Finals Week One

[FlameThrower]

Hope Benny has a blinder and really sticks it up the media.

Every Dragons fan should be behind the team...I get the frustration with the coach and our form in last 6-8 weeks, trust me....I've been there done that too!!!!
But some people on here going overboard with death wish kissing off the Dragons before we even hit the turf is giving me the shitzzzz..
Fire up Dragons....

 

[hewi]

I can’t open the article or provide a link but the Telegraph is saying JDB in doubt for next weeks game due injury . Any one else help me here please?

 

[Dennis Papaioannou]

Wait till the excuses come out and the deflection of blame.

He has plenty of ammunition now.
Widdop, Vaughn and now JDB injured.
Backline spearhead Aitkin being injured
Dufty being fatigued.
Put all this into the context of only missing out on top spot by 2 pts.
Playing finals footy which shows the team's improving.
I can hear it all now...
Actually, I could write the script and he could read it off queue cards at next weeks press conference in Brisbane.

 

[Wittenberg]

Someone earlier mentioned the possibility of Mann moving to centre with Widdop returning. I think it would be a good move but Mary has already said Widdop, Aitken and Nightingale will play. Oh well maybe Gareth's shoulder will hold up but I doubt if Euan's ability to make defensive reads has improved over the past fortnight.

 

[Wittenberg]

I can’t open the article or provide a link but the Telegraph is saying JDB in doubt for next weeks game due injury . Any one else help me here please?

Reported on Fox that JBD said that he had heard a crack in his foot when he injured it early in the first half. If he really did say that I'd be very surprised if he plays against Brisbane. We may well have two Origin forwards sitting on the sidelines. I hope I'm wrong.

 

[slippery5]

I'll be mid air flying back from Bali after .helping baby sit while my daughter is there on her Honeymoon. When we landed back in Oz after our Honeymoon 1992 I was shocked to find out we were in the GF, hoping for the same surprise & this time we actually beat the Donkeys.

 

[Old Timer]

Interesting to hear & read what the mighty Mc Fookknuckle has had to say about next weeks game which of course is illimination.
Only he could come up with a plan to play 3 players returning from injury, 2 of which are serious (shoulder & elbow) and Aitken from a hamstring which has been a recurring issue for him.
On top of that he will most likely needle up JDB to the max to get him on the paddock with plenty of others suffering with injuries and now fatigue.
In the meantime he has refused to use the bench properly and will also most likely drop a couple of willing youngsters who are injury free and crying out for more 1st grade time and no better experience to have than semi final footy.
Ready built excuse for him in that he “had to” go with experience but unfortunately the players coming back from injury didn’t get any game time in the last few weeks.

 

[Objective View]

Interesting to hear & read what the mighty Mc Fookknuckle has had to say about next weeks game which of course is illimination.
Only he could come up with a plan to play 3 players returning from injury, 2 of which are serious (shoulder & elbow) and Aitken from a hamstring which has been a recurring issue for him.
On top of that he will most likely needle up JDB to the max to get him on the paddock with plenty of others suffering with injuries and now fatigue.
In the meantime he has refused to use the bench properly and will also most likely drop a couple of willing youngsters who are injury free and crying out for more 1st grade time and no better experience to have than semi final footy.
Ready built excuse for him in that he “had to” go with experience but unfortunately the players coming back from injury didn’t get any game time in the last few weeks.

Or he could bypass the injured and go with youth. Ready made excuse there too.

Straight Shooter

 

[rednwhites]

I used to dream of great things being the underdog going into huge matches. Now I just think do what you need to do to get rid of McGregor. It's all wasted time until he goes. I used to hope but I don't no more.

 

[dragonssamy61]

I can’t open the article or provide a link but the Telegraph is saying JDB in doubt for next weeks game due injury . Any one else help me here please?

Hewi.
It a foot injury.
May have damage to ligaments or a break.
Going for scans monday. Should know more then will let you know what I can find out.
It could be bad but lets hope not.

