Dragons Depth

[Slippery Morris]

How good is the Dragons depth this year. They have had so many injuries yet you would not think they have compared to other seasons.

Every position is covered in terms of back up.

Fullback – Boyd / BMox / Nighty
Wing – Sailor / BMoz / Nighty / / Lett / Emmett
Centres – Coops / Scott / Stanley / Emmett /
Halves – Hornby / Soward / Head / Fein
Backrow – Creagh / J Smith / Costigan / Young / Prior / Saffy / Paea / Stanley
Front Row – Weyman / Poore / Hunt / Green / Paea / Saffy / Merrin
Hooker – Young / Priddis / Fein / Head / Costigan

Other teams would kill to have the depth in their squad as the Dragons do.

There is not 1 weakness in any position. I probably missed some names but how good is the roster this season.

Next season, the roster does not change much with the exception of Poore for which Greenfield will come in. The way Green has gone, Hunt is no shoe in for starting prop. Green has not put a foot wrong since his elevation to 1st grade.

I thought it would take Bennett a couple of season to build a strong side, he did it in 6 months. A freak. Credit must also go to Doust. He came through in the end after a shaky start as CEO. What a difference a coach can make. Not only in the way the team is playing but off the field as half the guys the Dragons retained this year would not have been possible if not for Bennett being at the club.

 

[The Preacher]

You've got Scott to add to the back row list as well. He goes just as well there as in the centres.
It seems we may be managing our reserves a little better than a lot of sides. I don't know how or why, but maybe young Pricey has found how to keep them up to NRL standard.
Having watched a bit of NSW Cup this year, you can see some clubs don't give a rats freckle about those NOT in the top 17.
I went and watched Bulldogs v Scum and the Hobbits even got my young bloke to be their ball and tee boy as there hadn't been one provided for them.
It was a thrill for him, but it was a sign that some clubs just have an "out of sight, out of mind" attitude to the fringe players.
You can bet your last dollar that Bennett has his hand on the pulse there somewhere as well.

 

[Mr Red]

it just goes to show what you can achieve with proper management of a salary cap - and not paying "overs" for players.
getting rid of Barrett was the start of it, and then Gasnier leaving helped, but the icing on the cake was letting Ryles go. we simply had too many dollars invested in a few players, now the salary cap is far more evenly distributed across the playing roster, giving us the depth and flexibility in the squad that is needed to win a comp

 

[Slippery Morris]

But do you think the reason the Dragons are not paying overs for players is cause of Bennett. Alot of players are joining the Saints or re-signing to play under Bennett regardless of the dollars. If Browny was still coach they would have to throw big dollars to get someone to sign up.

Gaz and Ryles were obviously chewing up alot of the cap. What a waste of money that was.

 

[big pat]

just enjoying the ride atm, hope nothing changes.

 

[brokendigit]

We're going great-guns, but I'm hesitant to assume that Fein solves our Hooking/DH "problems".
He's played one game (and played well), but he's got to string a few good games together before I'm convinced.
Call me a pessimist, but I can remember our last Premiership, and it's been a long, long time between drinks...

However, to contradict everything that I've just said: the competition for spots in the 17 is as fierce as I can remember. And that is a great sign...

 

[Cagey Mac]

We're going great-guns, but I'm hesitant to assume that Fein solves our Hooking/DH "problems".
He's played one game (and played well), but he's got to string a few good games together before I'm convinced.
Call me a pessimist, but I can remember our last Premiership, and it's been a long, long time between drinks...

However, to contradict everything that I've just said: the competition for spots in the 17 is as fierce as I can remember. And that is a great sign...

Fien did okay in the world cup he's a keeper

 

[brokendigit]

Fien did okay in the world cup he's a keeper

I agree, but don't forget that Florence did OK for NZ too, and I think that he'll struggle to be in the 17 come Semi-finals (assuming a full roster is available).