Round 1

[BennyV]

I don't know which Joel Thompson you were watching at the back half of last season but he played his best footy then. 80 mins a game and notching around or over 100m a game.

For mine, I'd have this as my round 1 team

1. Dugan
2. Nabuli
3. Aitken
4. Mata' utai
5. Nightingale
6. Widdop
7. Marshall
8. Creigh
9. Rein
10. O'brien
11. Frizzell
12. Thompson
13. De Belin

14. L'estrange
15. Rose
16. Ah Mau
17. Cooper

Good backline with speed and skill. Size in the run on pack and off the bench with good D to start. But, just my humble opinion

Sub Merrin for Rose and swap Lestrange and Rein and I'd agree.




Also, a massive LOL at people still thinking Creagh can cut it on the edge.

 

[Get2dachopper!]

I think Farrell has to be in the side, he looked good in the charity shield, sure has some size and power. Creagh belongs in the front row and with a big partner like O'Brien, you will see him be more effective. And I would start with JDB on that right edge to help Aitken out in defence.

1 Dugan
2 Nightingale
3 Aitken
4 Farrell
5 Nabuli
6 Widdop
7 Marshall
8 O'Brien
9 Le'Strange
11 JDB
12 Thompson
13 Merrin

14 Frizzell
15 Rose
16 Cooper
17 Rein. Although I wouldn't mind seeing Keating or Garvey

 

[BennyV]

I think Farrell has to be in the side, he looked good in the charity shield, sure has some size and power. Creagh belongs in the front row and with a big partner like O'Brien, you will see him be more effective. And I would start with JDB on that right edge to help Aitken out in defence.

1 Dugan
2 Nightingale
3 Aitken
4 Farrell
5 Nabuli
6 Widdop
7 Marshall
8 O'Brien
9 Le'Strange
11 JDB
12 Thompson
13 Merrin

14 Frizzell
15 Rose
16 Cooper
17 Rein. Although I wouldn't mind seeing Keating or Garvey

Edge defense is very different to middle defense. JDB's defensive prowess comes from the ability to hit head on, hard, to the mid section and drives. He hasn't trained or been coached to defend on the edge, where he needs to make decisions and change his tackling style in an instant. Throwing him on the edge at this point would be a distaster...

 

[Get2dachopper!]

Edge defense is very different to middle defense. JDB's defensive prowess comes from the ability to hit head on, hard, to the mid section and drives. He hasn't trained or been coached to defend on the edge, where he needs to make decisions and change his tackling style in an instant. Throwing him on the edge at this point would be a distaster...

Does that mean he is a front rower? Cause he is too small.
Lock? Well he needs to be able to cover defend, which wouldn't be front on. See where do we play him?

 

[Hurricanerrc]

DRAGONS

Josh Dugan, Eto Nabuli, Euan Aitken, Peter Mata’utia, Jason Nightingale, Gareth Widdop, Benji Marshall, Rory O’Brien, Mitch Rein, Leeson Ah Mau, Tyson Frizell, Joel Thompson, Ben Creagh. Interchange: Trent Merrin, Jack de Belin, Heath L’Estrange, George Rose

Notable absentees: Will Matthews (hand, indefinite), Dylan Farrell, Dane Nielsen, Charly Runciman, Mike Cooper, Dan Hunt, Rulon Nutira, Beau Henry, Nathan Green, Craig Garvey, Kris Keating, Jake Marketo, Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard, Yaw Kiti Glymin

Comment: The Dragons are set to blood three rookies in round one - Eto Nabuli, Euan Aitken and Rory O’Brien. Note, as per the World Club Series team, Origin forward Trent Merrin is set to play from the bench - as he did on many occasions last year. Recruit Heath L’Estrange will provide hooking relief from the bench following strong showings in the Nines and Charity Shield.

https://sslcam.news.com.au/cam/auth...-three-debutants/story-fnh23umc-1227216357037

 

[Hurricanerrc]

DRAGONS

Josh Dugan, Eto Nabuli, Euan Aitken, Peter Mata?utia, Jason Nightingale, Gareth Widdop, Benji Marshall, Rory O?Brien, Mitch Rein, Leeson Ah Mau, Tyson Frizell, Joel Thompson, Ben Creagh. Interchange: Trent Merrin, Jack de Belin, Heath L?Estrange, George Rose

Notable absentees: Will Matthews (hand, indefinite), Dylan Farrell, Dane Nielsen, Charly Runciman, Mike Cooper, Dan Hunt, Rulon Nutira, Beau Henry, Nathan Green, Craig Garvey, Kris Keating, Jake Marketo, Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard, Yaw Kiti Glymin

Comment: The Dragons are set to blood three rookies in round one - Eto Nabuli, Euan Aitken and Rory O?Brien. Note, as per the World Club Series team, Origin forward Trent Merrin is set to play from the bench - as he did on many occasions last year. Recruit Heath L?Estrange will provide hooking relief from the bench following strong showings in the Nines and Charity Shield.

https://sslcam.news.com.au/cam/auth...-three-debutants/story-fnh23umc-1227216357037

Don't know why they don't have Cooper in there, and Matthews needs to be in there when he recovers. On the + side no Hunt lol.