 

[Dennis Papaioannou]

A win is a win and there were some signs of improvement yesterday BUT I found the presser a bit disconcerting. Mary looked genuinely happy, content...glowing even.

It was probably just relief after the horror week the team endured on and off the field, but it just didn’t sit well with me. Then again, we managed to get that one more win so i guess it is official now...we’ve had a great season...so maybe that’s what he was happy about.

Anyway, we’re back next week. Maximum of 4 games left. Hopefully the boys can fire up and recapture some old form.

Maybe he has done some behind the scene deal with the Board, that if he made 32 competition points, his job was safe for one more year.
I also find it disconcerting that this all seems to be about McGregor and his coaching career.
Never seen anything like it.

 

[Old Timer]

Me thinks that next weeks game will not be a close affair.
They will either pump us or we will pump them
We are playing shithouse and all things look tragic but much will depend on team selection and TBH I hope Flo & Aitken are ruled out with injury because even though our chances are slim, if they play they are even slimmer (harsh but true)
Broncos when on, are good enough to whip anyone but at the same time their halves (like ours) go missing and they start to implode and Oates is more than capable of destroying teams single handed but also capable of being a butter fingered clux
Our biggest other hurdle is the holiday camp mentality of the team and the complete inability to understand the importance of being focussed all week including the game.
Broncos on a bad day are very capable of losing by their own accord but in the end I think Bennett will get them up for the next 2 weeks and there in lies a major difference between good and bad coaches.

 

[MilanDragon]

Me thinks that next weeks game will not be a close affair.
They will either pump us or we will pump them
We are playing shithouse and all things look tragic but much will depend on team selection and TBH I hope Flo & Aitken are ruled out with injury because even though our chances are slim, if they play they are even slimmer (harsh but true)
Broncos when on, are good enough to whip anyone but at the same time their halves (like ours) go missing and they start to implode and Oates is more than capable of destroying teams single handed but also capable of being a butter fingered clux
Our biggest other hurdle is the holiday camp mentality of the team and the complete inability to understand the importance of being focussed all week including the game.
Broncos on a bad day are very capable of losing by their own accord but in the end I think Bennett will get them up for the next 2 weeks and there in lies a major difference between good and bad coaches.

OT often yiu and I have different opinions but I think you’re on the money here.

I’m normally pretty optimistic by nature but I just can’t see us getting anything out of this game, I have 0 confidence. Hopefully the boys can prove my gut feel wrong!

 

[Blood Shot Eyes]

Me thinks that next weeks game will not be a close affair.
They will either pump us or we will pump them
We are playing shithouse and all things look tragic but much will depend on team selection and TBH I hope Flo & Aitken are ruled out with injury because even though our chances are slim, if they play they are even slimmer (harsh but true)
Broncos when on, are good enough to whip anyone but at the same time their halves (like ours) go missing and they start to implode and Oates is more than capable of destroying teams single handed but also capable of being a butter fingered clux
Our biggest other hurdle is the holiday camp mentality of the team and the complete inability to understand the importance of being focussed all week including the game.
Broncos on a bad day are very capable of losing by their own accord but in the end I think Bennett will get them up for the next 2 weeks and there in lies a major difference between good and bad coaches.

Mate weve got as much chance of winning next week as I am of winning the 2019 US Masters.....and the most disconcerting thing about next year is if and when we are up the front of the ladder in the early to mid season we will all be thinking here we go again.....mate I feel so strongly about this atm if McGrexit is still in charge of my footy team next year I'm seriously thinking of not watching another game till hes gone

 

[getsmarty]

Dragons to head to Brisbane house of horrors

• 
  Mitch Jennings

Dragons Den

BIG DAY: Corey Oates scores his fourth try on Sunday. Picture: AAP Image

ST GEORGE Illawarra will need to earn just the second finals win in Brisbane in the joint-venture's history to see week two finals action, after a volatile top eight found its final resting place on Sunday afternoon.

