2018 spine

[Coffs dragon]

I'm more concerned with the pea brain that controls the spine i.e the coach!! Still feel Hunt/Widdop in the halves with Duffy first crack at our long term FB and McInnes at 9.

 

[Dennis Papaioannou]

We have a thread that is crying out for speed. We have Dufty who has genuine speed that some want replaced by Widdop, who, whilst not slow, is hardly what you would call express.

Until such time as Dufty loses form or is generally sh*t then he needs to stay at FB. Again, we are screaming to have juniors given a go yet some want one of our most promising shuffled out the door(and no, Dufty isn't a winger).

Widdop, along with many others, will thrive having Hunt taking greater control.

If only McGregor would pick the team on form.
Reputation takes precedent and that has cruelled us regularly.
I would be a big supporter of the first 17 being picked purely on form.
That would give tremendous incentive to the guys trying to make the first team and, at the same time, put the incumbents on notice that their position is not guaranteed.
Formula for success and a new culture that has some real integrity.

 

[2010]

Most people in here wanted Dufty to get a run in first grade and now people want him replaced. Go figure

 

[True_Believer]

Most people in here wanted Dufty to get a run in first grade and now people want him replaced. Go figure

It's part and parcel of the LU forums - just one example of how fickle and inconsistant it can be.

 

[BennyV]

Anyone not listing JDB as a genuine option for 7 doesnt want to be successful.

 

[Crush]

We have had Widdop at 5/8 for 3 years now. He ain't going to suddenly become a much better player in that position just because Hunt arrives.
Maybe Widdop at FB is a better fit for the team but let's see how he goes against some real opposition in the WC final.
Field should not be discounted - his speed is something else and if anyone will benefit from Hunt's arrival it would be Field.
It's time to think outside the square but I fear we just don't have the footy IQ in the coach's box to make it happen.

Widdop has not had a dominant organising 7 over the last 3 years. And last year he played very well until he got injured so he does have it in him.
He'll be the 6 and he'll win the Daley M. The whole thing.
Fearless prediction number 1036

 

[Dragon for life]

why would you move the dally m five-eight of the year to fb. gaz killed it last year in his preferred position. he will be even better with hunt @ 7

Killed it!! Sorry I must must have been watching a different player in the second half of the season. If he killed it we should have easily made the finals.

 

[JDHD]

Killed it!! Sorry I must must have been watching a different player in the second half of the season. If he killed it we should have easily made the finals.

There were sixteen other players who also spilled their chocolate cake into the dirt

 

[dragonssamy61]

There were sixteen other players who also spilled their chocolate cake into the dirt

And some didn't even no they had the cake to start with

 

[Old Timer]

Killed it!! Sorry I must must have been watching a different player in the second half of the season. If he killed it we should have easily made the finals.

m
Makes James Graham a very ordinary purchase then because they finished lower than us.

 

[BBTB]

Completely understand where you're coming from, but I just feel like Dufty deserves that first shot at fullback. To counter what you're saying about Widdop playing his natural game at fullback... With the arrival of Hunt at 7, I feel like that will allow Widdop to play that roaming role and chiming in when he needs to rather than trying to organise everything which is just not his game at all.

Dufty proved to be an X factor at fullback towards the back end of the year, unless Jai has a massive pre-season or Widdop wants the number 1, I just don't see how you can move Duff.

That's easy,Dufty goes into Nightingales wing.

 

[BBTB]

Killed it!! Sorry I must must have been watching a different player in the second half of the season. If he killed it we should have easily made the finals.

Widdop to fullback....
He runs to laterally witch inturn squeezes his centre & wing over the sideline.
He's one a couple of Man of Match...awards playing for GB
Bennett thinks fullback is his position,so does Matty Johns.
That's good enough f or me.

 

[possm]

A few on hear with their head in the sand would wait until we produce bad performances until round 6 or 7 to make changes that are now the most obvious. After sitting through about 6 years of dud coaches at the Dragons, and after spending the last two years insisting that Dugan was our best option at fullback - even though our right edge was leaking tries game after game - Bennett showed us what a few on here were calling for to be a huge success; Widdop to fullback.

Dufty should be in first grade and so should Field. These two players are local juniors and have speed to burn. Both are budding fullbacks which means that they can take a high ball and quickly gain ground on kick returns. Both Dufty and Field have the speed and elusiveness to score long range tries; a thing that is missing from our current line-up. I'm certain that an introduction to first grade via the wing positon would result in both Field and Dufty gaining the first grade experience and confidence necessary for them to evolve into top line first grade players. There is no substitute of speed and elusiveness on the wing. Now that both players have bulked up, they are better suited physically to cope with the riggers of first grade wing play.

 

[Drag Queen]

There were sixteen other players who also spilled their chocolate cake into the dirt

You took the words right out of my mouth.

