Kurt Mann @ 5/8

[redandwhite4evr]

I like Mann because he's courageous and has a red hot go but he also frustrates me because he lacks a key attribute for just about every backline position. He's struggled under the high ball at full-back, ditto for wing and add a lack of top end pace, kicking game lacking for halves which leaves the centres where his defence would be welcome but I think he would prefer to be playing closer to the ball. Overall, I think lock is probably his best position at present- the problem is I think Gareth's best position is lock as well.

In short, I don't like our playmakers- I'd like to keep Widdop but get a new 5/8 and ditch Hunt and get a new half back. Not going to happen unfortunately so we'll have another year to forget in 2019.

 

[possm]

I think Mann's best position if 5/8. He can also play wing, centre or fullback, but I think we can do better than Mann in those positions. I think Mann is back and not a forward. His size and skill set makes me think that his is not a forward.

I agree with you however, I feel the Dragons need to replace both centres right now. I'd like to see Herbert and Mann in the centres. But maybe I would accept a backline of:
1. Lomax
2. Macdonald
3. Mann - I'd rather Mann at 4
4. Lafai
5. Herbert - should have replace Nightingale prior to SOO
6. Field - worth a go, maybe can lift the team
7. Hunt

17. Dufty

 

[Frank Facer]

I agree with you however, I feel the Dragons need to replace both centres right now. I'd like to see Herbert and Mann in the centres. But maybe I would accept a backline of:
1. Lomax
2. Macdonald
3. Mann - I'd rather Mann at 4
4. Lafai
5. Herbert - should have replace Nightingale prior to SOO
6. Field - worth a go, maybe can lift the team
7. Hunt

17. Dufty

Everyone has been saying that Field is nowhere near ready for first grade, but in the last couple of weeks he has come on and had a real go. I am not going to say that he will or won't make it, but I do like the idea of a speedy 5/8 who isn't afraid to play direct. I was ready to write him off before the last few weeks. Another off season to continue to develop his body and we may have a pretty good player on our hands. I hope so.

I am not completely sold on Widdop. He can be very good on his day, but he can also be pretty bad too. If I was in charge of recruitment, I would be looking at replacing him. Munster and Johnson are the 2 who I have identified, who are off contract at the end of 2019. Maybe we already have our answer in Field. Lomax could also be our answer for fullback.

Does Field have a kicking game?

 

[nontime111]

he better if hes a proper half!
I like him too, he has put on the size now no excuses in defence, but after seeing so much of him in games this year Id pick him over Widdop everyday of the week! Im sure David Waite would also....I think were not far off, a few tweaks in the backline and a new coach, I really like Mary as a person, hes a very good bloke chock a block but hes just not a first grade coach and needs to go sorry Mary


Lomax
Dufty/Periera
Mann
Herbert
Nene
Field
Hunt

 

[Frank Facer]

I would like to see how something like this would go.

1 Dufty/Widdop
2 Rapana
3 Roberts
4 Lomax
5 TBC
6 Field
7 Hunt

I do think Lomax is our best fullback prospect and would be fine with him being there straight away, but we are light on centres. I haven't written Dufty off, but the jury is now out on him.

I already mentioned in other posts that Corey Norman could be a good pick up, if we wanted a game manager at halfback. If I was in charge of recruitment, I would probably look to sign him.

 

[West coast dragon]

I would like to see how something like this would go.

1 Dufty/Widdop
2 Rapana
3 Roberts
4 Lomax
5 TBC
6 Field
7 Hunt

I do think Lomax is our best fullback prospect and would be fine with him being there straight away, but we are light on centres. I haven't written Dufty off, but the jury is now out on him.

I already mentioned in other posts that Corey Norman could be a good pick up, if we wanted a game manager at halfback. If I was in charge of recruitment, I would probably look to sign him.

I think we need to worry about what we have got right this very moment

1 Widdop
2 Mann
3 dufty
4 lomax
5 pereira
6 field
7 hunt
Yes I’m back on the industrial grade drugs but that’s how I’d go based on what we have available this weekend

 

[Overseas dragon]

1 Herbert. 2 Mann 3 Lomax 4 lafai 5 Periera .6 Widdop /Field 7 Widdop/ Field that would be my backline... thanks GO THE BIG RED VVV

 

[Carlton]

Look at the team of under 21 players on zero tackle, we dont have a junior in there and we don't have one who is even close to being in there. Support juniors but be realistic about their potential.

Dufty has had serious deficiencies in his game all year and they are probably not going to be fixed by giving him more time. He has played first grade for a whole year and is still gun shy and lazy. His game is like an under 6 player, run sideways across field, dance around and beat the opposition because you are twice as fast as them. This doesn't cut it in first grade.

A big part of a fullbacks job is defence, defusing kicks, making metres from the back and supporting forwards. He has not shown he is first grade standard in any of these areas. He is a crucial part of the spine, stop the experiment and get a top flight fullback.

 

[Dennis Papaioannou]

Everyone has been saying that Field is nowhere near ready for first grade, but in the last couple of weeks he has come on and had a real go. I am not going to say that he will or won't make it, but I do like the idea of a speedy 5/8 who isn't afraid to play direct. I was ready to write him off before the last few weeks. Another off season to continue to develop his body and we may have a pretty good player on our hands. I hope so.

