Eight Games Under 6 points

[dragondad]

I was overseas for the last third of the season. I couldn't believe how many games we had but lost. We led Canterbury, Brisbane, Cronulla and Parramatta but couldn't win any of them. Watching the Aust cricket team reminded me of Saints. We didn't know how to win. As we all know, if you start winning close games, it becomes a habit. The same with close losses.

 

[juanfarkall]

Let's hope bottom end of the table mediocrity and inability to score points are not habits that extend beyond 2013.

 

[Black Forest Dragon]

Let's hope bottom end of the table mediocrity and inability to score points are not habits that extend beyond 2013.

yeah, missing out on finals 3 years in a row is something that Needs to be feared, and used as motivation.

Just listening to Steve Price / John Stanley interview again. i hope all these 'structures' that Steve Price refers to - work. My greatest concern in 2013 is that really, there weren't any. We looked rudderless and clueless too many times.

I would like it if he identified and explained a little just what one of those "structures" are, whether they be a play or a method of training or Review - whatever. Sometimes i am just left with the sense that he provides lip-service to these things, but not more.

 

[juanfarkall]

I am sure that the Chinius made a claim early in the season that the team had worked hard on attack.
Result: woeful attack and two 0 scores at Kogarah, the first of which was against a team which missed the finals.

 

[TheRev]

The results are meaningless imo, Price's job (which he has yet to do), is to find a style of "dragons footy" that works for our roster, both in defence and more particularly in attack, we have to be able to score 20+ points per game consistently.

Im not interested in this falling over the line, relying on refs calls, lucky bounces & waiting for other teams to have a bad game rubbish... we need to go into each game genuine chances.. even the 2nd tier teams like Newcastle, Cronulla, Cowboys, Canberra etc have their own brand of footy which in form are potent line-ups.

 

[Black Forest Dragon]

...and to work again on our defence. In 2013, once we score 30+pts in attack.

Six times we conceded 30+ pts.

 

[jasperdragon07]

2013 wont matter in 2014 different team and all we can really do is wait and seewhat will happen. The best option is stay positive and forget about the last two years alternatively continue to live in something that is out of your control which happened yesterday.

 

[dragondonar1]

I can't decide on how we will go next year. People in the know say price is a good coach. We don't really know how widdop will go without the big three. We don't know if sam williams will go. We don't know anything about our new forwards.
We know young senior isn't in recruitment and is more suited as a forwards coach. Magregor will improve our attack as long as that's all he is involved in. Stockwell will go much better with a year under his belt. We got rid of a few players that weren't first grade standard. We have better depth in a few key positions.
Think we should stay positive. If all things gel over preseason and first couple weeks of comp I think we can make the eight. Hopefully a forward is recruited and all will be for a happy forum.

 

[jasperdragon07]

I can't decide on how we will go next year. People in the know say price is a good coach. We don't really know how widdop will go without the big three. We don't know if sam williams will go. We don't know anything about our new forwards.
We know young senior isn't in recruitment and is more suited as a forwards coach. Magregor will improve our attack as long as that's all he is involved in. Stockwell will go much better with a year under his belt. We got rid of a few players that weren't first grade standard. We have better depth in a few key positions.
Think we should stay positive. If all things gel over preseason and first couple weeks of comp I think we can make the eight. Hopefully a forward is recruited and all will be for a happy forum.

much better outlook

 

[Jubileeboy]

That's the spirit boys..... Love the optimism. Kept fighting the fight

 

[Slippery Morris]

Sharks played there worst game of the season and still beat the Dragons. Same with other teams e.g Dogs and Broncos, by less than six. Saints were a laughing stock stop trying to sugar coat a very bad season. Worst season ever in a proud clubs history and coach is rewarded. Pathetic

 

[getsmarty]

Sharks played there worst game of the season and still beat the Dragons. Same with other teams e.g Dogs and Broncos, by less than six. Saints were a laughing stock stop trying to sugar coat a very bad season. Worst season ever in a proud clubs history and coach is rewarded. Pathetic

Exactly..No point trying to sugar coat it. What games were you watching Jasper??? I like your enthusiasm but lets call 2013 for what it was..

 

[juanfarkall]

I can't decide on how we will go next year. People in the know say price is a good coach. We don't really know how widdop will go without the big three. We don't know if sam williams will go. We don't know anything about our new forwards.
We know young senior isn't in recruitment and is more suited as a forwards coach. Magregor will improve our attack as long as that's all he is involved in. Stockwell will go much better with a year under his belt. We got rid of a few players that weren't first grade standard. We have better depth in a few key positions.
Think we should stay positive. If all things gel over preseason and first couple weeks of comp I think we can make the eight. Hopefully a forward is recruited and all will be for a happy forum.

