Round 1 v Sharks

[ALSGI]

Don't think its about being better.

JP is a left side player and both Rava and Ramsey are right. Not saying Rava or Ramsey cant play left, but preferred position.
I think we saw that in the CS, when JP was HIA, Rava went to left wing but was swiftly changed to right with Ramsey to the left (where he scored his try).

Just my opinion on this.

JP has impressed with his effort and worth but imo is a solid back up only. He ain’t going to improve or go another level - Rava and Ramsay probably will imo.

 

[Crush]

So, I've settled on, what I think, will be our team list come Tuesday.
Some conjecture about the #17 but I feel an impact player would serve us well, particularly in the latter half of the game.

1. Dufty
2. Ramsey
3. Bird
4. Lomax
5. Periera
6. Clune
7. Hunt
8. Faama
9. Macca
10. Vaughan
11. Sims
12. Kerr
13. Lawrie

14. Ellis
15. Alvaro
16. Fuimaono
17. Ravalawa

If Macca cannot play the 80 mins, then Hunt moves to hooker, Clune to 7 and Bird to 5/8. Fui to centre or even Rava for that impact. Yoi could even switch Ramsey to centre and Rava to right wing (his preferred spot imo).
I left Ford out as I think his trial form was disappointing, but it wouldn't surprise to see him at #17 in place of Rava.

Anyway just my thoughts.

You reckon Kerr can defend on the edge? He seemed to struggle in the CS.

 

[st.phil]

JP has impressed with his effort and worth but imo is a solid back up only. He ain’t going to improve or go another level - Rava and Ramsay probably will imo.

Rava bends the line more than any of our forwards, must select

 

[LINESPEED]

T

hat would seem logical.

As the well-performing incumbent No 3 at the end of last season, Max needs retention, with Bird to forwards.

I must say I was disappointed for Max when Bird arrived & virtually demanded his No 3 spot

Duff was training at 5/8 in the offseason and would be more dynamic than the solid only Clune IMO.

We can’t afford to lose Duff’s tryscoring abilities, so a position other than fullback has to be eventually found.

Sullivan’s injury is the perfect opportunity
- even if it’s only half a game there
- or slotting in there when in the attacking zone
I wouldn’t like defending against him in the 20 zone, as it’s where he’s most potent.

Pereira & Rava are backline roadblocks.

I’m sure gametime, form & commonsense will sort things out for a change!

Can’t wait for Sunday

 

[BLM01]

You reckon Kerr can defend on the edge? He seemed to struggle in the CS.

CS...we had no field position and were out on our feet after 20 (our fault mind you)

 

[boardlumps62]

Lomax has proven himself as has Ravalawa and then we have Pereira who goes alright but doesn't get a go Rd1. Williame hasn't set the world on fire either and Dufty is a week to week proposition according to some. After that we have mostly young unproven players for the backline most are young and untried. Ramsey is still wet behind the ears and not confirmed as a full-time winger just yet IMO. So I reckon we are short right across the park except for the 6 and 7 which we have plenty of experience and youth.

I forgot we have Jack Bird but he is not fully fit and confident so he may struggle for the first few rounds. I'm right behind Jack we need his aggression in the backs.

 

[George Sancti]

As the well-performing incumbent No 3 at the end of last season, Max needs retention, with Bird to forwards.

I must say I was disappointed for Max when Bird arrived & virtually demanded his No 3 spot

Duff was training at 5/8 in the offseason and would be more dynamic than the solid only Clune IMO.

We can’t afford to lose Duff’s tryscoring abilities, so a position other than fullback has to be eventually found.

Sullivan’s injury is the perfect opportunity
- even if it’s only half a game there
- or slotting in there when in the attacking zone
I wouldn’t like defending against him in the 20 zone, as it’s where he’s most potent.

Pereira & Rava are backline roadblocks.

I’m sure gametime, form & commonsense will sort things out for a change!

Can’t wait for Sunday

I know it would be a big call and if it doesn't pay off Anthony Griffin will come under attack from all sides, but I hope he backs Matthew Dufty and plays him at 5/8 against the Sharks.

 

[Simon]

I know it would be a big call and if it doesn't pay off Anthony Griffin will come under attack from all sides, but I hope he backs Matthew Dufty and plays him at 5/8 against the Sharks.

Not sure about Dufty to 5/8th option. Sullivan should be tried before Dufty and I know Amone can’t play NRL before July but I’d look to promote him before Dufty as well.
Dufty should focus on fullback, and work on his positional play and how to make ground returning kicks. He’ll assist our scoring but I feel contributes to our poor defence and poor starts in sets. In my mind unless he sorts this out Ramsey or Sloane will take his spot - and he may find himself out of the club. Hopefully Griffin is working with him and he takes his shot, but let him focus on the one spot and not stuff him around with positional moves.

 

[Simon]

Duplicate

 

[George Sancti]

Not sure about Dufty to 5/8th option. Sullivan should be tried before Dufty and I know Amone can’t play NRL before July but I’d look to promote him before Dufty as well.
Dufty should focus on fullback, and work on his positional play and how to make ground returning kicks. He’ll assist our scoring but I feel contributes to our poor defence and poor starts in sets. In my mind unless he sorts this out Ramsey or Sloane will take his spot - and he may find himself out of the club. Hopefully Griffin is working with him and he takes his shot, but let him focus on the one spot and not stuff him around with positional moves.

I believe Sullivan is our future half or 5/8, but it worries me when a young player is brought into first grade too soon. I would like to see Sullivan have at least half a season in reserves and if he appears strong enough for first grade on a permanent basis then elevate him to the top grade.

