Round 10 team

[RedV Resurgence]

The only logical reason behind some of these mystifying selections is that they are working out who to keep and who to let go whilst the team is on the QLD trip

Once your determination has been worked out then someone else occupies that position for some games whilst their worth is assessed.

Sullivan already determined a keeper no need to play him
Liddle already determined a keeper no need to play him
Couchman already determined a keeper no need to play him
Lomax has to be kept due to existing contract ni
Max Feagai now being assessed
Billy Burns now being assessed
Amone still being assessed
Sloan still being assessed
Rava being reassessed
Musgrove waiting to be assessed
NLT waiting to be assessed
J Hunt to be let go
Kerr to be let go

If only there was some truth in any of it.

Look at all of us, me included, we have donned our tin foil hats to try and make sense of Hook and the selection committee's decisions on who plays and who does not.

I keep asking myself, is this just Hook or at the assistance coaches supporting the selections, game strategy, set pieces etc.

 

[TheRev]

I keep asking myself, is this just Hook or at the assistance coaches supporting the selections, game strategy, set pieces etc.

From the Ciraldo article last week, it does seem like assistants are to be seen and not heard from.. I think if you challenge him you can pi$$ right off (as Flanagan was).

McGregor had a similar reputation though, said he had an 'open door' policy, but you were wasting your time..

And honestly most of the time that needs to be the case.. everyone here has a bunch of good ideas (with no consequences) but you don't get to be a head NRL coach by listening to the hundreds of voices and changing your mind every 2nd week.. you need conviction.. however, if your brain cant take on fresh information and viewpoints.. if you cant actually use the brains of those assistants you hire around you.. you will never succeed.. Hooks brain I think is 20-30yrs past its use-by.. its not flexible enough.. there is no magical expiry age though, because Bennett, Hasler etc show that the right older blokes can cut it at NRL level, but Hook is not one of them.. he has heaps of good attributes im sure, but he's short in several areas.. maybe when he was younger he closer to the right package.. but not anymore.

 

[Dragon David]

The only logical reason behind some of these mystifying selections is that they are working out who to keep and who to let go whilst the team is on the QLD trip

Once your determination has been worked out then someone else occupies that position for some games whilst their worth is assessed.

Sullivan already determined a keeper no need to play him
Liddle already determined a keeper no need to play him
Couchman already determined a keeper no need to play him
Lomax has to be kept due to existing contract ni
Max Feagai now being assessed
Billy Burns now being assessed
Amone still being assessed
Sloan still being assessed
Rava being reassessed
Musgrove waiting to be assessed
NLT waiting to be assessed
J Hunt to be let go
Kerr to be let go

If only there was some truth in any of it.

Well it is the sort of logic that could have some truth in it OT. The whole club needs re-assessing and re-appraising in my opinion but starting with the players is essential in view of the new coaching systems that will be put into place with the new coaching team one day.

We will need some stand out players who will be the faces of the new Centre of Excellence when it is completed. So the weeding out of several guys beforehand and at the same time keeping of the better players in the squad and hopefully being strengthened by a couple of good marquee players is what I am hoping that the club is aiming to do amongst many other things to get us to a level that we will be happy with.

We don't live in a perfect world unfortunately so what I have said could just be meaningless.

 

[justadragon]

From the Ciraldo article last week, it does seem like assistants are to be seen and not heard from.. I think if you challenge him you can pi$$ right off (as Flanagan was).

McGregor had a similar reputation though, said he had an 'open door' policy, but you were wasting your time..

And honestly most of the time that needs to be the case.. everyone here has a bunch of good ideas (with no consequences) but you don't get to be a head NRL coach by listening to the hundreds of voices and changing your mind every 2nd week.. you need conviction.. however, if your brain cant take on fresh information and viewpoints.. if you cant actually use the brains of those assistants you hire around you.. you will never succeed.. Hooks brain I think is 20-30yrs past its use-by.. its not flexible enough.. there is no magical expiry age though, because Bennett, Hasler etc show that the right older blokes can cut it at NRL level, but Hook is not one of them.. he has heaps of good attributes im sure, but he's short in several areas.. maybe when he was younger he closer to the right package.. but not anymore.