 

[Old Timer]

Let's have a look at these questions on the spine position by position
What was assumed from last year
FB
We had the best defensive FB in the comp bar none and the argument was that defence alone was not the key to us going better as a team and that we needed much more attacking prowess. Examples of the attacking style of Hayne and Tedesco were used to show why Duges was not the answer. Dufty had shown plenty in lower grades and was trialled late in NRL and was explosive in attack but had a lot to learn in defence (which was deemed a secondary requirement in the arguments against Dugan))
5/8
Most believed we have a very good one but he has been dicked around with far too many low quality no 7's for us to know how good he really is. Despite Mc Crone last year Widdop had a very much better year, was the 5/8 of the year and high up in the Dally M's despite being out due to injury. Many believed that Hunt would be invaluable to let Widdop play his natural game with far less pressure on him.
No 7
Been the achilles heel for 40 years and we believe we have purchased a specialist that was deemed as the person who will ignite our attack and provide the essential missing piece of the puzzle with Widdop.
Hooker
Cameron Mc Inness essentially a good upgrade on Rein but needs to improve in the attack side of his game and maybe is not really an eighty minute payer which they tried to make him. Coach has lots to answer in respect of that and we wondered if Mc Innes was under instructions just to tackle and pass.
Now
FB
Because of injury England move Widdop to FB who goes well against 2nd rate teams and all of a sudden people want him there for us for the season which automatically disrupts 2 other positions. Talk of Dufty starts turning negative because of defence which was the very thing many people ignored re Dugan's value.
5/8
We have all waited patiently for Widdop to get a specialist partner and as soon as we get one some people want to move Widdop to FB on the basis of a few games in the Mickey Mouse World Cup. Suggestions are to bring in a rookie 5/8 who has just had to put on 13 kgs to get anywhere near the physical size to play NRL week in week out and that same person also gets mentioned as a possible FB
No 7
We finally get someone after 40 years and some want him to play hooker because that where he finished at the Bronco's due to massive injury issues up there. He was supposed to come to assist Widdop who people now want to move to FB. So Hunt would have to arrive at a new club and work with a new 5/8 who has not played that position in 1st grade due to the present 3 year incumbent who happened to be 5/8 of the year.
Hooker
Some don't see Mc Innes as an upgrade on Rein and in fact some want to move Hunt to pay hooker (smooch for needing a half).
In the meantime the great recruitment man allows Havilli to move on who incidentally was the logical answer to helping Mc Innes elevate his game to the next level by not getting tanked playing 80 minutes.

None of this is rocket science and doesn't need to get too complicated.

Hunt plays 7 as that is what we needed above all other things.
Widdop plays 6 because we have been waiting patiently to see the best of him when we get a good half.
Mc Innes plays 9 and the coach changes the game plan re letting him have far more freedom in attack.
Dufty plays 1 and feeds off the upgraded forward pack and the specialist half.

Any changes to the above has consequences in several positions and has people playing in non preferred positions.

What does need to be worked on is 2-5, the bench and the rotation process of the bench.

At this time IMO the above is the strongest and most reliable spine we have and should be left alone and the questions that need to be asked are
Mann which position does he start in as part of the run on team?
Lafai & Aitken is that the best possible centre pairing?
Mc Donald & Nightingale are they really the best options for our wing spots?
Bench is it 4 forwards or do we carry a utility?
Talented Youth if not selected early in the season what is the actual pathway?

 

[BBTB]

A few on hear with their head in the sand would wait until we produce bad performances until round 6 or 7 to make changes that are now the most obvious. After sitting through about 6 years of dud coaches at the Dragons, and after spending the last two years insisting that Dugan was our best option at fullback - even though our right edge was leaking tries game after game - Bennett showed us what a few on here were calling for to be a huge success; Widdop to fullback.

Dufty should be in first grade and so should Field. These two players are local juniors and have speed to burn. Both are budding fullbacks which means that they can take a high ball and quickly gain ground on kick returns. Both Dufty and Field have the speed and elusiveness to score long range tries; a thing that is missing from our current line-up. I'm certain that an introduction to first grade via the wing positon would result in both Field and Dufty gaining the first grade experience and confidence necessary for them to evolve into top line first grade players. There is no substitute of speed and elusiveness on the wing. Now that both players have bulked up, they are better suited physically to cope with the riggers of first grade wing play.

Thank you, finally someone with a bit of nowce.
Bring the youngsters in via the wing & one at a time.
The same as Gaznier, COPPER,
GREIGH. Just to name 3 of the good ones.
Speed is good & inclusiveness also but they need 1st grade experience.
So get rid of the deadwood on the wing we know who that is.
Nightingale & get to it..

 

[Walpole]

Thank you, finally someone with a bit of nowce.
Bring the youngsters in via the wing & one at a time.
The same as Gaznier, COPPER,
GREIGH. Just to name 3 of the good ones.
Speed is good & inclusiveness also but they need 1st grade experience.
So get rid of the deadwood on the wing we know who that is.
Nightingale & get to it..

Never heard of any of those blokes.

 

[Overseas dragon]

Most people in here wanted Dufty to get a run in first grade and now people want him replaced. Go figure

Exactly the kids done nothing wrong but all the doomsday brigade want him replaced you don't bring them to first grade and get an instant Billy Slater .give the kid a chance

 

[muzby]

Nightingale for fullback.

 

[redandwhite4evr]

I'd prefer Dufty at fullback. I think he has theb potential to be more damaging than Widdop at fullback. And Widdop at five eighth is much stronger than Jai Field. I actually think Widdop will excel at 6 with Hunt at 7.

Widdop's strongest feature is his defence- he does a lot of the last ditch tackles near the line. If he is to be moved anywhere, I see him as a No 13. Kurt Mann would be the next best No 6 at this stage of Field's development.
I agree Dufty deserves first crack at full back.