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2018 spine

getsmarty

Immortal
Messages
36,149
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.

Sounds like something Vas would say.
 

Frank Facer

First Grade
Messages
5,069
The spine will be

1 Dufty
6 Widdop
7 Hunt
9 McInnes

I am hoping that Dufty will have a big year. I am also hoping that Field will kill it in reserve grade too and put pressure on Dufty or be able to fill in for Dufty, if he got injured.

Widdop will be 5/8. Hunt will be halfback. I am hoping that Hunt and Widdop form a good combination and enhance each others game. They are both running halves. Hopefully that can lead to some pretty entertaining play.

McInnes will be Hooker.

One thing that I have noticed, is that Bennett has switched both of our halves from their preferred positions this year. Like there is a pattern or something?
 

emu62

Juniors
Messages
601
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?



OT, Stop It,you make far too much sense for this forum
 

watatank

Coach
Messages
14,401
As mentioned a few times we should just start with dufty fullback, widdop and hunt halves and mcinnes hooker.

Its easy to say lets just give the kids a run but We need to establish some sort of structure and combinations before we start making adjustments.
 
Messages
2,866
The spine will be

1 Dufty
6 Widdop
7 Hunt
9 McInnes

I am hoping that Dufty will have a big year. I am also hoping that Field will kill it in reserve grade too and put pressure on Dufty or be able to fill in for Dufty, if he got injured.

Widdop will be 5/8. Hunt will be halfback. I am hoping that Hunt and Widdop form a good combination and enhance each others game. They are both running halves. Hopefully that can lead to some pretty entertaining play.

McInnes will be Hooker.

One thing that I have noticed, is that Bennett has switched both of our halves from their preferred positions this year. Like there is a pattern or something?
100% should be our starting line up.
The question will be if, for any reason, this doesn't work out.
Will McGregor be prepared to adapt and think outside the square?
 

Dragonslayer

First Grade
Messages
7,989
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?

One of your best OT.
It also amazes me that people jump at anything suggested or done by another coach. The issue us clear that Widdop was moved to f/b because of necessity not some great plan and yeah hes gas a couple of good games there against meagre opposition. Interestingly it was Widdop who missed Havili when he scored last weekend.
Therefore, using the "other coach" theory we should have:
Widdop at f/b, Lafai on a wing, McD as a centre, Hunt as hooker, LAM at lock.
Friz to the bench and we should promote young Lovodua straight onto the bench as the utility.
Some people cant see the madness in this at that amazes me. Like who then plays in the halves? Where does JDB play? What is the make-up of the bench?
We have bought a top class 7 and we have an international 6 for the first time i a very long time we have "generals" to lead the team around. We have great competition for the f/b spot as even McGregor stated with Dufty, Field, Mann and even young Lomax in the mix. We have world class props in Vaughan and Graham and even LAM. Friz is an elite player of the highest standard.
Why mess with this formula?
Yes there are "options" to move players around (JDB to 7 was a good one) but that should only be considered by necessity not by someone elses grand plan.
 

BBTB

Juniors
Messages
915
OT, Stop It,you make far too much sense for this forum
Yeah, that's a fair assumption of a run on side. Put Mann who is way faster& scored a try every game in 2016, on Nightingale wing & there it is.A formidable 1st grade side...
.
 

Datramp

Juniors
Messages
1,007
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.

...... Widdop at lock would be the smallest lock in the history of the game. Doing a lot of tackles near the line is not the same as defending in the middle of the field against the pigs lol
 

giboz71

Coach
Messages
10,520
As mentioned a few times we should just start with dufty fullback, widdop and hunt halves and mcinnes hooker.

Its easy to say lets just give the kids a run but We need to establish some sort of structure and combinations before we start making adjustments.

On paper this is our best spine. And hopefully all these guys excel and don’t get injured. I’m particularly worried about McInnes getting hurt as there is no obvious hooker backup apart from Robson and maybe Nichols.

I’m hoping that with Hunt at half and Dufty having some semblance of a passing game, we can get some output from our right side.

