Illawarra v Bulldogs

[coast_dragons]

Dogs 38 - 0.

 

[thebigredv]

Dogs 38 - 0.

 

[Drag Queen]

Dogs in again from lazy defence wow this isn't the same Illawarra team from last year.

No pride what so ever.[/QUOT

Field knocks it on yet again seriously has done nothing and doesn't deserve to be anywhere near first grade at this time.

Might silence all those on this forum wanting these youngsters blooded in FG.

 

[coast_dragons]

I have major questions about Head he showed today by selecting Mathews at centre his first game back in Months he's very stupid.

Why on earth would he do that regardless of Mathews being a contracted player surely John Tohi or Jesse Dee should have been considered.

Attitude was poor actually everything was poor from start to finish.

Robson and Garrick hopefully won't have their confidence knocked around by this.

 

[coast_dragons]

Might silence all those on this forum wanting these youngsters blooded in FG.

Well they need the exsposure at NSW Cup level so that in itself is a good thing.

Not having Nona hurts and now Clune is injured also and with no Hutchison i have no idea who they have left I see leilua to the halves again and he also did nothing.

They will get a chance just not right now.

 

[BlackDuckSaint]

I just realised how young this side is, it is boys against men and a good learning experience but I hope it doesn't knock their confidence too much
9 of the starting 13 are either eligible for the 20's or graduated last year. That seems like a lot to me.

 

[coast_dragons]

I just realised how young this side is, it is boys against men and a good learning experience but I hope it doesn't knock their confidence too much
9 of the starting 13 are either eligible for the 20's or graduated last year. That seems like a lot to me.

Well if you look at whoes out Hutchison, Havili, Nona, Dodd all injured and all starters.

Then you have KFFL, Host and Lewis also not playing today the team would very different.

Add to that Mathews first game back in months playing out of position and Clune getting hurt the result does make sense but still they just flat out played like crap.

 

[Dennis Papaioannou]

Might silence all those on this forum wanting these youngsters blooded in FG.

Unlikely
If you want to judge these prospects on one game then I think its unwarranted.
In any case, wasn't Illawarra missing players for this game?
That's why the best method is to expose the youngsters as part of the senior team and surround them with experienced First Graders.
That builds their confidence - their ability is not really in question once they get to that stage.

 

[gonz]

Not interested in playing at all today any of them

 

[GC Dragon]

Just a really bad day at the office . Terrible game for them . Move on .

 

[Drag Queen]

Well they need the exsposure at NSW Cup level so that in itself is a good thing.

Not having Nona hurts and now Clune is injured also and with no Hutchison i have no idea who they have left I see leilua to the halves again and he also did nothing.

They will get a chance just not right now.

Unlikely
If you want to judge these prospects on one game then I think its unwarranted.
In any case, wasn't Illawarra missing players for this game?
That's why the best method is to expose the youngsters as part of the senior team and surround them with experienced First Graders.
That builds their confidence - their ability is not really in question once they get to that stage.

Or could possibly destroy their confidence depending on which way you look at it. I think Nona's experience of directing play was sorely missed yesterday. I didn't see the game but listened to it on Steele Sports The ability of players in FG is always questioned so I'm not sure where you're coming from there. There are another 5-6 teams that are yet to play the 14th round so it'll be interesting to see where they stand on the ladder after these games.

 

[Dragon Revival]

We seem to have little depth and poor application. Hopefully the hooker, half, five eighth, centre and wing positions will be strengthened at the end of this year. I guess that they had a lot out being about half the team.
Dodd
FaiFai Loa
Glymin
Havili
Hutchison
Lewis
Nona
It is a bit of a worry as forwards such as Host, Kerr, Lawrie and Leilua
are being groomed to be the foundation of our NRL pack in a few
years.

 

[Coffs dragon]

I have a really bad feeling about Mondays NRL game.....the Dogs will be ready for War after the hammering they have copped from fans and media! I hope I'm wrong, but I think it could be ugly as well.

 

[Crush]

I have a really bad feeling about Mondays NRL game.....the Dogs will be ready for War after the hammering they have copped from fans and media! I hope I'm wrong, but I think it could be ugly as well.

Ugly as in a heavy loss?

