Game day V Manly (round 17)

[Dragonslayer]

Welcome to game day.

This game has me worried. It's a game we should win comfortably, but like other games on the weekend, it's going to be touch and go against a team who really has nothing to lose.
If Benji can produce more of what he did last weekend against the Knights then I think that will go a long way to getting us the win. If we can also need to contain Manly's big forwards including AFB.

A win will put us firmly in the 8 with some breathing space with the bye next week.

Also, our U20's are currently 6th and playing the bottom of the table Manly u20's, a win this week and the bye will get them up to 3rd or 4th.

Predictions
1st grade - Saints 20 Manly 16
U20's - Saints 38 Manly 10

Come on boys we can have all 3 grades in the race for the finals.

Fire up Dragons fans.

 

[Forster Dragon]

Danger game Manly will be hard at Brooky and our record there and on a Monday night is a worry.

 

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

Tough game. Manly have shown improvement of late, but then again so have we. I see us having an edge in the forwards, Manly stronger in the backs. So game management becomes all important. Widdop, Rein and MacGregir (for interchanges) need to be at the top of their game. Go Saints!

 

[denis preston]

Manly are favorites arn't they ?

 

[saintjeff]

We have a poor record at brookie
Manly are due , we have a chance to make a place solid in the eight ,but in the past when we had the chance .ie v dogs we blew it
Lets hope its not another blown opportunity tonight

 

[Ace-STi]

Team basically at full strength vs manly who still have a lot out and some carrying injuries , snake and Lyons etc hopefully our "marquee" players can get us over the line. First half massive for us if we can put on some early points we should go on to win it, manly struggle from behind and we seem
To hang in there when we lead at half time

 

[getsmarty]

Rein: Rhythm Reaps Positivity

Mon 4th July, 07:00AM A A

By Jack Brady (NRL.com)
The Dragons are ready to embrace an attacking mentality against the Sea Eagles on Monday night with their spine intact for the first time in consecutive weeks since Round 2.
The Dragons have scored 50 points over the past fortnight – that's 24 per cent of their points scored this season overall – with the likes of Benji Marshall, skipper Gareth Widdop and Mitch Rein finally able to string games together.

Sitting just outside the top eight on the NRL Telstra Premiership on differential, the Dragons have scored the second-fewest amount of points competition-wide in 2016.
Rein believes that has to change as he and his teammates set out to initiate a shift in their mentality.
"We have gained a bit of confidence the past few weeks by playing a bit more attacking football. It's pretty pleasing to score a few more points and it's a step in the right direction to where we want to be," Rein said.
"We haven't backed ourselves in the past so we have gained plenty of confidence in terms of trying a few more things. Benji's hamstring woes were pretty well-documented and it was pretty disruptive to us.
"So to have that rhythm back for the past three weeks has been good and you can see that through our results."
Any member of the Dragons' playing squad will be the first to admit they haven't set the world on fire in any of their games this season.
Yet what they do have confidence in is the fact they are building at the right end of the season after an ultimately mixed first half to their year.
Next up for the Red V is a huge clash with the Sea Eagles at Brookvale Oval on Monday night, a team desperate to combat their seven-game losing streak.
"Even though our defence hasn't been up to scratch, it comes down to our confidence. We feel we're building towards something here. Everything is moving in the right direction at the right end of the year," Rein said.
"If we can keep the momentum up and keep going then it'll be good by the finals. You never know what you're going to get from Manly though at the moment.

"They took the Cowboys to their limits the other night so it's a good test for us especially leading into the bye."
Off-contract at season's end, Rein – a local Kiama Knights junior – declared he wants to remain in the Red V jumper beyond this year.
"I'm just playing week-to-week really. I wasn't happy with a few performances earlier on but I'm starting to feel like I'm stringing a few together," he said.
"If I keep doing well then something will sort itself out in the near future. It's in the hands of my manager and the Dragons.
"It would be great to stick around but you never know what's going to happen. I'm just not trying to think about it."


http://www.dragons.com.au/news/2016/07/04/rein_rhythm_reaps_po.html

 

[Mr Red]

Many calling this manly team the worst manly team ever.....problems both on and off the field and only thing saving them from wooden spoon contention is the Knights who are fielding arguably the worst first grade team in over 20 years...
In saying all that, many predicting an Eagles win tonight....
Seriously if we can't win this game we are pathetic ...

