Reasons to be optimistic about 2012

[TheRev]

Been hearing all this talk about our so called lack of depth... Wtf??? Can somebody please tell me where we are lacking depth? From 1 to 5 we got, k Stanley, c Stanley, nighty, b.moz, Cooper, Goodwin, and that young gun fullback from Toyota cup that everyone has big wraps about. That's 7 player to cover 5 back positions, good depth there I'd say, halves, we got k Stanley and fien as back ups, need I go through our forwards??? Harden up ffs, 2012 will be a big year for the mighty dragons!!!!

Its the same backline as last year, minus 2 high quality players in Boyd & Gasnier.

I know this is a negative outlook, but Cummins is not ready for 1st grade, Goodwin barely is 1st grade capable, C.Stanley I couldnt stand when he used to play for the Dragons, K.Stanley is awsome, but still very injury prone. We can put together a squad, but there are a lot of borderline 1st graders, that we are going to need to stand up, and thats assuming no injuries to our stars.

Hopefully they will stand up, but I certainly wouldn't call it depth... but with Moltzen who can cover halves, fullback or centre and is a good quality player, we would be fine, he is/was an important piece in the jigsaw.

 

[redvwhite]

Agreed Rev but Goodwin will go alright in first grade I think with a bit of luck.

We can give up on Moltzen. Not that I have any more inside information than you do but even if he sticks the Dragons jersey on and says he'll try his heart out, none of us will believe after what has come to pass.

Yep, lacking depth as it stands.

 

[Minh]

Of course Moltzen wants us to react in this way so that we don't want him to come here, he's done a good job, but I want to still see the NRL sort out those Tiger maggots.

 

[Fingerbang]

I can't believe how much negativity there is here (and other threads) about our signings for 2012. We need to sign players for 2 teams (1sts and NSW Cup). Guys we bought like Latimore, Vea and Miller will no doubt see more NSW Cup action, but also be capable of filling a hole if required for 1st grade. And the key thing is, they cost bugger all to sign them. To the few negative nancies who reckon our recruiting sucks....who do you think we should have signed instead? Adam Blair, at $500k a year? No thanks....not for mine. I reckon that $500k is better spent on signing Will Matthews, Leeson Ah Mau, Vea etc. and resigning the likes of Marketo, De Belin, Stockwell etc.

 

[Bring back choc]

Yep i have large concerns. We really don't have a strike back or a strike forward. Thats an issue.

Our pack was totally exposed last year. All the players are too similar.... there's not enough variety. The one X factor we did have in cuthbo we have also let slip. Seriously, our pack has absolutely no aggression (other than Scott) and no creativity. Then we lose our 2 premium strike weapons in Gaz and Boyd.... and replace them with.... no-one. yes Kyle is a star in the making but like i have said a million times... we are peeling back the layers of quality and the raw meat is starting to be exposed.

Im always excited by a new year and new players. But after the period of success we have had expectations are high... not just on the field but i even more so in the board room. We finally discovers what works.... good coach, depth and strike players. We cannot say for certain we have any of these in 2012.

 

[Godz Illa]

Try seppuku

 

[Divine]

Aldi will be selling cans of beer for $1.

 

[Bring back choc]

Its the same backline as last year, minus 2 high quality players in Boyd & Gasnier.

I know this is a negative outlook, but Cummins is not ready for 1st grade, Goodwin barely is 1st grade capable, C.Stanley I couldnt stand when he used to play for the Dragons, K.Stanley is awsome, but still very injury prone. We can put together a squad, but there are a lot of borderline 1st graders, that we are going to need to stand up, and thats assuming no injuries to our stars.

Hopefully they will stand up, but I certainly wouldn't call it depth... but with Moltzen who can cover halves, fullback or centre and is a good quality player, we would be fine, he is/was an important piece in the jigsaw.

Thank you for talking some sense Rev. I honestly don't have a clue what some people are on.

Our depth (of quality first graders) has been decimated.

Why? Because of poor recruitment and the exit of Wayne Bennett.

It's real easy to understand.

 

[Fingerbang]

Thank you for talking some sense Rev. I honestly don't have a clue what some people are on.

Our depth (of quality first graders) has been decimated.

Why? Because of poor recruitment and the exit of Wayne Bennett.

It's real easy to understand.

Gee....you will wanna hope the Dragons have a bad year next year to back up your views....else gonna be a lot of people laughing at you.....pessimist.

 

[Minh]

Soward, Creagh, Young, Hornby, Scott, Kyle Stanley, King, Nighty, Morris, Cooper. These 10 guys are very good players, two young guns and 8 rep players. Not to mention Weyman and Merrin two origin players, Mitch Rein showed real class, who's to say Nathan Fien will not come back to his best either. In all 11 Origin/National players, and 3 young guns, not too bad for team supposedly facing doom and gloom.

