R2 v Dolphins.

[TheRev]

I don't want to put the mockers on us but I have the Dolphins in the bottom 4 this year. They have some real strike power out wide but their forward pack don't have the size or impact of many other teams and Marshall-King has never been anything but very ordinary. I'm surprised they haven't trained Plath up as a replacement Hooker, great defence and some real skill. I hated his dad back in the day.
I believe Lemuelu, Stone and of course Gilbert will be unavailable which weakens their pack further. I'm sure Wallace will be rushed back in (why was he dropped ?) and we could possibly see Milford in the team as he played well against us in their win last year.
I think we improve further next week, with some tweaking from Flanno and some confidence not only from our Titans game but the boys will have watched the Cows demolish the Phins comprehensively. We have to get rid of all the errors though, they'll kill us eventually.
Lawrie and Luc in for BMM and MMolo - although I agree with others MMolo is pushing hard to stay in the 17.

Saints 11+

Hope ur right! I'm not going to call this a must-win, cause its really not.. the main thing is we broke our duck egg.. and we broke that ridiculous away-record where we hadn't won a game since 2022.... which takes so much pressure off... Flanno I bet is feeling a million dollars after that weight was lifted.

But it is another 'easier' game .. and then into 2 really tough games in Cows/Manly.. far out if we would be amazing to go into those games 2from2 with 4 pts on the board.. would be amazing..

 

[justadragon]

Hope ur right! I'm not going to call this a must-win, cause its really not.. the main thing is we broke our duck egg.. and we broke that ridiculous away-record where we hadn't won a game since 2022.... which takes so much pressure off... Flanno I bet is feeling a million dollars after that weight was lifted.

But it is another 'easier' game .. and then into 2 really tough games in Cows/Manly.. far out if we would be amazing to go into those games 2from2 with 4 pts on the board.. would be amazing..

I would never count on going to an easier game in the NRL TheRev, these are the types of games where we have to be really switched on and just not think its going to happen, plus uncle Wayne will have his team mentally switched on and primed for a big one after their loss.

 

[TheRev]

I would never count on going to an easier game in the NRL TheRev, these are the types of games where we have to be really switched on and just not think its going to happen, plus uncle Wayne will have his team mentally switched on and primed for a big one after their loss.

Yah I hear ya, I could put an argument forward for every single team in the 17 (tigers included)... that they could make the 8 if they went on a belter of a run.. there is strike-power in all of them.. that could embarrass us.

So yah I am in no way saying that its an easy game.. but its just 'easier' lol... certainly easier than that cows lineup (a gun in every position) or a storm or a broncos or a roosters or a panthers etc.. if we play anywhere near our best, we're a huge chance... I think it was their speed last year that gave us problems, and Bostok really played well.. and Gilberts out.. we're a good shot.. hopefully Luciano adds something to us, and he doesn't make errors.

 

[justadragon]

Yah I hear ya, I could put an argument forward for every single team in the 17 (tigers included)... that they could make the 8 if they went on a belter of a run.. there is strike-power in all of them.. that could embarrass us.

So yah I am in no way saying that its an easy game.. but its just 'easier' lol... certainly easier than that cows lineup (a gun in every position) or a storm or a broncos or a roosters or a panthers etc.. if we play anywhere near our best, we're a huge chance... I think it was their speed last year that gave us problems, and Bostok really played well.. and Gilberts out.. we're a good shot.. hopefully Luciano adds something to us, and he doesn't make errors.

I think they will have more than one out, yep we certainly need these 2 pts for when we come up against a stronger side. Funnily enough the Phins are favourites but not by much.

 

[slippery5]

I Agree . Having watched M Molo play a lot for Norths in Brisbane he was a genuine ball playing prop . He could play before the line and through the line . Once he arrived at the Dragons just become a bash and barge forward . Even changed the way he carried the ball . The 2 games i have seen him play this year shows that Flanno has him playing with more skill . I think most would agree he looks a far better player this year .

