Dugan/Widdop/Marshall/Farrah Spine??

[The Nick]

THE strong mail that has found its way up Mt Ousley is that St George Illawarra gun Josh Dugan will start next year in the centres and Storm recruit Kurt Mann will get first crack at fullback for the Dragons. Should the move bear fruit for the Dragons, it could affect the make-up of NSW coach Laurie Daley’s Blues.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...r-carney-sacking/story-fnp0lyn3-1227572672177

 

[Saints Forever]

THE strong mail that has found its way up Mt Ousley is that St George Illawarra gun Josh Dugan will start next year in the centres and Storm recruit Kurt Mann will get first crack at fullback for the Dragons. Should the move bear fruit for the Dragons, it could affect the make-up of NSW coach Laurie Daley?s Blues.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...r-carney-sacking/story-fnp0lyn3-1227572672177

Now that should make Vas happy !!!

If true it would seem that we are all not as silly as you think we are Vas.

Makes sense, and may see us with a backline of:

Mann
Flo
Duges
Aitken
Mata
Widdop
Benji

 

[rainman44]

Now that should make Vas happy !!!

If true it would seem that we are all not as silly as you think we are Vas.

Makes sense, and may see us with a backline of:

Mann
Flo
Duges
Aitken
Mata
Widdop
Benji

That's the back line i would have for sure. Ball playing fullback to help out benji and widdop . Dugan at centre brings back the strike we use to have with Gaz. I love that idea and can't wait to see it in action. Bring on 2016.

 

[giboz71]

That's the back line i would have for sure. Ball playing fullback to help out benji and widdop . Dugan at centre brings back the strike we use to have with Gaz. I love that idea and can't wait to see it in action. Bring on 2016.

It's something we should at least consider, given we struggled to run plays via FB. Give Mann a crack at FB in the trials.

But if the Chambers rumour eventuates, you'd think he'd slot into one centre spot, A centre pairing of Dugan and Chambers would be formidable.

 

[The Nick]

It's something we should at least consider, given we struggled to run plays via FB. Give Mann a crack at FB in the trials.

But if the Chambers rumour eventuates, you'd think he'd slot into one centre spot, A centre pairing of Dugan and Chambers would be formidable.

I think that lineup would make us a top 4 side, assuming Mann can hold his own at fullback.

 

[giboz71]

I think that lineup would make us a top 4 side, assuming Mann can hold his own at fullback.

Yep, will be interesting to see what Mann can do. He needs to be going pretty good to displace Dugan, but at least it's his natural position. It's nice to have options .

 

[BennyV]

THE strong mail that has found its way up Mt Ousley is that St George Illawarra gun Josh Dugan will start next year in the centres and Storm recruit Kurt Mann will get first crack at fullback for the Dragons. Should the move bear fruit for the Dragons, it could affect the make-up of NSW coach Laurie Daley?s Blues.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...r-carney-sacking/story-fnp0lyn3-1227572672177

Weak coaching.

 

[Jubileeboy]

Weak coaching.

All conjecture at this stage so I wouldn't get too worked up over it but if it works, it's a master stroke and great coaching.
Mann will be too good to not have in the starting 13 somewhere.

 

[rainman44]

All conjecture at this stage so I wouldn't get too worked up over it but if it works, it's a master stroke and great coaching.
Mann will be too good to not have in the starting 13 somewhere.

I agree and i don't think they bought him for depth. He is a good young footballer that made the storm finals side.

 

[Blood Shot Eyes]

It's something we should at least consider, given we struggled to run plays via FB. Give Mann a crack at FB in the trials.

But if the Chambers rumour eventuates, you'd think he'd slot into one centre spot, A centre pairing of Dugan and Chambers would be formidable.

You could be right but IF Chambers is signing then cant see Dugan (who was Blues player of the series) playing in the centres and Mann at fullback when Mann and Chambers played finals footy for Melb in 2015

 

[giboz71]

You could be right but IF Chambers is signing then cant see Dugan (who was Blues player of the series) playing in the centres and Mann at fullback when Mann and Chambers played finals footy for Melb in 2015

Dugan could still play FB for the Blues even if he plays centre for us. GI swaps positions for Qld all the time and they manage just fine.

I get the feeling Tedesco and Moylan could be giving Duges some competition at FB so it may actually be good for him to be able to be capable at more than one position. He did win a series for NSW at centre.

 

[TruSaint]

All conjecture at this stage so I wouldn't get too worked up over it but if it works, it's a master stroke and great coaching.
Mann will be too good to not have in the starting 13 somewhere.

buddy I also think Mann will be in the starting line up, but cant see him at FB after the year Duges had there. I may be proven wrong and wont be the 1st time, but as it stands I think Dugan is one of the best FB's in the game.

