Dragons v Titans Round 2, 2023

[SnowDragon]

Ok, I’m going against the grain here.

1) Sloan. Yes he needs to develop, it’s all confidence. Give him a proper run and develop him. Otherwise you may as well grant him a release and watch him tear us apart at a rival club.

2) Rava has been injured, needs a few games to get back. He has runs on the board after last 2 years.

3) we will benefit heaps by bud and hunt in the Halves. I already saw a few things in the game that excited me.

4) mbye is playing well. The hate for him is misplaced. As long as he plays 14 and not starting in halves or FB I’m happy. He is a great safe 14 who can fill in almost anywhere.

5) jdb and bird coming back will help in he pack

6) musgrove was a positive in the game v south’s. BMM has potential, though I think his lateral speed may push him into the middle.

7) Francis Molo needs to come good. Heaps of potential, but not playing at the level he can.

8) Liddle is way better so far than I expected. We lost nothing in defence and his attack showed sparks of creativity to remove our predictability of last year

9) people need to remember how big the changes in our side are (unlike south’s who are almost unchanged). It takes some time to learn to play as a team, find combinations, learn to trust etc.

none of this changes my concern after how south’s turned us into turnstiles at times, but I’ve seen south’s put on 18 quick points ag better sides, and we have time to turn it around if the coaching is smart. (And hopefully we can recruit at least 1 quality forward)

 

[mattchuot]

Ok, I’m going against the grain here.

1) Sloan. Yes he needs to develop, it’s all confidence. Give him a proper run and develop him. Otherwise you may as well grant him a release and watch him tear us apart at a rival club.

2) Rava has been injured, needs a few games to get back. He has runs on the board after last 2 years.

3) we will benefit heaps by bud and hunt in the Halves. I already saw a few things in the game that excited me.

4) mbye is playing well. The hate for him is misplaced. As long as he plays 14 and not starting in halves or FB I’m happy. He is a great safe 14 who can fill in almost anywhere.

5) jdb and bird coming back will help in he pack

6) musgrove was a positive in the game v south’s. BMM has potential, though I think his lateral speed may push him into the middle.

7) Francis Molo needs to come good. Heaps of potential, but not playing at the level he can.

8) Liddle is way better so far than I expected. We lost nothing in defence and his attack showed sparks of creativity to remove our predictability of last year

9) people need to remember how big the changes in our side are (unlike south’s who are almost unchanged). It takes some time to learn to play as a team, find combinations, learn to trust etc.

none of this changes my concern after how south’s turned us into turnstiles at times, but I’ve seen south’s put on 18 quick points ag better sides, and we have time to turn it around if the coaching is smart. (And hopefully we can recruit at least 1 quality forward)

Agreed @SnowDragon. Better to make mistakes now and realise we still have more to do defensively during the trials than Rd2 when competition points are on the line. I guess it’s a blessing in disguise that we have a Rd1 bye because we are way off the mark in defense.

 

[epDragon62]

If Woolfe is any good he will work hard on the mistakes we made against Souths and we will see the improvement. Some were so glazing I could coach them to correct them.

 

[Dorothy the Winowhore]

Dino was right....we need speed. If you think Rav is still up to it these days, have a look at the Titans 19 year old kid on the left wing today against Dolphins.

 

[SnowDragon]

Dino was right....we need speed. If you think Rav is still up to it these days, have a look at the Titans 19 year old kid on the left wing today against Dolphins.

Totally disagree about Rav. Speed is a great tool, but he can rattle with his D, and steamroll over when needed. Not ready just yet to write him off after a trial back from injury.

 

[currumbinsaint21]

I liked what i saw of Russel,tackled and ran hard.definitley worth a go on the bench.

 

[Dragon David]

I wouldn't underestimate the great man Dave I'm sure he will conjure something up to make his team competitive. I'm just worried that we maybe the Dolphins first win in the NRL Let me cast your mind back to the Western Reds, what a memorable moment that was for us.

I know that underestimating Wayne would be a massive mistake justa. The only one who gave us hope and glory this century. I think that the Dragons seem to have this thing about either a new club entering the comp (yes Western Reds - first win was against us on 12 March 1995, 28-16), or other times like when the Eels beat us 36-6 with the opening of the Parramatta Stadium on 16 March 1986 which replaced Cumberland Oval. I'm sure there are other instances similar to these examples.

So, yes, the Dolphins might win their first NRL game ever in 2023 and that would be typically against us in round 5.

 

[Victoire]

Melbourne Storm got their first ever win against Illawarra too

 

[Dragon David]

Dino was right....we need speed. If you think Rav is still up to it these days, have a look at the Titans 19 year old kid on the left wing today against Dolphins.

