Round 17 v Eels at home

[R&WTILLIDIE]

I have been dealing with a nasty case of what is known as the black dog a lot lately and even though the emotions following a sporting team make very little rational sense sometimes it can be the final straw when I’ve had a bad week. And for some reason this season the teams results are affecting my mood more than even during the truly sh*tty McGregor and Griffin years. So not watching last night was a bit of a self defence mechanism. I like cooking and I am a cocktail connoisseur so last night I just wanted to do things that make me at least vaguely happy. This is a year where the Dragons have rarely made me happy. On the other hand they quite often made me feel bad. And watching the forum melt down as the second half seemed to be going a way we’ve all seen before justified my decision to prioritise other things last night over a team that has served up so much shite over the last 12-13 years.
It does sound like they dug deep and hung on bravely. Thats something. But I doubt I’ll be watching many remaining games this year - I kind of feel like this club needs to earn my devotion and attention back again after sliding down to what they’ve become since 2009-2011. My heads already looking towards 2026 and starting again. It’s like Groundhog Day!

Hey mate. Take care of yourself. Please get the help you need.

 

[Desperate Dragon]

Hey mate. Take care of yourself. Please get the help you need.

How about we all just try to bask in this victory over the Eels last night??
Yep, as is always the case, it was stressful and another ugly as hell win.
But........
We got those two competition points!!!!
Not sure when or where the next win will come from, but at least last night will make for a happy Sunday.

 

[Dragon David]

Totally understand last night was a bit different to other weeks but if you look at other weeks same situation and we get rolled for the middle

If we had all of those injuries and HIA's that we had last night in those past games IFWT, we would have been beaten by bigger margins. The previous weeks games we just couldn't handle the onslaught by the opposition from the get go and we could not find enough energy to fight back because of exhaustion and the lack of a superior game manager.

If we were the one down 26-4 at half time last night, I could not see us rally to chase down the score. We lack fight back. Our wins this year so far have not been all that convincing - the best being against the Titans (38-16) who currently are running last. We beat the Knights 20-6 - only being able to score 2 points from a penalty goal in the second half after leading 18-0 at halftime. If we are in the games, we tend to play better in either the first half or the second, not in both in most cases. So strategies and game plans and minds are not consistent throughout the full 80 minutes.

The remaining games will be telling. The last game against the Panthers could have many bearings on the results. The Panthers might need a big win to finish in the top 4 so a thrashing on the cards - we battle to win to avoid the spoon and that could be a telling situation for the club.

Crossing fingers and everything else that Flanno, Young and Carr can get us more wins though.

 

[InFlannoWeTrust]

Just keep on blooding our Juniors it will bare fruit.

I’m all for that. But the issue with that is majority of our fans especially a few on here here don’t have the patience for the losses that will come in the early beginnings of blooding in these juniors.

 

[InFlannoWeTrust]

I was really impressed with Fifita tonight. Well done to them all but I thought he had presence out there. Looks a big mobile lad. And came on to the ball. I think he'll be there next week, especially with our injury toll. Will be interesting to see how he goes in the tough weeks ahead if he gets a run.

Agree I don’t think we have had someone come off the back fence like he did with the kickoffs for awhile. I think he is only eight games in back from a foot injury that kept him sideline for a long time. He is off contract so will be interesting how we play this.

 

[56to66]

I’m all for that. But the issue with that is majority of our fans especially a few on here here don’t have the patience for the losses that will come in the early beginnings of blooding in these juniors.

Let's hope we don't have to wait another fourteen years

 

[InFlannoWeTrust]

Probably out next week ......Lawson, Tuipoloto, Hamish Stewart, TCouchman, Luciano.

1. Gutho
2. Sloan if Lawson is out
3. Corey Allen or Tsougranis (Val in Origin)
4. Suli
5. Sione Finau
6. LKT
7. KFlann or Ilias at 7 and KFlann to 14 if Cookie is out.
8. Guler
9. Cookie
10. Klemmer
11. Tsougranis if Luciano is out
12. Sua
13. Debelin
.......................
14. Liddle
15. LPT
16. Sele
17. Jacob Halangua to debut if Villiami Fafita out.
...........
RFM - Lawrie - Molo

I don’t think finau will be seen in first grade again . He was lucky to make Mrs Lowe’s cup last week when players from first grade were dropping down then two of them got ruled out so he came in.. Sele played 13 in cup. So maybe JDB front row Sele 13

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

Probably out next week ......Lawson, Tuipoloto, Hamish Stewart, TCouchman, Luciano.

