Feb 7 trial match v Newcastle

[redv13]

Everyone has been waiting with great anticipation to see Atkinson and he is a no show so that I'm afraid is a very piss poor start to the season.

I’m sure he’ll get a solid go next week vs Souths along with most of the others that weren’t named. Healthy and round 1 is the priority

 

[TheRev]

Love that we are resting our stars.. in theory we shouldnt get any more injuries than we already have.. well.. I mean a lot of our forward pack is playing, but its mostly fringies... then we just gotta get thru the charity shield.

Im expecting a pretty good showing from Newcastle, sounds like there has been a huge shift in attitude under their new coach, and their 1/6/7 are going to be very dangerous.. but even if the game doesnt go great, there are a LOT of fringe guys fans want to see play so should be a great evening.

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

Fascinating team list.

Looks like we're heading for a shoot out for the remaining 3 spots (If we count NT as already top 30). Flanno obviously looking to fill from within.

TU
TPH
HEIDKE
BUCKY
O'NEIL
REED

My money would be on Tu, Heidke and Bucky as the likely 3.
This trial will be a genuine trial for spots imo and whether we win or loose, it's not important right now it's whether the preference players can perform against an almost full strength Knights outfit.

Hey DS
At this stage NT is the 26th player

there was only 32 players in the squad (NRL and Supp player) team photo in Jan

that leaves 4 spots

my guess is given we need 28 players by rd 1 we will promote two more internally and still leave two spots open right up to the 28th June deadline to have 30 players

ie two to try and bring across a targeted player if possible

plan B promote again internally if required leading up to June30

 

[saints4ever]

Liddle definitely out of Vegas
Round 2 to 3 at the earliest

 

[Victoire]

Love that we are resting our stars.. in theory we shouldnt get any more injuries than we already have.. well.. I mean a lot of our forward pack is playing, but its mostly fringies... then we just gotta get thru the charity shield.

Im expecting a pretty good showing from Newcastle, sounds like there has been a huge shift in attitude under their new coach, and their 1/6/7 are going to be very dangerous.. but even if the game doesnt go great, there are a LOT of fringe guys fans want to see play so should be a great evening.

Saifiti, Mooney and Frizell are Newcastle's best middles and they're all starting. Keen to see Toby and Kerr take them on

 

[TheRev]

Liddle definitely out of Vegas
Round 2 to 3 at the earliest

Flanno mentioned yesterday he'd be back in Rd2... and also described it as 'a touch of a hamstring issue' for liddle + no mention of leilua or val's situation, which to me is putting the most positive spin possible on our injury situation, assume he doesnt want the media going on about it.. but if Liddle is back by Rd2 I'll be shocked..

 

[BlackDuckSaint]

Hey DS
At this stage NT is the 26th player

there was only 32 players in the squad (NRL and Supp player) team photo in Jan

that leaves 4 spots

my guess is given we need 28 players by rd 1 we will promote two more internally and still leave two spots open right up to the 28th June deadline to have 30 players

ie two to try and bring across a targeted player if possible

plan B promote again internally if required leading up to June30

I don't know if Nick T is player 26

I know the maths works out, but there is only 25 player profiles on the Dragons website for the first grade team.

It is all very strange. 2 or 3 spots available less than 4 weeks before round 1.

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

I don't know if Nick T is player 26

I know the maths works out, but there is only 25 player profiles on the Dragons website for the first grade team.

It is all very strange. 2 or 3 spots available less than 4 weeks before round 1.

Yeah it is confusing

NickT was in the photo with the 25 currently in the 30 and all 6 Supp players

which means 4 spots in the top30 still available is my best guess

unless a Supp has moved into the top30 and a new Supp spot then also becomes available

 

[Victoire]

Just noticed that we haven't named a captain for the squad. I know it's only a trial, but someone's gotta lead them out, right. I like big Toby for the gig

 

[sammymills]

Just noticed that we haven't named a captain for the squad. I know it's only a trial, but someone's gotta lead them out, right. I like big Toby for the gig

HE SEEMS THE LOGICAL CHOICE

 

[Slippery Morris]

This is the game for Lawrie and Sloan to show they still have a future at Saints. They are one of the few most experience NRL guys in the team this weekend and need to put in a huge effort.

