Game Day vs BRONCOS

[FlameThrower]

Ground Zero - we need to start on front foot. Can’t be behind going into half time, stop giving away stupid penalties that result in us having an extra 100 tackles by half time. The notice to Refs to let game flow is complete opposite to rest of season and we don’t know what to expect game day. Anyway just do us proud boys..
Go the Dragons!!!

 

[BLM01]

Like in the old days, Widdop at fullback can take the long kicks and Hunt at halfback can take the short kicks. Lomax at centre can take the goal kicks.

Yes i can tell you a little story re Dufty's form sliding and McGregor failing to nip it in the bud early. Not knocking the kid because i like him as our No 1 and will realise his potential sooner than later and it indicated to me the coach does not know how to manage and improve individual form slides.
But I was at the Captains run on the Friday prior to the Warriors game at The Gong when invited by the club to the hi tea thing hosted by Timmo. I was watching with interest the Dragons were practising this same backline sweeping movement and Dufty dropped the ball 5 times in a row and McGrexit was absolutely livid. I was wondering whether Dufty might be dropped or tutored to work on his confidence or weaknesses. It seemed nothing changed until very recently when he said he was tired (yeah right) and was just put on the bench aginst the Dogs which was clearly a brain explosion and too late.
It is OK to drop people due to form to help them get confidence back and our coach lives under a rock just saying we can just play like Rounds 1-5 again, we did it then, and when Bellamy swelled his head by saying we are the benchmark, well job is done and the cue went in the rack. Sorry... other sides have built their season slowly to September where we built it and then started to demolish it after that win.

 

[Dracarys]

You may be right or wrong.
But you may be right. There is a chance of a change

Confidence of Dufty under the high ballis zero. That in itself could prompt a switch out. And we’d all feast on the irony that it was CJ’s idea originally!

 

[Life's Good]

Talk of Widdop to FB is concerning for mine.

I’m a big fan of Dufty and whilst acknowledging he’s a work in progress, particularly in defence he’s also a huge strike weapon.

Is it a smokescreen to screw with their game plan?

Is it a masterstroke for better defence, allows Widdop to roam, chime in more and allows for Mann to play 80?

I think Widdop at FB puts a lot more pressure on Hunt, especially with the kicking.

I’m hoping it’s a smokescreen - but I’d take masterstroke as well if it works.

I guess what we have been doing lately hasn’t been working so it’s time to try something different.
If only the club would apply that to the coach(sorry, couldn’t resist that dig, I’ve been O/S & catching back up).

 

[Saints Forever]

We are in a perfect place right now.

No independent person whether in the media or a supporter from another club gives Saints a snowball chance in hell.

No pressure at all on our team.

Brissy on the other hand playing at home and with the weight of expectation on their shoulders, and plenty of injury worries may just crack if we can start fast and frustrate them with quality defence.

Widdop playing Fullback may be a way of minimising his defensive duties.

Dufty can operate off the bench as super sub, or until Widdop injures himself.

It is up to the forwards today. If they fire on all cylinders we are a chance.

Give it everything boys !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[possm]

Confidence of Dufty under the high ballis zero. That in itself could prompt a switch out. And we’d all feast on the irony that it was CJ’s idea originally!

I don't know about others but it gives me more confidence in our chance to grab an upset. Mary was considering three players for the fullback position prior to round 1; Dufty, Widdop and Lomax. I think that Dufty will be on the bench as the utility back.

 

[Mickthedragon]

C'mon Saints!
Massive underdogs and not given any chance by anyone. But its still a final and anyones to win on the given day if you turn up ready to play.
The pressure has to be all on the broncs today so hopefully it will work in our favour.

 

[Dracarys]

Widdop at fullback and young Lomax’s emergence will have Bennett re-thinking tactics big time.

 

[Dracarys]

Throw Dufty on with a roving commission with 20mins to go

 

[Eatons Hill Dragon]

About to head in to Caxton Street and get an early start. Hopefully see plenty of the Dragon family in there.
We simply need to win this today on pride and passion.
All week everyone up here in Brisbane are saying Broncos by 20 plus and it won't even be a contest. They are already looking ahead to next weeks game.
My friends, neighbours and co-workers were all watching the Broncos v Manly game last week cheering for no more Broncos points so they could play us and not the Warriors. They are all full of confidence to the point that they are cocky about it.
TV, paper, social media all have an easy win to the Broncos and this could be their downfall especially if they score early they might think it will just happen.
This week the only training the Dragons needed to do was read the papers, watch TV and listen to everyone writing us off.
We got this with a massive second half.
Big games from LAM, Tariq Sims, Tyson and yes Benny Hunt.
Saints by 12.