You could be right but IF Chambers is signing then cant see Dugan (who was Blues player of the series) playing in the centres and Mann at fullback when Mann and Chambers played finals footy for Melb in 2015

Agree with BSE.

 

[Jubileeboy]

buddy I also think Mann will be in the starting line up, but cant see him at FB after the year Duges had there. I may be proven wrong and wont be the 1st time, but as it stands I think Dugan is one of the best FB's in the

I don't disagree with your views mate but I do see the upside of Dugan in the centres.
Whilst playing games of conjecture, we could also move Widdop to fullback and Mann to 5/8.
I think Dugan is a stronger centre than Mann but you're right ( as usual), why move one of the worlds best fullbacks.

 

[BennyV]

All conjecture at this stage so I wouldn't get too worked up over it but if it works, it's a master stroke and great coaching.
Mann will be too good to not have in the starting 13 somewhere.

I agree that Mann souks be in the 13, but this simply avoids the issue of teaching Dugan to time his passes and pick his opportunities. Giving Dugan whatever coaching we gave Boyd between the 2009 and 2010 seasons would be a real master stroke and example of coaching. This is just shuffling the decks to avoid teaching a new trick to one of the most dangerous ball runners in the game. And in the process, you limit his impact and time with the ball.

 

[TruSaint]

buddy I also think Mann will be in the starting line up, but cant see him at FB after the year Duges had there. I may be proven wrong and wont be the 1st time, but as it stands I think Dugan is one of the best FB's in the

I don't disagree with your views mate but I do see the upside of Dugan in the centres.
Whilst playing games of conjecture, we could also move Widdop to fullback and Mann to 5/8.
I think Dugan is a stronger centre than Mann but you're right ( as usual), why move one of the worlds best fullbacks.

Fair post bud, except for the bold.

In all seriousness, I need to see more of Mann than I have.

Also i would like to some consistency in our backline, so as combinations can evolve, and build an understanding. Chopping and changing was necessary in 2015.

 

[giboz71]

Hear what you're saying, but coaching can only go so far. At some point, the player needs to develop these instincts on his own, especially when the player is 25-26.

He's our highest paid player and in reality is on a contract that only pays 150k less than RTS who is younger, faster and an infinitely more complete FB than Dugan will ever be. And he played his first 2 years of FG on the wing. He has the potential to dominate the game for the next 10 years.

When you're talking to this kind of coin, to rely on coaching to teach you skills that most fullbacks on half the money have naturally makes no sense.

 

[TruSaint]

Hear what you're saying, but coaching can only go so far. At some point, the player needs to develop these instincts on his own, especially when the player is 25-26.

He's our highest paid player and in reality is on a contract that only pays 150k less than RTS who is younger, faster and an infinitely more complete FB than Dugan will ever be. And he played his first 2 years of FG on the wing. He has the potential to dominate the game for the next 10 years.

When you're talking to this kind of coin, to rely on coaching to teach you skills that most fullbacks on half the money have naturally makes no sense.

So he's a centre for you ? Serious question giboz.

 

[Saints Forever]

Hear what you're saying, but coaching can only go so far. At some point, the player needs to develop these instincts on his own, especially when the player is 25-26.

He's our highest paid player and in reality is on a contract that only pays 150k less than RTS who is younger, faster and an infinitely more complete FB than Dugan will ever be. And he played his first 2 years of FG on the wing. He has the potential to dominate the game for the next 10 years.

When you're talking to this kind of coin, to rely on coaching to teach you skills that most fullbacks on half the money have naturally makes no sense.

Am sceptical as to whether Duges can be taught when to pass and how to set up your outside backs to create an overlap.

Duges is a ball runner, he is not creative with ball in hand.

Its the type of thing you are either born with or not. He has had his entire junior and senior career to learn the skill, maybe 17/18 years.

At 25/26 will be very pleasantly surprised if he adds this skill to his bag of tricks.

 

[giboz71]

So he's a centre for you ? Serious question giboz.

Dugan is still a great fullback despite his limitations. But there's a reason why FB is one of the premier positions in the team and commands the big coin, is that he needs to carry the team with his skills, almost as much as a halfback. I just don't think he does this enough to command being our premier player. He needs to be having the same impact as Inglis, RTS, Slater, Hayne etc.

To answer your question, I think if we have someone in our squad that fulfils the role of a fullback that helps the team win ( without necessarily having great individual stats), then yes, I believe our team will benefit with him playing centre. Lachlan Coote is a great example of this. Not flash, just helps his team win,

Whether Mann can fill this role remains to be seen. But would be nice to find out.

 

[GC Dragon]

100% agree giboz . Well said