The game has changed and he has not and never will !!!

 

[justadragon]

Well it is the sort of logic that could have some truth in it OT. The whole club needs re-assessing and re-appraising in my opinion but starting with the players is essential in view of the new coaching systems that will be put into place with the new coaching team one day.

We will need some stand out players who will be the faces of the new Centre of Excellence when it is completed. So the weeding out of several guys beforehand and at the same time keeping of the better players in the squad and hopefully being strengthened by a couple of good marquee players is what I am hoping that the club is aiming to do amongst many other things to get us to a level that we will be happy with.

We don't live in a perfect world unfortunately so what I have said could just be meaningless.

If we had any communication from our wonderful club DD, there would be no need for guess work or crystal balls, and we certainly wouldnt think ourselves meaningless, but unfortunately I think that is exactly what we are to the masters who live in the ivory tower.

 

[_Johnsy]

Nobody should be a walk up start. He isn't owed anything.

But Griffin is?

 

[Victoire]

Mercury reporting Hunt has been training at hooker this week

 

[Victoire]

Dragons skipper Ben Hunt looks set to make a positional switch for Sunday's Magic Round clash with the Tigers after spending his side's opposed session on Wednesday exclusively at hooker.
The 33-year-old enjoyed a career season at rep level last year with the No. 9 on his back for Queensland and Australia, famously nabbing the winning try for the Maroons in a game-three thriller.
While he's long resisted a shift from his preferred No. 7 jumper at club level, he looks set to make the switch as coach Anthony Griffin looks to re-ignite campaign currently in the doldrums on the back of four straight defeats.

Jayden Sullivan was named at No. 14 on Tuesday, but spent Wednesday's ball-work as right-edge half, with Hunt and Moses Mbye tag-teaming the dummy-half role after Griffin left recently re-signed rake Jacob Liddle out of his 17.
It remains to be seen whether Hunt starts at halfback and makes an in-game shift, or begins the game in the middle, but it's a change-up Griffin will be hoping can snap a streak of close losses.
It was among a host of changes made by the under-pressure coach, most notably the dropping of Zac Lomax to pair recalled Max Feagai on the left flank with twin brother Mat.
Having returned from a two-year NRL absence last week, Feagai is confident Hunt's shift as part of a broader re-jig can spark his side's attack.
"He's a great nine, he's usually Queensland's nine," Feagai said.
"That'll mix it up and kind of bring a bit of a change to how we go about our attack. He holds his own in the middle in defence as well so I'm happy with the move.
"I'm not sure how he [feels about it] but I think it'll be good for the team and that's all that really matters to the team."

Griffin's reshuffle also saw a recall for back-rower Billy Burns, who'll start on a new-look left edge that saw Talatau Amone swap from the right side where he's predominantly featured since debuting in the NRL.
Burns is also expecting Hunt to make a fine fist of the positional switch.
"He's obviously an Origin and Australian player at nine," Burns said.
"He's a good defender as well so it might tighten up the middle a little bit. He'll definitely lead us around the park in the right way and probably get to show some leadership qualities, physically, that he hasn't been able to do on the edge.
"He's excited, we're all excited, so it should be a good showing."
Having managed just four NRL games last season, the off-contract 24-year-old knows he'll only get so many chances to establish himself as an NRL regular.

 

[Parko1310]

Dragons skipper Ben Hunt looks set to make a positional switch for Sunday's Magic Round clash with the Tigers after spending his side's opposed session on Wednesday exclusively at hooker.
The 33-year-old enjoyed a career season at rep level last year with the No. 9 on his back for Queensland and Australia, famously nabbing the winning try for the Maroons in a game-three thriller.
While he's long resisted a shift from his preferred No. 7 jumper at club level, he looks set to make the switch as coach Anthony Griffin looks to re-ignite campaign currently in the doldrums on the back of four straight defeats.

