Picking a New #7

[Dragsters]

Gareth
Agree re field
He has play 6 most of his league career.
He played a lot of touch football and was a star at it.
He is still learning all the time.
So time in cutters would benefit him and hopefully the dragons in the long run.
He has played well with payne.
We only have payne signed for this year need to tye him up.
I hope both nona and mann are given
Equal time in the trails and we can go from there.
Nona will resume full training after christmas break.
Hopefully be fit for trails.
If they have the guts to go for nona at 6and Widdop at 7 I think that is our best combination to start the season. Feild is one of the best trainer's in the club and is very quick and impressive imo.
Just don't want Mary to stuff his development

Hey sami, I think that was my post that you were replying to and I agree, we are on the same page on this issue.

 

[Forster Dragon]

We really do need a tried and tested No 7.

 

[BennyV]

Really disappointing to hear Doc.Love to see Mann given a go. McCrone at half,such a backward move
Just hope things change between now & season begining

The additional shit part of the McCrone selection is the question over what happens to Mann. Can't see Nightingale being dropped for Round 1, and hard to see Mann getting a start over MacDonald. Would love to see him at left centre, but again I can't see Mary dropping Aitken or Milne (if anything, he'd relegate Milne, which is another issue entirely).

Looks like the poor bloke may be starting the year in reggies.

 

[Saint_JimmyG]

I would love to see Widdop relegated to cutters, I haven't seen anything to suggest he is the number 7 we are after. Widdop has had a number of seasons to show us what he has in the halves and, it left a lot to be desired.

Bite the bullet try Mann and Nona, later in the year if Field is handling the cutters try him, try Payne. This is the year to see what we have and then based on what we uncover (or don't), we can make proper recruitment plans.

We needed to move on from Benji but we also need to move on from Widdop and McCrone.

Wayne Bennett installed Widdop at halfback for England; this is good enough for me

Being 'coached' by McGregor would make anyone's form regress.

 

[Carlton]

My suspicion is that Bennett was not happy with Widdop. I don't believe he was rested he was dropped.

Widdop has not played well for a long long time and I don't think its just Mary. Widdop is not a dominant player and does not seem to read the game that well. These are not Mary's fault, but please remember I want Mary gone he has been the single biggest problem with the team.

 

[Saint_JimmyG]

My suspicion is that Bennett was not happy with Widdop. I don't believe he was rested he was dropped.

Widdop has not played well for a long long time and I don't think its just Mary. Widdop is not a dominant player and does not seem to read the game that well. These are not Mary's fault, but please remember I want Mary gone he has been the single biggest problem with the team.

Widdop appeared to be "dominant" in a Melbourne side sans the likes of Cronk, Smith, Slater etc. during State Of Origin at one point.

He played well in his initial games under Price, too.

Make no mistake; McGregor is the source of woe here.

 

[Carlton]

Widdop appeared to be "dominant" in a Melbourne side sans the likes of Cronk, Smith, Slater etc. during State Of Origin at one point.

He played well in his initial games under Price, too.

Make no mistake; McGregor is the source of woe here.

Hi Jimmy I'm not knocking your opinion but I never thought Widdop was dominant, at Melbourne he was surrounded by dominant players and was a tradesman. I think he played a couple of games when he first came to us that were good in a poor team.

Is Mary a problem? Yes, big time.

But Mary is not solely responsible for how Widdop is playing. My concerns are that I don't see that he has the skills required. In my opinion, when you look at the top 5/8's Maloney, Milford, Austin, Morgan etc. he is nowhere near their abilities.

 

[Saint_JimmyG]

Hi Jimmy I'm not knocking your opinion but I never thought Widdop was dominant, at Melbourne he was surrounded by dominant players and was a tradesman. I think he played a couple of games when he first came to us that were good in a poor team.

Is Mary a problem? Yes, big time.

