Rd4: 615pm Eels v Dragons GAME DAY THREAD @ Commbank Stadium 3/4/22

[hineyrulz]

Rod Maybon FTW!!

 

[Gary Gutful]

It's very muggy here and I am sticky. How do you live up North? It would drive me crazy. My singlet is sticking to my back

AC is my friend.

 

[TheRam]

Why would I give a flying f**k what you are saying if you haven’t read what I said?
At least now you’ve given a tangible position on Gutho/Russell but I’d really be interested (like my question in the first place FFS) about when in your opinion Drown moved into the top 3 halves in the game?

Now this season...So now is the time to make sure we don't lose him. The best run clubs don't lose these sorts of players that they have nurtured and developed from around 15-16 years of age. They hold on to them and for generally less then other clubs offer them.

That's is the point of doing your own junior development otherwise why bother ffs. Not hard to understand is it?

If we lose him then I don't think that we have the right people in recruitment and retention or even coaching. Yeah sure a more desperate club could offer him ridiculous money that we should not match, but they can't at the moment and we have until the end of this season to convince him and his management to re-sign long term with us. Like I said, we should open negotiations with him now and work towards an agreeable term like the Roosters or Storm would do way before the vulture offers start to roll in. Yes I know we can't force him to do a deal ffs, but like I said, the well run clubs don't need to force anyone to the table. The players see them as a great place to continue playing at, develop and fulfill all their dreams, even if it is a little less then what they can get elsewhere.

We need to make sure we have the right atmosphere, people and processes that make us just as appealing. If we lose him due to him wanting to go to market and test his value, that is code in my book that says, yeah I like playing here, but the club has nothing more then any other to offer me so I may as well see what else is out there and it could be even better.

Hardly the type of club that will consistently be a genuine long term premiership contender that can hold onto its genuine junior stars. The people in the clubs most crucial positions make all the difference. I and others are questioning these people, especially if we keep losing the best players that we develop just as they come into their best years.

 

[TheRam]

The difference is that 2005 side actually was the best team in the comp that year. It was a massive failure that we didn't win it. Since then we haven't had a team that even came close to being that good, so not winning "when it really counts" is a false equivalence. We have been outclassed since 2005. We haven't ever choked. The biggest failure was 2018, and the strength of our recovery showed where we went wrong that year. The club learned the lesson of the frog and the scorpion.

You missed the point again, but I really couldn't be f'ed right now to debate it. I would rather go wash my balls.

 

[84 Baby]

Now this season...So now is the time to make sure we don't lose him. The best run clubs don't lose these sorts of players that they have nurtured and developed from around 15-16 years of age. They hold on to them and for generally less then other clubs offer them.

That's is the point of doing your own junior development otherwise why bother ffs. Not hard to understand is it?

If we lose him then I don't think that we have the right people in recruitment and retention or even coaching. Yeah sure a more desperate club could offer him ridiculous money that we should not match, but they can't at the moment and we have until the end of this season to convince him and his management to re-sign long term with us. Like I said, we should open negotiations with him now and work towards an agreeable term like the Roosters or Storm would do way before the vulture offers start to roll in. Yes I know we can't force him to do a deal ffs, but like I said, the well run clubs don't need to force anyone to the table. The players see them as a great place to continue playing at, develop and fulfill all their dreams, even if it is a little less then what they can get elsewhere.

We need to make sure we have the right atmosphere, people and processes that make us just as appealing. If we lose him due to him wanting to go to market and test his value, that is code in my book that says, yeah I like playing here, but the club has nothing more then any other to offer me so I may as well see what else is out there and it could be even better.

Hardly the type of club that will consistently be a genuine long term premiership contender that can hold onto its genuine junior stars. The people in the clubs most crucial positions make all the difference. I and others are questioning these people, especially if we keep losing the best players that we develop just as they come into their best years.

So you’re not a superstar talent spotter that recognised well in advance Drown’s ability to perform as he has past few games so that he could be negotiated to a friendlier deal than he would now command? That’s good to know.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

God knows what happened that year in 2005. It was the weirdest thing ever.

Of course, I blamed Daniel Wagon but not sure what was the reason really.

