Dragons holding NSW back?

[johns_reds]

I know I will get flamed but i think the dragons are holding NSW back.
They play a very simple game of football, they wait for the opposition to make mistakes and pounce.

The problem with that tactic is at origin the quality opposition you are playing isn’t going to make too many mistakes, Dragons are used to getting to the front and holding on, unfortunately last night QLD scored first and NSW looked like they didn't have an answer after that.
Sure they come back when QLD lapsed for 10 minutes late in the game but besides that, did NSW offer anything in attack? Yes i know their forwards were dominated but I think the style of play of grinding out a win won’t cut it against the QLD team.

 

[Mong]

Yep, they cost them the last 5 series as well..

Dead set.. Why are some league fans so geniused?

 

[johns_reds]

Yep, they cost them the last 5 series as well..

Dead set.. Why are some league fans so geniused?

well put it this way, they keep this team's style of play it will be another 5 series...

 

[Slackboy72]

Well it was a lack of go forward that is holding NSW back. Young isn't helping. Ennis isn't helping. Snowden and King didn't help.
Ever since Buderus retired we haven't had a decent performance at hooker bar Craig Wing coming on for Farah in 2009.

 

[Mr Saab]

the more dragons playing for NSW the better for QLD

 

[Jason Maher]

Fine. Drop all 7 Dragons. Bring in players from the Roosters, Parra, Penrith, Cronulla, Wests - you know, the teams who are dominating the comp - and watch us magically turn it around.

The Blues didn't play anything remotely resembling the Dragons style of play, which is probably not surprising given that Ricky Stuart is coaching the team and not Wayne Bennett or the Dragons players.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

He's right that a Dragons style game won't be good enough. It might work against NRL sides but this Qld side in an NRL side on steroids. And playing from behind totally changes things. I'm waiting for the Dragons to fall a few tries behind one day and see how they handle it. Also, the Dragons are a good team but I don't think too many of their individuals should be in the NSW side.

 

[johns_reds]

I'm not so much attacking dragons players, but the style of play, it is no secret that ricky is trying to play the same way the dragons do, hell he even took tips from Bennett!

I just think that if NSW try to grind out games QLD will always have the upper hand

 

[Gaba]

attack only doesnt work against defence either

 

[j0nesy]

The Dragons rarely lose the forward battle. King and Snowden were murdered. Im inclined to agree that Hayne should be there ahead of Morris though.

 

[Gaba]

nsw halfback position what will hold nsw back until they an find a better replacement halfback


what can chip,n chase and mix his game up


Pearce never does a chip n chase etc, he does the predicable kick every time


why a carney would be ok in the halfback position he has some attack and capable of mixing it up

 

[johns_reds]

Fine. Drop all 7 Dragons. Bring in players from the Roosters, Parra, Penrith, Cronulla, Wests - you know, the teams who are dominating the comp - and watch us magically turn it around.

The Blues didn't play anything remotely resembling the Dragons style of play, which is probably not surprising given that Ricky Stuart is coaching the team and not Wayne Bennett or the Dragons players.

They tried but unfortunately the forwards were dominated, Maybe they should look at bringing in Weyman (no that is not tongue cheek) - if they want to play like the dragons might as well go all out

 

[user_nat]

The Dragons rarely lose the forward battle. King and Snowden were murdered. Im inclined to agree that Hayne should be there ahead of Morris though.

Don't forget about Merrin.

 

[Firey_Dragon]

I know I will get flamed but i think the dragons are holding NSW back.
They play a very simple game of football, they wait for the opposition to make mistakes and pounce.

The problem with that tactic is at origin the quality opposition you are playing isn’t going to make too many mistakes, Dragons are used to getting to the front and holding on, unfortunately last night QLD scored first and NSW looked like they didn't have an answer after that.
Sure they come back when QLD lapsed for 10 minutes late in the game but besides that, did NSW offer anything in attack? Yes i know their forwards were dominated but I think the style of play of grinding out a win won’t cut it against the QLD team.

They didn't even play the same style the Dragons play. The forwards didn't lay a platform for the backline yet they still only lost by 4... It's that simple.

 

[Jason Maher]

They tried but unfortunately the forwards were dominated, Maybe they should look at bringing in Weyman (no that is not tongue cheek) - if they want to play like the dragons might as well go all out

Weyman or Hunt would be better than King, though personally I'd opt for TLL. Merrin should not have been picked, he's too young, but I'd give him another run rather than the usual NSW tactic of dropping a first gamer and destroying his confidence. Both Merrin and Mannah were criminally underused - 25 minutes each.

 

[j0nesy]

Don't forget about Merrin.

Was he? I didnt think so. He didnt get a heck of a lot of game time, was rarely put on his back and appeared much more mobile than Snowden and King in defence. Hardly "murdered" like the other two. Wouldnt have picked him to begin with though, he doesnt even play ahead of Weyman or Hunt at Dragons. Wouldnt drop him on that performane in his first match.

 

[user_nat]

Was he? I didnt think so. He didnt get a heck of a lot of game time, was rarely put on his back and appeared much more mobile than Snowden and King in defence. Wouldnt have picked him to begin with though, he doesnt play ahead of Weyman or Hunt at Dragons.

5 hitups for 28 metres is Jason King like (King played 10 minutes longer though).

 

[Firey_Dragon]

5 hitups for 28 metres is Jason King like (King played 10 minutes longer though).

None of our front rowers made over 50m. They're all in the same boat. One thing is for sure Merrin and Mannah were more effective than the starting combination though, especially in defence.

 

[gronkathon]

Umm I think the biggest proble with the "Dragon Influence" is not the players as much as Sticky seems to have tried to get his entire game plan from Wayne whilst gobbling his knob.

Wayne is a brilliant coach at all levels but to use club level tactics was shown up during Bellamys reign and was again last night under Stewarts game plan.

The Maroons are aware of Waynes style quite obviously and club tactics simply do not work when you are playing in an Origin match against class players across the park.

Select alot of Dragons players because they are doing exceptionally well these past few seasons but give them something new to work with in terms of tactics

 

[DRAGONZ_RULE]

The only part of the field that was entirely Dragons was our right hand side ... how often did QLD break through down there?

Oh yeah ... NEVER.

How often in the past did Inglis, Boyd and Thurston carve us to pieces down that side of the field?? Almost every f**king game, that's how often.


What Stuart needs to do is get Hornby and Cooper out of retirement so that QLD can't make metres on either side of the field, and then get Weyman and Hunt so they can't make metres in the middle.

You know it's true.