What's new
The Front Row Forums

Register a free account today to become a member of the world's largest Rugby League discussion forum! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Round 17 Dragons v Titans

Messages
2,866
And the Captains' input at the presser..


"We're just not executing... we just need to keep practicing .. and we will get it right eventually."- GW


'Get it right eventually' ... I really cannot believe this promotion of mediocrity .. where is the urgency to get it right NOW.


Surely Round 17 and in a top 8 death spiral .. the urgency should have sunk in already... the writing was on the wall in Round 13 but the brains trust just couldn't read it.


'Practice does not make perfect.. only perfect practice makes perfect'- Vince Lombardi
Widdop is not our best choice as captain. He is not an inspirational leader and it shows on the field as well as the press conferences.
I think we should toss the keys to Joel Thompson.
He is passionate, committed and will never be intimidated or slapped down by the opposition.
I think he is the real on field leader anyway.
 

Life's Good

Coach
Messages
13,971
Rinse and repeat. I am at a loss(again)to understand how a team, with so much to play for simply wilts under the demand required. How is it that outside observers(fans & commentators)can see we are flat & one dimensional with players who are making up the numbers, yet our own club, whose job it is to manage this, can't. 6 weeks ago we were being talked up as Top 4. We will barely make the 8. And we were meant to have a soft run home. It's not soft when you play Dragons footy.
 
Messages
2,866
Rinse and repeat. I am at a loss(again)to understand how a team, with so much to play for simply wilts under the demand required. How is it that outside observers(fans & commentators)can see we are flat & one dimensional with players who are making up the numbers, yet our own club, whose job it is to manage this, can't. 6 weeks ago we were being talked up as Top 4. We will barely make the 8. And we were meant to have a soft run home. It's not soft when you play Dragons footy.
It is Deja vu 2016
Every clutch game we needed to win to jump into the eight we surrendered meekly.
With everything to play for, we just didn't believe we could win.
Whatever belief McGregor had instilled in the team at the beginning of 2017 it has now evaporated.
The players just don't buy into McGregor's philosophy and it shows on the field.
Then we are subjected to the press conference and the never ending excuses.
My favourite today "We made 4 line breaks and only scored 1 try..."
I don't know about you but I am sick of the constant barefaced, ridiculous rationalization for the results that have now disintegrated.
The main reason we are getting knocked off is because we are poorly coached.
And to view blatant evidence of that fact - just look at the way Melbourne performed tonight.
Well drilled, game plan tailored to beat Brisbane and executed to perfection.
 

Life's Good

Coach
Messages
13,971
It is Deja vu 2016
Every clutch game we needed to win to jump into the eight we surrendered meekly.
With everything to play for, we just didn't believe we could win.
Whatever belief McGregor had instilled in the team at the beginning of 2017 it has now evaporated.
The players just don't buy into McGregor's philosophy and it shows on the field.
Then we are subjected to the press conference and the never ending excuses.
My favourite today "We made 4 line breaks and only scored 1 try..."
I don't know about you but I am sick of the constant barefaced, ridiculous rationalization for the results that have now disintegrated.
The main reason we are getting knocked off is because we are poorly coached.
And to view blatant evidence of that fact - just look at the way Melbourne performed tonight.
Well drilled, game plan tailored to beat Brisbane and executed to perfection.
Because they play with 2 things in mind first: pride in themselves, commitment to Bellamy. The rest is just run hard & tackle hard. Our club just doesn't get it.
 

hazzbeen

Bench
Messages
4,617
Widdop is not our best choice as captain. He is not an inspirational leader and it shows on the field as well as the press conferences.
I think we should toss the keys to Joel Thompson.
He is passionate, committed and will never be intimidated or slapped down by the opposition.
I think he is the real on field leader anyway.
"We're just not executing... we just need to keep practicing F**k me how much practicing do they need its been coming for the last 3 years . Bottom line is we change nothing when teams work out our attack ,Mary cant adjust . Our attack is shot as well as our defense ....
 

