2025 Pre-Season Challenge - Trials

[Saints supporter]

I thought it was glaringly obvious that we need another big body front rower. Couch man worked hard but looked small in the front row, especially early in the match.

 

[Gippsy]

Unabashed Kyle fan who reckons he will have a stella year out from under the shadows of Voldemort "He who shall not be named"

I couldn't really see the extra 10 kilos?

I think Luciano has it.

 

[Crush]

Unabashed Kyle fan who reckons he will have a stella year out from under the shadows of Voldemort "He who shall not be named"

I couldn't really see the extra 10 kilos?

Loved Kyle and Cookie combining for meat pies, this season is going to be fun.

 

[dungay dragon]

Unabashed Kyle fan who reckons he will have a stella year out from under the shadows of Voldemort "He who shall not be named"

I couldn't really see the extra 10 kilos?

The weight reference was to Sloan , not KF

 

[Saints Forever]

Watched the replay again

Reed/LPT/Latu/Halanghu are real prospects

Lawson will compete for a spot on the wing in the second half of the season

Both Coachman’s went well and will continue to develop

Guler was a standout

Early days, however the spine is looking good and will improve game by game.

Feel we have good depth across all positions.

Sele, Eisenhuth and Lawrie did not play. They will feed off the energy of the young forwards.

Commentators continued dribble about the size of Toby Coachman was tiring. Toby has a high rate and plays the ball quickly, in contrast to Francis Molo.

No spoon in 2025 for Saints. More likely we squeeze into the 8.

 

[VodkaSaint]

The weight reference was to Sloan , not KF

kyle Flanagan as well

https://www.racingandsports.com.au/news/sports/rugby-league/2024-12-02/beefed-up-kyle-flanagan-has-clear-goal-in-mind-for-2025/675114

 

[The Word]

With most of the top 30 being selected for this one, do we know why Fifita wasn't there, is he injured?

 

[Ronnie Dobbs]

I thought it was glaringly obvious that we need another big body front rower. Couch man worked hard but looked small in the front row, especially early in the match.

Definitely the hole to fill.

Absolutely.

 

[Ronnie Dobbs]

With most of the top 30 being selected for this one, do we know why Fifita wasn't there, is he injured?

Not sure. He won’t see NRL anyway.

A few steps off the pace unfortunately. Like Blake.

Fantastic work by Hook and Harlan there. Rava too.

 

[Victoire]

Lovely start to the year, the team looked HOT TO GO. The defence to open the game was most impressive, Roosters had all the ball and field position early and we didn't crack. The trysaver by Ilias in particular was sweet. Couldn't have asked for much more from the main squad, they were impressive. Jaydn Sua, my number one man crush, looked immense out there again and will have another big season.

As for Ravalawa.. he's clearly way way down the pecking order now and for good reason. I get the club probably want someone (probably a Superleague team) to take him off our hands... but is that enough reason to keep him on the wing? With F Molo gone what's the harm in at least trying to convert him into a bench front rower. His carries are still as strong as ever and he won't be as exposed defensively, especially if they're short stints. If we can't bring a suitable prop in, why not make one ourselves

 

[Divine]

I thought it was glaringly obvious that we need another big body front rower. Couch man worked hard but looked small in the front row, especially early in the match.*

* Yes. Definitely got larger as the game progressed.

 

[possm]

I’m loving Lawson but isn’t he on the development list and so can’t play first grade till later in the year

Lawson can take Raa's spot in the top 30 after the Dragons move Rava on.

 

[Victoire]

I’m loving Lawson but isn’t he on the development list and so can’t play first grade till later in the year

Nope. He can play from round 1

 

[chewbacca]

Nope. He can play from round 1

What is the contract status of Conor M? I thought he was solid in the 2nd half. Also think he is a better option than Glover....
If we get an injury in the halves we are in trouble I reckon. Not much depth there....

 

[possm]

I think Luciano has it.

For some time now, I've thought Leilua should move to the front row. One of the main stumbling blocks is his fitness level and his discipline. If this is to happen, both Flanno and Leilua have some work to do. Maybe this should have happened at the start of the off season.

 

[possm]

What is the contract status of Conor M? I thought he was solid in the 2nd half. Also think he is a better option than Glover....
If we get an injury in the halves we are in trouble I reckon. Not much depth there....

Yes, however, we will have Atkinson in 2026 and Reed looks the goods on yesterday's performance.

 

[Old Timer]

Interesting to read all the comments re last night
The positives
Couchman’s looked good

Guller an astute buy and will improve

Lawson needs to be in top 30 asap

Holmes very classy and can create things needs our fastest / best winger outside him

Gutho looking to be heavily involved so offloads by forwards now a priority

Cook doing Cook things is a plus

Most of the youngsters showing promise

Defence was better organised and more committed

All of the above needs to be rationalised to the fact that we played a very under strength and inexperienced Roosters side so needs to be repeatable against better opposition.

The negatives
We still played dumb with lots of errors and stupid penalties

Our attack looked clunky and disorganised and is anything but slick

Kicking game still poor and in the 1st 30 minutes you could have easily thought Hunt was still playing.

Hopefully C T can play right wing outside Suli as his lack of speed will not be exposed as he’ll never get a decent pass.

Whilst defence was better organised still an issue with leg drive in 1st contact getting the ball carrier to the ground

Now I know others will say it will take time to form combinations etc but if you look at some of the other trial games there were cobbled together sides that looked far superior to us and with the experience we have added I truly think we should look better.

Hopefully just some nerves etc and the C S will bring it together.

 

[since77]

Nice start to the see ya later Hunt era, albeit against an understrength Rorters gaggle.
Loved to hate Gutho at Parra, now I love him. What a great pickup. On field leadership - finally.
Cook looked sharp. Still has plenty to offer by the looks of it. Smart too.
Holmes looked classy and a couple of good hit ups early in the tackle count. We're not going to miss Lomax.
Nice to see the defence reasonably solid.
I liked what Guler brought. Nothing brilliant but ate up the metres and worked hard.
Kyle was good. Ilias solid, looks like he has a longer kick than Hunt, which we've needed for ages.
Was surprised to see Mulheisen there, I thought he'd been let go. Actually thought he did ok, played with purpose.
Ryan Couchman was very good, Toby reliable as always.
A few of the young forwards looked promising - none screamed ready for first grade to my eyes but maybe in a years time they'll be close. Pleasing they didn't fold in the second half like the second string teams have done in the trials of the last few years.

I'll tell you what I really liked - the two first half fluke tries off ricochets. Flukey tries but in the past we don't have anyone near the ball to take opportunities like that. More effort in the little things. More effort in the things other teams have done better than us for the last decade or so.

Next game we'll get a better idea of where they are.

 

[Hound of Dracula]

Lovely start to the year, the team looked HOT TO GO. The defence to open the game was most impressive, Roosters had all the ball and field position early and we didn't crack. The trysaver by Ilias in particular was sweet. Couldn't have asked for much more from the main squad, they were impressive. Jaydn Sua, my number one man crush, looked immense out there again and will have another big season.

As for Ravalawa.. he's clearly way way down the pecking order now and for good reason. I get the club probably want someone (probably a Superleague team) to take him off our hands... but is that enough reason to keep him on the wing? With F Molo gone what's the harm in at least trying to convert him into a bench front rower. His carries are still as strong as ever and he won't be as exposed defensively, especially if they're short stints. If we can't bring a suitable prop in, why not make one ourselves

Previously, suggestions of Rava in forwards, has been all but howled down.

Now with Molo out, desperate times call for desperate measures

Definitely worth a trial or two

 

[baggygreen man]

Welcome fellow Dragons tragics to another season.