Round 19 v Titans

[Trifili13]

Anyone blaming today on bbqgate, tailgate or any other gate, I think is wrong. Is today's performance any different to the last 10 years apart from some hope in 2018? We are a team that can't even do the basics. Now I am not a fan of Norman, but whether he plays or not, we are a poor team.
I think it all starts from the front office and what their expectations are. We signed Lomax on a reported $500k per season, if not more, yet Addo Carr went for similar money to the Dogs. You tell me who got the better deal?
In all honesty, if all players wanted out of the Dragon's I would let them go. Give youngsters a go and maybe we can unearth a decent player. It's not as if we would be dismantling a top 8 team, let alone a top 4 or premiership contending team.

 

[FlameThrower]

So where to from here? Pretty much a Club and season in free fall. This is supposed to be our 100 year anniversary and what a chapter this is turning out to be. Obvious players revolt by some of those being let go. Average fringe players now stretched and making mistakes galore. The recent recruits are old and slow, completely at odds with the new fast game. Experienced former representative players playing poorly - 101 handling and defence has been issues for a decade now.
I think the writing is on the wall and we won’t win another game this year.

 

[Dion]

Two things really troubled me.

Lack of effort and lack of focus.

Lack of precision - 17 strangers playing together for the first time...

 

[Maddragon99]

That’ll do me, we are done in 2021. I was hoping we’d play hard with some dignity but that’s obviously not the case. Looking at our draw I think we’ll be lucky to win another game.

This notion that picking gun juniors Sloan, Sullivan & Feagai & thinking that’s going to somehow spark a revival is insane. The team can’t even get the fundamentals right in both attack & defence.

I’m actually quite shocked that we’ve gotten worse not better as the season has gone on. I thought we’d improve under Hook as the season went on. Alarm bells are ringing for me, it’s hard to see where the improvement comes from in 2022.

Seriously driving me to drink.

 

[smi962]

We are looking like Mary is back in charge; not only in this game but it looks like a Mary season. Good start to season but becoming progressively worse as it goes on.

 

[Dragon David]

It's hard to blame this loss on anything but BBQgate. If not for that we have a full strength team minus Rava on the paddock - no suspensions and Vaughan leading the way, a completely different team. We had just 6 of the starters playing in their usual positions and some rookies. Titan's are crap we know but we did it to ourselves long before kick off. The ridiculous amount of errors didn't help but we do that every week. I'll admit the team selections were perplexing - Last week Kerr plays 2nd row for 80 minutes, makes good metres and 40 tackles, this week 23 minutes at prop. Last week JDB played really well as starting prop this week he's a bench prop. Bird to 2nd row ??? and Ramsey at centre when we know Titans love to go wide especially using Fifita out there.
Feagai did really well, we need more like him.

Yes, Hook really stuffed up on his selections for today. Ramsey way out of position and Bird should have been in that position. Boy, we do need a specialist hard running centre. Our centres just are not good enough - need Cooper/Gasnier type combo.

This week's makeshift team will be replaced by another makeshift team against the Bunnies who are building for the end of year games. For and against for them would be high on their minds so, the game will not be good for the faint hearted Dragons supporters.

I'm starting to worry about our coaching staff. I know they can only come up with the players we have available and some sort of game plan/strategy to come away with a win. Its just plain and simple. We are just not good enough and I don't think the coaches are able to get anything useful out of our lot.

 

[Inisai Toga]

It’s amazing how if you win games early you can stay in the running for such a long time. Personally think this year is the lowest standard of football i’ve ever seen, despite TV commentators trying to sell it up.

 

[Dragon David]

If we are going to have players like Ramsey and Dufty in the team (small) we need to play to their strengths. At no point did we create a situation where they could shine. Alternatively, the Titans knew exactly what to do with Fifita, swap him to Ramsey's side. Done.

Blame this well and truly on Hook.

 

[Dragon David]

I like Griffin, he’s a class act. Never blames anyone just says we should be better. I actually think the Magic Round stuffed us and the BBQ episode magnified it more and our squad simply not good enough to overcome these major hurdles. Hunt’s early injury Rava and Lomax loss had a big impact.
Yet, at no stage has Griffin once deflected blame as a reason for poor performance. He’s got an average squad and personally like how he’s navigating some young players in and exposing them to the top grade through injury and little football. I don’t mind the youngsters stuffing up if they are getting some experience. However, seen enough now of some of our forwards not to buy into the ‘work in progress mantra. New recruits very welcome. Let’s get 3 more and 2 top line backs for 2022.

Good positive thread material Inisai.

 

[Dragon David]

That’ll do me, we are done in 2021. I was hoping we’d play hard with some dignity but that’s obviously not the case. Looking at our draw I think we’ll be lucky to win another game.