 

[ALSGI]

I guess what we have been doing lately hasn’t been working so it’s time to try something different.
If only the club would apply that to the coach(sorry, couldn’t resist that dig, I’ve been O/S & catching back up).

Hope you brought back some Irish luck LG, gonna need it with a big crowd up there.

 

[Bests Golden Boots]

A massive shake up at this stage seems like panic.
If your not confident of Dufty, and recently who would be, drop him.
Moving your international 5/8 to fullback either means his shoulder isn't right, which it's not, or you have no clue what to do about your sides form and are pulling selections outta your ring.

Hope it works, bet it dosnt.

 

[possm]

Hope you brought back some Irish luck LG, gonna need it with a big crowd up there.

We do need lots of luck, the 50/50s to go our way, our forwards to be tough and nasty and for Widdop, Hunt and Lomax to have blinders.

 

[possm]

Throw Dufty on with a roving commission with 20mins to go

Who will he replace in the backline?

 

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

A massive shake up at this stage seems like panic.
If your not confident of Dufty, and recently who would be, drop him.
Moving your international 5/8 to fullback either means his shoulder isn't right, which it's not, or you have no clue what to do about your sides form and are pulling selections outta your ring.

Hope it works, bet it dosnt.

On the other hand Widdop is an international fullback as well. If he's been training there it shouldn't be an issue for him or the side. Presume Mann stays at five-eight.

I dunno, I feel more confident about our chances this way.

 

[getsmarty]

I reckon the first 10 - 20 mins will tell us a lot.

 

[Crush]

Talk of Widdop to FB is concerning for mine.

I’m a big fan of Dufty and whilst acknowledging he’s a work in progress, particularly in defence he’s also a huge strike weapon.

Is it a smokescreen to screw with their game plan?

Is it a masterstroke for better defence, allows Widdop to roam, chime in more and allows for Mann to play 80?

I think Widdop at FB puts a lot more pressure on Hunt, especially with the kicking.

I’m hoping it’s a smokescreen - but I’d take masterstroke as well if it works.

Surely not Widdop to FB.
If we are to have a slight chance today we need dufty firing at the back with widdop and hunt working together as halves. Anything else and we lose, badly.

 

[dungay dragon]

Surely not Widdop to FB.
If we are to have a slight chance today we need dufty firing at the back with widdop and hunt working together as halves. Anything else and we lose, badly.

Perhaps keeping Widdop out of the front line in defence against those rampaging Bronco forwards indicates the shoulder maybe a tad tender..Mann is solid in defence and wont let the side down. Widdop there for the sweeping plays and kicks.Hunt still free to roam and do his own thing.Makes some sense , but also could have been experimented when the wheels started to fall off Post Origin ..Fire Up Dragons

 

[Blood Shot Eyes]

If it’s refereed like other 3 finals, with the officials allowing the game to be played, then we’re a huge chance. If The referees decide they are going to pull up random trivial things then we’ll make a game of it for about 20 minutes.

Knowing Sutton you can bet your you know whats that they will be allowed greater leniency than we will.....come to realise The Suttons are easily pursuaded by home crowds...especially in Brisbane

 

[Dragonslayer]

The only issue I have with Widdop at fullback is his match Fitness. Full-back requires a lot of running and Fitness and I don't know whether he would be match-fit at this time.

However, starting him at fullback I'm playing Mann at 5/8 at least would start the game with some confidence. Dufty playing as the bench impact player coming on where he can use his speed around tired forwards.
This also allows some flexibility if Lomax or Pereira struggle during the game they could move Mann to Centre or wing with Widdop to 5/8 and Duf back to fullback.

We need to start well in this game and having some structures with confidence will give us some chance of holding out the Broncos for the first 15 or 20 minutes that will frustrate them in front of their home crowd.

Dragons 26
Broncos 12