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Round 18 v Gummy's

Slippery Morris

First Grade
Messages
7,875
Rava initially had bad hands but has been pretty safe lately apart from the occasional drop like most great players do every now and then. He may get out jumped but should get some support from the players around him so he does not have to most time. He runs it back stronger than no other though which is pretty good and gets sets off to a great start. Close to the line he is one of the best in the comp. If he had Lomax next to him from the start of the season he would be on heaps more tries.

The NRL have ruined his best trait which is smashing players running quickly off his line, like Olam has been doing with no punishment. He has won us games from that, as the opposition players were scared to go that side at one stage. There was a Manly game where he literally destroyed Parker and Tafua. He timed those hits to perfection and then the MRC hit and banned the poor guy for what we see as great hits by Olam.
 

justadragon

Bench
Messages
4,071

Ryan Carr, five games into his career as an NRL head coach, felt the need to deliver his first spray.

When his St George Illawarra players filed into the club’s Wollongong headquarters to review the debacle that was their insipid performance on Friday against the Warriors, they were told the unvarnished truth.

During an old-fashioned honesty session, Carr pointed to the door. Those who didn’t want to adhere to the club’s standards were urged to use it.
“That’s what I believe in, that’s the way I coach,” Carr said on the eve of the clash with arch-rivals Cronulla.

“It was nothing new from me to them, I’m honest with them. They know that, there’s real clarity about what our standards are and what our accountability is towards our job.
“We didn’t meet that. I was just calling out what is what. It’s not about reacting and going over the top and going outside of what we believe in.

“I’m not a big ranter and raver, gone are the days of that. I was a bit disappointed in letting our standards go and putting out something we weren’t proud of.

“It’s about being honest. I take the good with the good, the bad with the bad. I’m never really high or really low, it is what it is.”

He has done well to keep an even keel given so much has transpired in his first month at the helm. The euphoria of Carr’s first win, a last-gasp victory on debut against the Roosters, has been tempered by countless Dragons dramas.

Jason Ryles rejected the seat Carr is warming, only for it to eventually go to – after countless board squabbles – Shane Flanagan. The appointment ended Flanagan’s purgatory, although other Dragons remain in limbo.

The futures of several players and staff, including Carr, remains unclear. Captain Ben Hunt’s final destination remains clouded after his initial release request was knocked back. Carr said Hunt will remain skipper despite continued speculation surrounding the Maroons star.

“He’s remained committed to the club, he’s not going anywhere,” Carr said.
“He’s committed to the boys for the remainder of this year. What that looks like past that is not my concern, I’m worried about him committing to the 2023 Dragons and he has done that.

“He won’t be going anywhere for the remainder of the year. He’s clarified that and told that to the group, so of course he will remain captain. He’s our captain, our on-field leader and there’s no need to change that.”

How long Carr remains at the Dragons remains unclear. The 34-year-old remains contracted for next year, but Flanagan is already putting his people and systems in place.

Moses Mbye, one of the game’s big earners in his pomp, has been told he is surplus to requirements. Head of physical performance Tony Guilfoyle has decided to move on immediately after learning the club was in negotiations with Andrew Gray, who was in the role during the club’s last premiership. Everyone is on notice.

While Flanagan’s fingerprints are already appearing at the Red V, Carr remains in charge for now.

“It’s my domain,” Carr said of team selection decisions. “[Flanagan] is good, we have an open dialogue about where the squad is heading, but he’s respectful to the fact we need to worry about our performances right now.

“He’ll have his ideas and things and I’m happy to work in with that, because it’s all for the greater good of the club. That’s what it’s about at the end of the day, no one is bigger than the club.”

As for the other distractions, Carr is philosophical.

“You are always going to have things thrown at you in footy,” he said.

“It’s more about trying to remain focused. There are no excuses, there are plenty there if we want them. We can look for them if you want and people will give them to you at times, but if you let excuses become a thing, then accountability goes out the window.

“It’s more about making sure we remain focused on us, what we can control and not letting outside things distract us from our job and standards.

“I’m not big on making excuses.”

Seasoned clipboard holders often say you haven’t really become an NRL coach until you have experienced three consecutive losses. That day may soon arrive for Carr – his record is 2-3 – but there’s nothing he’s gone through yet to dissuade him from his ambition of holding down a head role full-time.


