Rnd 1- Storm Vs Dragons Discussion.

[grandorient]

I live in Dubai and Sunday is a work day, so I have taped the game (local network shows EVERY game live, so thats a positive).

Unfortunately, I know the score and am dreading watching the replay tonight when I get home... should I bother?

No

GO

 

[Dezziedc]

I thought there were some good signs in there.

Silly mistakes cost us the game - as well as some luck on Melbournes part. Realistically there was the deflection from the grubber in the first half and the intercept from the second 1/2 that were pretty lucky.

Having said that, Fein and soward offered nothing - there is no creativity in their play. You need one or both replaced. If you do that, I think the rest of the team will fit in nicely. Cooper, as much as I like the guy, is done. There needs to be some move to drop in a replacement over the next couple of months. As with everyone elses comments, I thought Ah Mau was great. Most of the forwards did a pretty good job.

Defense has dropped off - that first Melbourne try was woeful. He should never have got past the first tackle - let alone the next 4.

I am still optimistic here. I think they have the makings of a good team, but there are a couple of key things that need to change. Fein needs to be moved out and we need a new half in there. That would be the first change I would make. Someone who is willing to take on the line and someone with creativity.

 

[nrlnrl]

Steve folkes' mother I assume.

wasn't it his wife Karen who passed away recently after a long illness ?

 

[Inspector Gadget]

Interesting reading all these comments, most spot on. For mine, Frizzell, Au Mau & Beale were great. Put Drinkwater and Quilan in and leave them there all year Pricey even taking into account their inexperince, they could not go any worse than Fein/Soward. If they are good enough they are young enough.

 

[R&WTILLIDIE]

Fein and Soward looked ordinary. I don't know what Price is on about regarding working on their attack. When they were close to the line they ran sideways and kept coughing up the ball. They don't look any different to the shit team from last year.

 

[mmap dragons]

Disapointed in a loss as always, However, My bigger concern is how much can they improve? Price indicated in the press conference that he was not going to beat himself up over the loss and they have a fair bit of work to do. Yes, They need to improve vastly to compete with the likes of the Storm and Price may just start to beat himself up if mediocre results and effort are to follow.

What kills me is the vast difference in the qualities of the side post Bennett. The much lorded and envied defence has evaporated. Teams whom came up against the Dragons prior to 2012 knew they had to earn every inch and point, Same can't be said of the current side under Price. The Storm looked so in control and professional, Much akin to the Dragons under Bennett.

A few of the forwards played well and made a few yards, However, Both halves offered little to create any opportunity for those outside to put a major dent on the scoreboard.

Sure, You can't live in the past and its round 1 but as a member I find it very difficult to accept mediocrity and a feeling of just making up the numbers.

 

[tumbidragon]

edit out

 

[Willow]

the storm were able to score almost at will.

I can't agree that.

Apart from the Brown-esque 20 min lapses in concentration, the defence was OK. The boys tried their hearts out against a better drilled outfit.

Our line defence for the most part was very good.

 

[hardbaby]

Scoreline aside, I thought it was ok. Beaten by a great side. Cronk and Slater were fantastic. Forwards went well. Attack looked reasonable in patches. Fien was shocking. His kicking game was a joke. All the commentators were saying how hard it is to go from hooker to half and particularly at that age. I don't know how long Price will persist with an obviously bad selection but his own career is at stake. So hopefully he makes a tough decision next week and drops him. We had very little luck but in truth, the Storm should have scored more points so we have few excuses. Cooper has played one year too long. He poses absolutely no threat. The defence just slides from him to Morris. The angle running is bad. But there were positives and I expect to beat the Broncos at home next week.

 

[Willow]

Don't listen to commentators. They miss heaps as well.

Fien put in two good kicks. Several rotters. But the coach won't drop him on that performance.

 

[RedVee]

I don't think they were dreadful, but there is plenty of room for improvement.
No 1. Fein is not a starting halfback, if not Drinkwater - who?
No 2. No 'attack' in our defence.
No 3. Too late for this year but we seem too small or perhaps just not strong enough. Souths & Dogs would have 6 extra 100kg+ players in the 25 than we do. Is this a factor? We need to control possession and field position a lot better if we are to neutralise this.

We'll bet the horses this week tho, (he hopes).

 

[Breathingfire]

We dished up a whole lot of rubbish today.

