Victory over the Sharks - thoughts

[Hoekstra]

I am relieved we got the win, but gee it felt ugly. Not sure what others made of it all.

Rein, Merrin, Morris and Nightingale were solid and pretty much carried the attack.


Despite winning, the stark problem is our inability to build pressure and gain repeat sets. As Hard and others on the forum have mentioned we don't seem to be able to do this to save our lives.

Still can't believe that Young was left to kick on the fifth either.

A genuine organising half with a kicking game would help us move the chains. The problem really is at 7. Our forwards and backs seem to be able to string together competitive play at will but we just lack that killer blow.

If Fien can't back up next week surely King is in the frame for a start as back up hooker.

 

[Creaghzy dragon]

Defence was good, Kyle stanely looked good for the 5 minutes he lasted.

But still have them dumb plays and ill discipline penalties

 

[moik]

Why can't King come into the side in another position, say, 5/8? Sowie to half.

 

[ebbedfred]

Still can't believe that Young was left to kick on the fifth either.

Was not even the 5th, I think it was the 3rd or 4th, no idea why he tried to kick it, let alone on his wrong foot.

Still, this year, any win is a good win, especially missing your cheif play maker and then losing your 5/8 in the first 5 mins. I thought our effort was fantastic. After the kickoff, I thought it was gonna be one of those days, thankfully it was not.

 

[Willow]

Don't be too over the top about it Hoekstra.

Hornby had a very good game. Rein (first half) and Merrin (second half) were great. DeBelin,Scott and Creagh were also putting in. Nightingale was tremendous as usual, Morris sensational as was Cooper who stepped late in the game to help out up front and pull off some great tackles.

Still can't believe that Young was left to kick on the fifth either.

If you mean when Young kicked out on the full, he kicked on the fourth, not fifth. It was rubbish and he knew it. We were very short in the halves. No Soward (before kick off), No K Stanley (after 5 minutes) and Fien was forced off late in the game. I would like to have another look but pretty sure Young found himself at five-eighth by that stage.

We won.

 

[hewi]

Agree with all the above. Nothing to think that we will cause the top 6 teams any troubles. Still to many dumb plays. Completiion rate terrible. But a win is a win and we dont get to many.

 

[Hoekstra]

Yeah Willow you are probably right. I maybe under selling some of the positives.

I guess that game just had me with my heart in my throat right up until the death, but the effort from the team was there. Lets see what they have going forward.

 

[_Johnsy]

As Willow said

Soward a late withdrawal; losing Stanley after 5. I thought it was a good win. There were many, many more positives than negatives today. Enjoy the win, we're still in the hunt.

 

[Penguin]

Will Carney be having Cooper nightmares...or did it just sound that way on radio?

 

[64 Dragon]

Very relieved. Too many mistakes and dumb penalties. If Vidot's pass had stuck in the first half I think we would have gone right on with it. Hornby played well but still got away a few hospital passes, especially one to Creagh which he had no chance of taking and the ball hit him on the shoulder.

What is it with Hornby? Can't he see what is right in front of him two feet away? If a defender is standing up on him, it stands to reason they will be up on his supports.

Some dubious refereeing again. I don't think half of the refs can see in front of them either. Still, very happy to get the win.

GO THE MIGHTY DRAGONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Dragon Slayer]

Congrats guys.

It was a very gutsy win by you lot.

As mentioned in this thread I thought you played with a lot of purpose today even with Soward out and Kyle Stanley off early.

With 7 weeks to go this competition is going to be really interersting on how it all pans out. Surprise results every week.

 

[Willow]

Yeah Willow you are probably right. I maybe under selling some of the positives.

It's all good Hoekstra, I was being tongue-in-cheek. That's your opinion and one to be valued. I just think a win is a win, and it can only help to turn around our fortunes.

I do think we had some standout players and they all put in, which imo is the real issue here.

I guess that game just had me with my heart in my throat right up until the death, but the effort from the team was there. Lets see what they have going forward.

lol. Same here. I hadn't chalked it up as a win until the final minute.

But very pleased with the effort given that our halves were decimated. This meant extra effort required from our forwards, and extra pressure on Hornby. Carney could have run riot in that situation. Even though he didn't have a bad game, he seemed to be kept in check for much of the match.

 

[Stinkler]

Put Gallen and Smith and Soward in the game and I think the Sharks sneak the win, but only just.

It really wasn't a great game of footy.
Both sides threw the ball around, but rarely threatened to break the line.
Defence was decent.

Sadly, if either side continue to play like that, the season will end with a whimper.

Congrats on the win, but don't get carried away. Still lots to do to make an impact on this competition.

Enjoy the winners beer though.

Cheers.

 

[pleasehelpchoking]

Shame about Kyle, thought he looked comfortable at 5/8 for the brief time he was there. Has anyone heard news on his injury?

 

[Stinkler]

He looked farked.
At best, it's a torn meniscus, with a minimum of 6 weeks I'd say.
At worst, see him next year.

Shame. He offers more than Soward ahs.

 

[Willow]

Put Gallen and Smith and Soward in the game and I think the Sharks sneak the win, but only just.

Therefore we get Weyman back from injury and we win?

Quit with the excuses, injuries are part of the game.

 

[Stinkler]

As are shit calls apparently?
Haha

Smith and Gallen (and then we get Gardner back too) are a bigger loss than Weyman.

 

[mightydragon]

As are shit calls apparently?
Haha

Smith and Gallen (and then we get Gardner back too) are a bigger loss than Weyman.

You have won games without Gallen. Dragons too good today with only 16 men for 74 minutes.

 

[Willow]

As are shit calls apparently?
Haha

Smith and Gallen (and then we get Gardner back too) are a bigger loss than Weyman.

So it's the ref's fault, injuries... how about the weather? Maybe we should continue this in the little brother thread $tinkler, and let people talk about the actual game. Seems like the polite thing to do.

 

[Miller was a legend]

Lol why does every side that loses make excuses. Anyway, good win for you dribblers. Best of luck for the rest of the season guys.