Round 15 vs Dragons - Game Day Thread

[Avenger]

Thought BA summed it up well pre game on radio, Moses isn't afraid to put the body into it but his technique needs more work.

Which is why he is a better defender than Sandow who wasn't prepared to put in.

 

[jk13]

Taka vs avua seems to be the backline competition going forward, everyone else is virtually a lock

 

[Bazal]

So who will our next left centre be?

Give Hoff a crack. Worked for Baywatch

 

[jk13]

Comparisons to sanclown are just ridiculous. This kid is 22, continual guidance under BA will see him leave the clown in his dust

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

Give Hoff a crack. Worked for Baywatch

Oh yeah. I'd forgotten Hoff. He'd be my choice. And it wasn't the Hoff's crack that made Baywatch work.

 

[Djay]

How the f**k are the Dragons that disciplined to not be penalised until the 71st minute? What a farce, the ovation we gave when we got one was like scoring a try. They were offside for so much of that game but nothing, we rarely get the rub of the green and today was no different but we turned up and were brillaint all round.

Like I have been saying for weeks and many slated me for it, Gutherson fullback and French wing, and what do you know? A Gutherson double along with Bev scoring and playing his best game all year. Gutherson has to have that roaming freedom, he injects himself so much more and with better quality, his kick returns get our set on the front food, his defence is awesome and is a much harder last line of defence to get passed, and he reads the game so so well. His an absolute gem of a player and fullback is where he can use his full skillset and do it regularly, French was brilliant on the wing, not a foot wrong, and his speed is so useful out wide, that kick Moses put in for his try was brilliant, his a much better winger, who cares about his size it's not as much of a weakness when his on the wing, brilliant stuff.

Our defence was better but we don't stick enough, too many offloads and in turn led to they're first try. It's a major issue, other teams second phase play runs us ragged more weeks then not, we withstood they're charge, but we need to learn to wrap up better. But defence other then that was much better then it has been which is the best part for me.

Norman and Moses kicking game was another huge difference, I counted more repeat sets today then we have had in 5 years, it was beautiful to watch. Long and short kicking game of both really made it hard for the Dragons, finding ground more often then not.

Much better all round and huge 4 points after today's win, the next month of footy is huge for us it'll decide if we are gonna be there in September.

Feel bad for Kaysa, we really need another hooker, Smith can't play 80 there.

 

[Avenger]

How the f**k are the Dragons that disciplined to not be penalised until the 71st minute? What a farce, the ovation we gave when we got one was like scoring a try. They were offside for so much of that game but nothing, we rarely get the rub of the green and today was no different but we turned up and were brillaint all round.

Like I have been saying for weeks and many slated me for it, Gutherson fullback and French wing, and what do you know? A Gutherson double along with Bev scoring and playing his best game all year. Gutherson has to have that roaming freedom, he injects himself so much more and with better quality, his kick returns get our set on the front food, his defence is awesome and is a much harder last line of defence to get passed, and he reads the game so so well. His an absolute gem of a player and fullback is where he can use his full skillset and do it regularly, French was brilliant on the wing, not a foot wrong, and his speed is so useful out wide, that kick Moses put in for his try was brilliant, his a much better winger, who cares about his size it's not as much of a weakness when his on the wing, brilliant stuff.

Our defence was better but we don't stick enough, too many offloads and in turn led to they're first try. It's a major issue, other teams second phase play runs us ragged more weeks then not, we withstood they're charge, but we need to learn to wrap up better. But defence other then that was much better then it has been which is the best part for me.

Norman and Moses kicking game was another huge difference, I counted more repeat sets today then we have had in 5 years, it was beautiful to watch. Long and short kicking game of both really made it hard for the Dragons, finding ground more often then not.

Much better all round and huge 4 points after today's win, the next month of footy is huge for us it'll decide if we are gonna be there in September.

Feel bad for Kaysa, we really need another hooker, Smith can't play 80 there.

Great summary Djay. The only disappointment for me is the continuing decline of Tim Mannah. He must be injured because he looks like he is 40 out there playing in a golden oldies game.

 

[Gazzamatta]

I thought Vave was far worse. Matagi wasnt great either. Matagi was much better as a starter. Hes also better at taking the first hit up from a kick off. Not sure of Alvaros numbers but gee he gets left on the ground a lot. Front row is definitely our biggest weakness whereas Brown, a much smaller guy is a real weapon. Hopefully Scotts injury isnt serious as he is vital to our pack as well. Tep was also missed.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

Comparisons to sanclown are just ridiculous. This kid is 22, continual guidance under BA will see him leave the clown in his dust

Yep!!

 

[Joshuatheeel]

I thought Vave was far worse. Matagi wasnt great either. Matagi was much better as a starter. Hes also better at taking the first hit up from a kick off. Not sure of Alvaros numbers but gee he gets left on the ground a lot. Front row is definitely our biggest weakness whereas Brown, a much smaller guy is a real weapon. Hopefully Scotts injury isnt serious as he is vital to our pack as well. Tep was also missed.

Reckon we underestimate the performance of Alvaro / Mannah (and Brown) in that first 10-15 mins. Yeah Mannah is not at his best, but the dragons middle have a hooker/prop talked up as future origin players while Packer is a NZ rep and plenty reckon is a better player then what we have.

But in the first 15 minutes or so we won the middle which was a major reason we won today.

 

[Chipmunk]

So, just as a point of interest, with Jennings on the right Moses missed 2 tackles and made 20.

I will be interested to see if we stick with that formation long term.

 

[Bazal]

I hope we do. Kenny is a very good defender but I'm not sure he's the right man to baby sit Moses with a poor defender outside him, because he likes to get up out of the line and that can leave Moses isolated.

It was fine with a solid defender like Gutho there, but probably not the best approach when Moses and Taka are outside him

 

[Sphagnum]

Oi Merkin!!!

Gunco is off limits!!

I'm thinking of changing my name to GuthRulz.

You should be changing yours to Guthplane out of respect for the great man.

So you guth

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

Reckon we underestimate the performance of Alvaro / Mannah (and Brown) in that first 10-15 mins. Yeah Mannah is not at his best, but the dragons middle have a hooker/prop talked up as future origin players while Packer is a NZ rep and plenty reckon is a better player then what we have.

But in the first 15 minutes or so we won the middle which was a major reason we won today.

I noticed Alvaro in the second half looked very strong in some tackles. A couple of tackles doesn't mean much but I'd be curious to see his stats today.

 

[Avenger]

I noticed Alvaro in the second half looked very strong in some tackles. A couple of tackles doesn't mean much but I'd be curious to see his stats today.

Played 32 min. 107 metres, 20 tackles. He is coming along nicely.

 

[Bazal]

And 70 of those metres were in his first stint, so the comment about him doing the hard yards at the front end of the game is spot on.

He did find it tougher in his second stint though

 

[eels_fan]

2019 our two halves will be opposing each other in origin. You heard it here first.

 

[Noise]

I don't think we lost much at all from dummy half when Kaysa went off.

 

[Bazal]

2019 our two halves will be opposing each other in origin. You heard it here first.

f**k I hope not

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

Played 32 min. 107 metres, 20 tackles. He is coming along nicely.

Thanks. He sure is. Still young as well.