Jayden Sullivan was named at No. 14 on Tuesday, but spent Wednesday's ball-work as right-edge half, with Hunt and Moses Mbye tag-teaming the dummy-half role after Griffin left recently re-signed rake Jacob Liddle out of his 17.
It remains to be seen whether Hunt starts at halfback and makes an in-game shift, or begins the game in the middle, but it's a change-up Griffin will be hoping can snap a streak of close losses.
It was among a host of changes made by the under-pressure coach, most notably the dropping of Zac Lomax to pair recalled Max Feagai on the left flank with twin brother Mat.
Having returned from a two-year NRL absence last week, Feagai is confident Hunt's shift as part of a broader re-jig can spark his side's attack.
"He's a great nine, he's usually Queensland's nine," Feagai said.
"That'll mix it up and kind of bring a bit of a change to how we go about our attack. He holds his own in the middle in defence as well so I'm happy with the move.
"I'm not sure how he [feels about it] but I think it'll be good for the team and that's all that really matters to the team."

Griffin's reshuffle also saw a recall for back-rower Billy Burns, who'll start on a new-look left edge that saw Talatau Amone swap from the right side where he's predominantly featured since debuting in the NRL.
Burns is also expecting Hunt to make a fine fist of the positional switch.
"He's obviously an Origin and Australian player at nine," Burns said.
"He's a good defender as well so it might tighten up the middle a little bit. He'll definitely lead us around the park in the right way and probably get to show some leadership qualities, physically, that he hasn't been able to do on the edge.
"He's excited, we're all excited, so it should be a good showing."
Having managed just four NRL games last season, the off-contract 24-year-old knows he'll only get so many chances to establish himself as an NRL regular.

Far out if only Jacob Liddle was playing off the bench rather than Mbye, it would be a potentially lethal attack, especially on a fast track. Hook may say Mbye is there for utility value, but we already have Bird who can cover more positions than Mbye can if need be. A specialist hooker in Liddle off the bench is what's required, not Mbye who will only slow the play down when he comes on.

Still, despite that, I'm excited to see a team that has Bud/Amone/Sloan/Feagai twins all playing together.

 

[RedVee_8]

Dragons skipper Ben Hunt looks set to make a positional switch for Sunday's Magic Round clash with the Tigers after spending his side's opposed session on Wednesday exclusively at hooker.
The 33-year-old enjoyed a career season at rep level last year with the No. 9 on his back for Queensland and Australia, famously nabbing the winning try for the Maroons in a game-three thriller.
While he's long resisted a shift from his preferred No. 7 jumper at club level, he looks set to make the switch as coach Anthony Griffin looks to re-ignite campaign currently in the doldrums on the back of four straight defeats.

Jayden Sullivan was named at No. 14 on Tuesday, but spent Wednesday's ball-work as right-edge half, with Hunt and Moses Mbye tag-teaming the dummy-half role after Griffin left recently re-signed rake Jacob Liddle out of his 17.
It remains to be seen whether Hunt starts at halfback and makes an in-game shift, or begins the game in the middle, but it's a change-up Griffin will be hoping can snap a streak of close losses.
It was among a host of changes made by the under-pressure coach, most notably the dropping of Zac Lomax to pair recalled Max Feagai on the left flank with twin brother Mat.
Having returned from a two-year NRL absence last week, Feagai is confident Hunt's shift as part of a broader re-jig can spark his side's attack.
"He's a great nine, he's usually Queensland's nine," Feagai said.
"That'll mix it up and kind of bring a bit of a change to how we go about our attack. He holds his own in the middle in defence as well so I'm happy with the move.
"I'm not sure how he [feels about it] but I think it'll be good for the team and that's all that really matters to the team."

Griffin's reshuffle also saw a recall for back-rower Billy Burns, who'll start on a new-look left edge that saw Talatau Amone swap from the right side where he's predominantly featured since debuting in the NRL.
Burns is also expecting Hunt to make a fine fist of the positional switch.
"He's obviously an Origin and Australian player at nine," Burns said.
"He's a good defender as well so it might tighten up the middle a little bit. He'll definitely lead us around the park in the right way and probably get to show some leadership qualities, physically, that he hasn't been able to do on the edge.
"He's excited, we're all excited, so it should be a good showing."
Having managed just four NRL games last season, the off-contract 24-year-old knows he'll only get so many chances to establish himself as an NRL regular.

Wow. Desperation stakes now.

 

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

OK, so that's why he dropped Liddle, to make way for Hunt. At least there's some logic behind the decision.