But Mary is not solely responsible for how Widdop is playing. My concerns are that I don't see that he has the skills required. In my opinion, when you look at the top 5/8's Maloney, Milford, Austin, Morgan etc. he is nowhere near their abilities.

G'day Carlton,

You make a number of salient points, and it's difficult to disagree. I will say a couple of things though:

1. From memory, Widdop was awarded a couple of MOM awards following those aforementioned games.

(Also, when asked about Widdop's impending move to STI a few years ago, his quoted response was "(they) have a good one".)

2. get Widdop a genuine halfback, and let's judge him accordingly....remember how he played with Michael Witt (as embarrassing as that sounds)?

(My interest was piqued when Wayne Bennett said there is no chance Benji Marshall will play halfback for Brisbane as it is a "specialist position")

 

[Carlton]

G'day Carlton,

You make a number of salient points, and it's difficult to disagree. I will say a couple of things though:

1. From memory, Widdop was awarded a couple of MOM awards following those aforementioned games.

(Also, when asked about Widdop's impending move to STI a few years ago, his quoted response was "(they) have a good one".)

2. get Widdop a genuine halfback, and let's judge him accordingly....remember how he played with Michael Witt (as embarrassing as that sounds)?

(My interest was piqued when Wayne Bennett said there is no chance Benji Marshall will play halfback for Brisbane as it is a "specialist position")

I can understand what you saying but from watching him I don't see a top class 5/8. Given where we are and the fact his contract is up at the end of this year, I would prefer if we looked to the future. For too long the club has persisted with players who are not delivering. He may have what it takes but he has had his chance, we need to move on.

You have sound reasons behind what you believe and I'd like to thank you for having a sensible conversation without some of the agro that goes on just because someone thinks differently.

 

[Saint_JimmyG]

I can understand what you saying but from watching him I don't see a top class 5/8. Given where we are and the fact his contract is up at the end of this year, I would prefer if we looked to the future. For too long the club has persisted with players who are not delivering. He may have what it takes but he has had his chance, we need to move on.

You have sound reasons behind what you believe and I'd like to thank you for having a sensible conversation without some of the agro that goes on just because someone thinks differently.

Not a problem.

(Coughs)....Marketo!!!!

'Scuse me but I have this awful affliction...or, is that 'affection'?....that I seemingly cannot remedy.

Please note, I could be "extracting the urine" here.

Some may understand.

 

[Slippery Morris]

Why McCrone will be picked is easy. Mary going off comments about last season feels like although they only just missed out (Yes he quoted that they only missed the 8 by 3 points - Yeah that shocked me too but look at the Annual Review book that was released and you will see it), he still found positives from last season. I can bet the positive was that during a part of the season when Benji was injured McCrone played and they won a few games. If it continued may have got the 3 points he needed.

Mary says he learnt some stuff from last season and won't make the same mistakes. That to me will be that during McCrones time at 7 they won games and he should not have changed it. He will then go back to what he thinks worked. Yeah sure Saints won but they were awful in those few wins and were lucky and not convincing winners. Saints first 6 games are not that hard and can possibly jag 3 wins against Warriors (depends which team turns up), Tigers and Manly. Not saying they will but have better chance against them than the other 3. If that happens he will be on cloud 9 with 50% and will be retained till the end of the season which is what he wants.

Surprisingly this will please quite a few because I remember from last year there were plenty of Saints fans wanting McCorne instead of Marshall at 7 after those few wins. If you look on Facebook there were heaps of McCrone fans.

I agree that McCrone should not be there but I just cannot see Mary picking someone new. Marketo will even get first crack before anyone else.

The fact that they are in the market for a good No.7 in 2018 will also support this McCrone move. He has 1 year to go why waste not using an established No.7. Use him until 2018 why try someone untried and risk losing. Why waste time giving a young guy experience where he could screw up when they will get an experience No.7 in 2018. Mary has nothing to lose, if Saints go bad he will already have the excuse of not having his No.7 which is a crucial piece of the spine on top of we were prdicted to come last excuse so we are going well based on everyone else's predictions.

