Dugan or packer

[Alec's-saints]

His mob is from Taree

correct but has extended family in dubbo

 

[BringTheNoise]

Yeah, but you mentioned them being Internationals, yet somehow I believe you don't see Woods (current international) as being a good value signing for Bulldogs. Or maybe you do

What on earth has Woods signing with Bulldogs got to do with us losing/retaining/replacing Packer and Dugan?

Are you trying to say that signing international players on big contracts is bad recruitment?

 

[Ben_Kusto_magic]

my best mate is related to latrell. i know some stuff about him that i should share with you guys. that guy has been in a domestic relationship for years he also gets on it with his mob most weekends in dubbo. im aboriginal and have some of my family who get on it with him occasionally. hope this doesn't leave league unlimited I've had a few drinks with him before he has a problem with alcohol.

Appreciate your information, but that's probably something that would best be kept to yourself

 

[BringTheNoise]

And why do they need to be replaced like for like? If we lose Dugan, who is to say that Dufty can't fill that fullback spot successfully. Or say Connor Watson, Tyrone Roberts, etc, for arguments sake. We don't have to sign an international to replace Dugan or Packer to keep our team at the same momentum.

So you think replacing international players with junior players or reserve graders is a step forward for 2018? You think this will make us more competitive?

 

[BringTheNoise]

Appreciate your information, but that's probably something that would best be kept to yourself

Making unfounded allegations of drug use is slanderous. I expect mods will delete if they come across it.

 

[twinkletoes]

The next piece of Millward's jig saw is for Dugan to leave. Then he will have the team he selected on the whiteboard for next year with Field at fullback. The he can start thinking about the rebuilding process for the next 3 years before we see semi final football again...

 

[Dorothy the Winowhore]

So you think replacing international players with junior players or reserve graders is a step forward for 2018? You think this will make us more competitive?

I seem to recall a junior fullback stepping into first grade at Raiders a few years ago, replacing a fullback with rep honours. Pretty sure he did a pretty good job of it too. You may have heard of him, Josh Dugan?

Just saying that you do not need to replace an international with another international to keep the team (17 players) environment strong.

 

[possm]

I'm fine with Packer leaving, but my only issue is that he reminded me very much of Jeremy Smith and the mongrel he brought to the table. When Smith left, thats when the softness of our forward pack showed it true colours....our response to Packer leaving is what is most important.

Great example, when Smith left we did not replace like for like or better. At the time we had an awesome forward pack which helped us win the 2010 GF.

Like for like or better does mot necessarily mean the same dollar value, it means the same level of skill and influence. You maybe able to recruit a player who can score himself and cause the team to win or you may recruit a player who can setup players and cause the team to win.

In Packers case he brought mongrel and no nonsense attack and defence. He drew in two or three forwards and then had a quick play the ball which gave us the forward momentum to keep the opposition on the back foot. Most of all he was aggressive and hard to get on top of. We do not have anyone who is a Smith or Packer type player in our forward squad for next year and it would be a big mistake not to have a player like that.

The Tigers valued Packers skillset and experience and paid top dollar to have him in their team.

 

[BringTheNoise]

I seem to recall a junior fullback stepping into first grade at Raiders a few years ago, replacing a fullback with rep honours. Pretty sure he did a pretty good job of it too. You may have heard of him, Josh Dugan?

Just saying that you do not need to replace an international with another international to keep the team (17 players) environment strong.

Yeah of course we don't, that's why we haven't come close to winning a premiership since 2011. Because rep players are expendable and can be replaced by anyone. Don't need rep players to be competitive.

 

[2010]

Packer was a standout under the power game.
We will find another forward but Packer is going to be missed

 

[Dorothy the Winowhore]

Yeah of course we don't, that's why we haven't come close to winning a premiership since 2011. Because rep players are expendable and can be replaced by anyone. Don't need rep players to be competitive.