Ben_Kusto_magic

Juniors
Messages
926
Is there a statistic out there for forcing opposition line drop outs?
If so, I guarantee we would be bottom 3 in the NRL. We can't provide any pressure through repeat sets. Not sure if that's our atrocious kicking game or the fact our forwards aren't getting the position thy were at the start of the year. Probably a combination of both
 

Life's Good

Coach
Messages
13,971
Is there a statistic out there for forcing opposition line drop outs?
If so, I guarantee we would be bottom 3 in the NRL. We can't provide any pressure through repeat sets. Not sure if that's our atrocious kicking game or the fact our forwards aren't getting the position thy were at the start of the year. Probably a combination of both
Exactly why a one dimensional power game isn't sustainable if you have some players drop form or lose interest(Packer, unfortunately springs to mind). They simply can't be expected to keep punching out massive meters. We are a reflection of the Blues - rely on the forwards and hope it works. Hasn't been too successful for them.
 

ALSGI

Bench
Messages
3,101
Mary.
We're busted.
Didn't execute.
Give the boys some time off.
Every team goes through this.
Widdop.
Didn't execute.
We'll practice and get there eventually.

FMD.
Glad the boys are having some time off, I'm sure there'll be plenty of time to practice execution another time. Just hope Mary, Hornby and Young also have a rest, take it easy and freshen up.
 

Dragon Revival

Juniors
Messages
1,603
I think that the season is over for the Dragons. Havili, Hutchison and Vaughan are injured followed by Dugan and Frizell.
Our only players in form are De Belin and Ah Mau and there is no depth in the lower grades which are also poor defensively.
 

getsmarty

Immortal
Messages
34,343
Just listened to the presser

1. We lost Friz and Duges - check, and then some
2. They executed better - check
3. It's not good enough - check

According to Mary, all teams go through this and we are in a good position for the finals.

Yep...we have won 3 out of our last 9 games. ( that's more than a slump)

Therein lies the problem. The board re-signed him and he can say what he wants without fear of being replaced. Doust will have an end of year committee if we miss out on the 8 and no changes will be necessary. If we somehow limp into the 8 , this season will be deemed a rousing success and therein lies the problem. We are back to normal transmission for the dragons.

Ever since 2012 I have been hoping that things would change but this club needs a massive shake up.
WE HAVE LOST THE HUNGER TO SUCCEED. Their is no pride in the jersey and the whole place needs a broom put through it .
 
Last edited:

Blood Shot Eyes

First Grade
Messages
6,323
I've never left a Dragons game early no matter how they were playing and I've never turned the TV off when watching them but gee I came close last night!
That was me in 2015/2016.......would turn off the tele at half time and go and mow the lawn and do some work in the garden, even if it was dark....sadly in 2017 it looks like Im going to have the best lawn in the street again
 
Last edited:

Blood Shot Eyes

First Grade
Messages
6,323
It is Deja vu 2016
Every clutch game we needed to win to jump into the eight we surrendered meekly.
With everything to play for, we just didn't believe we could win.
Whatever belief McGregor had instilled in the team at the beginning of 2017 it has now evaporated.
The players just don't buy into McGregor's philosophy and it shows on the field.
Then we are subjected to the press conference and the never ending excuses.
My favourite today "We made 4 line breaks and only scored 1 try..."
I don't know about you but I am sick of the constant barefaced, ridiculous rationalization for the results that have now disintegrated.
The main reason we are getting knocked off is because we are poorly coached.
And to view blatant evidence of that fact - just look at the way Melbourne performed tonight.
Well drilled, game plan tailored to beat Brisbane and executed to perfection.
Youve pretty well sumed things up.....good post
 

Crush

Coach
Messages
11,439
Widdop is not our best choice as captain. He is not an inspirational leader and it shows on the field as well as the press conferences.
I think we should toss the keys to Joel Thompson.
He is passionate, committed and will never be intimidated or slapped down by the opposition.
I think he is the real on field leader anyway.
100% agree.
 

