go well after a tragedy, sometimes they don't. He will bounce back next week.

There's a tough three weeks coming up. Sharks (A), Knights (H), then the ANZAC game, hopefully the boys can build some momentum and finish the first third of the season well.

Also, with Coops and Fien missing there was a lot of experience not out there, I'm not worried at all yet.

 

[Breathingfire]

Stanley needs more confidence. He was put in some good positions to run with a bit of potency and toughness and he didn't. Hornby put stanley on the outside of his man a few times but stanley seemed to lack pace and conviction. Anyone else think this?

Yeah I noticed this. I think he is defending nicely in the centres but there is a big question mark over his attack. Maybe we are just used to seeing Gaz charge onto those passes and make something of them but Stanley definitely looked tentative when given a bit of room to run. His dummy half running is pretty average as well. He has had a number of knee reconstructions already at such a young age and I have a feeling he lacks speed as a result. We need speed in the centres.

 

[DragonBuck]

Hornby has been great for the Dragons for a long time and rarely plays a "bad" game but IMO they need more than "a solid, workman like" halfback. I'm in favor of giving K. Stanley a chance in the halves with Soward and C. Stanley or Green to take his spot in the centers. Also of bringing King into the 17 ASAP. If it doesn't work out they can revert back but while being very competitive all year, I very much doubt they can win the competition as they are now.

I thought King was given that oppurtunity in the 17 but is out again now with a boken thumb. From all reports(hard for us to judge at this point as we rarely see him play) he sounds like a great prospect but how long do you keep giving him chances when he seems to be getting injured as soon as he comes back from injury. I was all for him having a chance but when you are losing a player off the bench during games because he keeps getting injured it makes the team suffer. At the moment I think Rein is doing a pretty damn good job.
Where does Hornby fit into your side if Kyle goes to the halves? Surely you realise that Hornby brings alot to the team that Kyle couldn't at this point in his career.

Price: "Sorry Ben I know you've been a terrific leader, a great captain and club captain, led the team to two minor premierships and a premiership in the last three years but I can't see a spot for you in the side for a few weeks because I want to have a bit of an experiment with Kyle in the halves."

Sounds like a good way to keep the side unified.......

 

[Reyter]

I thought King was given that oppurtunity in the 17 but is out again now with a boken thumb. From all reports(hard for us to judge at this point as we rarely see him play) he sounds like a great prospect but how long do you keep giving him chances when he seems to be getting injured as soon as he comes back from injury. I was all for him having a chance but when you are losing a player off the bench during games because he keeps getting injured it makes the team suffer. At the moment I think Rein is doing a pretty damn good job.
Where does Hornby fit into your side if Kyle goes to the halves? Surely you realise that Hornby brings alot to the team that Kyle couldn't at this point in his career.

Price: "Sorry Ben I know you've been a terrific leader, a great captain and club captain, led the team to two minor premierships and a premiership in the last three years but I can't see a spot for you in the side for a few weeks because I want to have a bit of an experiment with Kyle in the halves."

Sounds like a good way to keep the side unified.......

He has been getting injured a lot. I know that. A torn pec and now a broken thumb. After he comes back from the broken thumb maybe he won't have another serious injury for 10 years. Rein is doing a great job. If King in uninjured I would have them both in the 17.

As for Hornby, I would give him a rest or move him to the the bench though when King and Fein are uninjured, it's hard to see a place for him if not halfback. His best postion was always fullback but the game evolves and simply passes players by. That's why Johns, Fittler and etc have retired and why Langer for example was dumped mid-season. Putting Stanley in the halves is hardly "an experiment". Everyone knows that's his best position.

I want the Dragons to win and if dumping Hornby and Young is the price that has to be paid, it's disappointing but so be it! Do you think the Dragons can win the competition with the team that played last night + Cooper?

 

[Reyter]

Yeah I noticed this. I think he is defending nicely in the centres but there is a big question mark over his attack. Maybe we are just used to seeing Gaz charge onto those passes and make something of them but Stanley definitely looked tentative when given a bit of room to run. His dummy half running is pretty average as well. He has had a number of knee reconstructions already at such a young age and I have a feeling he lacks speed as a result. We need speed in the centres.

Apart from his try, every time I saw him get the ball with some space to move he was heading toward the sideline.

 

[st.phil]

AMEN! They were terrible in the centres.

People easily put off by numbers - Beau scott was only in the centres for 5 minutes or so - prior played left and stanley right. Agree that these players should not play in the centres - Green a far better option until the man of glass (chase) can weld himself together again and if coops is out.

For mine:

Must have two BACKS in the centres for every game. 2nd rowers out there clearly does not stiffen the defence as it was this formula that lead us to the bulldogs and broncos results. We have green, the stanleys, coops and even vidot before playing prior or scott out of position.

Merrin and De Belin have to start. They are our two most dominant forwards. Period.

No more young and dummy half - he quite honestly cannot pass beyond 5 metres.

Some great signs amongst some bad ones.

 

[Bring back choc]

I don't think there's any reason to worry at all... I mean in all seriousness we handed the broncos all that possession. We hold the ball it's a different ball game.