The Dragons put themselves in the box seat to host a sudden-death match in Sydney with their 24-14 win over Newcastle on Saturday, only for the Broncos to leapfrog them into sixth spot with their 48-16 win over Manly at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.

The win, and the margin, wasn't enough for the Broncos to leapfrog the Panthers into fifth spot – which would have effectively gifted the Dragons a Sydney final – despite remarkably finishing with identical for and against.

The Panthers stayed in fifth spot having conceded less points through the season which will see the Broncos host Paul McGregor's men at their home fortress this Sunday.

It's a venue where the Dragons have only once tasted finals success, a 20-4 win the opening week of the 2006, and have lost their last 10 straight matches.

Current Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett wasn't immune to the hoodoo in his time as Dragons coach, having suffered straight sets finals exits at the venue in 2009 and 2011.

The Broncos will head into the match in red-hot form having knocked off the Rabbitohs and minor premiers the Roosters in their two outings prior to Sunday's thrashing.

The Dragons will no doubt be underdogs having won just three of their last nine games, but will be bolstered by the return of skipper Gareth Widdop from injury, with Euan Aitken (hamstring) and Jason Nightingale (elbow) outside chances of taking the park.

‘‘We get Gaz back next week, so our attack will improve straight away,” McGregor said.

“If we'd won last week he would've played [on Saturday] so he'll definitely be playing next week. We'd lost our opportunity to be in the top four so we didn't want to play him because of the position we would've finished regardless of the win or loss.

‘‘(Aitken is) a good chance, too. And Jase is a chance as well. We’ll find out a little bit more about them two guys later in the week but Gareth will do everything this week at training.’’

• 
  
  https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/5621431/dragons-head-to-brisbane-house-of-horrors/?cs=3713

 

[blacksafake]

If he plays Aitken, Nighty as well as an underprepared Widdop it really will get embarrassing. They have a terrific pack of young forwards who are getting better & more confident each week as well as speed out wide. We need to have 17 fit players & all used to be any chance of causing an upset. Plenty of luck wouldn’t go astray too. If JDB isn’t right I hope he’s not needled up to play.

 

[Saintsified]

Sorry I'm not thinking with my heart but my head. Staying solid hope we get pummeled and straight out. Only way to get Mary sacked. If that doesn't work then i quit league.

Up Liverpool

 

[ricky_and_martin]

I want to win OR if we are to lose we get smashed. I don't want a close loss because they might keep Mary as coach.

Let's be real here we haven't improved that much if at all under this Muppet. Two years ago make 8th, out first round. Last year one game away from finals. This year 7th and a tall order to win in Brisbane. Even after this clown got Hunt and JG.

He can't get us any further by the look of things so time to move him along.

 

[Objective View]

I want to win OR if we are to lose we get smashed. I don't want a close loss because they might keep Mary as coach.

I'd love to know what Brian Johnston would think of our desperation to get rid of the muppet, if indeed he knew how desperate things have become for us.

But he's one of them.

Straight Shooter

 

[Old Kogarah Boy 1]

Me thinks that next weeks game will not be a close affair.
They will either pump us or we will pump them
We are playing shithouse and all things look tragic but much will depend on team selection and TBH I hope Flo & Aitken are ruled out with injury because even though our chances are slim, if they play they are even slimmer (harsh but true)
Broncos when on, are good enough to whip anyone but at the same time their halves (like ours) go missing and they start to implode and Oates is more than capable of destroying teams single handed but also capable of being a butter fingered clux
Our biggest other hurdle is the holiday camp mentality of the team and the complete inability to understand the importance of being focussed all week including the game.
Broncos on a bad day are very capable of losing by their own accord but in the end I think Bennett will get them up for the next 2 weeks and there in lies a major difference between good and bad coaches.

Goes against everything l believe in but when it comes to being pumped, unless McIdiot can change his ways, we’ll be on the receiving end ...... and there might be some chafing.