Corey Norman??

[possm]

Of course he can but unfortunately for him, he will probably cop more for trying to stick up for his son than not.

For some, its all one way traffic.

It would be good if McGregor would actually clear the air a bit and let him know what the clubs plans are.

I still cant see why he can't be on the wing and or in the 17.

I'm sure the Club is keeping it's options open.

If Dufty does resolve his shortfalls in the off-season then he will be considered for the fullback position. Mary would have a good idea of his progress by now.

If Widdop is fully fit and his shoulder has mended, he will be considered for the fullback spot and probably get it.

 

[Carlton]

@Carlton

St George Illawarra have reassured Matt Dufty his position at the club remains safe in 2019, silencing rumours the fullback has been put on the open market to pave way for Jarryd Hayne.

https://www.nospam47.com/au/league/...t-canberra-raiders/1tumle4sfeaqg1uwd9sfa1u63j

This is saying his position at the club is secure not that he is being told he will be playing first grade. There has also been reports in the media that he had been told there were a number of areas he needed to improve at including, effort.

But its all media talk, who knows what the real discussions have been.

 

[Drag Queen]

To be brutally honest regarding Dufty, I tend to side with the players over any club in situations like this, mostly because I understand their careers are very limited and the NRL certainly has a problem of post retirement careers. These guys retire around 30, maybe early to mid 30s, and yeah sure we always see these high profile cases of players going into media, coaching, club roles, etc. But the harsh reality is, that's barely the top 5% of players. The vast, vast majority find themselves in their 30s with no job experience, training, or qualifications. As someone who went through this in just early 20s, I can't imagine how much more difficult adding a decade to that must be.

NRL salaries are not "set for life" salaries for most players either. With all this in mind, I will usually always back a player to do the best for themselves while they can.

Would I prefer Dufty stick around and earn his new contract with the Dragons? Yep, but if he doesn't and takes up something that makes sense for him now, power to him.

I agree with practically all of this. SGI is one of the most progressive clubs offering free education to all their players whilst playing for the team, whether that be university or TAFE, Not nearly enough of them take advantage of it though.

 

[Dragonslayer]

The greatest issue/mystery for me in 2019 is how are we going to fit;

Widdop, Norman, Dufty, Lomax and Robson

Into the starting 17.

 

[muzby]

The greatest issue/mystery for me in 2019 is how are we going to fit;

Widdop, Norman, Dufty, Lomax and Robson

Into the starting 17.

Easy.

1. Dufty
2. Pearson
3. Lafai
4. Lomax
5. Silverman
6. Widdop
7. Norman

8. Graham
9. McInness
10. Vaughan
11. Frizz
12. Tims
13. Robson

14. Hunt
15. Kims
16. Leilua
17. Latimore

 

[since77]

The greatest issue/mystery for me in 2019 is how are we going to fit;

Widdop, Norman, Dufty, Lomax and Robson

Into the starting 17.

That’s easy. 2 of them won’t be in the team come round 1.

 

[Como Connection]

The greatest issue/mystery for me in 2019 is how are we going to fit;

Widdop, Norman, Dufty, Lomax and Robson

Into the starting 17.

What about Silverman!
CC

 

[Belta]

Easy.

1. Dufty
2. Pearson
3. Lafai
4. Lomax
5. Silverman
6. Widdop
7. Norman

8. Graham
9. McInness
10. Vaughan
11. Frizz
12. Tims
13. Robson

14. Hunt
15. Kims
16. Leilua
17. Latimore

Very unlikely.

Steve Austin would be the most expensive splinter boy in NRL history.

Pierra is hands down better then the fictional super hero.

Strangely though, all things considered, there’s a lot to like about Muzbys never to be side.

 

[watatank]

The greatest issue/mystery for me in 2019 is how are we going to fit;

Widdop, Norman, Dufty, Lomax and Robson

Into the starting 17.

You don't, you make a decision.

 

[muzby]

What about Silverman!
CC

Start him on the wing.. he’s a bit too small at the moment for a 1st grade centre.. give him time to beef up and then let him loose..

Like we did with Matt Cooper..

 

[getsmarty]

How Ben Hunt helped lure Corey Norman to Dragons
Dragons

• January 30, 2019 3:09pm
• Source: AAP

Ben Hunt has revealed how he helped lure Corey Norman to the Dragons.Source: AAP
St George Illawarra star Ben Hunt has revealed how he urged club officials to look past Corey Norman’s chequered history and lure him to Wollongong.

Almost seven years after battling for Darren Lockyer’s famed No.6 jumper in Brisbane, the pair are set to form a lethal halves pairing in the Red V in this NRL season.

Despite Hunt and captain Gareth Widdop leading the Dragons to the top of the table for half of last season, the club opted to chase Norman over the summer.

St George Illawarra signing Corey Norman at Dragons trainingSource: Supplied
Round 1
And Hunt was immediately on board with the plan which sees Widdop play fullback before returning to England at the end of the season.

“I definitely had a few chats with (coach Paul McGregor) and the recruitment staff down there before they decided to sign him,” Hunt told AAP.

“I was all for it. They were really excited that I wanted him to come down and had played with him before. We definitely had those discussions.”

Both players rose through the ranks together at the Broncos before Hunt made his first grade debut in 2009, and was followed by Norman the next season.

Corey Norman and Ben Hunt during their time at the Broncos. Picture: Glenn BarnesSource: News Limited
However only once in four years did the pair combine at the scrumbase before Norman secured a lucrative deal with Parramatta.


“I told them I always enjoyed my time playing with him, and I knew he was a great competitor no matter what sort of situation he was in,” Hunt said.

