Round 17 vs Melbourne

[giboz71]

I'm just curious, say we were to continue this type of form over the next 10 weeks end finish in the bottom half of the top 8, followed by a quick semi final exit. Would most of you consider it a successful year? And what of the coach?

Straight Shooter

Good question.

And my answer would be no. As much as I think Mary has done a fair job, what the first 15 rounds have shown us that we have a squad capable of winning a comp.
Said it before, Millward has provided a platform for success when you consider the current squad, the young guys coming through and the fact our cap is in good shape.

A good coach should be able to get us to the big dance or pretty close at least. Finishing in the bottom half of the 8 and going out first week is a fail IMO.

So in a lot of ways, Mary is on notice. If he can’t get it done we need to find someone who can. Still have my doubts whether Mary is the guy to be honest.

But I hope he proves me and most on here wrong and we can go all the way,

 

[The Damo]

I think he's referring more to the style of play when he says 'form' than the result in the W/L column.

Yeah I got it, but shitty wins are still wins. And it’s just not unusual for the top teams to dip form for the rep period. Will we come out of it? Don’t know yet. The way we beat Manly gives some cause for optimism.

 

[dragonssamy61]

I will be happy for Sims to play for us against Melbourne and then to get called up to replace Cordner for origin 3.

I also think you may be correct that Sims has been our best player this year. I have said numerous times that I think he is the form second rower in the comp this year.

Correct.
Frank
Teams look out for sims.
ANZAC day for one cronk still has nightmares.
Along with JDB and LAM you can here thr opposition call there name and try to avoid them.

 

[Dragonslayer]

So officially we will be missing:
Hunt, Vaughan, JDB, Friz and Sims (and Robson)
Storm will be missing:
Slater, Chambers, Munster, Kaufusi, Glasby and Ado-Carr

My team;
Dufty
Nene, Nighty
Lafai, Aitken
Widdop
Mann
Graham, LAM
Host, Leilua
Sele
McInnes

Latimore
Lawrie
?
Herbert/Nicolls

Very interesting team list Tuesday coming up.

 

[Old Timer]

Well we will now see if the chickens in fact do come home to roost.
There have been plenty of opportunities to properly blood the young guns in the top grade which IMO has been declined to a large extent and now many of the young forwards are going to be required to pay big minutes this week and possibly the next.
Hopefully training with the top grade and their limited playing time in the NRL will be enough to help guide them through against the Storm.
A win or a very close loss will have a galvanising effect on these young guys but if we cop a Smith masterclass and a bath at the same time then IMO it could be very soul destroying and in fact might further harden Mc Fookknuckle's attitude re playing promising youth in the top grade.
It will be a fascinating week to watch as plan B is about to be rolled out.

 

[Old Timer]

So officially we will be missing:
Hunt, Vaughan, JDB, Friz and Sims (and Robson)
Storm will be missing:
Slater, Chambers, Munster, Kaufusi, Glasby and Ado-Carr

My team;
Dufty
Nene, Nighty
Lafai, Aitken
Widdop
Mann
Graham, LAM
Host, Leilua
Sele
McInnes

Latimore
Lawrie
?
Herbert/Nicolls

Very interesting team list Tuesday coming up.

I think he will go for something like this
Dufty
Nighty / Mc Donald
Aitken / Lafai
Widdop
Nicholls
Graham / Lawrie
Host / Sele
LAM
Bench
Latimore
Leilua
Mann
Herbert

My theory

• Needs 2 in the back 3 to play very long minutes and he has put LAM into lock in clutch situations previously.
• Mann has to go to the bench as a matter of absolute necessity to try and increase the forward coverage in case some fail or start to flag due to the speed of the game. Mann coming on will also hopefully alleviate some pressure on the halves.
• If he doesn't go with LAM at lock he may in fact start Mann there and push LAM to the front row and Lawrie back to the bench but I have a sneaky suspicion that the team would be better balanced for this 1 game with Mann starting from the bench as he could be a bit of pinch hitter as the Storm will have some big gaps to fill as well and will also have some fatigue factors to deal with.

