Charity Shield 2018

[Brutalitops]

McGregor concerned by fragility in the middle

• 
  Mitch Jennings

Local Sport

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Dragons coach Paul McGregor. Picture: John Veage

THEY’VE produced two solid preseason outings, but St George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor says his side will need to address defensive deficiencies in the ruck ahead of their season-opener against against Brisbane.

The Dragons edged out Hull 24-18 in their first hit-out last week before going down 22-18 in Saturday’s Charity Shield clash at Mudgee.

McGregor found little cause for concern despite the scoreboard, but Rabbitohs hooker Damien Cook did give his former Illawarra Cutters coach something to think about ahead of round one.

Cook all but assured he’ll get the nod as Rabbitohs No. 9 after exposing the Dragons from dummy-half while Cody Walker also found some joy through the middle.

McGregor said it will be top of his list ahead of next Thursday’s road trip to Suncorp Stadium.

“The big lesson was that they were a little bit more physical than we were and dominated the play-the-ball area a lot quicker than we did,” McGregor said.

“Cooky’s good at it. They got us around that scrum-line where they generated a [quick] play-the-ball and took that short-side on a couple of times and got some metres on us.

“We’ve definitely got to be more physical in our transition in our tackle and get off our line to bang and make the collision initially. We can generate line-speed from that.

“We’ve got to be physically more dominant as a side come round one. That’s what we’ve really got to work on the next 10 days.”

Saturday saw another encouraging performance from the club’s new-look spine with Matt Dufty again proving a stand-out at the back.

“He’s certainly causing the opposition some grief with his speed and he’s getting a better tactical understanding,” McGregor said.

“Our halves played 80 minutes with Duft at the back which was nice.

“That combination will grow with Gareth [Widdop] and Benny [Hunt] over time.

“It’s nice to have that extra threat because of his speed and his ball-playing ability.

“At times we used it too much so we’ve still got to get that balance of our power and our shift right and execute our finishes a little bit better.”


http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/5248953/brittle-ruck-a-concern-for-mcgregor/?cs=302

"McGregor said it will be top of his list ahead of next Thursday’s road trip to Suncorp Stadium."

You'd think an Illawarra based site would realise it's a Dragons home game. The Mercury does it again

 

[nontime111]

Yes,

It should be the same every time they pull on the big Red V.
I find it hard to fathom as to where the optimism emanates from.
Mann starting on the bench - again..
Aitkin plays the same way he always has - no improvement whatsoever..
No Kerr, no Robson
Same old Widdop and Hunt definitely an upgrade on McCrone.
But any improvement is canceled out by the loss of Thommo and our defence sucks big time and Reynolds wasn't even playing.
I love watching Dufty with ball in hand but his defense is atrocious.
I just hope his attacking flair compensates for the tries we will concede.
Finally, there is no real competition for positions.
Lomax and Mann must play in the backline somewhere.
Selections are so predictable and it's only human nature that the players get comfortable when they know they will be selected regardless of performance.
It has the smell of a middle of the table finish...again

I agree, for the backline Id go with this line up and stick to it all year to gel:

Dufty
Mann
Lafai
Lomax
Nene
WIddy
Hunty

 

[Frank Facer]

Yes,

I agree, for the backline Id go with this line up and stick to it all year to gel:

Dufty
Mann
Lafai
Lomax
Nene
WIddy
Hunty

I would go the same backline for game one. I would be monitoring Herbert closely to see if he should take Lafai's spot.

 

[nontime111]

Im excited also to see how Little Blocker Lawrie goes this year also the glut of almost honed to perfection Forwards, Sele, Kerr, Host and Luc

 

[nontime111]

stop being a goose mate. you support this great club regardless of the situation. its been a rough 6 years but our time will come.

with the abundance of youth about to BURST through for us it will come sooner than later....Host, Robson, Sele, Luc, Kerr, Lawrie, Herbert, Lomax, Field, Masters, Sailor etc its all about to happen for us!

