On reading this thread it is pretty clear plenty of posters already have an opinion of the team and some of the players then look at the game for evidence to prove their view. So before I record anything I will admit to my bias. I have been fanatical about the Dragons for close to 60 years and basically don't give a toss about the NRL. In going to yesterday's game I had no concerns over where we might finish on the table this season. What I was looking for was some signs of improvement from the lost years under the Coaching Imposter.
So what did I get for my $32? A ticketed seat, only the numbered seat didn't exist! Can you believe I paid Ticketek $7 for their services? A really cold, wet experience. But on the positive side, queuing up at entry I got to met Mr Feagai, obviously a very proud but humble Samoan. He surprised me by telling me the twins are relatively new to League having grown up as Union players. Later I got to see the boys close up as once I was issued with a real seat I was close to where Mum and Dad Feagai were sitting. Appeared like a wholesome, close-knit family.
I don't won't to bore prospective readers with repetition of what others have written. I thought Cronulla's win was largely based on a superior kicking game, both in terms of swirling bombs and short kicks, some luck in the in-goal and a greater share of possession. Had Poasa been able to ground the grubber between the posts it may have been a different game. Similarly Ramsey's "try". Bird also got a ball over the line.
I am glad to see no one has resorted to labelling Lawrie a "plodder" after yesterday's game. From the start he was sprinting from marker to dive at the feet of the ball carrier. Then in the second half he made some tough runs crashing into his opponents. And of course he rushed into support Dufty after the high shot. Fittler said last year that through the junior rep ranks Blake was always a standout. Now under a new coaching regime maybe it's his time to show us what he can do. I would say about his development that while it may have been slowed under Mary I don't think his progress was undermined by the narcissist to the extent of Sele, Luciano and Host.
Plenty have commented favourably on Paul Vaughan. I thought that it was a positive that he was interviewed last week for the website. I think the first time since he re-signed. Maybe he senses greater responsibility. But I am surprised that no one made the link between Vaughan's lift in performance with spending more time on the bench before half time. Mary used to flog him every week. Leaving out consideration of Williame I thought Griffin's bench management was far better than what we have been used to. Not sure whether Poasa's time may have been limited by a head knock.
Lawrie and Vaughan led the way in what a number have seen as a decent forward effort especially after half time. Maybe some commonsense was talked at the break. But given our deficit in possession it was no surprise to see the Sharks' forwards being credited with more running metres. However what the stats show is just how many more metres they got out of their edge forwards. Sims and Kerr were only in the 40s and 50s. Something that I am sure will be worked on.
The last point is the most crucial - things will be worked on! I missed Mary at the Press Conference for the laughs he used to regularly provide. On the other hand Griffin's Press Conference was so sensible, balanced, calm and down to earth by comparison, "it's a marathon not a sprint". He explained Dufty's distress in the dressing room and said he is working hard on catching bombs.
Finally on Dufty: the Dufty haters have had a field day. For me, I am feeling uncomfortable being on Muzby's side in the great Dufty debate. From memory Dufty dropped two bombs. I thought both went backward. Strange how in one game whether the ball was judged to be a knock on or back depended on which team touched it. As the coach says Dufty must and is working on catching the high ball. But I am amazed at blaming the first half tries on him. He seemed to have the measure of the first ball before Hunt raced through. Additionally how he could be expected to anticipate the little dribble from Kennedy I do not know. That was certainly Tariq's ball.
