Dragons want S Williams this season...

[ghostface]

There were question marks raised last year about Prices decision making and so far this year it seems he may have suffered from similar mistakes of his last campaign. Although im hoping to be proven wrong

For 3 months prior to the beginning of the 2012 season Price was aware that we did not have adequate cover for the fullback position. He gave Kyle Stanley 3 months to prepare for the toughest and most important backline position only to change his mind 2 weeks into the season. A whole preseason wasted as he failed to provide a solution to one of the most instrumental attacking positions.

Fast Forward to 2013. He was apparently quoted as saying we won't sign Rangi Chase as he has faith in the current playing group, 4 weeks in and he desperately needs a half/hooker. Our depth is being tested again. It seems Price's loyalty to his players, although admirable, may just be affecting his ability to run this team effectively.

 

[Mr Red]

There were question marks raised last year about Prices decision making and so far this year it seems he may have suffered from similar mistakes of his last campaign.

For 3 months prior to the beginning of the 2012 season Price was aware that we did not have adequate cover for the fullback position. He gave Kyle Stanley 3 months to prepare for the toughest and most important backline position only to change his mind 2 weeks into the season. A whole preseason wasted as he failed to provide a solution to one of the most instrumental attacking positions.

Fast Forward to 2013. He was apparently quoted as saying we won't sign Rangi Chase as he has faith in the current playing group, 4 weeks in and he desperately needs a half/hooker. Our depth is being tested again. It seems Price's loyalty to his players, although admirable, may just be affecting his ability to run this team effectively.

well said.

 

[Steelman]

So where are all the 'experts' now who wanted Drinkwater in at halfback for Round 1 against Melbourne?

It's now being shown up as another attempt by all the Price haters to undermine his call to play Fien at half, which was clearly his ONLY option available.

Well said as ive said before dw is not nrl material anyone knows anything about the game will tell u a good half needs speed and drinkwater doesnt either does fein. What fein does have is experience prices only option.

 

[BennyV]

Well said as ive said before dw is not nrl material anyone knows anything about the game will tell u a good half needs speed and drinkwater doesnt either does fein. What fein does have is experience prices only option.

I disagree...a 5/8 maybe, but I don't think the top halfbacks in the game necessarily need to have top speed. Looking at Johns, Kimmorley, Cronk, Thurston, even young Cherry Evans and Reynolds, all are known for their organisational skills, pass selection, passing close to the line, kicking, etc...would all still be top players without speed. Incidentally, I think the three fastest halves in the comp at the moment are Soward, Marshall and Johnson who are three of the less consistent and more frustrating halves in the comp (opinion).

Anyway, who knows where DW will be in a years time, the kid is 20 years old and hasnt had a game of NRL yet...bring him through properly and with the right game plan, and the Dragons will reap the benefits.

 

[Mr Red]

Well said as ive said before dw is not nrl material anyone knows anything about the game will tell u a good half needs speed and drinkwater doesnt either does fein. What fein does have is experience prices only option.

you cant have it both ways mate
you cant praise Price for playing Fien as it was his only option (why praise a coach for backing himself into a corner??) and then bag Drinkwater for not being NRL material... Price recruited Drinkwater, so the buck stops with Price either way...

 

[Drain the Dragon]

you cant have it both ways mate
you cant praise Price for playing Fien as it was his only option (why praise a coach for backing himself into a corner??) and then bag Drinkwater for not being NRL material... Price recruited Drinkwater, so the buck stops with Price either way...

Didn't realise that Price tripped up Kyle Stanley in the bathroom in order to paint himself into that corner?

Drinkwater was recruited for the future, not round one against the Storm. Anyone bagging Drinkwater is kidding themselves. Look at Miller at the Tigers. He finds himself back in NSW Cup this week. It's a massive jump physically to the week in-week out grind of the NRL.

 

[Mr Red]

Didn't realise that Price tripped up Kyle Stanley in the bathroom in order to paint himself into that corner?

Drinkwater was recruited for the future, not round one against the Storm. Anyone bagging Drinkwater is kidding themselves. Look at Miller at the Tigers. He finds himself back in NSW Cup this week. It's a massive jump physically to the week in-week out grind of the NRL.

once again we go around in circles with the Kyle Stanley thing... anyone hoping Stanley would be play 26 straight weeks is crazy

disagree with the whole "drinkwater was bought for the future" IMO Drinkwater was purchased with a view of competing for the first grade half back spot THIS season.. he was the star performer in a very poor team at Manly and thus IMO looked better then what he really is. we have some very good representative halves coming through the junior ranks which are only a few years younger than Drinkwater - they are our future halves.
i do agree though its a big jump from toyota cup/NSW cup to first grade, especially physically as you have mentioned.

 

[Godz Illa]

Fair enough not expecting Stanley to play 26 weeks, hence the value of a player like Fien, there to fill in when required. Expecting him to miss an entire season is not realistic - he played 16 games in 2011 and 14 in 2012.

The club should have been targeting a replacement following Style's injury, and indeed seem to have done that albeit keeping the purse strings too tight for any signings. That stinginess may prove worthwhile if we land Dugan however

 

[BennyV]

Fair enough not expecting Stanley to play 26 weeks, hence the value of a player like Fien, there to fill in when required. Expecting him to miss an entire season is not realistic - he played 16 games in 2011 and 14 in 2012.

