Official 2015 squad

[bottle]

You lost me as soon as you said that Frizell shouldn't be in the starting line up. Have a look at the nutria interview on dragons t.v. You'll see how fit Frizell looks. He will terrorise teams on that right edge for us next year if fit.

But you do have some good ideas with regards to widdop at fullback. Perhaps in some parallel universe. We are too far down the track now to make massive wholesale changes to the team. The below team is at least good enough for a top 8 finish. All that's missing is an packer/kasiano type prop and an experienced coach. I think we will get either packer/kasiano, in the meantime Mary will have to prove himself, quickly I would say, no more excuses.

1. Dugan
2. Flo
3. Nielsen
4. Farrell
5. Runciman/matau'ia/Nabuli
6. Widdop
7. Marshall
8. Packer or kasiano
9. Rein
10. Creagh
11. Frizell
12. Thompson
13. Merrin

14. Jdb
15. Keating/Le'strange
16. Rose
17. Cooper
18th man: Nutria/o'brien/Wakeman/Fonua-Blake

And me!
Friz is da bomb.

 

[twinkletoes]

You lost me as soon as you said that Frizell shouldn't be in the starting line up. Have a look at the nutria interview on dragons t.v. You'll see how fit Frizell looks. He will terrorise teams on that right edge for us next year if fit.

But you do have some good ideas with regards to widdop at fullback. Perhaps in some parallel universe. We are too far down the track now to make massive wholesale changes to the team. The below team is at least good enough for a top 8 finish. All that's missing is an packer/kasiano type prop and an experienced coach. I think we will get either packer/kasiano, in the meantime Mary will have to prove himself, quickly I would say, no more excuses.

1. Dugan
2. Flo
3. Nielsen
4. Farrell
5. Runciman/matau'ia/Nabuli
6. Widdop
7. Marshall
8. Packer or kasiano
9. Rein
10. Creagh
11. Frizell
12. Thompson
13. Merrin

14. Jdb
15. Keating/Le'strange
16. Rose
17. Cooper
18th man: Nutria/o'brien/Wakeman/Fonua-Blake

Premiership winning side!!!! or at least serious contenders

 

[Heavy D]

I thought Frizell played amazing up the guts at the start of the season, one of our best when we were actually winning! And Creagh prop vs Creagh backrow, the mid-season change could not have suited him more perfectly.

 

[Cagey Mac]

I like this term too.
I believe that Farrell can't be guaranteed a centre spot and Nabuli is my favorite for left wing but wouldn't argue with your lineup if that's how Mary picks them after trials etc.
Good team IMO

 

[Dragon66]

Hey Boys this is not a critism, just an observation. The forward pack you all seem so happy with is almost the same one that has been dominated by the forwards packs of the top eight sides over the past two years. If you put Leeson Ahmau back in front of two props we don't even have yet then it's the same pack.
If Kasiano and Packer join the club the will both definitely be starters but that is still only a wish list at the moment.
What do you think is going to change that will make the available forward pack a dominating unit.

Unfortunately I think Rose is going to be the dud buy of the year. He has merit coming on after our pack has punched some holes in opposition forward packs and continuing on the good work but to come on and we look to him to up the tempo I don't think so!

Back to Duges in the centres. I still believe that all the ripping and tearing he does when taking kick returns provides very little positive value to the team effort and creates enormous wear and tear on Dugan's body,, but receiving consistently good ball off Marshall and Widdop in the opposition 40 where he more often than not is going one on one with the opposition defence provides higher percentage scoring opportunities. And on his defence - wasn't soft defence from our outside backs one of our weakess points this year. Duges might make 20 tackles a game at centre but they are normally bell ringers that stop the opposing ball carrier cold. Hopefully Neilson tightens up the defence on the other side.
What is everybody's thoughts on Farrell's defensive quality.


I'm a big fan of Friz but you can't squeeze everybody in. His time back in first grade will come sooner rather than later . And how can you leave our most devastating defender Jack Debelin on the bench when he should be out there smashing the opposing pigs from the kick off. And then there is the bench, where it's most important job is to maintain the pressure with big men charging up the middle and keeping the middle strong in defence.