 

[sammymills]

Dragons skipper Ben Hunt looks set to make a positional switch for Sunday's Magic Round clash with the Tigers after spending his side's opposed session on Wednesday exclusively at hooker.
The 33-year-old enjoyed a career season at rep level last year with the No. 9 on his back for Queensland and Australia, famously nabbing the winning try for the Maroons in a game-three thriller.
While he's long resisted a shift from his preferred No. 7 jumper at club level, he looks set to make the switch as coach Anthony Griffin looks to re-ignite campaign currently in the doldrums on the back of four straight defeats.

Jayden Sullivan was named at No. 14 on Tuesday, but spent Wednesday's ball-work as right-edge half, with Hunt and Moses Mbye tag-teaming the dummy-half role after Griffin left recently re-signed rake Jacob Liddle out of his 17.
It remains to be seen whether Hunt starts at halfback and makes an in-game shift, or begins the game in the middle, but it's a change-up Griffin will be hoping can snap a streak of close losses.
It was among a host of changes made by the under-pressure coach, most notably the dropping of Zac Lomax to pair recalled Max Feagai on the left flank with twin brother Mat.
Having returned from a two-year NRL absence last week, Feagai is confident Hunt's shift as part of a broader re-jig can spark his side's attack.
"He's a great nine, he's usually Queensland's nine," Feagai said.
"That'll mix it up and kind of bring a bit of a change to how we go about our attack. He holds his own in the middle in defence as well so I'm happy with the move.
"I'm not sure how he [feels about it] but I think it'll be good for the team and that's all that really matters to the team."

Griffin's reshuffle also saw a recall for back-rower Billy Burns, who'll start on a new-look left edge that saw Talatau Amone swap from the right side where he's predominantly featured since debuting in the NRL.
Burns is also expecting Hunt to make a fine fist of the positional switch.
"He's obviously an Origin and Australian player at nine," Burns said.
"He's a good defender as well so it might tighten up the middle a little bit. He'll definitely lead us around the park in the right way and probably get to show some leadership qualities, physically, that he hasn't been able to do on the edge.
"He's excited, we're all excited, so it should be a good showing."
Having managed just four NRL games last season, the off-contract 24-year-old knows he'll only get so many chances to establish himself as an NRL regular.

Hook must read the forums!

 

[Walpole]

Dragons skipper Ben Hunt looks set to make a positional switch for Sunday's Magic Round clash with the Tigers after spending his side's opposed session on Wednesday exclusively at hooker.
The 33-year-old enjoyed a career season at rep level last year with the No. 9 on his back for Queensland and Australia, famously nabbing the winning try for the Maroons in a game-three thriller.
While he's long resisted a shift from his preferred No. 7 jumper at club level, he looks set to make the switch as coach Anthony Griffin looks to re-ignite campaign currently in the doldrums on the back of four straight defeats.

Jayden Sullivan was named at No. 14 on Tuesday, but spent Wednesday's ball-work as right-edge half, with Hunt and Moses Mbye tag-teaming the dummy-half role after Griffin left recently re-signed rake Jacob Liddle out of his 17.
It remains to be seen whether Hunt starts at halfback and makes an in-game shift, or begins the game in the middle, but it's a change-up Griffin will be hoping can snap a streak of close losses.
It was among a host of changes made by the under-pressure coach, most notably the dropping of Zac Lomax to pair recalled Max Feagai on the left flank with twin brother Mat.
Having returned from a two-year NRL absence last week, Feagai is confident Hunt's shift as part of a broader re-jig can spark his side's attack.
"He's a great nine, he's usually Queensland's nine," Feagai said.
"That'll mix it up and kind of bring a bit of a change to how we go about our attack. He holds his own in the middle in defence as well so I'm happy with the move.
"I'm not sure how he [feels about it] but I think it'll be good for the team and that's all that really matters to the team."

Griffin's reshuffle also saw a recall for back-rower Billy Burns, who'll start on a new-look left edge that saw Talatau Amone swap from the right side where he's predominantly featured since debuting in the NRL.
Burns is also expecting Hunt to make a fine fist of the positional switch.
"He's obviously an Origin and Australian player at nine," Burns said.
"He's a good defender as well so it might tighten up the middle a little bit. He'll definitely lead us around the park in the right way and probably get to show some leadership qualities, physically, that he hasn't been able to do on the edge.
"He's excited, we're all excited, so it should be a good showing."
Having managed just four NRL games last season, the off-contract 24-year-old knows he'll only get so many chances to establish himself as an NRL regular.

