Charity Shield in Mudgee - who's going?

[Crush]

I've got my fingers crossed that that little experiment is over and we never see McGuire at hooker again. Our game took a drastic turn when McG went to rake and we started to look like a rabble, it was only the class of some others out there that kept the ship pretty much on course. I'm not saying McG didn't try or even make some good runs, I'm saying he isn't a hooker except in the most exceptional of circumstances. He can be a ball playing lock but needs to leave the thinking and steering the team around to others. Hopefully McCullough can stay fit and put in 80 minutes a week or that a better option than McG can fill in if McC needs a break, Bud or Mbye would do. Everything else is looking sweet, don't mess it up trying to squeeze square peg into a round hole.

McGuire is out for the first quarter of the season, we’ll be May premiers by the time he comes back.

 

[kit66]

I will stick my neck out and say Amone will be a better 5/8 than Barrett and will reach higher honours. Very impressive. Last night was just wonderful to watch after all the wasted years of the peanut he is now well and truly been shown up as the fraud he was. We are going places this season.

Barrett was a great team player and a player who could carry out a coach's instructions and game plans, Amone possesses amazing individual brilliance and an ability to play what he sees. Amone will also carry out instructions but will be able to put on some magic plays off the cuff. Both also have excellent running games, Amone's stepping is pretty to watch. I was very impressed last night with both Amone and Sloan's defence, especially their scrambling and cover defence, they did a great job. They'll miss a few but will improve as they grow and get used to firsts.

 

[getsmarty]

 

[slippery5]

maybe hooker is where McGuire will eventually end up, he has impressed in his brief stints in the halves and has played 9 in the past, otherwise how would he fit in with all the talent coming through in the back row?

Did you see some of his passes ???? he is behind Sullivan, MBye & Macca, if he finds a spot on the bench it won't be for a dummy half role.

 

[mickeylane]

How good were the tries. Attack was not that crash last year and relied on Dufty but looks like the worked on it and we will be seeing some great highlights this year of awesome tries. Sloan looks to have Dufty's nice long passes down pat already as well as additional tricks up his sleave and can defend. Sloan and Ramsey were both great and alternating them throughout the game will keep opposition guessing that is for sure.

Defence was also great and to still be smashing Souths close to Souths own line with 2 mins to go is huge. They seem to be really fit. All forwards also looking to be fighting hard to get a look in which is great to see.

Sloan Vs Dufty chalk and cheese.. the kid

I will stick my neck out and say Amone will be a better 5/8 than Barrett and will reach higher honours. Very impressive. Last night was just wonderful to watch after all the wasted years of the peanut he is now well and truly been shown up as the fraud he was. We are going places this season.

Amone has a step very reminiscent of a young Benji Marshall.. he will become a great player and will have a strong season this year but I expect him to have a great year in 2023 and this will be the year that will explode IMO

 

[randomdragon]

@Willow did you say George burgess was playing in the reserves???? That’s interesting, he got a fair bit of game time in firsts too. Did Alvaro and faamasulli play in reserves too?

 

[possm]

McGuire is out for the first quarter of the season, we’ll be May premiers by the time he comes back.

You may be right if Mary was still our coach. From May on McGuire may just be the replacement forward we need to keep the pack fresh. If not he would certainly be a great addition to our reserve grade 13.

 

[denis preston]

Going back to the game, was it just me or did Walker look like grounded the ball short for his try then double moved it on the line ?

 

[Old Timer]

Going back to the game, was it just me or did Walker look like grounded the ball short for his try then double moved it on the line ?

Definitely grounded it short and then rolled it forward to touch the line.
It was not momentum but a deliberate action.

 

[st.phil]

Going back to the game, was it just me or did Walker look like grounded the ball short for his try then double moved it on the line ?

hundy - commentators did not question it

 

[dragon thomo]

I agree Denis he was short of the line, it pissed me of at the time that they let it go. Just like the crap he tried with with Sua
Walker seems to do what he wants and gets away with it. He also hides behind the no punching rule.

 

[denis preston]

I think when you take into account this no try , hunt & Sloan over the line but not grounding it and Lomax's brain fade in coming out of the line, it shows how dominant we were and the score didn't reflect it. All this against last years grand finalist.

 

[Old Timer]

I agree Denis he was short of the line, it pissed me of at the time that they let it go. Just like the crap he tried with with Sua
Walker seems to do what he wants and gets away with it. He also hides behind the no punching rule.

I'd love to see him and Munster go at with handbags at 5 paces.

 

[Willow]

@Willow did you say George burgess was playing in the reserves???? That’s interesting, he got a fair bit of game time in firsts too. Did Alvaro and faamasulli play in reserves too?

Latter stages of the game that I saw, yes.

 

[slippery5]

I'd love to see him and Munster go at with handbags at 5 paces.

I think Walkers is more at home in doing Karate Kicks.

 

[BLM01]

Yes the score may flatter Souths but they were minus 2 gun players in Mitchell and Murray. We had our best squad out there to start and I still say that in respect to knowing Sims did not play

 

[SGMax]

Doing so well in the CS has made this last week and the remaining days until the season starts unbearable.
Absolutely can't wait!
Lets hope the Dragons live up to this new hope they have hinted at with 2 good trial wins against fancied opposition.
Currently in lockdown as a close contact to covid.
Would have been so much easier if the footy was on this weekend.

 

[Rocket Rod]

Yes the score may flatter Souths but they were minus 2 gun players in Mitchell and Murray. We had our best squad out there to start and I still say that in respect to knowing Sims did not play

We were missing Dufty & Vaughn !

 

[Old Timer]

We were missing Dufty & Vaughn !

And Corey

 

[BLM01]

We were missing Dufty & Vaughn !

Good point. Look how the Dogs went with their inclusion against Cronulla.
Both got run over by their opposite numbers on the try line.
I also did not realise Vaughny was captain material in the absence of Jackson..good find Dogs.
What was our recruitment people thinking!