 

[possm]

Or could possibly destroy their confidence depending on which way you look at it. I think Nona's experience of directing play was sorely missed yesterday. I didn't see the game but listened to it on Steele Sports The ability of players in FG is always questioned so I'm not sure where you're coming from there. There are another 5-6 teams that are yet to play the 14th round so it'll be interesting to see where they stand on the ladder after these games.

I think many of us on here have been dreaming of a great side in 2018 on the back of our talented juniors. The only problem is that it is clear that some of the Millward wishes are impractical mainly because the targeted players are not quite ready.

It is plain to me that we have over the past few years built up a roster which is capable of competing with the best teams in the competition only to knee cap this team by letting Dugan and Packer go too early; the old one step forward two steps back trick.

All the noise about Herbert, Aitken and others being suitable for right centre selection have been just that, noise. I believe the correct way should have been to either extend Dugan/Milne or buy a right centre, mainly because our biggest weakness is down the right edge and there is now only Aitken - who proved below standard in defence - really up to taking the field at right centre next year.

Our biggest strength this year is our forward pack and Packer the perfect partner with Vaughan to provide a platform for the rest of the pack to play way above expectations this year. Again no replacement named for Packer and our young props not tested. Now we see that they were not effective in reserve grade yesterday so what to do now? We need to buy a prop to replace Packer and hope he will deliver somewhere near the capability that Packer offered.

So our prize fullbacks Dufty and Field performed poorly in reserve grade yesterday and to me this is a real indication that despite spending approx. 2m on our halves for 2018, it seems we will come up short next season. Some soul searching by recruitment needs to be done and explanation given to the Dragons fans. I'm sure the old boy network will close ranks and Doust again will be called on to spin his magic.

The problem will be unsolved one again:

1. In 2019 Mary will be in his final year on the end of a poor performance in 2018.
2. All of our young juniors will be expecting upgraded extensions for 2020 on. We will not be able to keep them all even if we wanted to.
3. In 2020, Mary and Millward will lose their jobs because of the teams poor performance and under joint management with WIN Corp. a marquee coach will be signed who will appoint his own recruitment staff and take up back to the top 4 of the competition; maybe even win the GF we deserve.

Yes it's a mess, a big mess but there is hope in 2020

 

[Coffs dragon]

Ugly as in a heavy loss?

More an unexpected result & score line.....I'm very wary of the wounded Dogs with much to prove.

 

[MilanDragon]

More an unexpected result & score line.....I'm very wary of the wounded Dogs with much to prove.

Yep I don't have a good feeling either. We struggle on Mondays as it is. We struggle against the Dogs at the best of times, at least in the last few years.

They actually have a very good roster with a big point to prove. This will be a very tough game, we will do well to win. As others have mentioned though to be a genuine top 4 side it's also these games we need to win

 

[coast_dragons]

Reason Lewis didn't play he has gone to the Sunshine Coast to play with the Falcons.

 

[Dragonsteve2]

Reason Lewis didn't play he has gone to the Sunshine Coast to play with the Falcons.

Coast, thanks so much for your NSW Cup updates yesterday. I am now out of the country for 10 weeks so need supporters like you to keep me informed.

Obviously a poor performance and result but it probably emphasises the importance of Nona. Illawarra have been very hard hit with injuries. Hutch, Nona, Havili, Dodd, Host, Milne, Mann, FFL and Lewis all missing from last year's premiership team.

I don't think a poor performance from an understrength team should lead to the level of despair that I have just read on this thread. I have seen enough of Lawrie, Kerr and Leilua to think they will aim up when an opportunity presents itself in the NRL. Dufty has no doubt benefited from playing each week in the NSW Cup and I believe he would be ready to make his debut vs theEels in Dugan's absence should Mary go that way. Jai on the other hand has been mucked around a bit. Those 10 minute slots in the NRL do very little for a young back's development.

 

[coast_dragons]

The amount of halves Illawarra has had to use this year certainly wouldn't help so far you have seen Nona, Field, Leilua, Clune and Payne with dummy half also having Havili, Fletcher, Marketo.

Mathews has been used at centre and so had Lewis both not centres again strange options by Head.

The backline has been chopped and changed even more so outside of Dufty they have had KFFL, Thompson, Herbert, Tuuta Edwards, Tohi, Dee, Milne.

Hopefully next year the club will actually use the team as developing structure this feeder club thing imo just isn't good enough.