1. Gutho
2. Sloan if Lawson is out
3. Corey Allen or Tsougranis (Val in Origin)
4. Suli
5. Sione Finau
6. LKT
7. KFlann or Ilias at 7 and KFlann to 14 if Cookie is out.
8. Guler
9. Cookie
10. Klemmer
11. Tsougranis if Luciano is out
12. Sua
13. Debelin
.......................
14. Liddle
15. LPT
16. Sele
17. Jacob Halangua to debut if Villiami Fafita out.
...........
RFM - Lawrie - Molo

Probably out next week ......Lawson, Tuipoloto, Hamish Stewart, TCouchman, Luciano.

1. Gutho
2. Sloan if Lawson is out
3. Corey Allen
4. Suli
5. Sione Finau
6. LKT
7. KFlano
8. Guler
9. Cookie
10. Klemmer
11. Molo
12. Sua
13. Debelin
.......................
14. Liddle
15. LPT
16. Sele
17. Tsougranis orBMM

 

[hewi]

Canberra away and with a fully fit team we would still struggle. I wouldn’t risk SuA myself . Two other comments from last night Allen might not be big or fast but he has a great footy brain, Fafita made 68 meters from 6 runs I am a fan but if he has a niggle in the knee give him a week off and re sign him for a year with a mutual option for another year. Just saying.

 

[Hound of Dracula]

That's what's so great about our Dragons forum. The optimism of its members is so inspiring

Agree,

What wrong with just enjoying the win for a couple of days?

At least till 'Team Tuesday' - reckon many posters will lose their shit then!
All the injuries!

 

[Hound of Dracula]

I have been dealing with a nasty case of what is known as the black dog a lot lately and even though the emotions following a sporting team make very little rational sense sometimes it can be the final straw when I’ve had a bad week. And for some reason this season the teams results are affecting my mood more than even during the truly sh*tty McGregor and Griffin years. So not watching last night was a bit of a self defence mechanism. I like cooking and I am a cocktail connoisseur so last night I just wanted to do things that make me at least vaguely happy. This is a year where the Dragons have rarely made me happy. On the other hand they quite often made me feel bad. And watching the forum melt down as the second half seemed to be going a way we’ve all seen before justified my decision to prioritise other things last night over a team that has served up so much shite over the last 12-13 years.
It does sound like they dug deep and hung on bravely. Thats something. But I doubt I’ll be watching many remaining games this year - I kind of feel like this club needs to earn my devotion and attention back again after sliding down to what they’ve become since 2009-2011. My heads already looking towards 2026 and starting again. It’s like Groundhog Day!

Hang strong S'77

I, for one, luv your posts.

Even luv it when you lose it

 

[possm]

a great relief with the win ... a different story had the touchies flag stayed down on his millimetre line call !!!

the takeaway remains our inability to defend against a determined attack, no doubt injuries a factor but really our game tactics seems our undoing

Clearly Parra were going to ramp up a fast paced attack from 2nd half so KF bombing too deep, uncontested, making our defence cover too much ground, gave them space and played into their hands... as did our static-reversing defensive line we persist with... where we stand and wait for the ballplayer to get to the line ... is inexplicable.

SF and DY - Do better!

Give Holmes and Gutherson some long kicks to the corner opportunities on the last tackle. Why give Lomax high kicks all the time? They are his specialty.

 

[possm]

Agree I don’t think we have had someone come off the back fence like he did with the kickoffs for awhile. I think he is only eight games in back from a foot injury that kept him sideline for a long time. He is off contract so will be interesting how we play this.

I also was impressed with Fifita this game. Hi is a big boppa and you can be sure a few clubs will make a play for him. We just need our coaches and fitness staff to prepare him well for games each week. We have some big young props:
Tonga
Liu
Fifita

WE need one experienced, alph-marquee prop to lead the way. I say throw the kitchen sink at Hass; he is the man.

 

[I'm Hornby]

Nice to see a win but goodness we always find a way to make things harder than they need to be.

Under this coach we are incapable of playing for 80 mins, from 26-4 at half time we should've won the match by thirty plus which would've been a pass mark from me, however we let the eels back in and were incredibly fortunate for the touch judge call on Josh Addo-Carr. I couldn't see his foot on the chalk and happy to see some footage that shows his foot on the line if anyone has any?

The win needs to be put in to perspective that we should never have allowed the eels to get back in to the match from the position of ascendancy we had.

