Dragons Post Mortem

[Eelementary]

Well, personally, I thought he was OK. But two things:

(1) People have blasted Robson, the Keatings, Cayless, Poore, Inu, Mortimer, etc. endlessly; and

(2) His positional play in defence really isn't that good.

He is a great player. But honestly - he was caught out of position on many times by kicks (mind you, they were great kicks, but still) and put us under more pressure by not being in the right place. But it seems like he has avoided any scrutiny over this aspect of his game, which puzzles me. Robson is the devil's spawn because he can ONLY defend. But Hayne is God, even though he can ONLY attack. Seemingly.

/rant

And before you start casting me out and labelling me a heathen - as I said, I thought Haynesy was good and he is a super player. But he does need to improve his positional play. And if we're going to give him time to improve, it's only fair Robbo and all the other guys who copped a pasting get the same courtesy, too.

/rant #2

 

[Parra Guru]

I would like to say that the marking up problems don't begin with Eric Grothe. Kris Inu was constantly too far in field in defense and was fortunate he had a prop to mark who couldn't force the final pass. Grothe was often left marking 2 men as Inu kept coming in. I'm not sure whether that was Inu's fault or whether it started further in but if it stays that way next week we will leak a lot of points down that side.

 

[Gronk]

After watching most of the games on the weekend, I'd be prepared to go out on a limb and say that no other team would have been able to beat the Dragons considering their 94% completion rate.

Taking a positive out of the game, our goal line defence was obviously solid. They on the other hand should have put 25 points on us given the amount of ball they had.

 

[tresurehunt]

for starters i thought the dragqueens played really well only making 1 mistake all game,dominating possession,weyman and hunt really stood up,and sowards kicking game is probably the best in the nrl.now in saying that we turned over a lot of easy ball with our last takle options and ill discipline ( penalties ),i really welcome back timana's aggression in defense and will be better when joel returns, it will tighten up the other side.
fui is not superhuman,he is going to get dominated from time to time,but not often,i thought the dragqueens forewards played really well.

we need a 4th and fifth takle option its really letting us down and was the same as last year.

best players were; tahu,burt,metao and i thought eric saved haynsey a couple off times in deffense.

 

[Parra Steve]

Goal line defence was great, but we couldnt pin them down their end of the field for long periods, did we even force a goal line drop out?

 

[The Colonel]

The biggest issues on Friday night was where they played their football from - 70% of the ball was played inside the defensive 50 metre zone. When they had time in the Dragons 40 metre zone they looked capable of scoring but too often tried to push the pass.

While their is some warranted criticism for our dummy halves you have to consider they were being dominated around the ruck. You cannot produce a decent roll on when that happens and that was probably what won the Dragon the game - when the ball was sent wide and they looked for the offload the team looked dangerous.

The rotation IMO was the right one - and they will be better for it this week.

 

[84 Baby]

After watching most of the games on the weekend, I'd be prepared to go out on a limb and say that no other team would have been able to beat the Dragons considering their 94% completion rate.

Taking a positive out of the game, our goal line defence was obviously solid. They on the other hand should have put 25 points on us given the amount of ball they had.

Totally agree with your first point. In relation to the rest of the games this week I'd have us in the top 8 teams comfortably, probably even top 4. Only the Dragons and Roosters are definitely ahead of us at the moment then we're battling with Brisbane, Penrith, the 20 minutes Thurston decided to play and maybe Canberra.

Except for 2 pretty weak tries and 1 half break by Boyd and Morris, our defence was damn good. Dragons realise they should have scored more points but it would be hopeful thinking that Bennett puts it down to early season rustiness and doesn't make differences

 

[Fitz]

I would like to say that the marking up problems don't begin with Eric Grothe. Kris Inu was constantly too far in field in defense and was fortunate he had a prop to mark who couldn't force the final pass. Grothe was often left marking 2 men as Inu kept coming in. I'm not sure whether that was Inu's fault or whether it started further in but if it stays that way next week we will leak a lot of points down that side.

It is never Grothe's fault is it?

First it was Burt's when he was at centre...then it was Ben Smith who was coming too far in field when he was centre...then Joel Reddy was to blame. Now it's Inu??