The club should have been targeting a replacement following Style's injury, and indeed seem to have done that albeit keeping the purse strings too tight for any signings. That stinginess may prove worthwhile if we land Dugan however

It's almost as if Doust knew Dugan would play up at Canberra...and predicted he would jeapordise his $2m deal at the Broncos...he had some inside information regarding the eventual meltdown of Dugan and held back from signing other players for this reason...

 

[Mr Red]

Fair enough not expecting Stanley to play 26 weeks, hence the value of a player like Fien, there to fill in when required.
Expecting him to miss an entire season is not realistic - he played 16 games in 2011 and 14 in 2012.
So Stanley plays only a little more than 50% of a season.. hardly impressive.
and i suspect in 2011 a fair few of these were off the bench, thus not playing the full 80 mins and therefore less chance to get injured?

The club should have been targeting a replacement following Style's injury,
and indeed seem to have done that albeit keeping the purse strings too tight for any signings. That stinginess may prove worthwhile if we land Dugan however.
Question - would you still want Dugan knowing that he is with the club only because his first option in Brisbane pulled out? would you sign a player knowing your club isnt really where he wanted to play?

 

[Mr Red]

It's almost as if Doust knew Dugan would play up at Canberra...and predicted he would jeapordise his $2m deal at the Broncos...he had some inside information regarding the eventual meltdown of Dugan and held back from signing other players for this reason...

LOL ... Success through ineptness... Dousty Style.. and we still havent got Dugan yet either.. perhaps Dousty knows Dugan will reject another offer that hasnt eventuated yet?

 

[Godz Illa]

Question - would you still want Dugan knowing that he is with the club only because his first option in Brisbane pulled out? would you sign a player knowing your club isnt really where he wanted to play?

Means zero to me. I'm confident the culture of the club will turn him around - despite all criticism of the club's leadership they have built a strong culture

 

[Drain the Dragon]

disagree with the whole "drinkwater was bought for the future" IMO Drinkwater was purchased with a view of competing for the first grade half back spot THIS season..

The future could be this season.
In fact the future could be in next few weeks possibly?
But it needs to be when he's ready to step up, unless injuries dictate it has to happen.
The Tigers have found out the hard way and are now reduced to playing Anasta at half this week.

 

[BennyV]

The future could be this season.
In fact the future could be in next few weeks possibly?
But it needs to be when he's ready to step up, unless injuries dictate it has to happen.
The Tigers have found out the hard way and are now reduced to playing Anasta at half this week.

Anasta at 7, Loltzen at 1, Blair in the team...we may think we've got it tough, but there's always someone worse off...

LOL@Tigpies

 

[Mr Red]

Question - would you still want Dugan knowing that he is with the club only because his first option in Brisbane pulled out? would you sign a player knowing your club isnt really where he wanted to play?

Means zero to me. I'm confident the culture of the club will turn him around - despite all criticism of the club's leadership they have built a strong culture

i agree the dragons culture is one of the best in the leagues, just still undecided on paying huge dollars for a player you know doesnt really want to play for the club, and is only there because his preferred option fell through..

 

[Mr Red]

Anasta at 7, Loltzen at 1, Blair in the team...we may think we've got it tough, but there's always someone worse off...

LOL@Tigpies

i feel sorry for Mick Potter inheriting a shambles that Sheens left.. they need a big cleanout as their salary cap is totally mis-balanced, leaving gaping holes in their roster... and so many people calling for Sheens to coach us.. jesus.
Blair on 500k a season should be moved on ASAP if possible..
and letting Tom Humble leave to reduce salary cap pressure left a big gap in their halves...
i also suspect Lote Tuquiri will be moved on at the end of the year if he doesnt retire, Koribete looks to be going good on the wing.

 

[Ronnie Dobbs]

We play them next week.

They go well against Newie on Sunday & back it up against the Tigers and all of a sudden there's a bit of confidence in the joint.

 

[Minh]

We play them next week.

They go well against Newie on Sunday & back it up against the Tigers and all of a sudden there's a bit of confidence in the joint.

This, the Tigers can play us into form if we get the next two weeks right provided we can beat the Tigers and put up a good fight against Newcastle and hopefully win.

 

[Elias1983]

This, the Tigers can play us into form if we get the next two weeks right provided we can beat the Tigers and put up a good fight against Newcastle and hopefully win.

We will see where their heads are it this week. The win last week has the ability to destabilise a team as well as give them confidence as funny as that sounds.

They better not just believe that last week will now mean they will play better, the need to act on it.

Was last week a flash in the pan?

Time will tell.

If they keep the same intensity and enthusiasm up we can trouble the knights.

Tough match.

 

[Minh]

We will see where their heads are it this week. The win last week has the ability to destabilise a team as well as give them confidence as funny as that sounds.

They better not just believe that last week will now mean they will play better, the need to act on it.

Was last week a flash in the pan?

Time will tell.

If they keep the same intensity and enthusiasm up we can trouble the knights.

Tough match.

That's for sure, I remember last year when we won that big Anzac day match against the roosters thinking we were gonna kill it the nest week but we got beaten and went downhill. The boys need to be up for this game or else the Knights can put 30 on them.