We're in for a very tough period now and I'll certainly continue to hold both Flanagan's accountable over that period, however we won and we can rejoyce for the next few days at least over a gutsy and somewhat fortunate win.

 

[InFlannoWeTrust]

I also was impressed with Fifita this game. Hi is a big boppa and you can be sure a few clubs will make a play for him. We just need our coaches and fitness staff to prepare him well for games each week. We have some big young props:
Tonga
Liu
Fifita

WE need one experienced, alph-marquee prop to lead the way. I say throw the kitchen sink at Hass; he is the man.

I doubt Hass will ever leave Queensland. Though I agree! throw whatever we have at him! 5 year deal!!

 

[redv13]

Nice to see a win but goodness we always find a way to make things harder than they need to be.

Under this coach we are incapable of playing for 80 mins, from 26-4 at half time we should've won the match by thirty plus which would've been a pass mark from me, however we let the eels back in and were incredibly fortunate for the touch judge call on Josh Addo-Carr. I couldn't see his foot on the chalk and happy to see some footage that shows his foot on the line if anyone has any?

The win needs to be put in to perspective that we should never have allowed the eels to get back in to the match from the position of ascendancy we had.

We're in for a very tough period now and I'll certainly continue to hold both Flanagan's accountable over that period, however we won and we can rejoyce for the next few days at least over a gutsy and somewhat fortunate win.

Without taking away from the obvious issues at the club right now, you do realise that we were down to 14 players with about 30 mins to go and zero reserves for the last 10 mins. Take away the injuries and HIA to Stewart and they probably win way more comfortably than what they did.

When guys like Klemmer and Guler are playing 60+ mins there’s obviously an in game issue and last night there was plenty. I hope you cheered when KF scored last night

 

[possm]

Nice to see a win but goodness we always find a way to make things harder than they need to be.

Under this coach we are incapable of playing for 80 mins, from 26-4 at half time we should've won the match by thirty plus which would've been a pass mark from me, however we let the eels back in and were incredibly fortunate for the touch judge call on Josh Addo-Carr. I couldn't see his foot on the chalk and happy to see some footage that shows his foot on the line if anyone has any?

The win needs to be put in to perspective that we should never have allowed the eels to get back in to the match from the position of ascendancy we had.

We're in for a very tough period now and I'll certainly continue to hold both Flanagan's accountable over that period, however we won and we can rejoyce for the next few days at least over a gutsy and somewhat fortunate win.

We only seem to be able to maintain our defensive structure and line-speed in defence for half a game. The fact that we can outmatch the Eels in the first half but then be outmatched by Parramatta in the second half is telling, given this has happened in a few games this season.

My thoughts are:
We are not fit enough to play to our potential for 80 minutes.
Our defensive coach is unable to counter changes to the opposition's game plan made at half-time.
The captain of the Dragons should be delegated approval to make changes to the game plan on the run (the coach can provide necessary instructions to the captain through the trainer).

 

[possm]

Without taking away from the obvious issues at the club right now, you do realise that we were down to 14 players with about 30 mins to go and zero reserves for the last 10 mins. Take away the injuries and HIA to Stewart and they probably win way more comfortably than what they did.

When guys like Klemmer and Guler are playing 60+ mins there’s obviously an in game issue and last night there was plenty. I hope you cheered when KF scored last night

Yes, I agree with you; however, if we could land an alpha prop, and if we can develop our big boppa junior props this season, we should make a difference in this area.

 

[jeffdragon]

Without taking away from the obvious issues at the club right now, you do realise that we were down to 14 players with about 30 mins to go and zero reserves for the last 10 mins. Take away the injuries and HIA to Stewart and they probably win way more comfortably than what they did.

When guys like Klemmer and Guler are playing 60+ mins there’s obviously an in game issue and last night there was plenty. I hope you cheered when KF scored last night

And Lawson couldn't lift his arm.
His arm in a sling after gsme.

 

[maestro1]

We only seem to be able to maintain our defensive structure and line-speed in defence for half a game. The fact that we can outmatch the Eels in the first half but then be outmatched by Parramatta in the second half is telling, given this has happened in a few games this season.

My thoughts are:
We are not fit enough to play to our potential for 80 minutes.
Our defensive coach is unable to counter changes to the opposition's game plan made at half-time.
The captain of the Dragons should be delegated approval to make changes to the game plan on the run (the coach can provide necessary instructions to the captain through the trainer).

The points went to the team that had posession/momentum. We had it in the first half and Parra had it in the second half. We didn't have the ball for the first 22min of the second half.