I am not completely sold on Widdop. He can be very good on his day, but he can also be pretty bad too. If I was in charge of recruitment, I would be looking at replacing him. Munster and Johnson are the 2 who I have identified, who are off contract at the end of 2019. Maybe we already have our answer in Field. Lomax could also be our answer for fullback.

Does Field have a kicking game?

Totally agree
Widdop is great when things are going our way but his game management in difficult situations is lacking.
I reckon we should take a leaf out of Bennet's book and play him at FB.
Definitely recruit a more robust 5/8
We would benefit enormously if we had a Munster in that position.

 

[Dorothy the Winowhore]

I would make AJ Brimson an offer he couldn't refuse. That kid is gonna be a star. He has 50 times more courage at the back than our Dufty does, and the never say die attitude we need.

 

[watatank]

Everyone has been saying that Field is nowhere near ready for first grade, but in the last couple of weeks he has come on and had a real go. I am not going to say that he will or won't make it, but I do like the idea of a speedy 5/8 who isn't afraid to play direct. I was ready to write him off before the last few weeks. Another off season to continue to develop his body and we may have a pretty good player on our hands. I hope so.

I am not completely sold on Widdop. He can be very good on his day, but he can also be pretty bad too. If I was in charge of recruitment, I would be looking at replacing him. Munster and Johnson are the 2 who I have identified, who are off contract at the end of 2019. Maybe we already have our answer in Field. Lomax could also be our answer for fullback.

Does Field have a kicking game?

That's some real groundbreaking stuff, a half that plays for Australia and a half that plays for NZ...

 

[possm]

Look at the team of under 21 players on zero tackle, we dont have a junior in there and we don't have one who is even close to being in there. Support juniors but be realistic about their potential.

Dufty has had serious deficiencies in his game all year and they are probably not going to be fixed by giving him more time. He has played first grade for a whole year and is still gun shy and lazy. His game is like an under 6 player, run sideways across field, dance around and beat the opposition because you are twice as fast as them. This doesn't cut it in first grade.

A big part of a fullbacks job is defence, defusing kicks, making metres from the back and supporting forwards. He has not shown he is first grade standard in any of these areas. He is a crucial part of the spine, stop the experiment and get a top flight fullback.

In addition our centres are below standard as well. Aitken in particular has been off in defence all year and rarely will he setup his winger. Our right edge has been soft all year.

Even though we were a reported 500k up in our salary cap this year, for some reason we are not going to retain one of our best reserve grade players so, this is why I'd prefer to go for Mann and Herbert in the centres and Lomax at fullback.

 

[Frank Facer]

That's some real groundbreaking stuff, a half that plays for Australia and a half that plays for NZ...

Aim high.

 

[gitano]

I would like to see how something like this would go.

1 Dufty/Widdop
2 Rapana
3 Roberts
4 Lomax
5 TBC
6 Field
7 Hunt

I do think Lomax is our best fullback prospect and would be fine with him being there straight away, but we are light on centres. I haven't written Dufty off, but the jury is now out on him.

I already mentioned in other posts that Corey Norman could be a good pick up, if we wanted a game manager at halfback. If I was in charge of recruitment, I would probably look to sign him.

Surely you're possm's alt account?

 

[Frank Facer]

Surely you're possm's alt account?

No, great minds think alike.

 

[Crush]

I would like to see how something like this would go.

1 Dufty/Widdop
2 Rapana
3 Roberts
4 Lomax
5 TBC
6 Field
7 Hunt

I do think Lomax is our best fullback prospect and would be fine with him being there straight away, but we are light on centres. I haven't written Dufty off, but the jury is now out on him.

I already mentioned in other posts that Corey Norman could be a good pick up, if we wanted a game manager at halfback. If I was in charge of recruitment, I would probably look to sign him.

I would like to see this backline for next year-
1. Dufty
2. Ado Carr
3. Leilua
4. Roberts
5. Rapana
6. Munster
7. Hunt
I think it would do Hunts confidence the world of good to slightly upgrade the backline.
Looking forward to 2019!

 

[JDHD]

I would like to see this backline for next year-
1. Dufty
2. Ado Carr
3. Leilua
4. Roberts
5. Rapana
6. Munster
7. Hunt
I think it would do Hunts confidence the world of good to slightly upgrade the backline.
Looking forward to 2019!

And I want a toilet made of solid gold but it’s just not in the cards is it mate?

 

[JDHD]

Returning to the original conceit of the thread, Kurt Mann’s best position is probably 5/8, but that’s probably not his best position for the Dragons. We need centres and wingers like we need oxygen and he’s one of our best finishers.

 

[Crush]

And I want a toilet made of solid gold but it’s just not in the cards is it mate?

Yeah I know, I just wanted to see what it felt like to post like Frank and Possm.
I wanna live that fantasy.....

 

[Crush]

Returning to the original conceit of the thread, Kurt Mann’s best position is probably 5/8, but that’s probably not his best position for the Dragons. We need centres and wingers like we need oxygen and he’s one of our best finishers.

Kurt back to bench once widdop is back, utility is his best position.