Don't tell me Hook has finally come up with an idea that literally everyone in rugby league, including rep coaches, most fans, several ball boys and even Dean Young, had before him.

 

[Slippery Morris]

I am not too excited by this as knowing Hook, he will wait till Saints are down by 20 then throw in Bud and blame the poor kid. I just don't think Bud will get as much time as people think. Also I like the part where he states about Hunt's feelings towards moving to 9:-

"I'm not sure how he [feels about it] but I think it'll be good for the team and that's all that really matters to the team."

I really hope I am wrong and Bud plays a heap of game time, I really do but Hook has lost my trust big time.

 

[baggygreen man]

It is unbelievable Mbye has kept his spot and Liddle's been dropped. It genuinely doesn't make sense. It's clear that it's just personal favouritism from Hook, and not down to football and winning games.

You as shocked as I am. Griffin has now sunk to his lowest ebb as we wait with bated breath on a FO decision to terminate him and sent him as far away from the Dragons as is possible. Added to the Liddle sacking, is Lomax and Couchman, one of our best young prospects, while retained are Kerr and MM, two of our worst performers of the season. If Griffin thinks this mass cull of some of our best will save his job, he is in for a massive surprise. Playing favorites only gets him deeper into the mire.

 

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

Don't tell me Hook has finally come up with an idea that literally everyone in rugby league, including rep coaches, most fans, several ball boys and even Dean Young, had before him.

To be fair, one of the ball boys was on the fence about it.

 

[KogarahWarrior]

Personally, hook doesn't get any brownie points from me for choosing hunt at hooker this roujd. He refused to do it FOR 3 YEARS because his little mate would've thrown the toys out the cot otherwise, but now that his job's on the line he's trying to prove to our deadshit board that he can turn it around... Even then, he couldn't resist having the slowpoke mbye in the team instead of Liddle.

 

[baggygreen man]

This senseless cull of good personnel, should never have happened as it has left us with a WORSE 17 than before because Griffin has sacked the wrong players.
What it has done is to finally give Sullivan a possible crack at half, unless Mbye has been slotted in there. Before Liddle we'd have welcomed this move as we have been calling for Hunt to play hooker for two years. How Griffin can not see how Liddle has improved our go forward bewilders me. With his coaching career hanging by a thread, this is a clutching at straws moment that may backfire badly. Fact is I can not see Hunt doing a better job than what Liddle has done this season. For starters his long kicking game will suffer as he will be restricted for space, he does not have the pace of Liddle to make telling scooting dummy half runs, plus his defense is moderate at best, while Liddle has a 94% affective tackle rating. On the flip side, Mbye may well make a better fist than Hunt of steering the side around the park which may mean Sully will not have many minutes in his favored position. His combo with Amone may well gell so the clever but still on learning wheels 5/8 can concentrate on doing what he does best, taking on the line.

 

[baggygreen man]

Bud/Amone/Sloan

The Three Amigos are back. Expect plenty of taking on the line from the speedy trio.

What Griffin has not addressed and what has caused us to concede too many tries this season, is the poor reading of a defense by two of our wingers, Matt Feagai and
Rava. These two regularly leave their wing unattended to try to cut off any infield breaks, trouble is most times they miss nailing their man, leaving us short and the opposition with a huge overlap, as happened with Averillo's back breaking try on Sunday, plus numerous others this and last season.

 

[RedVee_8]

The Three Amigos are back. Expect plenty of taking on the line from the speedy trio.

What Griffin has not addressed and what has caused us to concede too many tries this season, is the poor reading of a defense by two of our wingers, Matt Feagai and
Rava. These two regularly leave their wing unattended to try to cut off any infield breaks, trouble is most times they miss nailing their man, leaving us short and the opposition with a huge overlap, as happened with Averillo's back breaking try on Sunday, plus numerous others this and last season.

It happens often enough to suggest it is by design. That it is a part of our defence pattern.