That intercept try from O'Neil was not bad luck at all. Go back and watch how poor the formation was on that play and you'll understand why. Three players were just going for a leisurely stroll through the park right in the middle of the field when the ball was dished off to Soward who just figured he might as well pass it to the guy next to him. That pretty much sums up the type of team we are now...not a team at all.

I think the squad we have minus Soward, Cooper and Fein is actually quite capably if it was coached properly, but we are very poorly coached. We have a new play that we try every time we get the ball. Its the one where instead of the fullback sweeping out wide, he now stands of the hip of the ball carrier. Wow, I wonder how long it took Price to come up with that, and I wonder how long it will take the opposition to work it out? Alarmingly, I noticed that we ran the ball to the fringes on the second tackle a number of times; what happened to earning the right to go wide by going forward first?

The 5th tackle options are at the level of under 6's.

 

[Willow]

You must have missed the intercept try the Storm dished up.

 

[Twenty10]

I can't agree that.

Apart from the Brown-esque 20 min lapses in concentration, the defence was OK. The boys tried their hearts out against a better drilled outfit.

Our line defence for the most part was very good.

Mate we got smashed 30-10. I can't wait to see what the score is when our defence is average!!

Honestly the discipline and structure was embarrassing tonight. We need a coach that doesn't accept mediocrity. Price is a joke at every press conference. He should have said "we weren't good. We were poor. Our kicking game was terrible and our attacking options were amateurish. Our defence In patches showed courage but overall we did not have the mental aptitude of past years. The same mental aptitude that made our club great. I must take responsibility for the downward spiral and I hereby tender my resignation effective immediately".

That's what he should have f**king said.

 

[Breathingfire]

You must have missed the intercept try the Storm dished up.

It's a bit different when you have attacking shape and your halfback is going to line in search of runners. Ours was a nothing play with a hooker finding himself at 5/8th crabbing across field behind lazy forwards who failed to even get into a position to receive the ball.

 

[Breathingfire]

Mate we got smashed 30-10. I can't wait to see what the score is when our defence is average!!

Honestly the discipline and structure was embarrassing tonight. We need a coach that doesn't accept mediocrity. Price is a joke at every press conference. He should have said "we weren't good. We were poor. Our kicking game was terrible and our attacking options were amateurish. Our defence In patches showed courage but overall we did not have the mental aptitude of past years. The same mental aptitude that made our club great. I must take responsibility for the downward spiral and I hereby tender my resignation effective immediately".

That's what he should have f**king said.

I think Price is obsessed with modelling himself on Wayne Bennett to the point where he even attempts to replicate Bennett's press conference persona. The difference is Wayne knew what he was doing and understood that the tide would turn eventually because he had experienced it before. Price on the other hand has achieved nothing in the game and should call a spade a spade until he actually starts winning matches.

 

[Willow]

So Price is now obsessed with modelling himself on Wayne Bennett? Based on his 'persona'.

Do we have any off field algorithms to support this?

 

[patzz_]

Thought I would offer my 2 cents.


- Forwards were good aside from Creagh and Harrison. I was glad to see Prior and Ah Mau have good games. I thought Creagh went missing and didn't look to involve himself. He needs to be more inspirational as captain and try to lead the boys around more. Same for Harrison, didn't want to do the hard stuff.

- King was good. Aside from a bad kick and the odd wayward pass I thought he was solid and was quick from dummy half, enabling us more time in attack. I was happy he got some decent time, great experience for him.

-Back 3 were solid. I liked Beale when he had his hands on the ball

-Though Stanley had a good show, Cooper has gone a year to long, lacks any penetration and the defence just slide to Morris.

-Fien isn't upto playing 7. Enough said.

-Fien and Frizzel need to practice working together in defence. (Hopefully Drinkwater gets a shot against the Broncs)


Aside from that does anybody know about Stanley's injury? Also was Rein carrying an injury?

Pat

 

[Breathingfire]

Harrison was a pedestrian.

 

[Breathingfire]

So Price is now obsessed with modelling himself on Wayne Bennett? Based on his 'persona'.

Do we have any off field algorithms to support this?

I think

Its called an opinion you dickhead and I would have thought being a moderator on the forum you might have worked that out by now. Would you like a reference list with my next post?:lol:

You should pick your targets a little wiser ;-)