Gameday dragons v cowboys

[JDHD]

It is wins like that, that define a season. I honestly reckon they went out in that second half already looking toward the ANZAC Day game.

It didn't help but from my point of view, very few, if any, 50/50 calls went our way, and the bounce of the ball failed us as well. I really reckon we would have lost that last year.

Hopefully a lot of lessons are learnt from that. Game management at the back end of the game, loose tackles, poor ball control. The most worrying was how they went in their shell and tried to defend the lead. that is negative football and that is Dragons of 2015/16.

JDB is such a massive difference. I really think he is the leader of the pack. When he was still on in the second half, that was when we were still playing a bit of footy. He went off and we started to lose the forward battle badly and leaked points. He came back on, we leaked no more points and we started to run hard again.

And thank Nene for his Hand of God moment. Saved Aitken from really looking like a knob.

When Frizell knocked on, DeBelin was the one yelling instructions. He's a beast.

 

[JDHD]

For the record, If JDB says that he can "easily play 80 minutes" then he needs to be on the field for 80 minutes.

I'd say Mary doesn't want to overwork him this early in the season so he's fresher longer, but I agree with you. He proved last year that he's an 80 minute lock.

 

[Brutalitops]

I just find it funny that people are doubting us after almost blowing a 28-4 lead without Dugan but a full strength Storm side nearly blow 30-0 vs Manly and no one bats an eyelid.

They were never 30-0, they were 18-0

 

[JDHD]

They were never 30-0, they were 18-0

You are correct. My mistake. My point still stands, though.

 

[Life's Good]

Video review of 2nd half, need to name and shame every stupid unforced error.

Some poor options in the 2nd half were almost costly. Standout for me was Packers pass off the d/out(totally unnecessary). I also thought The FG attempt wasn't needed. We had them back pedalling( for the first time in a while)so should have pressed for a repeat set. A bit better game management means things like that don't happen. Not helped by Cows being offside quite a bit as well.
Anyway the streak is alive because of a smoking first half so rejoice in that knowing we seem to be a team that learns lessons making the Anzac Day game a very exciting prospect. Well done Dragons.

 

[Willow]

Forgot what the rollercoaster felt like.

Not sure what was said to the players at half time but the "don't get complacent" message wasn't delivered.

The refereeing didn't create the missed tackles. We put the cue in the rack to some degree. But it was amusing to see Thompson yelling at the ref just before full-time, and gesturing towards the offside Cowboys defence. The match was all but over, but he felt compelled to vent his thoughts.

 

[hazzbeen]

mixed feelings.

Second half like that , I have 2nd thoughts ..... but a win is a win .

 

[RedVDragon]

Credit where credits due.....

Perenara 3points
Patten 2points
Perenara 1point

Do you think those two idiots have an issue with the dragons as ex players. Being let go at such an early stage of their career.

 

[FlameThrower]

When Frizell knocked on, DeBelin was the one yelling instructions. He's a beast.

We did not get out of 1st gear in the 2nd half...JDB was on game 100%. Packer and Frizel not at there best in that 2nd half.

 

[Dragon66]

I just find it funny that people are doubting us after almost blowing a 28-4 lead without Dugan but a full strength Storm side nearly blow 30-0 vs Manly and no one bats an eyelid.

No one is doubting them, just disappointed that they went back to playing like it's 2016 in that second half.

Mistakes by our players, negative play and the refs made that last 40 minutes very stressful indeed.

And unlike the Storm we were playing at home, and against a very under strength opposition.

 

[R&WTILLIDIE]

It's impossible to keep up the intensity they had in the first half all season. Cows played a lot better but got lucky with 2 of their tries. A good learning experience, 2 points and no injuries. Bring on next week.

 

[BlackDuckSaint]

If Dugan is back next week, does that mean Mann is again relegated to the Bench. He has been playing really well.

 

[Gareth67]

No doubting about the refereeing being one sided , and any other name you wish to call it , but that was a bit too close for comfort . Sure we made a number of unforced errors , but the Dragons won the match , because they kept going .

Nothing was going to stop our boys from that victory and that is what separates the good teams from the also-rans . We need to accept that we may not always get ref. calls that go our way , as that is the nature of the game today .

Great team spirit shown by all and those precious two competition points are ours , regardless of the sub-standard refereeing performance - well done to the Big Red V !

 

[FlameThrower]

McCrone and Lafai playing great - great to be proven wrong with these two..
McCrone try saver was fantastic.
Lafai looking confident and fit as well...

 

[Life's Good]

It's impossible to keep up the intensity they had in the first half all season. Cows played a lot better but got lucky with 2 of their tries. A good learning experience, 2 points and no injuries. Bring on next week.

This is spot on. Last year the Sharks streak had plenty of fade outs but they still found a way to win. Admittedly it's only one game(and we may not be as balanced as the Sharks)but we still got the 2 points. Like I mentioned earlier we are a team that learns it's lessons meaning they will put in place a plan to avoid a repeat.

 

[Alec's-saints]

that second half is a attitude thing. good teams win ugly.

 

[Blood Shot Eyes]

Poor 2nd half by us no argument here....BUT seriously some of Perenaras decisions were rubbish....they laid all over us in the play the ball and soon as we came close to doing the same we were penalised .......the 50/50 calls went their way and their offside play was some of the worse I have seen for a long time.....Im glad We wernt playing The Dogs because The General in the Bunker would have given us nothing imo......if Milne was in the 17 why wasnt he used after half time to replace Mann when it was clear he was favouring his shoulder....particularly with the score line....still all in all I think the first half produced some of the best attacking flare I have seen from a Dragon outfit for some time.....BUT we must take a big lesson out of this game and thats to play for the full 80.....so in a way the scare should only do us good for the upcoming games....pity re our for and against but to have 4 points in the bank with Duges out is a real bonus

 

[possm]

If Dugan is back next week, does that mean Mann is again relegated to the Bench. He has been playing really well.

I'd say Dugan to fullback, Nightingale to right wing, Mann to left wing.

I thought Macdonald and Aitken again struggled with defensive reads.

 

[VodkaSaint]

 

[mickeylane]

Yo have to take away quite possibly the best half of power and attacking football from any NRL team this year...that first half was gold!

6 out of 7 is beyond are our wildest dreams - I expect to compete w roosters next week and whatever happens happens - win or lose we are on fire!!