Round 2 v Cowboys

[redv13]

Dean Young is assistant coach at the cowboys. He has inside knowledge of all our players weaknesses and incompetences.

I’m calling it now cowboys 12+

Deano has a point to prove for not getting selected for the head coach job.

I noticed the forwards were very aggressive in their line speed and hunting in numbers last night which is very encouraging especially under the ex bozo and young where the forwards went up 2 or 3 steps then planted their feet and waited for the ball runner. Regardless of the result there was definitely some encouraging signs that we haven’t seen for quite a while.

 

[Walpole]

The Cowboys are a bottom 4 side, we'll find out if we are as well.

 

[Eatons Hill Dragon]

JT will once again run 250 metres against us.
Bad week I think to be playing them.
Dean Young will also be gagging to get a win against us too.

 

[Old Timer]

Dean Young is assistant coach at the cowboys. He has inside knowledge of all our players weaknesses and incompetences.

I’m calling it now cowboys 12+

Deano has a point to prove for not getting selected for the head coach job.

Deano looks like he has settled in really well at the Cowboys and has instilled into them his vast coaching knowledge and their score line from Rd 1probably indicates he is now their main tactician and attack coach.

He appears to have his fingerprints all over the Cowboys and hopefully it stays that way.

 

[Maddragon99]

Dont see too much chopping and changing at this early stage of the season.
I have no doubt JT for the Cows will be utilised more in this game after the roasting Payton got.

My team list:
1. Dufty
2. Ramsey (JP if not)
3. Bird
4. Lomax
5. Rava
6. Norman
7. Hunt
8. Lawrie
9. Macca
10. Vaughan
11. Kerr
12. Sims
13. Fui

14. Clune
15. Alvaro
16. Poasa
17. Ellis

Only 3 changes really....
Norman in and Clune to bench (and it could be Norman bench with Clune to start)
Merrin out replaced by Ellis
Williame out

It’ll be the same side except Norman for Clune & JP for Ramsey. Bench to remain the same. Only other possible change would be Alvaro for Lawrie. Alvaro’s numbers were very good he looks to have a big motor

 

[Maddragon99]

Deano looks like he has settled in really well at the Cowboys and has instilled into them his vast coaching knowledge and their score line from Rd 1probably indicates he is now their main tactician and attack coach.

He appears to have his fingerprints all over the Cowboys and hopefully it stays that way.

Long year ahead for the Cows, rookies in charge & not a great squad.

Very important that we come away with a win against a non top 8 team.

 

[redv13]

It’ll be the same side except Norman for Clune & JP for Ramsey. Bench to remain the same. Only other possible change would be Alvaro for Lawrie. Alvaro’s numbers were very good he looks to have a big motor

Vaughan and Lawrie are our 2 starting props. Crazy to change that after 1 week. Lawrie was in beast mode vs the Sharks, aggressive and wanted blood. Must start.

 

[Dragonslayer]

Vaughan and Lawrie are our 2 starting props. Crazy to change that after 1 week. Lawrie was in beast mode vs the Sharks, aggressive and wanted blood. Must start.

Agree. Vaughan and Lawrie must start. We need to be on the front foot from the kick off, not half in half out. I think Poasa will be better for the game against the Sharks, he may not be a 'wet-tracker' so to speak.

 

[boardlumps62]

Vaughan and Lawrie are our 2 starting props. Crazy to change that after 1 week. Lawrie was in beast mode vs the Sharks, aggressive and wanted blood. Must start.

With Kerr as a rotating prop we need to match big bodies especially J T.

 

[possm]

It was so bad I agree. It looks like we are a team that literally trains to perfect new ways to lose matches.

- the Ben Hunt air swing - try
- the Tariq Sydney Harbour bridge - try
- the Williame tunnel ball - 2 points when we have extra man
- the Dufty drop sitter 1 - try
- the Dufty drop sitter 2 - try
- the no-one-at-marker when we were finally getting a move on - utter cringeworthy stuff

I thought this was professional rugby league. You wait all off season...

- the Ben Hunt air swing - try
Why didn't he just dive on the ball.

- the Tariq Sydney Harbour bridge - try
I'm not sure what is going on with Sims but he had better get his act together because Griffin won't stand for this rubbish.

- the Williame tunnel ball - 2 points when we have extra man
Williame is not a first grader and his surplus to our needs. Better if we have Max Feagai learn on the job.

- the Dufty drop sitter 1 - try
- the Dufty drop sitter 2 - try
Dufty to five-eighth in reserve grade

- the no-one-at-marker when we were finally getting a move on - utter cringeworthy stuff
One for Griffin to immediately sort out. Should never happen in first grade.

 

[possm]

Norman went missing after the first few minutes against Souths in the Shield- no justification imo for his selection- Clune isn't normally a 5/8 and deserves a chance to build his combo with Hunt.

Sims and Kerr offered nothing in attack on the edge so it's just a matter of when not if Bird is shifted into the backrow.

Bird is a great centre and could be a great five-eighth in our 17. The answer isn't to shift good players around.

I'd say buy an edge forward and a top grade prop. Bring Kerr back into the prop rotation and if we need some extra cash, let Merrin and Ellis go.

If Millward and Horan can't do this, move them on as well.

 

[possm]

Agree. Vaughan and Lawrie must start. We need to be on the front foot from the kick off, not half in half out. I think Poasa will be better for the game against the Sharks, he may not be a 'wet-tracker' so to speak.