 

[getsmarty]

Cooper to make late push for Manly clash

MITCH JENNINGS
July 3, 2016, 7 p.m.
https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sha...ry/4005025/cooper-to-make-the-call-on-injury/http://twitter.com/share?url=http:/... to make the call on injury&via=illawarramerc

DRAGONS coach Paul McGregor says he will leave the call on English International Mike Cooper’s availability for Monday night’s clash with Manly to the man himself as he nurses a back injury.Cooper wasn’t named for the match on Tuesday after injuring his back in the lead up to last week’s clash with Newcastle. It would be a big boost for the Dragons who have already added Country froward Tariq Sims to their lineup this week after he sat out last week’s clash against the Knights
He’s managed the injury through a limited week and could be a late inclusion according to McGregor.
“He’ll be the judge of that. It’s a back injury and on a back injury it’s something where the player really makes up his mind up if he’s capable of playing or not,’ McGregor said.
“It’s a little bit unknown for Mike because he’s never had a back injury before he’s only had a neck [injury] so his decision will come from him to us. He’s an International player so he’s important to our football team.”


http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/4005025/cooper-to-make-the-call-on-injury/?cs=302

 

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

Team basically at full strength vs manly who still have a lot out and some carrying injuries , snake and Lyons etc hopefully our "marquee" players can get us over the line. First half massive for us if we can put on some early points we should go on to win it, manly struggle from behind and we seem
To hang in there when we lead at half time

Last week Manly scored 22 points against the Cowboys, in Townsville, in the second half. Given we typically score 20 max, I am nervous.

 

[getsmarty]

Last week Manly scored 22 points against the Cowboys, in Townsville, in the second half. Given we typically score 20 max, I am nervous.

Yep..tend to agree...Hopefully last weeks game took alot of gas out of them and they are flat tonight. That being the case we should easily win by 4 !!! LOL

 

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

Yep..tend to agree...Hopefully last weeks game took alot of gas out of them and they are flat tonight. That being the case we should easily win by 4 !!! LOL

Prefer 6 but I'd be happy with 4.

 

[St Georgio]

We are top 6 material, Saints by 18

 

[Cagey Mac]

Manly have dropped Stewart to reggies meaning Tr#@%&vic goes to fullback. He's an X Factor player and will cause some problems. We should win give our pack but the spine will need to work.

 

[Eastview]

How stupid is it that they named the NSW team already... Hopefully Frizz and Duges play as they normally would and not try to prevent any injuries...

 

[St Tangles]

Reading in other places Stewart is playing

 

[Walpole]

Reading in other places Stewart is playing

Let's hope so. Stewart has been rubbish this year.

Dragons by 20.

 

[Ace-STi]

News reporting Stewart out

Turbo to FB
Williams to centre
Wright to wing

Who are the other 2?

 

[_Johnsy]

Cooper to make late push for Manly clash

MITCH JENNINGS
July 3, 2016, 7 p.m.
https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sha...ry/4005025/cooper-to-make-the-call-on-injury/http://twitter.com/share?url=http:/... to make the call on injury&via=illawarramerc

DRAGONS coach Paul McGregor says he will leave the call on English International Mike Cooper?s availability for Monday night?s clash with Manly to the man himself as he nurses a back injury.Cooper wasn?t named for the match on Tuesday after injuring his back in the lead up to last week?s clash with Newcastle. It would be a big boost for the Dragons who have already added Country froward Tariq Sims to their lineup this week after he sat out last week?s clash against the Knights
He?s managed the injury through a limited week and could be a late inclusion according to McGregor.
?He?ll be the judge of that. It?s a back injury and on a back injury it?s something where the player really makes up his mind up if he?s capable of playing or not,? McGregor said.
?It?s a little bit unknown for Mike because he?s never had a back injury before he?s only had a neck [injury] so his decision will come from him to us. He?s an International player so he?s important to our football team.?


http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/4005025/cooper-to-make-the-call-on-injury/?cs=302

Yet Mary is likely to leave Marketo on the bench. #Dragonsfooty

 

[Dragsters]

How stupid is it that they named the NSW team already... Hopefully Frizz and Duges play as they normally would and not try to prevent any injuries...

Yeah this has happened in the past.

Qld didn't name their team until the Tuesday for game 1. Monday night post MNF both teams should be named. No advantage to either state and no disadvantage to the players involved in MNF.

Not that I think our 2 boys would not put in tonight but it must plant a fear of injury doubt in the back of their minds and this is simply undue pressure they and the clubs involved do not need.

Very amateurish of the NSWRL and QRL and the NRL for letting it happen.