Mary's main job is pick the right forward pack that strangles the opposition of scoring chances as Bennett had our forwards doing in 2010. If that happens our five star back line should have a ball.

 

[Get2dachopper!]

That's why imperative we sign a packer or kasiano.
Don't forget, we effectively have two props in Merrin and frizzell (well incorrectly used as prop last season) playing in the back row. Besides rein, the smallest guy in our pack is Thompson at 101kg. IMO its not a small pack. No matter who else we sign, leeson Ahmau would not be in my 17 if I were picking. Nutria, o'brien, Fonua-Blake all 110kg plus.

Get what your saying about dugans style and all, but until we have a better option at fullback, he needs to play in the 1 jersey. Our right edge defence is. Problem, that's why I though Nielsen at right centre may be a good option, but apparently he is a
Left sided specialist. Farrell D is ordinary, but he showed some glimpses in attack last season before he ws injured. He looked better than Beale.

Last word on friz, seriously, he'd be a walk up starter in every pack in the nrl.

 

[rasaint]

Lesson au Mau may have some defensive issues but at least he can bend the line. So to that degree I am sticking up for him. Having said that I am not sure of the metres gained stats so have I got this wrong.

Ben Creigh has genuine speed. Still has a couple of good years left. I still remember him turning and running down that storm winger at Kogarah in 2009 or 2010? Also busting roosters in 2010 at cricket ground and running racing over from half way. Plenty of other examples also.

It will be an interesting season no doubt.

 

[FlameThrower]

With all these 1 year deals, i'd say majority won't be here in 2016? Assumption we will be targeting bigger names? there's been enough of squad changes in last 3 years? I don't want 2015 to be written off , thinking of 2016 already !!! Face facts big names won't come here unless we are willing to pay overs?

 

[Cagey Mac]

With all these 1 year deals, i'd say majority won't be here in 2016? Assumption we will be targeting bigger names? there's been enough of squad changes in last 3 years? I don't want 2015 to be written off , thinking of 2016 already !!! Face facts big names won't come here unless we are willing to pay overs?

I looked at that too and it may also mean
1. That they aren't sure who's staying or going at the end of '15
2. They're trialing a few players (alright a bunch)
3. Everything will be great if we perform well in '15
4. Everything won't be great if we don't

 

[Heavy D]

How come you guys believe The Frizz is more suited to the edge? I thought he failed to make the spot his own in 2013, got caught out in defensive positional play, and looked much stronger early 2014 with his blend of speed and power punching through the middle, and also being less able to be isolated on D there. Was fighting injury on his return in the latter part of 2014 IMO, but if the edge was his spot surely he'd have been picked over Ah Mau? Just curious.

 

[Heavy D]

He is a beast though!

 

[BennyV]

How come you guys believe The Frizz is more suited to the edge? I thought he failed to make the spot his own in 2013, got caught out in defensive positional play, and looked much stronger early 2014 with his blend of speed and power punching through the middle, and also being less able to be isolated on D there. Was fighting injury on his return in the latter part of 2014 IMO, but if the edge was his spot surely he'd have been picked over Ah Mau? Just curious.

For me, its the fact that everything about the guy screams edge backrower! He didnt fare so well there under Price, but as we know that guy wasnt exactly an expert in fixing a players weakness - if someone spent a bit of time with him and coached him on how to defend out wide (possibly Hornby?) then he will be a weapon, hes got all the tools for it; hes quick and agile, can accelerate, can offload, can run great lines, big and strong but not at all sluggish. If you look at the guy play, you can see that he is not a prop forward and, like JDB, he is wasted there.

 

[Dragon66]

Benny you are spot on with your observations, all he has to do now it add a bit more stopping power to his defence. If he has one weakness it is that he very often grabs in defence, that can be fixed and when it is he will be a devastating machine for the Dragons.