Round 1 v Sharks

[since77]

If your team has less than 50% share of the ball and leaks like a sieve in the middle and in the edges then best that your wingers & FB’s are highly accomplished in all facets of defence.

A bit of Dugan defence wouldn’t go astray .

Yeah but perhaps if the problem that actually puts Duffy in that position was fixed that would be the smarter solution. Put any other fullback in for Duffy over the last 2 years and we still don’t win one extra game.
Defence in the middle and on Aitken’s edge has been the biggest issue for the last 2 years (apart from an incompetent coach).

 

[Old Timer]

I’m looking at the cold, hard facts that show Dufty is a better defender.

If we’re going down the path of comparing our fullbacks from the past vs the future, both Dufty and Dugan aren’t even fit to tie David Riolo’s bootlaces.

What position did Dugan play in 2020?

 

[Eatons Hill Dragon]

What are the chances of Hook playing games with the team.
Starting side stays as is however Kerr actually plays prop, Lawrie Lock and Tyrell to second row.
Also Williame is there to provide cover for McCullough and Bird which is smart.
Hooker needs a rest so Clune / Hunt moves to hooker and Bird in the halves.
Williame can also cover if Kerr plays back row edge and if it doesn’t work Bird can cover there as well.
Would prefer young Fergai however let’s see how things play out.
Dragons by 10 in a high scoring game.
Sims MOTM and both Bird / Lomax to have blinders too.

 

[Old Timer]

Yeah but perhaps if the problem that actually puts Duffy in that position was fixed that would be the smarter solution. Put any other fullback in for Duffy over the last 2 years and we still don’t win one extra game.
Defence in the middle and on Aitken’s edge has been the biggest issue for the last 2 years (apart from an incompetent coach).

Dugan’s goal line defence was excellent and puts Dufty to shame.

Dugan’s defence against a 2 on 1 always made the opposition make a decision and that could cause an error Dufty’s predominantly does not.

Yiu can’t trade one ability off for a disability and that’s why Dugan was not retained but for sure if you had to make a decision as to who you would want to defend in the last lie out of the 2 of them the decision is easy to make.

Likewise if you are looking for an attacking FB that decision is equally easy to make.

 

[Maddragon99]

Willow said re Dufty
His improvement in attack and combining with Lomax gives him reason to feel more confident. Don't kick the kid when he's getting better.

Maybe? but, not in my opinion. He cannot tackle. He just cannot tackle.
You cant have a full back who wont tackle.
The fake intercept attempt ?? Please! if he does it again against the sharks it must be the END (hopefully).

I’m optimistic about Bird & Ramsey on the left so I’m happy to give Dufty a chance to prove himself. In the scheme of things our biggest weekness is in the backrow, Kerr at 11 is a joke.

 

[muzby]

Yeah but perhaps if the problem that actually puts Duffy in that position was fixed that would be the smarter solution. Put any other fullback in for Duffy over the last 2 years and we still don’t win one extra game.
Defence in the middle and on Aitken’s edge has been the biggest issue for the last 2 years (apart from an incompetent coach).

Yup.. People bag Dufty for the opposition scoring a try off a 2 on 1 situation..

The 2 on 1 drill is one that is taught from under 7s...

Players are taught to use the overlap to score..

If a team doesn’t score in a 2 on 1 situation, majority of (if not all) the time it’s because the bloke with the ball was too selfish to pass it at the right time..

 

[muzby]

What position did Dugan play in 2020?

Fullback

 

[Kilkenny]

Good luck this week. I hope you get up, be nice for our former coach. He is no Craig Bellamy but is a decent person and despite his critics he can coach, he just needs time and dragons fans should not expect miracles in his first season.

 

[Willow]

If your team has less than 50% share of the ball and leaks like a sieve in the middle and in the edges then best that your wingers & FB’s are highly accomplished in all facets of defence.

A bit of Dugan defence wouldn’t go astray .

If your forward defence is leaking like a sieve, it doesn't matter how good your wingers and fullback are at tackling, you'll lose almost all the time. I always thought this was an obvious fact of Rugby League that didn't require detailed explanation.

 

[TruSaint]

 

[since77]

Dugan’s goal line defence was excellent and puts Dufty to shame.

Dugan’s defence against a 2 on 1 always made the opposition make a decision and that could cause an error Dufty’s predominantly does not.

Yiu can’t trade one ability off for a disability and that’s why Dugan was not retained but for sure if you had to make a decision as to who you would want to defend in the last lie out of the 2 of them the decision is easy to make.