Come on guys wake up, there has been one constant.

 

[Spartan - Dragon]

Saints play such a predictable game with the wide running decoy runner. They are crap. Soward's amazing kicking game keeps them in the hunt.

Sore loser!
Our "crap" tactics won us the game you merkin.
go f**k yourself you silly prick.

 

[The Colonel]

Sore loser!
Our "crap" tactics won us the game you merkin.
go f**k yourself you silly prick.

What part do you disagree with? The fact that the Dragons play boring, predictable football or that Sowards kicking game is the basis of the Dragon attack?

Nothing sore about what he says. It is the same predictable style that won you the minor premiership last year.

 

[Gaba]

What part do you disagree with? The fact that the Dragons play boring, predictable football or that Sowards kicking game is the basis of the Dragon attack?

Nothing sore about what he says. It is the same predictable style that won you the minor premiership last year.

actually it shows how predictable eels attack is if the dragons were confidence thier defense would win the game


the eels need hayne to start the attack, take hayne out of the game eels dont have many other attacking options to score ,

its up to the eels do become unpredictable otherwise any side what has good defense will win against the eels attack if they do the same tactics as the dragons

 

[Parra Steve]

actually it shows how predictable eels attack is and why they were the 13th worst in the league


the eels need hayne to do anything, take hayne out of the game eels dont have many other attacking options to score

And take Soward out and you wouldnt have too much either.

 

[Gaba]

And take Soward out and you wouldnt have too much either.

maybe true but since the dragons are a good defensive team, and they can score enough points to win games, they have other players what can score trys .

Different to the eels who have the fullback to be thier playmaker,


edited because i will wait til next time the dragons play the eels , to continue this debate


anyway good luck against the sea eagles ,

 

[The Colonel]

actually it shows how predictable eels attack is if the dragons were confidence thier defense would win the game

Nothing to do with the Eels attack at all. Do you disagree that your team is predictable?

The Dragons will win plenty of games from in front as they starve teams of field position. However if they have to play from behind they will find it difficult to score points - that was the biggest issue facing them in the finals.

I'm sure you will pull out some statistics to argue differently and show us how many points the Eels scored last year to the Dragons but if you look deeper at the statistics you'll find a differenht story in regard to points scored when they were behind on the scoreboard. That doesn't look to have changed in the off season.

I think they will stll make the finals. How far they progress will be determined again by the attack.

 

[Gaba]

Nothing to do with the Eels attack at all. Do you disagree that your team is predictable?

The Dragons will win plenty of games from in front as they starve teams of field position. However if they have to play from behind they will find it difficult to score points - that was the biggest issue facing them in the finals.

I'm sure you will pull out some statistics to argue differently and show us how many points the Eels scored last year to the Dragons but if you look deeper at the statistics you'll find a differenht story in regard to points scored when they were behind on the scoreboard. That doesn't look to have changed in the off season.

I think they will stll make the finals. How far they progress will be determined again by the attack.

all i will say is the dragons will be able to score points when required , the dragons had forwards in the centres , and other players out of games , you cant say that will be the dragons team majority of the year .


The question is can the eels if teams use the same tactics as the dragons , that is the bigger question

the eels should be aware now these tactics agaisnt them, do they have other players capable of counter attacking it, not only hayne

 

[The Colonel]

all i will say is the dragons will be able to score points when required ,

That still remains to be seen....... precedents prove otherwise. ;-)

 

[JessEel]

After watching most of the games on the weekend, I'd be prepared to go out on a limb and say that no other team would have been able to beat the Dragons considering their 94% completion rate.

I'm out on that limb with you Gronkydonk - i don't believe a team of that quality, with that much ball could have been beaten by anyone

 

[tresurehunt]

I'm out on that limb with you Gronkydonk - i don't believe a team of that quality, with that much ball could have been beaten by anyone

and us gifting them possession as well doesn't help by poor last takle options and poor discipline

 

[JessEel]

teething problems - they'll learn from their mistakes

 

[84 Baby]

the eels should be aware now these tactics agaisnt them, do they have other players capable of counter attacking it, not only hayne

Capable = yes. Consistently will = no. But that just means the Eels are more unpredictable