 

[Cagey Mac]

I too am a little bemused by the lack of faith in this place.
Gaz was great (but not all the time) and didn’t exactly set the world on fire in 2011 or 2010 for that matter
Boyd will be a loss but not an irreplaceable one

• Vidot is the same size as Creagh and faster and made life hell for us in 2010 when we played them he’ll get bigger, stronger and faster
• Chase was Bellyache’s preferred centre over Champion before injury
• Kyle will be older, more experienced and tougher
• Agreed, Sowie needs to step back to the future
• King and Rein are very capable and are babies who will be better than ever like many in our squad
• Cummins…who knows but potential is scary
• Goodwin needs to stay injury free but if he does he is the real deal
• If we don’t get Moltzen we have some cash left and who knows who we’ll jag

Need I remind you that Manly won the comp with the likes Cherry-Evans, Buhrer, Young Hoppa, Foran, Gulavao, Rodney and co. Who were they a year or two ago. Rugby league is a game where you win if you take your opportunities and work hard. I reckon that we’re top for in 2012

 

[Godz Illa]

Nice one Cage

 

[Bring back choc]

I too am a little bemused by the lack of faith in this place.
Gaz was great (but not all the time) and didn’t exactly set the world on fire in 2011 or 2010 for that matter
Boyd will be a loss but not an irreplaceable one

• Vidot is the same size as Creagh and faster and made life hell for us in 2010 when we played them he’ll get bigger, stronger and faster
• Chase was Bellyache’s preferred centre over Champion before injury
• Kyle will be older, more experienced and tougher
• Agreed, Sowie needs to step back to the future
• King and Rein are very capable and are babies who will be better than ever like many in our squad
• Cummins…who knows but potential is scary
• Goodwin needs to stay injury free but if he does he is the real deal
• If we don’t get Moltzen we have some cash left and who knows who we’ll jag

Need I remind you that Manly won the comp with the likes Cherry-Evans, Buhrer, Young Hoppa, Foran, Gulavao, Rodney and co. Who were they a year or two ago. Rugby league is a game where you win if you take your opportunities and work hard. I reckon that we’re top for in 2012

Definitely a good post there cagey.

For me cameron king is the brightest prospect we have. I just hope he gets first crack.

 

[Dr Fruitbasket Returns]

Happy to be going under the radar to be honest. I worry a bit about our depth if the Moltzen deal falls through, but as long as we're 5th-8th next season with money to spend on key positions for 2013 I think the next five years look pretty good. Two more Premierships this decade as a reasonable expectation.

I think that the Stanley brothers could be great next season if they stay injury free and the foundation for a serious shot at the comp in 2013. Good feeling about the Price and Folkes combination as well.

 

[The Nick]

Yep i have large concerns. We really don't have a strike back or a strike forward. Thats an issue.

Our pack was totally exposed last year. All the players are too similar.... there's not enough variety. The one X factor we did have in cuthbo we have also let slip. Seriously, our pack has absolutely no aggression (other than Scott) and no creativity. Then we lose our 2 premium strike weapons in Gaz and Boyd.... and replace them with.... no-one. yes Kyle is a star in the making but like i have said a million times... we are peeling back the layers of quality and the raw meat is starting to be exposed.

Im always excited by a new year and new players. But after the period of success we have had expectations are high... not just on the field but i even more so in the board room. We finally discovers what works.... good coach, depth and strike players. We cannot say for certain we have any of these in 2012.

Yeah we've all read your concerns a number of times, did you read my OP or even the thread title? There are plenty of other threads for you to whinge in now f**k off.

Farkin sick of hearing how losing Cuthbertson is our downfall, what team have you people been watching the last 3 years????

 

[Dea]

Let everyone else think we're falling, we've got a SOO 5/8, 2 young guns to share (fight over ) the No9, Hornby is a good solid 7 who won a premiership, and 2 or 3 players with the chance to step up into the 1. I don't think it's all bad. And if Moltzen re-renigs we've got a bit of cash to buy exactly what we need to go back to back 2012 & 2013

 

[Bring back choc]

Yeah we've all read your concerns a number of times, did you read my OP or even the thread title? There are plenty of other threads for you to whinge in now f**k off.

Farkin sick of hearing how losing Cuthbertson is our downfall, what team have you people been watching the last 3 years????

Piss off dip shit.

You have NFI.

It's half wits like you with rose coloured glasses that breed mediocrity.

Now grow a set and stop shooting your mouth off at people.

 

[watatank]

There's more than enough reasons to be either optimistic and pessimistic, just depends what side you want to take really. I'd prefer to look at the positives and hope that we have learned from the past three seasons under the best coach in the business and continue to contend year after year.

Just about everything has been covered already but what I will add is that we're no longer the premiers, we won't have the WCC to distract us and our players are not as likely to be favoured when it comes to Origin time which will help.

 

[redvwhite]

I will not stand for mediocrity at St George Illawarra.

 

[Godz Illa]

I will not stand for mediocrity at St George Illawarra.

You go girl!

And BBC, The Nick is right. Your incessant whining is not as funny as it used to be. You're starting to depress everyone