Rd5: 3pm Parra v Dragons GAME DAY THREAD @ Commbank 5/4/25

[Joshuatheeel]

Some bloke in the main thread (RIP @Bazal) made the offhand remark that we didn’t have any set plays but for mine the biggest difference today were our shifts to the left. Brown was finally made to pull his finger out and Iongi could join in the left side raids because of the influence Walker had in the middle as a link man. Lomax would punch down the right then we spread it left via Walker to Brown who then had 4 options. We didn’t have any set plays inside the 20, but the midfield attack was 200% slicker.

Yep, one of the complains BA was our rucking out, not moving the ball around. Still a work in progress but we are moving the ball around a lot more now, especially those shifts, rucking it out.

 

[Obscene Assassin]

Na, he chop down Flanagan, one on one perfectly close to the line (and didn't fall for Leilua as a decoy).

However no-one came in to help him, slow the play the ball down. Hawkins was close by and should have helped.

Kautoga couldn't move back into position, which is almost impossible in that situation. He actually gets up pretty quickly but was no chance to stop Gutho while moving backwards.

Yeah, someone needed to go into marker for him. Gutho into dummy half that close to the line there was only going to be one play, we should've recognised that

 

[the phantom menace]

Na, he chop down Flanagan, one on one perfectly close to the line (and didn't fall for Leilua as a decoy).

However no-one came in to help him, slow the play the ball down. Hawkins was close by and should have helped.

Kautoga couldn't move back into position, which is almost impossible in that situation. He actually gets up pretty quickly but was no chance to stop Gutho while moving backwards.

Good points about possible lack of support for Kautoga from nearby defenders.
But it's the top grade, and the goal line standard on his next play after tackling Flanagan should be better imo.

Gutho is smart, and took advantage - something other teams will also do on the regular, targeting Kautoga in similar situations.

 

[Twizzle]

Why is Hayne celebrating a parra win vomit worthy.

The bloke made some mistakes and served time for it weather he was guilty or not.

Time to let it go and let him move on with his life.

He is a Parra man till he dies despite his idiotic Titan Stint

You mean just like you've let go of BA ?

I agree though, time to move on.

 

[Eelementary]

I was surprised to see some people criticising Gutho's game yesterday - without him, they offered very little.

 

[JokerEel]

I don't know if many of you noticed, but when the dragons kicked out on the full during golden point, Ryley Smith was giving the Dragons halfback a heap of static afterwards like a good dummy half should

He was doing it all game, when we scored and the Parra chant was going just before the dragons kicked off he was clapping along.

 

[hineyrulz]

You mean just like you've let go of BA ?

I agree though, time to move on.

 

[Twizzle]

I was surprised to see some people criticising Gutho's game yesterday - without him, they offered very little.

was gonna say the same thing, they were pretty average, take out Gutho and Ilias and they are Cup level

hard to see how they beat the Storm on yesterdays showing

 

[JokerEel]

was gonna say the same thing, they were pretty average, take out Gutho and Ilias and they are Cup level

hard to see how they beat the Storm on yesterdays showing

Gutho was huge! Sucks we lost him but we can be honest this year with th him as our fullback we still were not winning anything best to give Iongi a year to develop.. Which the Dragons are not.allowing with their juniors..

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I'm surprised you didn't rate Ryley Smith...

I hardly rate anyone who's never played first grade. Most of them are duds.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Good points about possible lack of support for Kautoga from nearby defenders.
But it's the top grade, and the goal line standard on his next play after tackling Flanagan should be better imo.

Gutho is smart, and took advantage - something other teams will also do on the regular, targeting Kautoga in similar situations.

Yeah Kautoga shouldn't have made the tackle at all, so he would still be on his feet at the next play ffs

 

[the phantom menace]

Yeah Kautoga shouldn't have made the tackle at all, so he would still be on his feet at the next play ffs

 

[Gherkin]

Will be interesting to see how the dragons go long term. Were in a similar rebuild position to us with neither team any threat to the premiership but have approached it completely differently by going for older experienced players. Gutho, Val, cook, Klemmer (LOL) might offer them some quality now but later in their contracts they’ll struggle. In a year or two they’ll be trying to replace these guys whereas we’ll hopefully have smith, Iongi etc with some experience under their belts and hopefully locked up long term.

 

[Eelementary]

was gonna say the same thing, they were pretty average, take out Gutho and Ilias and they are Cup level

hard to see how they beat the Storm on yesterdays showing

I know, right?

Gutho was in everything for them.

 

[Sensei Cobra]

Na, he chop down Flanagan, one on one perfectly close to the line (and didn't fall for Leilua as a decoy).

However no-one came in to help him, slow the play the ball down. Hawkins was close by and should have helped.

Kautoga couldn't move back into position, which is almost impossible in that situation. He actually gets up pretty quickly but was no chance to stop Gutho while moving backwards.

Yep
It was actually a really nice tackle from katiOga and
Iongi should have been awake to the threat from dummy half. One the areas of game that needs to develop

 

[Zoso]

Watched the game again this morning.
Ryley’s effort plays got us home, great prospect.
Ionghi was was popping up everywhere.
Dylan Walker is a great addition.
Hawkins did very well. No flash, just solid and did his job.
About time we moved Will back to RC and Lomax on the wing.
And apologies to Junior. A few weeks back I dropped him to 5th grade rugby. All is forgiven, I’m sorry Junz!!

 

[Timana]

Watched the game again this morning.
Ryley’s effort plays got us home, great prospect.
Ionghi was was popping up everywhere.
Dylan Walker is a great addition.
Hawkins did very well. No flash, just solid and did his job.
About time we moved Will back to RC and Lomax on the wing.
And apologies to Junior. A few weeks back I dropped him to 5th grade rugby. All is forgiven, I’m sorry Junz!!

And I liked how Dylan Brown dug into the line. Shades of Newcastle trial

 

[PARRA_FAN]

I was surprised to see some people criticising Gutho's game yesterday - without him, they offered very little.

He basically carried that team and unfortunately is playing alongside some bludgers.

 

[Timana]

So Jason actually listened to me !!!

1. Will was struggling on the left, stick him back on the right somewhere preferably centre if lomax will goto the wing if not then edge backrower
2. Hopgood to play hooker
3. Someone to play like Dylan Walker but instead we got the real Dylan Walker
4. Kick to Lomax... I thought Hawkin's is good at clearing but his accuracy in attacking kicks is lacking, sometimes too deep, sometimes too shallow and made it difficult for Lomax. I think Dyl should do more attacking kicks as he's not that bad kicking in the redzone.

I reckon if Kelma gets his defense right, he'll be back.
Offa, Lane, Matto to fight for that one spot.

I thought Russell secured that left centre defensively really well, ala Opacic. I worried about the dragon's edges as they are big and strong.

Iongi did well though it wouldn't hurt him to review the game and watch what Gutho did and put that in his game. I do reckon he wants to show pony his cutout pass and that one that went out... oh my.

Lastly, need to work out how to make use of the Fox more.

 

[Sensei Cobra]

Good points about possible lack of support for Kautoga from nearby defenders.
But it's the top grade, and the goal line standard on his next play after tackling Flanagan should be better imo.

Gutho is smart, and took advantage - something other teams will also do on the regular, targeting Kautoga in similar situations.

He made a legs tackle .. how the hell is supposed to get to marker ? The other players around should have reacted better - hawkin and Iongi
Kautoga has plenty to work on but effort and execution in this play was not the issue