2019 team line up

[Como Connection]

What about hungry Hayne? Is he a possibility?

DJ

DJ
Just safely home from the SCG, drank too much beer, still cannot agree with your mate Hayne.
Time for bed me.
CC

 

[Frank Facer]

Dude give it a rest. When you want to lay the boot into a player you are relentless. Last year it was nighty, this year its Aitken. We get it. You don't rate him. Move on would you?

I was calling for Nightingale and Aitken to be dropped all last year. I think there were a few others too.

 

[GC Dragon]

Are you aware that Paul McGregor is still the Dragons’ coach?

Fair point . He could train all pre season at lock and centre then be put on the wing .

 

[Warabrook saint]

Fair point . He could train all pre season at lock and centre then be put on the wing .

There's no rhyme or reason to the fool

 

[DragonJ]

DJ
Just safely home from the SCG, drank too much beer, still cannot agree with your mate Hayne.
Time for bed me.
CC

Hayne isn't "a mate" of mine but if a lightening quick two time Dally M medalist outside back is available because he bit a chic on the holist of holies a little too vigorously, and is found not have committed a crime, McIdiot would have to be crazy not to sign him.

Let Widdop go to ESL , Norman to 5/8, Hayne to fullback, then if Ravalawa and Pearson are actually first grade standard we will have a team more than capable of beating all-comers for at least 2, maybe 3 or 4 years.

 

[Saint_JimmyG]

Fair point . He could train all pre season at lock and centre then be put on the wing .

One thing about McGregor is that anything is possible. I certainly don’t foresee Aitken EVER playing in the forwards OR off the bench.

 

[Saint_JimmyG]

Hayne isn't "a mate" of mine but if a lightening quick two time Dally M medalist outside back is available because he bit a chic on the holist of holies a little too vigorously, and is found not have committed a crime, McIdiot would have to be crazy not to sign him.

Let Widdop go to ESL , Norman to 5/8, Hayne to fullback, then if Ravalawa and Pearson are actually first grade standard we will have a team more than capable of beating all-comers for at least 2, maybe 3 or 4 years.

Irrespective of what the outcome may be, I strongly suggest Hayne’s NRL days are now behind him.

 

[Saint_JimmyG]

No
I want the club to win
Nighty was shit last year and cost us
Aitken is the next weakest link that is holding the club back

There is always a weakest link and the club should always be looking at improving not settling

I don’t know about that one. Don’t you see the link between Nightingale and Aitken in terms of where they positioned on the field? I think I’ll always remember the game against Penrith (away) last year where a massive overlap occurred, and Aitken refused to pass to an unmarked Nightingale. Despite diminishing speed, and a converging defence, he would’ve scored in the corner without a hand on him.

This is one example where Nightingale was let down.

 

[Crush]

No
I want the club to win
Nighty was shit last year and cost us
Aitken is the next weakest link that is holding the club back

There is always a weakest link and the club should always be looking at improving not settling

I guess we are all guilty of posting the same thing over and over that we believe strongly in.

 

[possm]

I was calling for Nightingale and Aitken to be dropped all last year. I think there were a few others too.

Last year was a good example of putting player loyalty ahead of form in selections, poor bench management and poor cap management.

To be honest, we should never have signed Aitken and Lafai long term and if we didn't there could have been a couple of changes to our roster last year. Now we are again stuck with Aitken and Lafai with little prospect of getting rid of them. There are no clubs knocking on our door for their signature which is quite understandable.

For 2019 it would have been great to promote Lomax to first grade right centre and a player like Robert Jennings to either left wing or left centre. I have a feeling that long term, Pearson will end up as left centre - following in the footsteps of the great Matt Cooper.

We are not in passion of all of the facts; only our fantastic coaching staff have these stats and are aware of how our new recruits are performing during the off-season. We will get our first real impressions round 1 2019.