Norman arrives at the Dragons with some heavy off-field baggage, including an eight-week suspension and $20,000 fine in 2016 after he pleaded guilty to drug possession at Sydney’s Star casino.

The NRL-imposed penalty also related to a police warning for consorting with criminals and filming and distributing video of incidents including apparent drug use and sexual activity.

Corey Norman has a chequered past. Picture: Zak SimmondsSource: News Corp Australia
And the ink had barely dried on his new deal when historic footage emerged on social media of him with another male snorting an unknown substance, though no action was taken by the NRL.

Hunt believes Norman has grown from his mistakes.

“He’s obviously made a few mistakes — which a lot of us have — but he’s definitely grown up from the bloke I used to know and he just wants to play some good footy,” he said.


https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...s/news-story/525d4ab1cf8937354fafb11c2e8f1ac5

 

[Old Kogarah Boy 1]

The greatest issue/mystery for me in 2019 is how are we going to fit;

Widdop, Norman, Dufty, Lomax and Robson

Into the starting 17.

We must not lose Robson.
The kid has the makings of a genuine star player.
He needs to get a regular start from the bench .................. the first twenty in the second half allows McGregor to action a Plan B with ........................ that could be where a problem lies.

 

[RufusRex]

The greatest issue/mystery for me in 2019 is how are we going to fit;

Widdop, Norman, Dufty, Lomax and Robson

Into the starting 17.

you dont ... Dufty is surplus to requirement

 

[Dragonslayer]

you dont ... Dufty is surplus to requirement

In a roundabout way that was my point.

There are many who want this player and/or that player placed into the team and I could also throw in Pearson and Ravalawa as well. The permutations are mindboggling.

We play Dufty then probably Norman plays from the bench, which then excludes Robson from the 17.
We don't play Dufty, then does he play from the bench or ISP. Then we run the risk of him spitting the dummy and leaving. If he plays from the bench then that also excludes Robson from the 17.
If McGregor plays Aitken at centre then what becomes of Lomax? Wing?, bench? or 17.
If Lomax plays wing then there is only 1 spot for Periera, Pearson and Ravalawa to fight for the other one. And curiously all 3 of them have signed for 2019-20.
Aitken doesn't play centre, but plays from the bench with Lomax as centre, this also excludes Robson.
We don't include Robson in the 17 each week, then he may look for opportunities elsewhere. So basically that completes the 14-17 bench positions. But then you can't have Dufty, Aitken or anyone else their.

Sorry, if that's a bit confusing but, its all to do with how do people fit the players they want into the team without effecting balance and stability, as well as providing both attacking and defensive options. Just saying this one or that one should drop out, doesn't say how the balance of the team would look like.

Anyway for my guess team would be (excluding De Belin)

1. Widdop
2. Periera
3. Lomax
4. Lafai
5. Pearson
6. Norman
7. Hunt
8. Graham
9. McInnes
10. Vaughan
11. Host*
12. T.Sims
13. Frizell
* assuming JDB doesn't play, if he does then Friz back to 11, JDB to lock and Host back to ISP.
14. Latimore (until K. SIms serves his suspension)
15. Lawrie
16. Leilua
17. Robson

 

[Warabrook saint]

The greatest issue/mystery for me in 2019 is how are we going to fit;

Widdop, Norman, Dufty, Lomax and Robson

Into the starting 17.

They're all very important to the team.I look at all the great things that Dufty did for the side,if his teammates did their job in front of him he wouldn't have looked so bad in the last line. When they're running through full pelt it's hard for anyone to stop them...unless you are Graeme Eadie. As for the bombs I wouldn't mind beting the supercoach told him to let the ball bounce

 

[Carlton]

They're all very important to the team.I look at all the great things that Dufty did for the side,if his teammates did their job in front of him he wouldn't have looked so bad in the last line. When they're running through full pelt it's hard for anyone to stop them...unless you are Graeme Eadie. As for the bombs I wouldn't mind beting the supercoach told him to let the ball bounce

Sorry but Dufty looking bad as the last line of defence had nothing to do with his teammates. In reality he was not called on to make that many last ditch tackles, it was the lack of physicality in his defence that was the problem.

 

[slippery5]

Sorry but Dufty looking bad as the last line of defence had nothing to do with his teammates. In reality he was not called on to make that many last ditch tackles, it was the lack of physicality in his defence that was the problem.

Unfortunately, some people just did not see his flaws, but I'm thinking Mary did, hence his willingness to sign first Hayne & then Norman.
Dufty will not be in the starting side R1.

 

[Warabrook saint]

Sorry but Dufty looking bad as the last line of defence had nothing to do with his teammates. In reality he was not called on to make that many last ditch tackles, it was the lack of physicality in his defence that was the problem.

He scored plenty of tries, if he didn't have to make that many last ditch tackles what's the problem

 

[Warabrook saint]

Unfortunately, some people just did not see his flaws, but I'm thinking Mary did, hence his willingness to sign first Hayne & then Norman.
Dufty will not be in the starting side R1.

People could see his flaws, they could see his brilliance too.....something we haven't seen for a while

 

[TruSaint]

People could see his flaws, they could see his brilliance too.....something we haven't seen for a while

Hi mate, .. Dufty is a good footy player. Yes he has provided speed, which has been lacking. I think what most people are concerned about, is his deficiencies as a fB. Very suspect under the high ball, which in the modern game is critical, poor defensive reads, tackling suspect at best, very little in terms of bringing the ball out from deep in our half, gets manhandled too often, and so on. In broken play he is dynamite, and thats great, but he needs work. FB is a key position and such flaws cant be overlooked. Not saying he cant make it, but a few beaut tries as a result of a broken defensive line isnt enough at this stage.