Blake Lawrie looks really good this year on the offseason and has slimmed down. Could this year finally be the year for Blake to play to his expectations we had of him when he first came to grade? I hope so. If Blake and Luciano have outstanding seasons it is like Saints recruited 2 new players and be the difference in them making finals footy.

 

[denis preston]

This is the game for Lawrie and Sloan to show they still have a future at Saints. They are one of the few most experience NRL guys in the team this weekend and need to put in a huge effort.

Blake Lawrie looks really good this year on the offseason and has slimmed down. Could this year finally be the year for Blake to play to his expectations we had of him when he first came to grade? I hope so. If Blake and Luciano have outstanding seasons it is like Saints recruited 2 new players and be the difference in them making finals footy.

Flanagan mentioned that with Lulias 12 kilo less was like getting an new player!

 

[Flinstone]

Given Sloan is at fullback, he will likely see more ball and show us a glimpse of why we thought he was going to be something however I can't see him putting any pressure on Gutho.
He has great speed which is sometimes enough to score a try but I don't think he has much else to his game.

Lawrie, great if he's lost weight, so he might play more minutes but what else does he bring, no offload, no quick play the ball, no footwork, no aggression.

Hopefully being lighter means faster line speed and more meters carrying the ball, improvement on the basics.

 

[The Word]

Anyone else excited to see Pekham-Harris have a crack?

 

[Bayside Dragon]

Flano said all in.
Not even close.

Biit of Flanno foxing? Probably tempting the Knights into putting out stronger opposition to test which fringe players will make the 25 to Vegas.

Also Flanno needs to protect his Las Vegas team. Can't afford for the Dragon's brand to be embarrassed in front of the world through missing key players.

I think Flanno sets his own line where he wants to be honest to the media. As the old saying goes, " Just because you ask a question, doesn't mean you're entitled to the answer."

 

[Ieatass]

Just noticed that we haven't named a captain for the squad. I know it's only a trial, but someone's gotta lead them out, right. I like big Toby for the gig

I can't recall where I saw it, but Jacob Halangahu was named captain. I would've gone Toby as well, but Halangahu is probably the only one that will play close to the full 80 minutes.

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

I can't recall where I saw it, but Jacob Halangahu was named captain. I would've gone Toby as well, but Halangahu is probably the only one that will play close to the full 80 minutes.

He is now officially called the “Weapon”

I mean amongst my mates that only is reserved for the super fit !!

like super FIT !!!!

 

[possm]

This is the game for Lawrie and Sloan to show they still have a future at Saints. They are one of the few most experience NRL guys in the team this weekend and need to put in a huge effort.

Blake Lawrie looks really good this year on the offseason and has slimmed down. Could this year finally be the year for Blake to play to his expectations we had of him when he first came to grade? I hope so. If Blake and Luciano have outstanding seasons it is like Saints recruited 2 new players and be the difference in them making finals footy.

It should be the last season for both Lawrie and Sloane.

 

[Hound of Dracula]

Although I understand 'resting' some stars in preparation for Vegas, it seems odd that we are not using this trial to acclimatise the full squad to the smaller playing field they'll experience in Vegas.

NFL-sized fields approved for NRL trial games

'Varying opinions'

www.nine.com.au

 

[jeffdragon]

Biit of Flanno foxing? Probably tempting the Knights into putting out stronger opposition to test which fringe players will make the 25 to Vegas.

Also Flanno needs to protect his Las Vegas team. Can't afford for the Dragon's brand to be embarrassed in front of the world through missing key players.

I think Flanno sets his own line where he wants to be honest to the media. As the old saying goes, " Just because you ask a question, doesn't mean you're entitled to the answer."

Knights named string squad.
They still could get injured in Charity Shield.

Can't remember last time we bt the Dogs.