To be honest, I think it was a big part of Brian Smith's genius that he could get such ordinary teams to overachieve their way to minor premierships and grand finals. I think his teams failed in big games because the playing groups themselves had no right to be there. When the rep stars they faced stood up in the big games Smith just didn't have the cattle to match them. You could maybe argue that 1998-99 side should've gotten it done but the early 90s Dragons and 2001 Eels were both outclassed on paper. Was the 2005 side as good as their points differential indicated? They were strong everywhere but the halves, and were missing some key forwards in that preliminary final.

 

[lingard]

But we finished 6th last season???

Ssshhh!

 

[hindy111]

So you’re not a superstar talent spotter that recognised well in advance Drown’s ability to perform as he has past few games so that he could be negotiated to a friendlier deal than he would now command? That’s good to know.

Ram spots talent better then anyone on here including myself.
He has an excellent rugby league eye and knowledge of the game.

 

[84 Baby]

Ram spots talent better then anyone on here including myself.
He has an excellent rugby league eye and knowledge of the game.

Both of you spotted Drown as being a good half after Sunday’s game. Give yourselves a pat on the back.

 

[hindy111]

To be honest, I think it was a big part of Brian Smith's genius that he could get such ordinary teams to overachieve their way to minor premierships and grand finals. I think his teams failed in big games because the playing groups themselves had no right to be there. When the rep stars they faced stood up in the big games Smith just didn't have the cattle to match them. You could maybe argue that 1998-99 side should've gotten it done but the early 90s Dragons and 2001 Eels were both outclassed on paper. Was the 2005 side as good as their points differential indicated? They were strong everywhere but the halves, and were missing some key forwards in that preliminary final.

Brian Smith was a great coach. He rebuilt us 3 times from almost scratch to be genuine shots at the title.
Sure we blew a few. But unlucky in some also. I remember a semi final against Storm where we had them and Burt had the ball stripped out. It was missed. Storm scored and we narrowly lost.

Remember in 2000. We finished 7th and didn't even expect to make the top 8. We flogged the Roosters and Penrith in the finals only to just lose 16-10 to Brisbane the premiers. A bunch of kids that year.

2001 was our best ever year I recall. Forget 2009 this 2001 side was awesome. And with rejects like Beautner,Taylor and Brad Drew in our spine.

2005 was a horror show. But so many years Smith got us either to a Grand final or the game before.

9yrs Brian was there. How many times did he get us in the finals, top 4, minor premierships and to the preliminary final? . If anyone thinks BA has done better they are off their tits. I dont feel like BA has had us feel like we could win the comp.
2017 we all felt like a small chance but no real confidence.

2020 and 2021 I don't think anyone thought we could take it out. Yeah we lost 8-6 to Penrith. Do people think we beat the Storm and then Souths who have mauled us nearly everytime we've played? I'm sure we could of won but I wouldn't of been confident at all.

 

[hindy111]

Both of you spotted Drown as being a good half after Sunday’s game. Give yourselves a pat on the back.

I'm just saying it would be total embarrassing if we lost him considering what we've lost already this year.

 

[84 Baby]

I'm just saying it would be total embarrassing if we lost him considering what we've lost already this year.

It’s that attitude that’s the reason why even if you and Ram were the duck’s nuts of talent spotting wouldn’t be able to maintain a salary cap. It wouldn’t be “embarrassing to lose him”. It’d be “great for him to re-sign”.

He’s already reportedly on $800k, we brought him as certain starter when he was still a teen, the TCT rave about him, the club put him on their promo material all the time. Other than maybe putting Jrthur in to pressure him a bit, the club has already done what Ram always says he’d do and shown Drown some love. If he leaves now, it’ll very likely be dollars or another reason that we just can not control (like a lifelong desire to play NFL). I’ve faith the club will negotiate a value that maintains our competitiveness.

In fact I think it’s quite possible that like Penrith losing Burton because they couldn’t fit him in at his price tag, we lost Mahoney because we’ve banked more on Drown (and others). Is that the right choice? Time will tell but you and Ram seem to boldly think so.