I'd rather see Vaughan and Kerr start in our prop rotation with Laurie as lock until De Belin becomes available. Alvaro and Faamausili as our bench props (with a note from Griffin showing their stats from round 1 and what he expects in round 2).

Until we do buy a suitable replacement for Frizell, I'd select Fuimaono on the right edge.

Bird is currently playing left centre purely because that is the most suitable position for him until is body is completely match fit. From what I saw in round 1, Bird has great potential to be our next Captain. Hunt so meek and mild just is not foreman material.

 

[possm]

Deano looks like he has settled in really well at the Cowboys and has instilled into them his vast coaching knowledge and their score line from Rd 1probably indicates he is now their main tactician and attack coach.

He appears to have his fingerprints all over the Cowboys and hopefully it stays that way.

Don't worry, Craig Young is already working on plans for Dean for life after Griffin at the Dragons. Fogging the Cowboys will put a dint in those plans.

 

[Dragons154]

Won't be surprised if Dufty is ruled out by our Dr's due to HIA concerns.

Some criticism of us for letting him back on the field after such a severe blow to the back of his head.

If he is ruled out does Hook simply put Slim to FB and leave the rest as is
or
Does he do the big shuffle of Williame to CC, Clune to bench, Norman to 6, Ramsay to FB and JP to wing?
or
Ramsay to FB, JP to wing, Norman to bench, Williame to CC.

Interesting conundrum if Dufty is ruled out and I would expect Hook to make as little changes as possible.

If Dufty is ruled in then does he simply swap Slim for Williame so as to get some game time into Slim's legs or does he slot him straight into the 6?

Dufty hasn’t got a big history with HIA’s so he will 100% be playing.

I’m surprised at all the bloody whinging in here.... if you could not see a difference in Round 1 under Hook compared to the Mary era then I don’t know what to say.
Sunday was the first time that I could remember in recent history that we actually came out after half time and had a crack, yes the first half was sloppy. But aslong as we continually improve each game then Hook is doing his job.
Rome wasn’t built in a day.

 

[possm]

Dufty hasn’t got a big history with HIA’s so he will 100% be playing.

I’m surprised at all the bloody whinging in here.... if you could not see a difference in Round 1 under Hook compared to the Mary era then I don’t know what to say.
Sunday was the first time that I could remember in recent history that we actually came out after half time and had a crack, yes the first half was sloppy. But aslong as we continually improve each game then Hook is doing his job.
Rome wasn’t built in a day.

When speaking about Dufty, nothing has changed:

• Still shaky under the high ball - errors leading to tries against us
• Still out of position for much of the game
• Still reluctant in defence
• Yes he did score a great try but for me, this does not compensate for the errors he made. I'd say he cost us the game.

 

[Dragons154]

When speaking about Dufty, nothing has changed:

• Still shaky under the high ball - errors leading to tries against us
• Still out of position for much of the game
• Still reluctant in defence
• Yes he did score a great try but fort me, this does not compensate for the errors he made. I'd say he cost us the game.

I agree, dufty hasn’t progressed since last year. People need to stop pumping up his tyres

 

[SGMax]

Wont be easy up there...they've enjoyed an xtra day off than us....one day doesnt sound much but the heavier conditions we played under may come into consideration later in the game..

NQ heavily advantaged with home games during the warmer months.
NRL should not give them home games for the first 6 rounds as the heat and humidity are too high.
It will affect teams on the day and probably the following week as they try to recover from the extreme conditions.

Dragons seem to play there in the early rounds most years and have rarely performed well.
I recall Dragons losing 3 straight to the Qld teams a few years ago and I am sure this played a part.

 

[muzby]

I expect the only change will be Norman coming in for someone.

Clune did enough to earn his keep, so maybe drop Williame & throw Korey on the bench..

 

[kit66]

Deano looks like he has settled in really well at the Cowboys and has instilled into them his vast coaching knowledge and their score line from Rd 1probably indicates he is now their main tactician and attack coach.

He appears to have his fingerprints all over the Cowboys and hopefully it stays that way.

My thoughts exactly. Young has the opposite of the Midas Touch, everything he touches turns to sh*t. Tainted goods that fella.

Rain all week forecast for Townsville and temps to 30 so it's going to be humid as. Energy sapping weather up there so hopefully Hook uses the bench well again. If Norman comes in for Clune there's no use putting Clune on the bench, better to carry another big guy, maybe Ellis or JHunt. Periera a straight swap for Cody if he's out. Williame did his job last Sunday ( lucky he was there actually to replace Cody ) but again another forward, preferably Ford, would be the go.
We'll have to keep an eye on Reece Robson, tricky customer. And thanks Payten for lighting a fire under Tamalolo, not what we needed ya knob.

If we make as many errors as last week we'll hand them the game but if we tidy things up and the forwards put in another good performance I think we can take them. Norman's kicking to be the difference along with a better start and some early points.
Saints by 8.

 

[redv13]

NQ heavily advantaged with home games during the warmer months.
NRL should not give them home games for the first 6 rounds as the heat and humidity are too high.
It will affect teams on the day and probably the following week as they try to recover from the extreme conditions.

Dragons seem to play there in the early rounds most years and have rarely performed well.
I recall Dragons losing 3 straight to the Qld teams a few years ago and I am sure this played a part.

I think you’ll find the ex baldy played a big part in that mess too