M. Molo is the most improved player by far. Suli also, but he has always had ability & expectation.

 

[RedVee]

I just wish the Dolphins hadn’t been flogged last week

 

[Dragonslayer]

I'd be inclined to give Cake 1 more week out and bring Sele or LL In to replace BMM, who, I admit played reasonably well against the Titans.
LL is a mystery regarding his fitness, if fit then he has to come in for BMM and give the other 2 another week.
Young Fifita also didn't do much wrong either. But he needs first grade game time and what a monster he is, once adapted, I think we have something special there, but it will take some time. I see. No value in h8m being 18th man.

 

[steerlerbab]

I heard somewhere the team lost over 100kg in weight. BMM looked like he had put on 10kg. But let's be fair BMM tried hard against the Titans and nearly scored twice.

Sele and Leilua will be probably given a week or two in reserves to see how they go.
Lawrie if fit will be walk in and that may force BMM to be 18th man.

 

[St Tangles]

I heard somewhere the team lost over 100kg in weight. BMM looked like he had put on 10kg. But let's be fair BMM tried hard against the Titans and nearly scored twice.

Sele and Leilua will be probably given a week or two in reserves to see how they go.
Lawrie if fit will be walk in and that may force BMM to be 18th man.

120kg not including muscle put back on

They mentioned it on NRL360

One of our rare positive comments on there

 

[TheRev]

Flanno mentioned it on MMM SinBin on sunday, he said:

o Some players have lost up to 8kg of fat (FrankieMolo lost 8 and put on 3 of muscle), Suli and Su'a similar numbers

o As a squad of 30, we lost 121kg of fat and added 46kg of muscle.

 

[RedVee]

So how did the players and staff not think the previous training regime was inadequate?

 

[TheRev]

So how did the players and staff not think the previous training regime was inadequate?

Its phenomenal isnt it.. how can we be that far off... and youd assume next year it will be a minimal improvement over current fitness.

Gus I think mentioned that the elite players are the ones who dont just let themselves go over the off-season.. those guys take ages to get back into peak fitness again.

 

[TruSaint]

I just wish the Dolphins hadn’t been flogged last week

As much as I can see your point, in the end it shouldn't make a difference. Sure, they will be driven to improve, but if we are fair dinkum, we should win this game. I don't have us in the 8 ( yet ), but I have the Dophs' below us.

 

[justadragon]

So how did the players and staff not think the previous training regime was inadequate?

Under Hooks direction he instructed the fitness guys for the players to have body shapes like him, and of course Coke Zero would have been part of the regulatory fitness regime.

 

[OneEyedDragon]

Under Hooks direction he instructed the fitness guys for the players to have body shapes like him, and of course Coke Zero would have been part of the regulatory fitness regime.

I can see this happening. I drink a bit of Coke Zero and am shaped a bit like Hook (obviously Hook in his more athletic days (I wish!)).

 

[justadragon]

I can see this happening. I drink a bit of Coke Zero and am shaped a bit like Hook (obviously Hook in his more athletic days (I wish!)).

Mate I've got nothing against anyone having any body shape or drinking Coke Zero, I drink it myself Mind you it worked for George Rose

 

[kit66]

Just looked at our Team List from Round 13 last year when The Phins beat us 26-12.
Hunt, Lawrie and Suá were all out for that game and our bench was Mbye, TCouchman, Kerr, JHunt.
We'll field a much stronger team this time.

Also had a look at Hunts stats and noticed he ran the ball 22 times last week for 111mtrs - a bit of a rarity.
Last year, most weeks Hunt ran the ball between 5 and 15 times. On the occasions he ran for more - between 16-23 times we either won (3 games) or lost in very close games by 6 or less (2 games). Under Flannos coaching and with Kyle supporting (and virtually allowing Hunt to play 5/8) we should continue to see high numbers from Hunt in the running stakes and when he does that we're a good chance bagging a win.

 

[Sage63]

I may have missed it, but what has happened to the Couchmans??? there were big wraps on both of them.

 

[kit66]

I may have missed it, but what has happened to the Couchmans??? there were big wraps on both of them.

They're only 20 so will get more time is reserves to learn and grow. Toby is quite good but Ryan is showing less promise. We have better options now but you never know.

 

[FlickFlano]

Everyone named - sele on an extended bench