Matt Bickerstaff

[Nugby]

I think, in the end, I'm a lot more confident about our halves for the simple fact that we have Hornby.

I have to wonder what Bickerstaff was offered last year though. I know $50,000 will be minimum wage for the 18-25 group next year but this year it's $37,500. I guess we should keep him, but if I was bandwagoning, I'd be doing it for Isemonger after that try against Manly around easter, it was inspirational.

 

[Godz Illa]

I guess we should keep him, but if I was bandwagoning, I'd be doing it for Isemonger after that try against Manly around easter, it was inspirational.

Actually, Bickerstaff scored that try.

 

[Collateral]

I must disagree with Wicks and others who suggest that Dean Young is a backrower filling in at hooker - I think the Dragons look far better with Young at hooker and moving him into the back row (as good a 80 minute player in the game at the moment) when an elusive impact player comes on for periods at dummy half - although in the long term he'll probably finish up at lock but can play about 6 positions.

Dean Young has said himself that the position he wants to play is Lock.

We look much better in attack with Gorrell at hooker imo. Young's passing game has a habit of slowing down our speed to process well timed plays.

 

[borat]

Dean Young has said himself that the position he wants to play is Lock.

We look much better in attack with Gorrell at hooker imo. Young's passing game has a habit of slowing down our speed to process well timed plays.

IMO Gorrell has been outsanding for the club but has anyone seen him play well as a starting hooker? He plays well off the bench as an impact player but everytime he starts it seems to take it out of him. I guess we will see on Friday.

Young is a stop gap hooker at best and an awesome backrower. Youngs delivery out of dummy half is not the best on some occasions, can be also a bit slow.

Ndaira is not ready for the starting role in first grade.

By signing Woolford we get a very good experienced starting hooker who can play alot of minutes and we get a first class back rower in Young. Good signing.

Of the position I am worried about for 07 is prop. We have Ryles, Poore & hopefully Leanno is he signs. Sims I see as a 2nd rower and doesn't impress me at prop. IF Ryles were to get injured early in the year for an extended period we will struggle. As good as Bickerstaff has been for us I would prefer the club look for another backup Prop.

 

[Wicks]

Sims played his best two games this year at prop. The Manly game could be the best game hes played. Struggled some in defence so he'll defend wider

 

[brokendigit]

Sims struggles with his sideways movement - especially when caught around the ruck area. Having said that, sending him wider doesn't solve the issue.

He's got the potential to be one of the most damaging forwards in the league, but at the moment, he's a liability in defence.

 

[Wicks]

Defending wider helped early in the year. He would come back as an impact player off the bench this year. Difficult injury.

He'll have to work on it. He was a good defender in the lower grades. Gets caught out now.