 

[RufusRex]

I don’t know about that one. Don’t you see the link between Nightingale and Aitken in terms of where they positioned on the field? I think I’ll always remember the game against Penrith (away) last year where a massive overlap occurred, and Aitken refused to pass to an unmarked Nightingale. Despite diminishing speed, and a converging defence, he would’ve scored in the corner without a hand on him.

This is one example where Nightingale was let down.

There was a game early in the season ... Sharks or Warriors ... Nighty was given a pass 10m out in space and was unable to cross the line .. Any winger with a bit of speed scores that try easily ... That should have been the last game he ever played - was obvious even to those with minimal brain capacity that Nighty was done.

 

[Saint_JimmyG]

There was a game early in the season ... Sharks or Warriors ... Nighty was given a pass 10m out in space and was unable to cross the line .. Any winger with a bit of speed scores that try easily ... That should have been the last game he ever played - was obvious even to those with minimal brain capacity that Nighty was done.

Yet, wasn’t Nightingale the team’s highest try scorer for 2017? This would indicate that his time wasn’t over.

 

[Saint_JimmyG]

I guess we are all guilty of posting the same thing over and over that we believe strongly in.

Coughs....McInnes.

 

[possm]

There was a game early in the season ... Sharks or Warriors ... Nighty was given a pass 10m out in space and was unable to cross the line .. Any winger with a bit of speed scores that try easily ... That should have been the last game he ever played - was obvious even to those with minimal brain capacity that Nighty was done.

Nightingale stayed on 1 year too long however, his plight was made look even worse standing outside Aiken on the field. Aitken very rarely even thinks to pass and when he does there is no room for his winger to move at all.

This year, with a speedy winger outside of him, Lomax will demonstrate what we have been missing since Gasnier retired. No matter if it is Ravalawa or Pereira, they will find themselves on the end of good ball and with a bucket load of tries for season 2019.

On the left side of the field, if Lafai refrains from using his hit or miss flick pass, Pearson should also bag a bucket load of tries in season 2019.

I'm very excited with the prospect of having Widdop, Norman and Hunt in the run on side. All three are capable of supplying good crisp passes and accurate short kicks to put their outside backs into space.

In my opinion, the addition of Norman, Pearson and Ravalawa should enable the team to attack more smoothly and more often this season.

 

[Overseas dragon]

Nightingale stayed on 1 year too long however, his plight was made look even worse standing outside Aiken on the field. Aitken very rarely even thinks to pass and when he does there is no room for his winger to move at all.

This year, with a speedy winger outside of him, Lomax will demonstrate what we have been missing since Gasnier retired. No matter if it is Ravalawa or Pereira, they will find themselves on the end of good ball and with a bucket load of tries for season 2019.

On the left side of the field, if Lafai refrains from using his hit or miss flick pass, Pearson should also bag a bucket load of tries in season 2019.

I'm very excited with the prospect of having Widdop, Norman and Hunt in the run on side. All three are capable of supplying good crisp passes and accurate short kicks to put their outside backs into space.

In my opinion, the addition of Norman, Pearson and Ravalawa should enable the team to attack more smoothly and more often this season.

Now all we have to do is convince the bald headed one .......easier said than done

 

[avocado]

Yet, wasn’t Nightingale the team’s highest try scorer for 2017? This would indicate that his time wasn’t over.

Wasn’t he on the left that year? Outside Lafai? Lafai will set up a million more tries than Aitken could.

Also, just about every try Mann or Pareira scored on the wing I was thinking Nighty would not have got over.
Nighty. Everybody’s fave but played one year too many.

 

[Drag Queen]

Wasn’t he on the left that year? Outside Lafai? Lafai will set up a million more tries than Aitken could.

Also, just about every try Mann or Pareira scored on the wing I was thinking Nighty would not have got over.
Nighty. Everybody’s fave but played one year too many.

Correct, he was on the left in 2017. Moved to the right last season because that was Nene's preferred position. Nighty took one for the team.