 

[Dragsters]

In light of injuries, suspensions and whispers on where players have trained during the pre-season, this is the team I'd like to see picked for round 1.

1. Ramsey

2. Pereira

3. Bird

4. Lomax

5. Ravalawa

6. Dufty

7. Hunt

8. Faamausili

9. McCullough

10. Vaughan

11. Sims

12. Ford

13. Lawrie

14. Clune

15. Kerr

16. Alvaro

17. Ellis

Dufty showed again in the CS that he has that great passing game which was a weapon for us late last season, this game might be the perfect opportunity to see how he goes at 6...

 

[LINESPEED]

I believe Sullivan is our future 5/8, but it worries me when a young player is brought into first grade too soon. I would like to see Sullivan have at least half a season in reserves and if he appears strong enough for first grade on a permanent basis then elevate him to the top grade.

It’s great having so many backline options

- & come semifinal time the kids’ll be rearing to go IMO

.... especially if the forwards step up

with Bird as a forward
dummying & offloading near the line

- we have some big bodied linebending potential to harness there.

A few early wins,
some combinations
& you never know

 

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

I

As the well-performing incumbent No 3 at the end of last season, Max needs retention, with Bird to forwards.

I must say I was disappointed for Max when Bird arrived & virtually demanded his No 3 spot

Duff was training at 5/8 in the offseason and would be more dynamic than the solid only Clune IMO.

We can’t afford to lose Duff’s tryscoring abilities, so a position other than fullback has to be eventually found.

Sullivan’s injury is the perfect opportunity
- even if it’s only half a game there
- or slotting in there when in the attacking zone
I wouldn’t like defending against him in the 20 zone, as it’s where he’s most potent.

Pereira & Rava are backline roadblocks.

I’m sure gametime, form & commonsense will sort things out for a change!

Can’t wait for Sunday

Agree, I really liked the look of Max looks a meat axe with good sharp footwork. Bird to backrow solves so many issues for us with Kerr back to prop and he opens up Lomax a bit of quality ball.

 

[boardlumps62]

I

Agree, I really liked the look of Max looks a meat axe with good sharp footwork. Bird to backrow solves so many issues for us with Kerr back to prop and he opens up Lomax a bit of quality ball.

I'm still waiting for Jack Bird to gain confidence he is our answer to some toughness in the back line. A Michael Beattie type no nonsense.

 

[possm]

CS...we had no field position and were out on our feet after 20 (our fault mind you)

The boys weren't prepared for the CS game. Let's hope they are prepared for round 1 against the Sharks.

 

[Dragon David]

As the well-performing incumbent No 3 at the end of last season, Max needs retention, with Bird to forwards.

I must say I was disappointed for Max when Bird arrived & virtually demanded his No 3 spot

Duff was training at 5/8 in the offseason and would be more dynamic than the solid only Clune IMO.

We can’t afford to lose Duff’s tryscoring abilities, so a position other than fullback has to be eventually found.

Sullivan’s injury is the perfect opportunity
- even if it’s only half a game there
- or slotting in there when in the attacking zone
I wouldn’t like defending against him in the 20 zone, as it’s where he’s most potent.

Pereira & Rava are backline roadblocks.

I’m sure gametime, form & commonsense will sort things out for a change!

Can’t wait for Sunday

Most of us are judging how we will be performing based on a number of trial games and surmising where we will end up at the end of the year before kick off in round 1. A lot of water will be flowing under Tom Ugly's Bridge and Sea Cliff Bridge before the end of the 2021 competition and when that time arrives, we will have either done 1,000 posts on the sack Hook thread or congratulating him and his staff for achieving better than expected results. Who knows? I'm hoping that something positive comes about for a change.

 

[boardlumps62]

You know when you look at our team there are only 2 players that have some Animal.
1. Ravalawa and 2. Jack Bird and 3. Jack D Belin.
Prove me wrong boys.

 

[mickeylane]

In light of injuries, suspensions and whispers on where players have trained during the pre-season, this is the team I'd like to see picked for round 1.
This teams half a chance of being selected ! Whoever we pick Dragons will be treating this games like a GF and expect to win on a high scoring game
34-24

1. Ramsey

2. Pereira

3. Bird

4. Lomax

5. Ravalawa

6. Dufty

7. Hunt

8. Faamausili

9. McCullough

10. Vaughan

11. Sims

12. Ford

13. Lawrie

14. Clune

15. Kerr

16. Alvaro

17. Ellis

Dufty showed again in the CS that he has that great passing game which was a weapon for us late last season, this game might be the perfect opportunity to see how he goes at 6...

 

[mickeylane]

In light of injuries, suspensions and whispers on where players have trained during the pre-season, this is the team I'd like to see picked for round 1.

1. Ramsey

2. Pereira

3. Bird

4. Lomax

5. Ravalawa

6. Dufty

7. Hunt

8. Faamausili

9. McCullough

10. Vaughan

11. Sims

12. Ford

13. Lawrie

14. Clune

15. Kerr

16. Alvaro

17. Ellis

Dufty showed again in the CS that he has that great passing game which was a weapon for us late last season, this game might be the perfect opportunity to see how he goes at 6...

I think Dragons will be treating game against Sharks as a GF - whatever team trots out we are a very strong chance of getting job done. Dragons in a high scoring affair 32-24

 

[possm]

I posted last season that I thought five-eighth would be Dufty's best position howver, Griffin seems to have resisted trialling him there in the CS. I suppose this is because we have a wealth of depth in the 6 position.

So I am very much afraid that if Dufty does not improve, especially in defence, he will drop to reseve grade and be at another club in 2022. However, I am sure that Griffin will select him at fullback for round one with Ransey and Ravalawa as our wingers.