 

[This Year?]

It's not falling.....if you look up beyond the light towers at Jubilee Oval the sky's a deep midnight blue, it's March 8th, a balmy night, the cool breath of Autumn still weeks away. It's almost 10:00pm and despite it being a work day tomorrow few have left the ground. There's a strange atmosphere, the faces all smiles and hope but an air subdued and nervous, uncertain, people waking from a dream. They just watched Ben Hunt and Gareth Widdop ruthlessly dismantle the Broncos defence to post a win more than double our previous biggest win against them. They watched as the old red bull who would be king was shown his place and a young bull in his prime JDB took the mantle, leader of the pack and his spoils a Sky Blue jersey awaits. They watched as time after timer our forwards rampaged up the paddock and set up camp on the enemy's doorstep while Ben and Wids produced an armoury the likes of which have not been seen in these parts for decades. They went up as one for eah of Dufty's 5 line breaks, said "I told you so" at Lomax's hat-trick on debut and were silenced as Nightie got a hat-trick of his own. 50-4 against the Broncs, how do you sleep after that. No worries, you taped it, you can watch it all again when you get home.

I would buy you a drink anytime!

 

[Sheridan Stand]

I would go the same backline for game one. I would be monitoring Herbert closely to see if he should take Lafai's spot.

Our coach picks the side on his job security not form.

Same way our Board acts.

 

[dragonssamy61]

"McGregor said it will be top of his list ahead of next Thursday’s road trip to Suncorp Stadium."

You'd think an Illawarra based site would realise it's a Dragons home game. The Mercury does it again

Apparently they think the only home game are at the gong not kogarah

 

[dragonssamy61]

Thank goodness for that Sammy , as Ethel was worried there for a bit . After blowing yet another mouthful of Camel cigarette smoke into my face , she said that if I wasn't any better by morning that she would call the doctor !

Mate the doctor will recommend a couple of stiff libations of you choice twice a day.
That will at least help .
I recommend it.
It seems to work

 

[Dennis Papaioannou]

Apparently they think the only home game are at the gong not kogarah

Two distinct factions wall papered over by the JV.
Tail wagging the dog has done nothing for the one and only St. George

 

[Old Timer]

It was reported over in JA that Saints ISP team played a trial this weekend and Host was declared fit and played in that game.
Can anyone confirm if that is correct as I tried to find any press reports but nothing has booked up?

 

[Old Timer]

Mate you need to go easy on the anti McGregor stuff- makes you look like all you do is bitch and moan. He has an injury as per Sammy who is on the money with inside mail- why throw in “I hope that is all”- what are you insinuating?

If you're still second guessing samy you haven't been paying attention.
I'd be more inclined to trust him than a press release from the club.

Just thought you guys might like to know this.

Our ISP team is up next in Shellharbour against Norths. The team is:

Field, Pereira, Herbert, Lomax, Garrick, Clune, Nicholls, Lawrie, Robson, Allgood, Host, Ford, Kerr. Bench: Sironen, Payne, Nisbet, Tohi, Uele

Now you know what the f**k happened to the guy the coach said was in the running for a 1st grade spot in the back row as I already had suspicions.

 

[Overseas dragon]

It should be the same every time they pull on the big Red V.
I find it hard to fathom as to where the optimism emanates from.
Mann starting on the bench - again..
Aitkin plays the same way he always has - no improvement whatsoever..
No Kerr, no Robson
Same old Widdop and Hunt definitely an upgrade on McCrone.
But any improvement is canceled out by the loss of Thommo and our defence sucks big time and Reynolds wasn't even playing.
I love watching Dufty with ball in hand but his defense is atrocious.
I just hope his attacking flair compensates for the tries we will concede.
Finally, there is no real competition for positions.
Lomax and Mann must play in the backline somewhere.
Selections are so predictable and it's only human nature that the players get comfortable when they know they will be selected regardless of performance.
It has the smell of a middle of the table finish...again

Exactly DENNIS

 

[possm]

with the abundance of youth about to BURST through for us it will come sooner than later....Host, Robson, Sele, Luc, Kerr, Lawrie, Herbert, Lomax, Field, Masters, Sailor etc its all about to happen for us!