 

[Gazzamatta]

I must have missed it. What happened to the guy that almost ripped Simonssons arm off V The Drags?

 

[hindy111]

It’s that attitude that’s the reason why even if you and Ram were the duck’s nuts of talent spotting wouldn’t be able to maintain a salary cap. It wouldn’t be “embarrassing to lose him”. It’d be “great for him to re-sign”.

He’s already reportedly on $800k, we brought him as certain starter when he was still a teen, the TCT rave about him, the club put him on their promo material all the time. Other than maybe putting Jrthur in to pressure him a bit, the club has already done what Ram always says he’d do and shown Drown some love. If he leaves now, it’ll very likely be dollars or another reason that we just can not control (like a lifelong desire to play NFL). I’ve faith the club will negotiate a value that maintains our competitiveness.

In fact I think it’s quite possible that like Penrith losing Burton because they couldn’t fit him in at his price tag, we lost Mahoney because we’ve banked more on Drown (and others). Is that the right choice? Time will tell but you and Ram seem to boldly think so.

He is on 600k reported not 800k.

Penrith lost Burton cause they had to chose between him and Luai and who compliments Cleary better.
Burton's strength is he has a big boot and a nice step. With Nathan's kicking games superior so Burton's isn't needed. Luai in general has a better run game then Burton also. And at a time where they are in the premiership window they went with the more finished product. Makes sense to me.

 

[84 Baby]

He is on 600k reported not 800k.

Penrith lost Burton cause they had to chose between him and Luai and who compliments Cleary better.
Burton's strength is he has a big boot and a nice step. With Nathan's kicking games superior so Burton's isn't needed. Luai in general has a better run game then Burton also. And at a time where they are in the premiership window they went with the more finished product. Makes sense to me.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...n/news-story/86bf667e86b441290a99c825e9a67626

They’re 30 man squads! It doesn’t matter if Penrith had a like for like positional replacement. Penrith were a better squad with Burton. Dispute that, go on. They simply couldn’t afford him. It’s not like they went “well we already have Luai and this Tago might be good, so let’s tell Burton to f**k off.” If he said he’d take the same salary he was last year, you think he’d have still left?

Anyway you bore me so please just stop talking.

 

[Gary Gutful]

You missed the point again, but I really couldn't be f'ed right now to debate it. I would rather go wash my balls.

I hope Parra doesn't give up in the finals as quickly as you just did.

#NoEkscooses

 

[Gary Gutful]

I must have missed it. What happened to the guy that almost ripped Simonssons arm off V The Drags?

He's been disciplined by the club. Has to cook the snags at the next club BBQ.

 

[Gary Gutful]

In fact I think it’s quite possible that like Penrith losing Burton because they couldn’t fit him in at his price tag, we lost Mahoney because we’ve banked more on Drown (and others). Is that the right choice? Time will tell but you and Ram seem to boldly think so.

Quality No. 9s are rare. I think we will struggle when Rheed goes. More than we would if Drown left.

 

[Gary Gutful]

To be honest, I think it was a big part of Brian Smith's genius that he could get such ordinary teams to overachieve their way to minor premierships and grand finals. I think his teams failed in big games because the playing groups themselves had no right to be there. When the rep stars they faced stood up in the big games Smith just didn't have the cattle to match them. You could maybe argue that 1998-99 side should've gotten it done but the early 90s Dragons and 2001 Eels were both outclassed on paper. Was the 2005 side as good as their points differential indicated? They were strong everywhere but the halves, and were missing some key forwards in that preliminary final.

Still think 2005 was our biggest chance and our biggest f**k up. It was the most confident I have ever been going into a finals series since 1986.

 

[hindy111]

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...n/news-story/86bf667e86b441290a99c825e9a67626

They’re 30 man squads! It doesn’t matter if Penrith had a like for like positional replacement. Penrith were a better squad with Burton. Dispute that, go on. They simply couldn’t afford him. It’s not like they went “well we already have Luai and this Tago might be good, so let’s tell Burton to f**k off.” If he said he’d take the same salary he was last year, you think he’d have still left?

Anyway you bore me so please just stop talking.

Lol. Tago is a weapon. Of course they knew he was in the system and primed to go.