 

[possm]

Maybe Widdop just hasn't fully recovered from his hip injury. Unless he doesn't perform better this season, he should be let go. There should be plenty of salary cap left to sign a quality half next season.

 

[BringTheNoise]

Maybe Widdop just hasn't fully recovered from his hip injury. Unless he doesn't perform better this season, he should be let go. There should be plenty of salary cap left to sign a quality half next season.

I could buy that theory except for the fact that his first season with us was easily his best.

 

[ALSGI]

FFS!
Widdop to fullback.
Halves - Mann and Dufty
Centres - Milne, Dugan
Wings - Aitken, McDonald
Sorry to Flo he's a legend but too slow.
This will give us speed, strength and flair.
Forwards are sorted, fight it out on form.
DeBelin needs to perform or play cutters, same with the rest of the fowards.
McInnes back up if he flounders or get's injured?

 

[Dragonsteve2]

Gareth67 stated:
".........Mary must go for someone other than McCrone from the start , not later , when the season is already lost .

He needs to experiment with both Nona and Mann together ,and each with Widdop in the pre-season matches . He says that he has learnt from his mistakes of last year.................."

Gareth, having watched Mary's Press Conferences last year, it is hard to take anything he says as rational or truthful. However there is a chance, however slight, that he may be a little different in 2017 IF he did learn something from 2016 as he has claimed. I hope that even if he goes with McCrone initially he may now understand that trying youthful talent may be better than clinging to losing combinations solely on the basis of "experience".

In thinking about the No 7 and 2017 in general I am reduced to the single emotion of hope. The gloom from Mary's unwarranted confirmation as coach for 2017, Demetriou's departure and injuries to Masoe and Hutch far outweigh the annual spin of "the toughest pre-season ever" statements from the Dragons' website. I will support the Dragons as fervently as ever in 2017 but it would be nice if hope could be replaced at some point with some degree of pleasure and/or satisfaction. I aim to watch as much of the Cutters and U/20s as possible in a bid to increase the chances of achieving such emotions.

 

[getsmarty]

Gareth67 stated:
".........Mary must go for someone other than McCrone from the start , not later , when the season is already lost .

He needs to experiment with both Nona and Mann together ,and each with Widdop in the pre-season matches . He says that he has learnt from his mistakes of last year.................."

Gareth, having watched Mary's Press Conferences last year, it is hard to take anything he says as rational or truthful. However there is a chance, however slight, that he may be a little different in 2017 IF he did learn something from 2016 as he has claimed. I hope that even if he goes with McCrone initially he may now understand that trying youthful talent may be better than clinging to losing combinations solely on the basis of "experience".

In thinking about the No 7 and 2017 in general I am reduced to the single emotion of hope. The gloom from Mary's unwarranted confirmation as coach for 2017, Demetriou's departure and injuries to Masoe and Hutch far outweigh the annual spin of "the toughest pre-season ever" statements from the Dragons' website. I will support the Dragons as fervently as ever in 2017 but it would be nice if hope could be replaced at some point with some degree of pleasure and/or satisfaction. I aim to watch as much of the Cutters and U/20s as possible in a bid to increase the chances of achieving such emotions.

Mary will pick McCrone. It's his style just as he will also pick Marketo.

 

[TheOnlyTeam]

Mary won't pick the team. What a great excuse for him.

 

[Forster Dragon]

McCrone is OK at least he is of NRL standard.

 

[Saints Forever]

McCrone is OK at least he is of NRL standard.

If McCrone is "NRL standard" and is consistently selected at 7 we will finish in the bottom 4 irrespective of who plays at 6

 

[MattoDragon]

exactly what is the problem with hasting ? why does no one like him ? i was under the impression we wanted to keep him at StG 2 years ago.

Too late now, Manly snapped him up.
But I do agree with you. I think he would have been a great foil for Widdop.
I believe, from stories I've read and been told, he a our super coach don't get on