 

[2010]

McIdiots use of the bench is going to bite us one day. That day is here against the storm.
The younger forwards have been given very little time on the field off the bench. They now have to play a big chunk of the game as a starting player.
First grade is a lot faster and more intense then ISP. But I still think we can beat the storm. Saints by 8

 

[Buz-V]

Hmmm. I think the backline picks itself. Especially with so many changes up front, Almost certain it will be...
1. Dufty
2. Macdonald
3. Lafai
4. Aitken
5. Nightingale
6. Widdop
7. Mann

That is still a fairly settled backline and with so much of our experienced players out, Putting an ex Kiwi international winger in will help.

Forwards will be interesting now. We seem to be one player short of any first grade experience. Maybe...
8. Graham
9. Mcinness
10. Au Mau
11. Host
12. Lawrie
13. Sele

14. Field
15. Latimore
16. Leilua
17. This one is the most unknown in my opinion as everyone else has already played first grade.

Funnily enough its the most excited ive been in a while to see a team picked. That might wear off quickly if we start to get a hiding v the storm though lol.

 

[The Damo]

I’m not too worried about the young forwards coming in.
I like OT’s suggestion above of having LAM at lock, only question is if Sele can play edge.
Or,
If Graham and Ahmau start and likely play 50ish minutes. Latimore will replace one for 30, and Lawrie the other for 30. Lawrie has shown he can do that and would be best option I think for prop rotation.
Host should be able to go close to 80 minutes on an edge, he just did 55, and has been playing close to 80 all year.
The question then is lock and the other edge second rower.
Leilua the obvious choice to start with Ford/allgood on the bench
And Sele at lock, with Mann back to the bench and give Herbert a run on the wing, assuming Lomax not available still?
It is interesting to see what will happen.

 

[Buz-V]

I’m not too worried about the young forwards coming in.
I like OT’s suggestion above of having LAM at lock, only question is if Sele can play edge.
Or,
If Graham and Ahmau start and likely play 50ish minutes. Latimore will replace one for 30, and Lawrie the other for 30. Lawrie has shown he can do that and would be best option I think for prop rotation.
Host should be able to go close to 80 minutes on an edge, he just did 55, and has been playing close to 80 all year.
The question then is lock and the other edge second rower.
Leilua the obvious choice to start with Ford/allgood on the bench
And Sele at lock, with Mann back to the bench and give Herbert a run on the wing, assuming Lomax not available still?
It is interesting to see what will happen.

Au Mau is a prop and a bloody good one, He tucks the ball under his arm and runs straight. He's not a lock. A lock should be able to ball play imo.
And why in the world when you have 5 rep players out would you want to put one of our best players (Mann) on the bench to cover other players with half his skill?
Surely you put your best players available on the field at all times when our team is cut to bits from rep footy?
And I think Allgood is injured.

 

[The Damo]

Au Mau is a prop and a bloody good one, He tucks the ball under his arm and runs straight. He's not a lock. A lock should be able to ball play imo.
And why in the world when you have 5 rep players out would you want to put one of our best players (Mann) on the bench to cover other players with half his skill?
Surely you put your best players available on the field at all times when our team is cut to bits from rep footy?
And I think Allgood is injured.

AhMau at lock is an option to get good balance out of our available forwards. Not saying it’s definitely the best option, but it would be one of the best options available.
And you’d put Mann to the bench because we know he can cover the middle for a 20-30 minute stint to rest our 13. It worked pretty well during the period we played our best football this year. And it gives a spot to one of our young backs.
When is Allgood due back anyone know? Any chance for this game?

 

[Dragon Revival]

I would make Ross or Robson the fourth bench player.

 

[Dragonslayer]

I would make Ross or Robson the fourth bench player.

Who is Ross?

Robson cant play as he is playing U20's SOO

 

[Old Timer]

Au Mau is a prop and a bloody good one, He tucks the ball under his arm and runs straight. He's not a lock. A lock should be able to ball play imo.
And why in the world when you have 5 rep players out would you want to put one of our best players (Mann) on the bench to cover other players with half his skill?
Surely you put your best players available on the field at all times when our team is cut to bits from rep footy?
And I think Allgood is injured.