This notion that picking gun juniors Sloan, Sullivan & Feagai & thinking that’s going to somehow spark a revival is insane. The team can’t even get the fundamentals right in both attack & defence.

I’m actually quite shocked that we’ve gotten worse not better as the season has gone on. I thought we’d improve under Hook as the season went on. Alarm bells are ringing for me, it’s hard to see where the improvement comes from in 2022.

Seriously driving me to drink.

I agree that we have become worse as the season has gone on. No depth and poor execution, poor attitude and so many mistakes.

Unless we have a squad of players who are dead set wanting to play for us and give it their all every game and not just for their pay then I cannot see us doing much for many seasons.

 

[chowiesplatterpoo2]

I made a video of today's game with the Benny Hill theme of all of the dropped balls etc. I needed to. I cant share it on YouTube as it is Fox footage. Any idea how I can share it with you guys?

 

[Dragsters]

I made a video of today's game with the Benny Hill theme of all of the dropped balls etc. I needed to. I cant share it on YouTube as it is Fox footage. Any idea how I can share it with you guys?

I'm doing my best to erase today's game from my memory...

 

[mickeylane]

I remember Wayne at a presser in 2009 where they had a go at him that the attack wasn't there and was he worried? He said ,no. They said why not? He replied-because I know what I’m doing… Hopefully Hook does too and we see more of his team than transition from the Mary era in 2022

I'm doing my best to erase today's game from my memory...

Don’t worry in 6 days time you will need a lobotomy to erase the south’s game..

 

[getsmarty]

Bans no excuse for poor NRL form: Griffin

Anthony Griffin has refused to blame the staggered suspensions of 12 players for St George Illawarra's turn in...

www.standard.net.au

 

[Gareth67]

All the hallmarks of the Mary era , a team that is at sixes and sevens , no true combinations evident , almost as if they were playing their first game together .

We did expect our Dragons to show a different side of themselves in the last 2 matches , that being a fighting spirit , but it simply was not there .

I do not blame Griffin , to me that’s the easy way out - to blame the coach . We need to remember that this same individual who was responsible for their early season form , they had improved dramatically upon last season’s performances .

There is of course the penalty from the BBQ that is weighing heavily on the team , but then again they should be looking at it as they would injuries and play to their strengths.

A very disappointing effort (?) from most today . Perhaps if they had a pin-up on their bedroom walls at home of these true Dragons , then their attitude may be different ?

 

[thebigredv]

Bans no excuse for poor NRL form: Griffin

Anthony Griffin has refused to blame the staggered suspensions of 12 players for St George Illawarra's turn in...

www.standard.net.au

It is no excuse. It doesn't help but it's not the sole reason for our demise. And to think he has to omit the better players in the two tougher matches. Yikes! JDB, Bird, Lawrie to miss Rabbits/Raiders game.

Sad to see some of the more philosophical posters on here saying we are done for 2021. It's unanimous. You know it's bad when it gets to that. No point really singling out players at this point. The club is a bleeding mess. Apart from almost being rid of Norman, we haven't made enough steps forward to say Griffin's been a success. Was already walking into a rabble to be fair.

At the risk of sounding insane, can we throw every single last resource at getting Bellamy over to our club in any capacity?? Failing that, I don't see a saviour on the horizon at all.

 

[getsmarty]

It is no excuse. It doesn't help but it's not the sole reason for our demise. And to think he has to omit the better players in the two tougher matches. Yikes! JDB, Bird, Lawrie to miss Rabbits/Raiders game.

Sad to see some of the more philosophical posters on here saying we are done for 2021. It's unanimous. You know it's bad when it gets to that. No point really singling out players at this point. The club is a bleeding mess. Apart from almost being rid of Norman, we haven't made enough steps forward to say Griffin's been a success. Was already walking into a rabble to be fair.

At the risk of sounding insane, can we throw every single last resource at getting Bellamy over to our club in any capacity?? Failing that, I don't see a saviour on the horizon at all.

Unlike our former coach, Griffin never points the finger at anyone else...

I will borrow some stats posted by @Starkers in J.A..

2021: 8 wins after 18 games. Sitting 8th, likely to miss semis but a roster overhaul with underperformers moved on, youth blooded and an internal focus, incredible player stupidity, learning CEO, no excuses tendered to the fans, 2 current Qld rep forwards inbound to club, overall roster on par with 2020 and results better than last 2 years with 6 games remaining.

2020: 7 wins in 20 games. Sat dead last at the conclusion of round 4 after losing first 4 games. Ran 12th overall and NEVER set foot inside the 8. Mary won 5, Young won 2. A continuation of 2019. Excuses every week.

