Dragons v Titans Round 2, 2023

[Gardenia]

In my time involved in football potential gets you only so far

Might have been the wrong choice of words. I think he is talented if given freedom to play his game.

 

[Gardenia]

I have said all along if your engine room is working only on 3 cylinder instead of 6, not consistently making the advantage line and at least 3 forwards need to run 100m plus to give you an even chance of being competitive. You can have the Kangaroo backline it won't matter. We have suffered greatly from the lack of size of the bookends and their go forward. Until that is addressed we won't be playing semi finals football anytime soon

Agreed. IMO we never adequately replaced Friz and Sims. We need 2 gun forwards and Lomax to play to his potential and we make the 8.

 

[jodragon40]

Might have been the wrong choice of words. I think he is talented if given freedom to play his game.

And that's our problem no time for our play makers to play and execute because our pack is going backwards.

 

[Gardenia]

And that's our problem no time for our play makers to play and execute because our pack is going backwards.

Yes some Plodders. Bit nervous we don't have JDB playing this round TBH. Still have to stay positive.

 

[jodragon40]

Agreed. IMO we never adequately replaced Friz and Sims. We need 2 gun forwards and Lomax to play to his potential and we make the 8.

Not this season I'm afraid

 

[jodragon40]

Yes some Plodders. Bit nervous we don't have JDB playing this round TBH. Still have to stay positive.

I live on the GC. I watched the Titans training run during the week. They are fast given space on the edges and when they turn the ball back inside the ruck area when our forwards are tiring will be a great test for us. I noted their defensive line was a bit jagged and they did miss some one on one tackles. They have lost a bit of their game management now that Foran is out. Campbell is quick but he's no manager. Fifita will tear our edge apart if given early quality ball from Campbell however his passing wasn't as crisp as Forans so we are an even chance of winning

 

[Gardenia]

Not this season I'm afraid

You read my mind. Unless Couchman surprises us all ?

 

[jodragon40]

You read my mind. Unless Couchman surprises us all ?

He's only a kid, he will try when he comes on of course but there's no substitute for experience I'm afraid. Our defensive frailties especially in and around the ruck and edges are of a great concern to me. There was no communication between our players in the Souths game and some of our forwards were playing touch footy out there

 

[Gardenia]

I live on the GC. I watched the Titans training run during the week. They are fast given space on the edges and when they turn the ball back inside the ruck area when our forwards are tiring will be a great test for us. I noted their defensive line was a bit jagged and they did miss some one on one tackles. They have lost a bit of their game management now that Foran is out. Campbell is quick but he's no manager. Fifita will tear our edge apart if given early quality ball from Campbell however his passing wasn't as crisp as Forans so we are an even chance of winning

Great insight there. Fifita would have been sooo good to sign but anyway onwards and upwards. I think we can sneak over the line and looking forward to the game. I am on the CC NSW would take me about 3 hours to get to Jubilee where I grew up, so can't go sadly. Not keen to go to the Brisbane game not hopping on a plane for that one. Hope we can get past those defensive holes nice to hear. I think we can muster a bit of razzle dazzle if we keep the errors in check. And don't let tries in - here's looking at you Sloan and Mbye.

 

[Gardenia]

He's only a kid, he will try when he comes on of course but there's no substitute for experience I'm afraid. Our defensive frailties especially in and around the ruck and edges are of a great concern to me. There was no communication between our players in the Souths game and some of our forwards were playing touch footy out there

Yes, copy that. Not fair to put that sort of pressure on him. Hes so excited which is really nice.

 

[hewi]

I live in hope for a win but the reality is it’s highly unlikely

 

[jodragon40]

Great insight there. Fifita would have been sooo good so sign but anyway onwards and upwards. I think we can sneak over the line and looking forward to the game. I am on the CC NSW would take me about 3 hours to get to Jubilee where I grew up, so can't go sadly. Not keen to go to the Brisbane game not hopping on a plane for that one. Hope we can get past those defensive holes nice to hear. I think we can muster a bit of razzle dazzle if we keep the errors in check.

We can live in hope but with our best defensive forward out I'm really worried

 

[Dragon David]

I'm very keen to see how we go on Sunday night. Win, lose or draw it will give us some insight on how we might fare for the next half a dozen games or so because they will be testy ones especially the one against the Broncos in Round 3. A good showing by the Dragons on Sunday is what I'm hoping for. Defence as usual is the key. We need to be good at this.

 

[jodragon40]

I'm very keen to see how we go on Sunday night. Win, lose or draw it will give us some insight on how we might fare for the next half a dozen games or so because they will be testy ones especially the one against the Broncos in Round 3. A good showing by the Dragons on Sunday is what I'm hoping for. Defence as usual is the key. We need to be good at this.

The Titans although they did win last week according to the stat's were pretty good 75% completion rate only had 44% of the ball but they did miss 47 tackles which gives us hope

 

[redv13]

In my time involved in football potential gets you only so far

A certain poster on here will tell you he was potentially the best centre to never play 1st grade for Saints

 

[mickeylane]

I expect us to get up tomorrow in a close one for no other reason but for the players to prove all the pundits wrong .. if they don’t well it w only prove what everyone has been predicting…

 

[redandwhite4evr]

Why are we the only club with no NSW Cup team list named?

In the DT on Thursday, the Dragons Jersey Flegg team was the only one unannounced. Lack of communication, organization- take your pick with this mob.