 

[GC Dragon]

One thing about McGregor is that anything is possible. I certainly don’t foresee Aitken EVER playing in the forwards OR off the bench.

Well only 6 weeks until the first trial so we will find out soon enough .

 

[BLM01]

"Quotes Mary Article"
It leaves McGregor in no rush to decide on the final make-up of his spine come round one.
“I’m very open-minded and having a real good look at the moment,” McGregor said.
“There is still six weeks before we even trial so I’m not going to make a decision on something that’s still nine weeks away. There’s a lot that can happen in rugby league week to week and day to day.
“The biggest thing is that players complement each other. We know our spine was successful at different stages last year. Corey adds another dimension to that.

“They’re all quality and I’d rather be looking at them than looking for them. We’re very fortunate to have depth in important positions in the squad which we’ve never had before.”

Mary talking as the riddler again quoting text out of books written by coaching legends and probably does not know what that last paragraph means. The first sentence lost me.

But depth in important positions. Dont think so. The more I have had time to think about this and assuming we dont sign another back before Round 1..I think Mary and the recruitment team have painted themselves into a corner re the back 5 and have to go this way and why. Not that I agree with it but we are snookered based on Mary's attacking plan from the backfield.

1. Dufty - speedier than Widdop or Norman (neither will do any of the yard eating in first 3-4 hit ups anyway). Only real speed we have. Cant leave him out for that reason alone.
2. Periera - logical choice and main meter eater. Hit up 1 or and 4. Takes bombs etc etc
3. Aitken - only for his metre eating as quick out of dummy half for a back and will take hit up 2.
4. Lafai - selected on reputation. Never does the hard work from the back and if he does it is a soft run as he loves to step or offload while falling to someone in a worse position.
5. Lomax - played on the wing in Junior Roos and did a fine job. Not the fastet but Ok for hit up 3 and is tall and can take bombs and would be safe. He is a centre but we have no wingers.

You will ask what about... as Possm always raves about Rav & Pearson
Both only known reserve graders and not so sure they will get our sets off to a roll and safety under a high ball and defense etc
I suppose I could drop Lafai for reasons above make Aitken play left, Lomax right centre and 1 of the new wingers who performs best in trials on the other wing...but

You will ask what about 6 & 7. 3 does not go into 2. Widdop, Norman, Hunt.
Thought about this. If Norman is a waste of a benchspot can he play centre and drop both Aitken & Lafai...but who will take the hit ups. It leaves our wingers to do 1-2 each and maybe Lomax as the others wont. What happens if Periera injured. We are stuffed unless their is a young gun ready to step up and do those hit ups for us. Who is that... Marsters?

Dont worry...even with McDonald their last year we still got owned by rushed defence from oppositions on early tackles. IT was obvious from early - mid season that we have not enough punch and speed from the back in early hit ups and out of dummy half runs. Then when our forwards were slow and get owned on rushed defence (i.e. Graham) we used to make about 20 metres in first 4 hit ups some times.

An issue they have failed to address IMO. We will see.
A real problem which I dont have the answers for yet.
Maybe someone does?

 

[possm]

"Quotes Mary Article"
It leaves McGregor in no rush to decide on the final make-up of his spine come round one.
“I’m very open-minded and having a real good look at the moment,” McGregor said.
“There is still six weeks before we even trial so I’m not going to make a decision on something that’s still nine weeks away. There’s a lot that can happen in rugby league week to week and day to day.
“The biggest thing is that players complement each other. We know our spine was successful at different stages last year. Corey adds another dimension to that.

“They’re all quality and I’d rather be looking at them than looking for them. We’re very fortunate to have depth in important positions in the squad which we’ve never had before.”

Mary talking as the riddler again quoting text out of books written by coaching legends and probably does not know what that last paragraph means. The first sentence lost me.

But depth in important positions. Dont think so. The more I have had time to think about this and assuming we dont sign another back before Round 1..I think Mary and the recruitment team have painted themselves into a corner re the back 5 and have to go this way and why. Not that I agree with it but we are snookered based on Mary's attacking plan from the backfield.