 

[BennyV]

Does that mean he is a front rower? Cause he is too small.
Lock? Well he needs to be able to cover defend, which wouldn't be front on. See where do we play him?

He is pure lock. He had ball skills in NYC that are yet to be unlocked at NRL level, and can play long minutes if needed. As for cover defense - these days, that doesnt exactly fall only on a lock...

 

[Get2dachopper!]

He is pure lock. He had ball skills in NYC that are yet to be unlocked at NRL level, and can play long minutes if needed. As for cover defense - these days, that doesnt exactly fall only on a lock...

Merrin is playing lock, for long minutes. And we can't move Merrin to front row, cause with a front row combo of Merrin and creagh, size wise, its too small. Besides the JDB issue, what's the rest of your side for round 1 look like?

 

[mbrako]

Can't remember being so excited to see some young blokes given ago so early in the season as usually we stick with the same 17 baring injury until about Round 15. Will be a tough start but more optomistic than I have been since 2011. Like the fact that we have players playing for their contracts this year and not just collecting their pay.

 

[bottle]

He is pure lock. He had ball skills in NYC that are yet to be unlocked at NRL level, and can play long minutes if needed. As for cover defense - these days, that doesnt exactly fall only on a lock...

Ahh, makes sense now.
I kept seeing all these references to JDB's ball playing abilities and thought I must've been going mad because I hadn't seen them. I kept thinking 'which games have I missed where this has happened?'
Hope he can rekindle them, soon.

 

[Dragon66]

DRAGONS

Josh Dugan, Eto Nabuli, Euan Aitken, Peter Mata?utia, Jason Nightingale, Gareth Widdop, Benji Marshall, Rory O?Brien, Mitch Rein, Leeson Ah Mau, Tyson Frizell, Joel Thompson, Ben Creagh. Interchange: Trent Merrin, Jack de Belin, Heath L?Estrange, George Rose

Notable absentees: Will Matthews (hand, indefinite), Dylan Farrell, Dane Nielsen, Charly Runciman, Mike Cooper, Dan Hunt, Rulon Nutira, Beau Henry, Nathan Green, Craig Garvey, Kris Keating, Jake Marketo, Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard, Yaw Kiti Glymin

Comment: The Dragons are set to blood three rookies in round one - Eto Nabuli, Euan Aitken and Rory O?Brien. Note, as per the World Club Series team, Origin forward Trent Merrin is set to play from the bench - as he did on many occasions last year. Recruit Heath L?Estrange will provide hooking relief from the bench following strong showings in the Nines and Charity Shield.

https://sslcam.news.com.au/cam/auth...-three-debutants/story-fnh23umc-1227216357037

I agree with Hurr that this looks like the most likely starting lineup.
The pack selected for the WCC is the same as the CS starting lineup, and as long as they improve as a combination against Warrington then I think Mary will take them into Rd 1.

Makes sense. In the CS AhMau went well as a prop (middle forward) and seems best suited to that position, O'Brian made an impression and gives us size, Creagh, as a lock stays in the middle as well so that gives a strong base to start well in attack and defence.
Rein may not be flash in attack but his defence should be beyond question.

Merrin, DeBelin, L'Estrange give experience and impact off the bench.

Still not sure about Rose yet. I think he needs a bit more conditioning before he makes the top 17. Cooper on the bench may be the best option because of his fitness, nibble footwork and better defence to start the season.

The backline is the best available IMO. Farrell, Neilsen and Rinciman will have wait for poor form or injury to get their chance.

 

[coast_dragons]

If Rose is on the bench instead of Cooper that will be a major lol.

 

[hobo]

I'm pretty sure Cooper will be in the Rnd1 17.

He's MIA at the moment because his miisses is due to give birth.

 

[BennyV]

Merrin is playing lock, for long minutes. And we can't move Merrin to front row, cause with a front row combo of Merrin and creagh, size wise, its too small. Besides the JDB issue, what's the rest of your side for round 1 look like?

Pretty similar to the WCC team TBH...was skeptical about playing Aitken because I still think he needs a bit of time in NSW Cup to get used to playing above NYC, but if he goes well then great. Mata'utia definitely to left centre though. Forwards are a bit tricky, however.