2019: 8 wins in 24 games. Departed top 8 in round 9 never to visit again, finished second last and worst season on record as a joint venture. Excuses every week.

The differences are black and white.
We are in a rebuilding phase...you don't undo 8 years of mediocre overnight... Griffin has started moving on the dead wood and we will be better in 22....this year was never going to be easy.

 

[kit66]

Anyone blaming today on bbqgate, tailgate or any other gate, I think is wrong. Is today's performance any different to the last 10 years apart from some hope in 2018? We are a team that can't even do the basics. Now I am not a fan of Norman, but whether he plays or not, we are a poor team.
I think it all starts from the front office and what their expectations are. We signed Lomax on a reported $500k per season, if not more, yet Addo Carr went for similar money to the Dogs. You tell me who got the better deal?
In all honesty, if all players wanted out of the Dragon's I would let them go. Give youngsters a go and maybe we can unearth a decent player. It's not as if we would be dismantling a top 8 team, let alone a top 4 or premiership contending team.

I see what you're saying, today was Dragon-ball, business as usual in that we made far too many handling errors, dropped kicks, missed tackles ( a bit higher than usual today ) bombed tries and poor options like we always seem to do.
I'm as annoyed as anyone but it's really a case of what did we expect. I'm as guilty as others in having probably expected too much from today's team of misfits.
Not blaming BBQgate entirely but take that back and this is today's team -
1. Dufty
2. Ramsey
3. Bird
4. Lomax
5. Feagai
6. Norman
7. Hunt
8. Lawrie
9. McCullough
10. Vaughan
11. Kerr
12. Sims
13. DeBelin

14. McGuire
15. Fuimaono
17. Faamausili
18. Ford / Alvaro / Amone ?

3 Titans tries were a direct result of having Ramsey at 4. If it was Lomax out there instead those tries could have been avoided. Also it's unlikely this team clocks up 47 missed tackles and a further 28 ineffective. We'd have had a much better chance of a win with this team. It's a moot point I know but things could have been different. I wouldn't slash my wrists based solely on today's game.

 

[getsmarty]

I see what you're saying, today was Dragon-ball, business as usual in that we made far too many handling errors, dropped kicks, missed tackles ( a bit higher than usual today ) bombed tries and poor options like we always seem to do.
I'm as annoyed as anyone but it's really a case of what did we expect. I'm as guilty as others in having probably expected too much from today's team of misfits.
Not blaming BBQgate entirely but take that back and this is today's team -
1. Dufty
2. Ramsey
3. Bird
4. Lomax
5. Feagai
6. Norman
7. Hunt
8. Lawrie
9. McCullough
10. Vaughan
11. Kerr
12. Sims
13. DeBelin

14. McGuire
15. Fuimaono
17. Faamausili
18. Ford / Alvaro / Amone ?

3 Titans tries were a direct result of having Ramsey at 4. If it was Lomax out there instead those tries could have been avoided. Also it's unlikely this team clocks up 47 missed tackles and a further 28 ineffective. We'd have had a much better chance of a win with this team. It's a moot point I know but things could have been different. I wouldn't slash my wrists based solely on today's game.

I.M.H.O Tariq missed his opportunity to aim up on fifita....too busy trying to put big shots on their halfback ....

 

[Crush]

Unlike our former coach, Griffin never points the finger at anyone else...

I will borrow some stats posted by @Starkers in J.A..

2021: 8 wins after 18 games. Sitting 8th, likely to miss semis but a roster overhaul with underperformers moved on, youth blooded and an internal focus, incredible player stupidity, learning CEO, no excuses tendered to the fans, 2 current Qld rep forwards inbound to club, overall roster on par with 2020 and results better than last 2 years with 6 games remaining.

2020: 7 wins in 20 games. Sat dead last at the conclusion of round 4 after losing first 4 games. Ran 12th overall and NEVER set foot inside the 8. Mary won 5, Young won 2. A continuation of 2019. Excuses every week.

2019: 8 wins in 24 games. Departed top 8 in round 9 never to visit again, finished second last and worst season on record as a joint venture. Excuses every week.

The differences are black and white.
We are in a rebuilding phase...you don't undo 8 years of mediocre overnight... Griffin has started moving on the dead wood and we will be better in 22....this year was never going to be easy.

Have you ever noticed that you constantly defend Hook because he is a better coach than Paul McGregor?
Perhaps you should compare him to other coaches in the NRL as well.
Is he doing as good a job as other clubs coaches regarding recruitment, technical aspects, game plans, defence and attack.
And most importantly is he building a culture that galvanises the team. A team the fans can be proud of. How would you rate the team culture right now?
Being a better coach than Paul McGregor doesn’t make him a good coach.