I have to ask, why then did we extend those who look like being replaced in first grade; Nightingale, Aitken, Lafai? Why did we let Thompson go when it is obvious his replacements aren't yet ready for first grade; Leilua, Host and Sele. Will the likes of Field, Sailor, Lomax, Herbert and Garrick be happy to sit there in reserve grade while Nightingale, Aitken and Lafai are showing poor form.

 

[dragonssamy61]

It was reported over in JA that Saints ISP team played a trial this weekend and Host was declared fit and played in that game.
Can anyone confirm if that is correct as I tried to find any press reports but nothing has booked up?

OT
correct passed fit on the day and he played isp.

 

[Reddragon]

I don’t think Aitken has been showing poor form. If anything he’s been totally consistent since came into first grade. He’s just very limited

 

[SBD82]

Just thought you guys might like to know this.

Our ISP team is up next in Shellharbour against Norths. The team is:

Field, Pereira, Herbert, Lomax, Garrick, Clune, Nicholls, Lawrie, Robson, Allgood, Host, Ford, Kerr. Bench: Sironen, Payne, Nisbet, Tohi, Uele

Now you know what the f**k happened to the guy the coach said was in the running for a 1st grade spot in the back row as I already had suspicions.

Ha. You're like a dog with a bone OT. But you're an old dog that's not quite as sharp as you once were.

Go back and read samy's post. He wasn't wrong.

 

[Old Timer]

Ha. You're like a dog with a bone OT. But you're an old dog that's not quite as sharp as you once were.

Go back and read samy's post. He wasn't wrong.

Your naivety becomes you and when you get older and wiser you will finally see things for what they are.
You are the one that is incorrect and want to believe what is smoke and mirrors.
Host was never declared injured or unfit but he was talked about as 1 of 3 people in the running for the 1st grade back row position.
Even if Host had a minor injury but had of gone to Mudgee he could have been declared fit there and played or are you telling me the reggies support staff are better at preparing players than our high performance staff?
IMO he was always going to be declared fit and was destined to be in reggies because Mc Fookknuckle has a different agenda to what he states to be the case.
That was again made obvious by the fact Kerr got not 1 minute of game time despite his good cameo against Hull yet plodder Latimore god yet another attempt to show why he will be picked come Rd 1.
By the way if Host does get selected in 1st grade it will not be because he was always going to be it is simply because Leilua who was given every opportunity failed to grasp it because he was never good enough to be a starting player anyway despite Mc Fookknuckles repeated attempts to get him there.
I still suspect Sims will start (big mistake) Luc bench, Latimore bench and Host reggies but maybe sheer wait of evidence might somehow change Mc Fookknuckle's mind.

 

[True_Believer]

Ha. You're like a dog with a bone OT. But you're an old dog that's not quite as sharp as you once were.

Go back and read samy's post. He wasn't wrong.

There is no point. The horse is dead and he's flogging it.

You should know by now that when he writes something, he's right, everybody else is wrong and there's no chance of reasonable discussion.

 

[Old Timer]

There is no point. The horse is dead and he's flogging it.

You should know by now that when he writes something, he's right, everybody else is wrong and there's no chance of reasonable discussion.

Unreasonably harsh on your part True,
I expressed a view point earlier and SBD 82 jumped on it and justified his position on the basis of someone having inside info and how dare I question it.
Well simply put that good info was proven wrong, so therefore what was wrong with my original post?
The fact is simple there was no statement issued why Host played reggies despite us being told he was well in the running for 1st grade.
Obviously in your opinion I was wrong to hold the coach accountable for his own words.