Dugan
Nabuli
Mata'utia
Farrel/Aitken
Nightingale
Widdop
Marshall
Ah Mau
Le'Strange
Creagh
Thompson
Frizzell
DeBelin

Merrin
O'Brien
Cooper/Rose
Garvey/Crook/Hutchison

Merrin comes on after 20 and plays the rest of the game, a la James Graham circa 2012. Thompson and Friz can play 80mins, but at a stretch there are plenty who can fill in on the edge for injury. Rein has had 2 years uncontested and failed to lift his game to the next level, needs a kick up the bum and a trip to NSW Cup acheives this, as well as giving the youngsters much needed exposure to top grade.

 

[Jubileeboy]

Pretty similar to the WCC team TBH...was skeptical about playing Aitken because I still think he needs a bit of time in NSW Cup to get used to playing above NYC, but if he goes well then great. Mata'utia definitely to left centre though. Forwards are a bit tricky, however.

Dugan
Nabuli
Mata'utia
Farrel/Aitken
Nightingale
Widdop
Marshall
Ah Mau
Le'Strange
Creagh
Thompson
Frizzell
DeBelin

Merrin
O'Brien
Cooper/Rose
Garvey/Crook/Hutchison

Merrin comes on after 20 and plays the rest of the game, a la James Graham circa 2012. Thompson and Friz can play 80mins, but at a stretch there are plenty who can fill in on the edge for injury. Rein has had 2 years uncontested and failed to lift his game to the next level, needs a kick up the bum and a trip to NSW Cup acheives this, as well as giving the youngsters much needed exposure to top grade.

That's a good squad BennyV
No room for Neilsen? I'm a little concerned with the lack of experience from a defensive side of things in the centres. Hopefully Farrell kicks on and good to see a sprinkling of youngsters.

 

[BennyV]

That's a good squad BennyV
No room for Neilsen? I'm a little concerned with the lack of experience from a defensive side of things in the centres. Hopefully Farrell kicks on and good to see a sprinkling of youngsters.

Neilsen is a tough one. Hes obviously got talent, when he made the QLD side his form was red hot. But by all reports, he was poor in the CS. As I said, I think Mata'utia is a must on the left, he is very solid and fairly clever, and can cover fullback in case of injury. If Nielsens form warrants, he can challenge for the spot.

 

[Get2dachopper!]

Pretty similar to the WCC team TBH...was skeptical about playing Aitken because I still think he needs a bit of time in NSW Cup to get used to playing above NYC, but if he goes well then great. Mata'utia definitely to left centre though. Forwards are a bit tricky, however.

Dugan
Nabuli
Mata'utia
Farrel/Aitken
Nightingale
Widdop
Marshall
Ah Mau
Le'Strange
Creagh
Thompson
Frizzell
DeBelin

Merrin
O'Brien
Cooper/Rose
Garvey/Crook/Hutchison

Merrin comes on after 20 and plays the rest of the game, a la James Graham circa 2012. Thompson and Friz can play 80mins, but at a stretch there are plenty who can fill in on the edge for injury. Rein has had 2 years uncontested and failed to lift his game to the next level, needs a kick up the bum and a trip to NSW Cup acheives this, as well as giving the youngsters much needed exposure to top grade.

A solid line up. I wish we knew what matatuia's intentions were beyond this season. He has the goods, but if his intention is to leave to play with his brothers, then I wouldn't be investing anymore time with him. I would seriously consider throwing Aitken in at right centre and a specialist left centre in runciman. Both local juniors who may well be our next great centre pairing.

Still don't think a front row combo of Ah Mau and Creagh will have opposition forwards worried. We are still one mongrel forward short.

 

[Dragon66]

Benny, on Neilsen's form in the CS he has no chance of a stating spot. Lumbered up with the ball a few times off the dummy half, was not noticeable in the back line in attack and his defence was not bad, just ordinary.

I don't think we should get to excited about his chances until he can run himself into form in the NSW Cup.

He is in the WCC side because: a) He is experienced, big and strong. b) It is,after all , only a trial.

 

[BennyV]

A solid line up. I wish we knew what matatuia's intentions were beyond this season. He has the goods, but if his intention is to leave to play with his brothers, then I wouldn't be investing anymore time with him. I would seriously consider throwing Aitken in at right centre and a specialist left centre in runciman. Both local juniors who may well be our next great centre pairing.

Still don't think a front row combo of Ah Mau and Creagh will have opposition forwards worried. We are still one mongrel forward short.

Its likely that Pete will leave back to Newcastle, but I'm not fussed either way. If hes the best option now, I'd be playing him. Gotta play for this season, not next.

As for the front row...yeah, not too scary, but its all weve got! TBH Im not fussed whether or not the opposition are scared, I care that our props can get us on the front foot and make room for the backs. I also think that le'Strange will contribute immensely to that.

 

[Highland Saint]

I like it Benny. Dropping Rein might split opinion but after rewatching CS I just can't stand watching him pass to players knees