The big positive for me is merrin and weyman. Career best form for mine. Unbelievable metres they made. For them to stand up like that when we were made to do all that defence in the first half, that's a huge plus and good signs. I wouldn't change anything except for a change in the back row. Once coops is back beau Scott to second row and prior needs to make way. Creagh, Scott and de belin starting back row.

 

[Jersey No 14]

considering they were staring into the abyss and mistakes were at every turn.
Our guys done quite well in the end.
There were a series of lessons to be learnt and with Hornby laying down the lay like he did it was good to see.
I felt good seeing Prior going over the try line. He seems to be working had at it and that's a good thing. I hope he comes out of this for the better man.
Unfortunately Creagh is still in my cross hairs. A big unit like that needs to be much more forcefull. Somebody smack him in the mouth and anger him up.
Considering - Post Bennett I'm happy again. With still some way to go, We are on our way. They showed good resilients. That's alot these day.
The team that fu*&s up the least will win this comp. Obivious statement but its all about consistancy. We will F&^K up, but keep it to a minimin.
Next - Sharks.

 

[Breathingfire]

Apart from his try, every time I saw him get the ball with some space to move he was heading toward the sideline.

Thats just it though. When you are running down a short corridor with little room to work with you have to run hard and fast. If you go in soft you become easy pickings for the defence.

 

[st.phil]

I don't think there's any reason to worry at all... I mean in all seriousness we handed the broncos all that possession. We hold the ball it's a different ball game.

The big positive for me is merrin and weyman. Career best form for mine. Unbelievable metres they made. For them to stand up like that when we were made to do all that defence in the first half, that's a huge plus and good signs. I wouldn't change anything except for a change in the back row. Once coops is back beau Scott to second row and prior needs to make way. Creagh, Scott and de belin starting back row.

This. Please...I know this whole "he's great off the bench" thing has been said to death but start your best prop and the young blood de belin at lock and the complexion of the pack changes dramatically. All those people bitching about hornby - it was not Bennys fault the forwards were dropping the ball and getting owned in the 1st half. Thats where we lost the game. I am afraid that loyalty might be coming too far into selections - i mean Hunt is a good player but he is just a first grader...a good one. Merrin is arguably the second best prop in the game after matt Scott - please do it now pricey and let him roar from the get go.

 

[stg666]

cracka kills it and is the heart of the dragons and wont be going anywhere this year.

 

[stg666]

style should be the tackling coach. brilliant to watch .

 

[Efresh]

A lot of hate for Beau in here. On the performance he put in against Manly it's hard to doubt his commitment for this season. He was hardly the lone ranger in the first half last night, no one was committed in the first 40 minutes.

 

[Blood Shot Eyes]

Start the game with Merrin and De Belin, dont allow Scott and Prior to play anywhere but in the pack, and keep Young away from dummy half ( Im afraid he just cant pass more than a few metres) ......as for poor ball handling the best coach in the world cant coach that....other than that IMO we should leave everything else alone.. (well for now anyway)

 

[2010Dragons]

The Broncos were the better team and the Dragons gave them easy turn over balls in the wrong place on the field. The Dragons Held position in the second half and scored a few trys.

 

[smacky]

I must say, geez creagh has been quiet to start the year. Really need him to step up especially in those tough situations where we are getting behind and need a boost. Hes far too good of a player to just hang out wide and wait for oppotunities.

 

[Willow]

Forwards went missing for most of the first half. Worst goal line defence I've seen in some time.

Dropped ball, in order: Prior, Weyman, Scott, Ah Mau, Creagh (that I can remember).

Second half comeback and we have the momentum, but just when it looks like we might be able to get within striking distance... they drop the pill again. And again 3 minutes later. Broncos score on the back of that it's game over.

Frustrating, but that's football. We'll get them next time.

 

[W.Smith]

F*ck, I would love to see Matt Gillett in our team. The guy gives 110% every week, and he isn't too bad at the game either....in attack and defence. Tough bugger too. Was a nice surprise to hear the commentators saying how he grew up as a huge Dragons fan, as well as his family. Guys got good taste. Get him in the red V.

agree 100% FB, i love Gillett, see the way he picked himself up after the Weyman hit and just kept playing like nothing happened Lol - great player and the type of young bloke id like to see us recruit/develop instead of fella's like Beale coz we have three quarters coming out of arses, tho' im happy we have got Beale if we have in fact signed him

nice second half by the STGI, we didnt even complete at 50% in the first half but look at the second - 19/22 and we score 20 points and as Willow sed the goaline defence was odinary, amateur hour defence

i thought Jamie wass again great for us, that pass to Flo for that try was a rippa !! - i just hope NSW look to Maloney or TC when Origin rolls around tho'

loved the leadup to the Style try too, Hornby with a beautiful pass and a nice out run by Beauie that sold it

 

[Reyter]

Thats just it though. When you are running down a short corridor with little room to work with you have to run hard and fast. If you go in soft you become easy pickings for the defence.

Well that's one opinion but in mine, more often than not if you do that you are going to get shoved over the sideline.