Old Timer

Coach
Messages
18,056
Things I learnt from last night
  1. Despite being picked Mann as half back all the play was arranged to go to Widdop (who was actually the half) which just increased the pressure on him which he wilts under.
  2. Any new player player or player changing position in the team is almost excommunicated from all plays (not that we have many)
  3. No chance Mann will ever play FB for this club as yet again Mc Fookknuckle pulled a double positional change due to 1 injured player going off.
  4. Many of our players are going onto the field busted and Mc Fookknuckle has no faith in juniors so he continues to throw the injured players into the starting team.
  5. We have no one in the coaching staff able to teach the backline how to defend correctly and it has more leaks in it than the men's toilets at KJO.
  6. Lafai is so slow that when he made a break in his own 30 he was already looking to offload because he wouldn't make it to half way.
  7. Nigtinglae is so slow that he has the problem in defence if he stays in the line he will have the ball put in behind him and the attacking player will run around him to score (would have been a penalty try last night) or if he stays back 20m to stop that option he then leaves and easy 3 on 2 in the line which is exploited every time.
  8. Nightingale will be yet again credited with a "try assist" for a hail Mary loopy pass over his shoulder and he will be first choice FB for next year when he should be retiring.
  9. We are the slowest team in the comp and getting even slower.
Interesting that people who wanted to get up and push back on people like me, OV and others for being so called "negative" are now saying they are "over the season" despite all their "positivity and high expectation" earlier in the season which is typical of people who don't want to admit the truth of, how piss poor we really are in most facets of the game / administration and that without considerable change we are doomed.
This is actually not a mess it is a f**king disaster and a disgrace.
 

monsterkev

Juniors
Messages
477
Win or lose the bottom line is that even if we fall into the eight for the finals we will be gone week one. How can a team that played so well for the first 7 weeks turn into this rabble?
Things I learnt from last night
  1. Despite being picked Mann as half back all the play was arranged to go to Widdop (who was actually the half) which just increased the pressure on him which he wilts under.
  2. Any new player player or player changing position in the team is almost excommunicated from all plays (not that we have many)
  3. No chance Mann will ever play FB for this club as yet again Mc Fookknuckle pulled a double positional change due to 1 injured player going off.
  4. Many of our players are going onto the field busted and Mc Fookknuckle has no faith in juniors so he continues to throw the injured players into the starting team.
  5. We have no one in the coaching staff able to teach the backline how to defend correctly and it has more leaks in it than the men's toilets at KJO.
  6. Lafai is so slow that when he made a break in his own 30 he was already looking to offload because he wouldn't make it to half way.
  7. Nigtinglae is so slow that he has the problem in defence if he stays in the line he will have the ball put in behind him and the attacking player will run around him to score (would have been a penalty try last night) or if he stays back 20m to stop that option he then leaves and easy 3 on 2 in the line which is exploited every time.
  8. Nightingale will be yet again credited with a "try assist" for a hail Mary loopy pass over his shoulder and he will be first choice FB for next year when he should be retiring.
  9. We are the slowest team in the comp and getting even slower.
Interesting that people who wanted to get up and push back on people like me, OV and others for being so called "negative" are now saying they are "over the season" despite all their "positivity and high expectation" earlier in the season which is typical of people who don't want to admit the truth of, how piss poor we really are in most facets of the game / administration and that without considerable change we are doomed.
This is actually not a mess it is a f**king disaster and a disgrace.
i would rather people tell it how it is just like old timer has than to read some of the responses posted
I quoted earlier in the week that Mann was on a hiding to nothing
And guess what he was
How many times did the play go his way
I think Widdop played so shit due to the fact he was having a dummy spit because m'crone was not picked in the run on side and did not want Mann to control the game or do anything to be a standout etc
Wake up to yourselves those people that bagged Mann after one game at half and now wanting m'crone back 'wankers' is exactly what you are
If you could not see that Widdop is the worst 5/8 and has been for years then you need stronger glasses
He has only played a few good games
I also bet than you all wish you had kept your mouths shut about re-signing lafai,Widdop,Mary as a matter of urgency
We have again turned to shit
We should have let them all go and started again
Diconnected fox sports today so I don't have to watch this rubbish
For those fans mad enough to go and watch a home game if at half time we are playing the same and getting beat everyone should walk out of the ground in protest
Everyone will have to take notice the club,nrl,news etc
this club cannot keep going as it is now
 

Latest posts

Top