There is no reason why Aitken and Nene shouldn’t be dangerous out wide if fed correctly. I watched a replay of the Manly game at Brookvale last year and Aitken was on fire as McCrone actually resembled a FG half that day.
 

nontime111

Juniors
Messages
1,623
I like that. Obviously you would rather have 2 big damaging wingers like Rapana and Radradra but since we don't have them at our club lets go for speed and elusiveness in Field and Mann. Smart.
thats what I was thinking, to just take full advantage of our speed and the guys who can step also./ I think with this mob wed always at least score more points than any opposition plus it would be damn entertaining to watch something sadly missing from Dragons play since the early rounds of last season
 

Dragonslayer

First Grade
Messages
7,989
Now, with 3 of the 4 spine positions pretty well bedded down, the big question surrounds the key fullback spot.
There are of course 4 options here:
1: the incumbent Dufty
2. Mann
3. Field
4. Widdop

One would assume that Dufty would be first choice, however, there are some combinations that can be explored: (at this point I don't see Field coming into calculations early unless injury to the other 3)

A: 1. Dufty 6. Widdop, 17. Mann......or
B: 1. Mann 6. Widdop 17. Dufty.......or
C: 1. Widdop 6. Mann 17. Dufty

Which option do you guys prefer?
 

Crush

Coach
Messages
12,614
Now, with 3 of the 4 spine positions pretty well bedded down, the big question surrounds the key fullback spot.
There are of course 4 options here:
1: the incumbent Dufty
2. Mann
3. Field
4. Widdop

One would assume that Dufty would be first choice, however, there are some combinations that can be explored: (at this point I don't see Field coming into calculations early unless injury to the other 3)

A: 1. Dufty 6. Widdop, 17. Mann......or
B: 1. Mann 6. Widdop 17. Dufty.......or
C: 1. Widdop 6. Mann 17. Dufty

Which option do you guys prefer?
(A) for me.
(B) if (A) doesnt work out.
(C) surely not.
 

KiamaSaint

Coach
Messages
18,311
I know posters are knocking others on their positional calls but there are options. I disagree that Dufty, Widdop, Hunt and McInnes are our best spine on paper. Dufty had a cracking debut then didn't do much after that and is still very young. I have concerns with him for a full season of NRL. Our best spine on paper IMO is Mann, Widdop, Hunt and McInnes. I would have no trouble with have a spine with Mann at FB or even Mann at 5/8th and Widdop at F/B.
 

Drag Queen

Bench
Messages
2,981
I know posters are knocking others on their positional calls but there are options. I disagree that Dufty, Widdop, Hunt and McInnes are our best spine on paper. Dufty had a cracking debut then didn't do much after that and is still very young. I have concerns with him for a full season of NRL. Our best spine on paper IMO is Mann, Widdop, Hunt and McInnes. I would have no trouble with have a spine with Mann at FB or even Mann at 5/8th and Widdop at F/B.
Exactly KS. Quinlan also had a cracking debut and a few good games after that. Confidence got shot down after that when he wasn't allowed to play his natural game. I would prefer Mann in the FB position. He got stage fright in his first 2 games and was slaughtered both by fans and management. Damn bloody shame really because he's quite a fearless player. Humble opinion.
 

Dragon Revival

Juniors
Messages
1,603
Dufty will make the grade and is 179cms tall some 7cms taller than Quinlan.
Quinlan was suspect under the bomb
and could be a sloppy handler and passer. Quinlan had exceptional pace but then seemed to lose his speed. He became an above average NSW Cup
player. He became too erractic for NRL.
 

Crush

Coach
Messages
12,614
I know posters are knocking others on their positional calls but there are options. I disagree that Dufty, Widdop, Hunt and McInnes are our best spine on paper. Dufty had a cracking debut then didn't do much after that and is still very young. I have concerns with him for a full season of NRL. Our best spine on paper IMO is Mann, Widdop, Hunt and McInnes. I would have no trouble with have a spine with Mann at FB or even Mann at 5/8th and Widdop at F/B.
Mann seems to be a good footballer but not a great one. I hope Dufty works out and then we won't need to bring Mann into the spine. Leave Mann to play the utility role or perhaps he could cement a wing or possibly center position. I would like to see MacDonald moved to center and Mann to take that wing spot.
 

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