“I still love it mate,” he said. “You’ve got to love it, otherwise it is not for you.”
I like Ryan Carr, and I hope he stays, but I cant agree with Hunt being Captain, he mentions that no one is bigger than the club and that is exactly what Hunt tried to do. anyway go the Dragons tonight lets hope to see a marked improvement.
 

KogarahWarrior

Juniors
Messages
2,139
Rava initially had bad hands but has been pretty safe lately apart from the occasional drop like most great players do every now and then. He may get out jumped but should get some support from the players around him so he does not have to most time. He runs it back stronger than no other though which is pretty good and gets sets off to a great start. Close to the line he is one of the best in the comp. If he had Lomax next to him from the start of the season he would be on heaps more tries.

The NRL have ruined his best trait which is smashing players running quickly off his line, like Olam has been doing with no punishment. He has won us games from that, as the opposition players were scared to go that side at one stage. There was a Manly game where he literally destroyed Parker and Tafua. He timed those hits to perfection and then the MRC hit and banned the poor guy for what we see as great hits by Olam.
I'll never forget when he absolutely slammed DCE.

I'll also never forgive the NRL for when he smashed Josh Morris on ANZAC day and I think Whitehead from the Raiders for alleged 'shoulder charges' when all he did was whack them as hard as they deserved to get hit for running down his side.
 
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Old Timer

Coach
Messages
17,804
Always has been part of his problem do you not think so ?
No I don’t think so and I believe that most in here would see your post assertions as ill informed

Unless you are 6’3” plus and able to stand back and come forward to defend a bomb then you will always be under the pump

Hiwever if we were better able to put pressure on kickers that would alleviate the problem to a great extent

Who by the way would you have in preference to Rava?
 

Jim Dragons

Juniors
Messages
79
I like Ryan Carr, and I hope he stays, but I cant agree with Hunt being Captain, he mentions that no one is bigger than the club and that is exactly what Hunt tried to do. anyway go the Dragons tonight lets hope to see a marked improvement.
its ok to suggest that hunt shouldn't captain... l sort of agree... but the issue l had was coming up with a replacement. Sure you could name JDB - but he comes with baggage too (and would be a drop in aptitude). Birdy needs to lower his penalties and isn't playing close to 80 mins. No one else stands out. Happy to be wrong
 

56to66

Juniors
Messages
720
its ok to suggest that hunt shouldn't captain... l sort of agree... but the issue l had was coming up with a replacement. Sure you could name JDB - but he comes with baggage too (and would be a drop in aptitude). Birdy needs to lower his penalties and isn't playing close to 80 mins. No one else stands out. Happy to be wrong
Blake Lawrie
 

True_Believer

Juniors
Messages
1,840
Won't be on the field enough

Plus, if we can attract some decent forwards he will not be a walk up start to first grade. He's one of the most ineffective ball runners in the team and has zero second phase

View attachment 76203
So based on that you'd have Sua and Burns in the second row, BMM, F Molo, Musgrove as FR and JDB in at Lock? None of the others actually provide much at all do they?
 

Lethal25

Juniors
Messages
1,502
Ooo what website is this please
One of the other posters put this up a few days back

 

Jim Dragons

Juniors
Messages
79
Blake Lawrie
Blocka is probably the best of a lean bunch... but hearing him with Zac on Hindy/Fletch leaves him with a bit of work to do. I know that show is light-hearted entertainment - but that combined with his 40-50 mins on the field means we need to look elsewhere. My other thought was Mybe (I hang my head in shame for saying that.. but personality wise he has whats need (except for the fact that he should be pick as a 14 for reggies)
 

DragonBorn95

Juniors
Messages
369
Big game tonight.. Would love the W but it is what it is, this year is a write off. My heart says we win a close one but im honestly worried about how much points the sharks can put on us. Not predicting a score because its just the fan in me wanting a win but geez i hope we fire up and have a real go tonight.. as always GO THE SAINTS
 

justadragon

Bench
Messages
4,071
its ok to suggest that hunt shouldn't captain... l sort of agree... but the issue l had was coming up with a replacement. Sure you could name JDB - but he comes with baggage too (and would be a drop in aptitude). Birdy needs to lower his penalties and isn't playing close to 80 mins. No one else stands out. Happy to be wrong
I'd be happy with Su'a, Lomax or JDB
 

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