1. Dufty - speedier than Widdop or Norman (neither will do any of the yard eating in first 3-4 hit ups anyway). Only real speed we have. Cant leave him out for that reason alone.
2. Periera - logical choice and main meter eater. Hit up 1 or and 4. Takes bombs etc etc
3. Aitken - only for his metre eating as quick out of dummy half for a back and will take hit up 2.
4. Lafai - selected on reputation. Never does the hard work from the back and if he does it is a soft run as he loves to step or offload while falling to someone in a worse position.
5. Lomax - played on the wing in Junior Roos and did a fine job. Not the fastet but Ok for hit up 3 and is tall and can take bombs and would be safe. He is a centre but we have no wingers.

You will ask what about... as Possm always raves about Rav & Pearson
Both only known reserve graders and not so sure they will get our sets off to a roll and safety under a high ball and defense etc
I suppose I could drop Lafai for reasons above make Aitken play left, Lomax right centre and 1 of the new wingers who performs best in trials on the other wing...but

You will ask what about 6 & 7. 3 does not go into 2. Widdop, Norman, Hunt.
Thought about this. If Norman is a waste of a benchspot can he play centre and drop both Aitken & Lafai...but who will take the hit ups. It leaves our wingers to do 1-2 each and maybe Lomax as the others wont. What happens if Periera injured. We are stuffed unless their is a young gun ready to step up and do those hit ups for us. Who is that... Marsters?

Dont worry...even with McDonald their last year we still got owned by rushed defence from oppositions on early tackles. IT was obvious from early - mid season that we have not enough punch and speed from the back in early hit ups and out of dummy half runs. Then when our forwards were slow and get owned on rushed defence (i.e. Graham) we used to make about 20 metres in first 4 hit ups some times.

An issue they have failed to address IMO. We will see.
A real problem which I dont have the answers for yet.
Maybe someone does?

It is hard for us to make those calls right now. Yes we have recruited two new reserve grade wingers who will have to step up in the off season to be selected; that is a good thing. Finally selected on form. So I am more confident that the two new wingers would be capable of eating metres coming out of our twenty as both are fast, big and strong.

Having Lomax on the right wing outside Aitken is madness; he would never see any good ball and would be constantly committed to Aitkens poor reads in defence. Like Nightingale and Macdonald, he would look the fool each time the opposition targeted our compressed defence on the right with Aitken charging up to cut off the attack only to miss his target. Lomax has shown he can read the defence well, can deliver good passes, and step off both feet and can kick for this fullback. This obsession to weaken our backline purely to accommodate Aitken is madness.

At the moment, Lafai seems to be our best option for left centre. All that needs to be done is that the coaching staff sit him down and let him know he must perform - NO more flick passes - or he will be dropped.

In Widdop, Norman and Hunt we have three of the top halves in the competition. Having them all on the field at the same time in 2019 will be a huge advantage over other sides. Out of the 3 Widdop is the one who excelled at fullback when playing for England and he is the one leaving at the end of the season. So I am predicting it will be 1. Widdop, 6. Norman and 7. Hunt. That combination will be deadly in attack and much better than what we had in 2018.

The rest is up to our coaching staff with their bench management and run-on selections. It is up to them to keep the on-field players fresh and able to do the job. It is ok to use our big wingers to bring the ball out of our 20m for the first two tackles however, it is them up to our forwards to take over and do the hard yards. You nailed it with your comment about Graham, at best he would be a tackle 4 option. We need FORWARDS to step up for the tackle 3 and 5 options. Maybe even a clever hooker to dart from dummy half to break up the defence.

Dufty will play ISP and grab his chances during the season in first grade. The big improvement will come via Robson as 14 on the bench. Initially coming on for the last 10-15 mins of each half, he will provode McInnes with a rest and supply variety to the team in attack. He is a good defender and hopefully the team will not suffer in defence while he is on the field.