You sort of had me except for the bolded bits.
(BTW this is not a personal attack on you, just questions from one who is not in the know)

Which people without a vested interest say Price is a good coach ?

We know that Young snr has not got a great record when it comes to recruitment but from what I recall, he was not particularly successful in coaching at any level or form.

Why will McGregor improve our attack ? He did not get much out of the Cutters over the past 2 years.

You say that we don't know anything about our new forwards but claim that we have better depth in a few key positions... contradictory ?

As I say, not meant as a personal attack but your post is more than a little confusing

 

[dragondonar1]

Its simple really. No one knows what's going to happen next year.
Also bennett recomended price.
Craig young has always been involved with the forwards. Over past years they have been our strength.
Mary was always known for his attacking
prowess. He must know something in regard to attack.
Our halves are a definate improvement with Kyle beale drinkwater and Harry as backups.
I'm just trying to stay positive.

 

[Firey_Dragon]

Its simple really. No one knows what's going to happen next year.
Also bennett recomended price.
Craig young has always been involved with the forwards. Over past years they have been our strength.
Mary was always known for his attacking
prowess. He must know something in regard to attack.
Our halves are a definate improvement with Kyle beale drinkwater and Harry as backups.
I'm just trying to stay positive.

With our roster (pissweak forward pack, marginally improved backline) and a coach bereft of fresh ideas, shown by his historical contribution, we will be a marginally better side, top 8 is however unlikely.

We're a poorly drilled squad, lack fitness and mental tenacity, do not function well as a team unit, and have added a few more guys that may allow us to jag an additional game here or there. We don't have the makings of a consistent side however.

So you are correct we don't know what will happen next year, because the side is inconsistent. We do know however that they will be a bottom 8 side, or simply making up the numbers in the finals.

 

[jenninga]

Decent post Atom, but i dont accept the injuries toll as an excuse.

Every club has them, and yes we had a few more than normal. There was still enough talent on the field to at least challenge for top 8, not the spoon. Creagh, Nighty, Moz, Rein, Frizell, Weyman, JDB, and our young talents like Cook, King, Garvey etc. Not saying we had it in us to make the 8, butmaking the top 16 doesnt cut it.

PS i disagree that Ah Mau was useless. Came into his own late in season and played good minutes.

Again, having decent games against teams 15 and 16 running at sh*t centres means nothing.120 kg lump of lard has no passing game or defence.

 

[Dr Fruitbasket Returns]

After all the hype around signing Dugan and Widdop we've blown it in the forwards and in coaching. I think, on the whole, the club's pretty much given up on 2014 already and are hoping for a a couple of big recruitment plays for 2015. It's a big gamble. The more crap the club looks, the harder (and more expensive) it gets to attract that quality. And if you don't end up getting it there's not much of a fallback.

We're not far off LOL@Saints.

 

[TruSaint]

[/B]

Again, having decent games against teams 15 and 16 running at sh*t centres means nothing.120 kg lump of lard has no passing game or defence.

Forget about the Tigers / Eels games.

Against the Warriors, he played 80 minutes, and made 31 tackles.
He's no star, but doesnt take up much cap space either.
He also is 23 years old. Made Harrison look very average in comparison.

 

[Godz Illa]

The forward pack is fine, the backs are much improved and the halves are vastly superior. No doubt the team will improve and be at least in contention for the 8.

The coach (and coaching staff) is now the only thing holding them back. I tried watching the Price interview on Dragons TV and couldn't get through minute one. I simply don't buy a word of what Price says anymore, any goodwill or trust has evaporated. It's a matter of "I'll believe it when I see it". A number of those games we lost by 6 or less I can comfortably attribute directly to poor coaching.

 

[TruSaint]

The forward pack is fine, the backs are much improved and the halves are vastly superior. No doubt the team will improve and be at least in contention for the 8.

The coach (and coaching staff) is now the only thing holding them back. I tried watching the Price interview on Dragons TV and couldn't get through minute one. I simply don't buy a word of what Price says anymore, any goodwill or trust has evaporated. It's a matter of "I'll believe it when I see it". A number of those games we lost by 6 or less I can comfortably attribute directly to poor coaching.

Agreed.

Lets not forget several of these so called close losses, came AFTER we had significant leads.
2-3 years ago, we would have frustrated the sh... out of the opposition and won those games.