Yes Dorothy, this is the key to winning games - speed - in all facets of the game (attack and defence, playing the ball, moving up and retreating, kick chase, etc.). Dino has always been right. We do have a couple of players with true speed once given space but we need a couple more and Rava, Moga etc don't have it - just strength.

 

[thebigredv]

Sure, perhaps we have brought in on ourselves, but gee a second round match up against title heavyweights and historic club the GC charge...Titans says it all about how the NRL perceives us.

That's my thoughts on this game.

 

[RedVDave]

Can we please not jump the gun and focus on beating the bye first.

 

[blacksafake]

If Woolfe is any good he will work hard on the mistakes we made against Souths and we will see the improvement. Some were so glazing I could coach them to correct them.

Woolfe spent plenty of time in the box the other night with his head in his hands.
Probably thinking what have I got myself into

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

Woolfe spent plenty of time in the box the other night with his head in his hands.
Probably thinking what have I got myself into

I think that was Ryan Carr, Woolfe was in the blue shirt on the ground, that's what i thought anyway, cause i had my head in my hands for majority of the match...

 

[justadragon]

Ok, I’m going against the grain here.

1) Sloan. Yes he needs to develop, it’s all confidence. Give him a proper run and develop him. Otherwise you may as well grant him a release and watch him tear us apart at a rival club.

2) Rava has been injured, needs a few games to get back. He has runs on the board after last 2 years.

3) we will benefit heaps by bud and hunt in the Halves. I already saw a few things in the game that excited me.

4) mbye is playing well. The hate for him is misplaced. As long as he plays 14 and not starting in halves or FB I’m happy. He is a great safe 14 who can fill in almost anywhere.

5) jdb and bird coming back will help in he pack

6) musgrove was a positive in the game v south’s. BMM has potential, though I think his lateral speed may push him into the middle.

7) Francis Molo needs to come good. Heaps of potential, but not playing at the level he can.

8) Liddle is way better so far than I expected. We lost nothing in defence and his attack showed sparks of creativity to remove our predictability of last year

9) people need to remember how big the changes in our side are (unlike south’s who are almost unchanged). It takes some time to learn to play as a team, find combinations, learn to trust etc.

none of this changes my concern after how south’s turned us into turnstiles at times, but I’ve seen south’s put on 18 quick points ag better sides, and we have time to turn it around if the coaching is smart. (And hopefully we can recruit at least 1 quality forward)

I agree with everything you said except for one comment, "if the coaching is smart" . I can also add inspiring to that.

 

[Como Connection]

I think that was Ryan Carr, Woolfe was in the blue shirt on the ground, that's what i thought anyway, cause i had my head in my hands for majority of the match...

Correct.
CC

 

[Dragon David]

Correct.
CC

I think that was Ryan Carr, Woolfe was in the blue shirt on the ground, that's what i thought anyway, cause i had my head in my hands for majority of the match...

Yes, correct Ayios and Como.

Assistant coach Ryan Carr talks Dragons attack

Meet the new Dragons assistant coach Ryan Carr and learn about what his primary role will be within the Dragons coaching structure.

www.dragons.com.au

Assistant coach Ben Woolf talks Dragons

Dragons assistant coach Ben Woolf discusses his new role with the Red V and how he fits into the coaching structure.

www.dragons.com.au

 

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

On the plus side, I don't see anyone from the Dragons camp going into this game with a complacent attitude.

 

[2010Dragons]

Two words which will define another crap or a successful season.

LINE SPEED.

Every player especially the forwards are too slow in the defensive line speed.
2010 Bennett had them sprinting back and forward at EVERY play the ball for 80 mins.

LINE SPEED improves and the rest will fall in place naturally.

 

[OneEyedDragon]

Two words which will define another crap or a successful season.

LINE SPEED.

Every player especially the forwards are too slow in the defensive line speed.
2010 Bennett had them sprinting back and forward at EVERY play the ball for 80 mins.

LINE SPEED improves and the rest will fall in place naturally.

Totally agree @2010Dragons . I am tired of seeing good line speed in defence for the first 1 or 2 tackles and then it becomes 1 step forward, stop and wait for the opposition to reach you. The team just gives away 8 or 9 metres on every play the ball, and that is assuming the Dragons players make the tackle once the opposition reaches them.

 

[blacksafake]

I think that was Ryan Carr, Woolfe was in the blue shirt on the ground, that's what i thought anyway, cause i had my head in my hands for majority of the match...

Ok,
Thanks for that