Glad to see you coming around to my way of thinking. There is such a strategy of making those more valued rep player signings in other, more needed, positions. Do you think Ben Hunt is an upgrade from McCrone? Do you think that could help towards improving the team performance? Who is to say that another fullback (non international) isn't going to give us more of a ball playing fullback than Duges does? Which would also improve the overall team performance. A team is 17 players, not 17 international players. We have strengthened our halves for 2018 in bucketloads. You can't tell me that will still makes us a weaker team if Duges is not replaced by a Slater or Boyd etc.

 

[possm]

The next piece of Millward's jig saw is for Dugan to leave. Then he will have the team he selected on the whiteboard for next year with Field at fullback. The he can start thinking about the rebuilding process for the next 3 years before we see semi final football again...

If Dugan goes to the Sharks, the Dragons will be as cashed up as the Tigers were. The only problem is that most of the good players have been snapped up or extended so we will be looking at a whole lot of average players coming onto the market. Good for depth but not good for our spine or for that critical mongrel position in our front row.

Millward should retain the players he wants to keep now as a matter of urgency because, if the rich clubs get their way, the cap will come in at 10m and every player manager will be at him for extra large salaries.

 

[BringTheNoise]

Glad to see you coming around to my way of thinking. There is such a strategy of making those more valued rep player signings in other, more needed, positions. Do you think Ben Hunt is an upgrade from McCrone? Do you think that could help towards improving the team performance? Who is to say that another fullback (non international) isn't going to give us more of a ball playing fullback than Duges does? Which would also improve the overall team performance. A team is 17 players, not 17 international players. We have strengthened our halves for 2018 in bucketloads. You can't tell me that will still makes us a weaker team if Duges is not replaced by a Slater or Boyd etc.

So you're saying that because we've upgraded one position we can now afford to weaken another one?

 

[Alec's-saints]

gordon is an option for one year

 

[Dorothy the Winowhore]

So you're saying that because we've upgraded one position we can now afford to weaken another one?

Did I say that? How do you know Dufty, or Johnson, or whoever replaces Dugan is going to weaken the fullback spot? Dugan is not that great a fullback. He is a good player, but will never be a great fullback between now and retirement. All I am saying is adding more experience to other vitally needed positions can also strengthen a team. That means, I reckon we can improve our team by not replacing Dugan with an international player.

 

[possm]

Glad to see you coming around to my way of thinking. There is such a strategy of making those more valued rep player signings in other, more needed, positions. Do you think Ben Hunt is an upgrade from McCrone? Do you think that could help towards improving the team performance? Who is to say that another fullback (non international) isn't going to give us more of a ball playing fullback than Duges does? Which would also improve the overall team performance. A team is 17 players, not 17 international players. We have strengthened our halves for 2018 in bucketloads. You can't tell me that will still makes us a weaker team if Duges is not replaced by a Slater or Boyd etc.

A top line spine and an effective forward pack are the base of a good team. We have a top line spine if Dugan is there but if not we need a first grade fullback to strengthen our spine. With a first grade fullback with talent, we have a spine to compete with any of the top sides.

When it comes to our forward pack, this year we have what is needed. We have size, speed, aggression and dominance. Losing Packer is a big blow and so if we do not find someone of a similar ilk we are looking softer and less dominant.

So we need to retain our key backs or replace them and we definitely need to replace Dugan and Packer with top line players.

 

[Dorothy the Winowhore]

Again, does Hunt being added to the spine instead of McCrone not strengthen that spine?

 

[Dorothy the Winowhore]

Dugan - Widdop - McCrone - McInnes or Humphrey B Bear - Widdop - Hunt - McInnes

Second one still looks better to me

 

[possm]

gordon is an option for one year

You are correct. I suggested this earlier in the season and got howled down.

Mitchell would be a great addition to our backline and would be a long term member of the team. He has great speed and good skillset. I believe if Millward made him a good long term offer, his manager would gain a release from the Rooster.

 

[Dorothy the Winowhore]

Bring The Noise won't approve those 2. Pretty sure they aren't internationals