Not that you want to put Mann on the bench but sometimes situations evolve whereby you have limited options and for balance you have to change things around.
Mann currently plays wing for 80 so as much as I think he deserves to be in the side for 1 match putting Nighty to wing you should not lose too much in that position.
Mann has played half before but no real success there so maybe this time the specialist back half should in fact be the option otherwise why did we buy Nicholls?
The forwards are where you have the least experience and the greatest exposure to failure and Mann has been covering a forwards position off the bench (much better at it than Nighty) for some time this year and done it very well so if you don't pick him to give coverage who in fact do you pick?
I agree re ball players at lock although JDB is at his best in fact when he is head down and arse up and only ball play after busting the line completely so who do we have to cover that role?
Leilua can ball play but lacks the tenacity to play the centre role and play long minutes.
Mann to lock after 25 - 30 and LAM into the front row rotation to replace Graham and a LAM gets good rest at half time and just after then back on until FT is a solid option IMO.

 

[Gomarchin]

I hate origin. NSW have won the series so why play a dead rubber?

Yes I know it's about $ and TV ratings but what about our run to the finals? That's all I care about...

 

[Dragon Revival]

Sorry I meant Kerr who would play against his old team. I got mixed up with Josh Ross the sprinter.

 

[Cazbah Steeler]

1. Dufty
2. MacDonald
3. Aitken
4. Lafia
5. Nightingale
6. Widdop
7. Nicholls
8. Graham
9. McInnes
10. Ah Mau
11. Sele
12. Host
13. Mann

14. Latimore
15. Field
16. Lawrie
17. Leilua

If Nicholls is struggling move Mann to HB and Sele to Lock
Field to come on in the last 20-15 Minutes

 

[Gareth67]

I'm just curious, say we were to continue this type of form over the next 10 weeks end finish in the bottom half of the top 8, followed by a quick semi final exit. Would most of you consider it a successful year? And what of the coach?

Straight Shooter

O.V. Your in one of your cantankerous moods again . Nobody would be happy about a early exit , more so after leading the competition all year . As to your 2nd question this would come down to each individuals assessment of him , of his overall ability as a coach , a mentor , a tactician , use of his bench and promoting the clubs juniors , by ensuring the correct fitness and recuperation processes have been in place etc. etc.

IMO I believe that Paul McGregor has manage to get this 2018 team to a far better level of achievement then in previous years , regardless of the final outcome of the Dragons season . Does that make him a good coach , well he is certainly no Bennett or Bellamy , however he has had his team running first for just about the entire season now so the man must be doing something right .

I am also aware that once in the Semis that the standard of rugby league increases ten-fold as also the chances of injuries , only the fittest will survive and this is another area where the Dragons have it over other teams . But in saying that I also believe that he will have the team in the final 4 and as we all know , anything can happen from there . And should he pull off the premiership trophy , then he most certainly will be the best coach in the NRL .

 

[The Damo]

Maybe;
Dufty
Nene
Lafai
Aitken
Nighty
Nicholls
Widdop
Graham
Cam
LAM
Host
Luc
Sele
Bench
Mann
Lawrie
Latimore
Last bench spot is the tricky one for mine - can go Ford or Allgood if available (someone who watches lower grades - would it be fair to expect 20-30 odd minutes first grade from Ford?)
Or to be creative have Herbert come on at centre and then Push Aitken to second row to give Luc a breather?

 

[mobels]

1. Dufty
2. Mann
3. Aitken
4. Lafai
5. Nene
6. Widdop
7. Nicholls
8. Graham
9. McIness
10. Latimore
11. Host
12. Leilua
13. Sele

14. Ah Mau
15. Lawrie
16. Nightingale
17. Field/Herbert/Ford

Expecting Nightingale to spend time on the second row switching with Leilua (no idea how it'll work out but we have no one else who can play there left). Ah Mau starts on the bench so we don't lose his impact coming on.

We have a fairly good chance of winning this game IMO, Storm's forward pack is basically there QLD Cups due to injuries and Origin. All depends on whether Leilua and Sele will be able to play the extra minutes given to them.