Likewise if you are looking for an attacking FB that decision is equally easy to make.

You’re missing the point. If the coaching staff at the Dragons fixed the defence of the team that stands in front of Duffy and lets all those line breaks through then Dufty’s defensive deficiencies are going to be an issue far less often. Blaming Duffy for teams scoring against us for the last 2 years is myopic.

 

[Old Timer]

If your forward defence is leaking like a sieve, it doesn't matter how good your wingers and fullback are at tackling, you'll lose almost all the time. I always thought this was an obvious fact of Rugby League that didn't require detailed explanation.

No one is saying it isn’t an obvious fact but it is about the effort and willingness to out one’s body on the line and Dufty isn’t even close to Dugan in that regard.
Simple question if you were in front on the scoreboard by 1 with the opposition pressing your line with 5 to go who would you pick Dufty or Dugan?

 

[Old Timer]

You’re missing the point. If the coaching staff at the Dragons fixed the defence of the team that stands in front of Duffy and lets all those line breaks through then Dufty’s defensive deficiencies are going to be an issue far less often. Blaming Duffy for teams scoring against us for the last 2 years is myopic.

You’re the one that is myopic.

I’m not blaming Dufty for the mistakes up front but they are a reality that has to be coped with as ii was when Dugan was our FB.

Dugan saved many many tries and really put his body on the line in defence and Dufty simply doesn’t do that up to this point of his career.

Dugan was limited in attack but was not deficient in defence and didn’t worry about self preservation in trying to stop tries.

The notion that Dufty is a better defender than Dugan was as our FB is simply laughable.

 

[Old Timer]

Fullback

Amazing the Sharks official website says he can play FB but spent most of 2020 in the centre’s.

So how many games did he play in total in 2020 and how many of those were at FB?

 

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Bird at 6 come kickoff with Wiliame at centre and Clune on the bench to cover Macca.

 

[Willow]

No one is saying it isn’t an obvious fact but it is about the effort and willingness to out one’s body on the line and Dufty isn’t even close to Dugan in that regard.
Simple question if you were in front on the scoreboard by 1 with the opposition pressing your line with 5 to go who would you pick Dufty or Dugan?

lol. Hypotheticals now.

I'm not interested in some comparison argument for argument's sake.

Our fullback this weekend is Matt Dufty.

Here's hoping the forwards step up and do their job on Sunday, because in Mudgee the defence was ordinary, to say the least. If they defend like that again, we'll be smashed. That's my main concern.

 

[since77]

You’re the one that is myopic.

I’m not blaming Dufty for the mistakes up front but they are a reality that has to be coped with as ii was when Dugan was our FB.

Dugan saved many many tries and really put his body on the line in defence and Dufty simply doesn’t do that up to this point of his career.

Dugan was limited in attack but was not deficient in defence and didn’t worry about self preservation in trying to stop tries.

The notion that Dufty is a better defender than Dugan was as our FB is simply laughable.

I didn’t say Duffy was a better defender than Dugan. I said he’s not the problem with our defence. And if you swapped Dugan (or any other fullback) for Dufty last 2 seasons we lose just as many games. Some would argue fairly compellingly we’d have lost more in 2020 without Dufty and his try assists. By the way for the record I was a Dugan fan and wished he’d stayed on as a centre.
Fix the front line defence and Dufty’s defence becomes a minor and coachable issue.

 

[muzby]

Amazing the Sharks official website says he can play FB but spent most of 2020 in the centre’s.

So how many games did he play in total in 2020 and how many of those were at FB?

So clearly the sharks thought he was an ordinary defender at fullback too, otherwise they would have played him there more often..

Wouldn’t you say?

 

[Gareth67]

Agree w you wholeheartedly but no such thing now as low scoring games w the new rules and the tiring factor of teams defending repetitively off the back of the ruck infringement penalties. Dragons 32-24

I did forget about those damn rule changes mickey - like fleas on a dogs back every summer - they annoy the hell out of me . Still the NRL brains trust is always 10 steps ahead of the humble supporter so they know what is best (?) .

So taking the changes into account you would be right on the money with a much higher score line than I had predicted earlier my friend .

 

[Old Timer]

So clearly the sharks thought he was an ordinary defender at fullback too, otherwise they would have played him there more often..

Wouldn’t you say?

No I’d say you told a big fat lie to try and win your falsely constructed argument.