 

[kit66]

The Titans although they did win last week according to the stat's were pretty good 75% completion rate only had 44% of the ball but they did miss 47 tackles which gives us hope

The Tigers certainly had all the stats in their favour, more possession, more metres, 6 line breaks to 2, won 9 penalties to 3 and were physically all over the Tits in the first half. While the Titans defence was woeful, not just 47 missed but 31 ineffective. It was the Tigers clunky attack, errors on the field, a couple of dodgy calls and a couple of strategic blunders that saw all the good work they did wasted. The first blunder was leaving Koroisau on the bench for the opening 25 minutes, the one man who could have stayed calm and capitalized on their early dominance and field position, I doubt Sheens will do that again. Second blunder, it took the Tigers 41 minutes to notice the Titans left side defence has more holes than Salon Kitty's or maybe Sheens had a chat with them at half time because they put on a few raids down that side after the break. Bud working that side in attack could have a field day.
Dane Laurie's two crucial errors under the high ball gifted the Titans 2 tries and the Titans got another after a truly bad bunker call on a challenge. Their 4th try was just lazy Tigers defence from the scrum.
I'm hoping our back 3, particularly Sloan, can clean up any bombs and grubbers near the line, our record on those is terrible. Also need those same boys to bring the ball back strongly and get us a roll on because the Tits are susceptible to fast play in general and darts out of dummy half. Another Tigers tactical error later in the game was players standing way too deep in attack when bringing the ball out of their 20-30 metre zone, like they were on the attack at the other end - the Tits just raced up and stopped them before the advantage line, easy work.
Our forwards and right centre need to do a job on Fifita like they did in round 23 last year when they held him to just 102 metres from 17 runs, that was impressive and helped nullify their attack right from the start.
Even if Foran was playing I'd still say this was a very winnabe game for us. Without Foran playing we have no excuses.

 

[Dragon David]

The Tigers certainly had all the stats in their favour, more possession, more metres, 6 line breaks to 2, won 9 penalties to 3 and were physically all over the Tits in the first half. While the Titans defence was woeful, not just 47 missed but 31 ineffective. It was the Tigers clunky attack, errors on the field, a couple of dodgy calls and a couple of strategic blunders that saw all the good work they did wasted. The first blunder was leaving Koroisau on the bench for the opening 25 minutes, the one man who could have stayed calm and capitalized on their early dominance and field position, I doubt Sheens will do that again. Second blunder, it took the Tigers 41 minutes to notice the Titans left side defence has more holes than Salon Kitty's or maybe Sheens had a chat with them at half time because they put on a few raids down that side after the break. Bud working that side in attack could have a field day.
Dane Laurie's two crucial errors under the high ball gifted the Titans 2 tries and the Titans got another after a truly bad bunker call on a challenge. Their 4th try was just lazy Tigers defence from the scrum.
I'm hoping our back 3, particularly Sloan, can clean up any bombs and grubbers near the line, our record on those is terrible. Also need those same boys to bring the ball back strongly and get us a roll on because the Tits are susceptible to fast play in general and darts out of dummy half. Another Tigers tactical error later in the game was players standing way too deep in attack when bringing the ball out of their 20-30 metre zone, like they were on the attack at the other end - the Tits just raced up and stopped them before the advantage line, easy work.
Our forwards and right centre need to do a job on Fifita like they did in round 23 last year when they held him to just 102 metres from 17 runs, that was impressive and helped nullify their attack right from the start.
Even if Foran was playing I'd still say this was a very winnabe game for us. Without Foran playing we have no excuses.

Very good analysis kit. Hopefully Hook and his cohorts have also examined that clash with a fine tooth comb to give our players something solid to work on and capitalise on.

 

[blacksafake]

The Tigers certainly had all the stats in their favour, more possession, more metres, 6 line breaks to 2, won 9 penalties to 3 and were physically all over the Tits in the first half. While the Titans defence was woeful, not just 47 missed but 31 ineffective. It was the Tigers clunky attack, errors on the field, a couple of dodgy calls and a couple of strategic blunders that saw all the good work they did wasted. The first blunder was leaving Koroisau on the bench for the opening 25 minutes, the one man who could have stayed calm and capitalized on their early dominance and field position, I doubt Sheens will do that again. Second blunder, it took the Tigers 41 minutes to notice the Titans left side defence has more holes than Salon Kitty's or maybe Sheens had a chat with them at half time because they put on a few raids down that side after the break. Bud working that side in attack could have a field day.
Dane Laurie's two crucial errors under the high ball gifted the Titans 2 tries and the Titans got another after a truly bad bunker call on a challenge. Their 4th try was just lazy Tigers defence from the scrum.
I'm hoping our back 3, particularly Sloan, can clean up any bombs and grubbers near the line, our record on those is terrible. Also need those same boys to bring the ball back strongly and get us a roll on because the Tits are susceptible to fast play in general and darts out of dummy half. Another Tigers tactical error later in the game was players standing way too deep in attack when bringing the ball out of their 20-30 metre zone, like they were on the attack at the other end - the Tits just raced up and stopped them before the advantage line, easy work.
Our forwards and right centre need to do a job on Fifita like they did in round 23 last year when they held him to just 102 metres from 17 runs, that was impressive and helped nullify their attack right from the start.
Even if Foran was playing I'd still say this was a very winnabe game for us. Without Foran playing we have no excuses.

Good preview @kit66
Hopefully our new AC’s have caught on to this & if so Hook listens.