Round 2 vs Souths

[Jubilee]

One thing I am sick of hearing " we are a work in progress"...FMD we have been that way since 2010..

It's a different game these days....we are too big too cumbersome and too slow......thoroughbreds win most games these days not Clydesdales

With the six again rule it is now all about cardio, line speed, long kicking, kick chase and referee involvement. Kick for field position and then hold them until the referee gives you a couple of six agains.

Six again is absolutely the worst rule change in the history of the game.

 

[Illusion]

Yeah, they looked very lethargic. I wondered that myself, whether they trained too hard too close to the game. You wouldn't think a professionally run club would do that, but then this is the Dragons . .

Did you hear the Presser the way Flanno was responding to the game , something like " you won't want to be the players over the next couple of weeks " Does that mean another flogging ?

 

[Illusion]

With the six again rule it is now all about cardio, line speed, long kicking, kick chase and referee involvement. Kick for field position and then hold them until the referee gives you a couple of six agains.

Six again is absolutely the worst rule change in the history of the game.

Maybe but we haven't moved with the times ........

 

[Jubilee]

There’s real issues in this team which you've all covered so well and in detail. As others have said changes are needed. We have some good juniors let’s use them, Hamish, Toby and Ryan have proven it works.

Lawrie has had his last chance, the injury he apparently had last year can’t still be the problem.

We should have won that one and more importantly, we needed to win that one. I’m just so disappointed.

We have two more years of Lawrie. A vèry well paid holiday for him, shuffling around in NSW Cup, pretending to be an NRL footballer, using up cap and a slot, unsackable.

 

[twinkletoes]

My kids follow the Storm…..they feel sorry for me. They enjoy their footy every week knowing that their team puts in a 100% effort EVERY WEEK….over the whole season…. Win, lose or draw they put in every week

there is an outstanding documentary on Stan about Craig Bellamy….Id highly recommend it to everyone to see how a real club should be run and I’ll know I’ll be flogged on here but I’ve come to really like Bellamy

 

[Illusion]

My kids follow the Storm…..they feel sorry for me. They enjoy their footy every week knowing that their team puts in a 100% effort EVERY WEEK….over the whole season…. Win, lose or draw they put in every week

there is an outstanding documentary on Stan about Craig Bellamy….Id highly recommend it to everyone to see how a real club should be run and I’ll know I’ll be flogged on here but I’ve come to really like Bellamy

X2 ........

 

[R&WTILLIDIE]

My kids follow the Storm…..they feel sorry for me. They enjoy their footy every week knowing that their team puts in a 100% effort EVERY WEEK….over the whole season…. Win, lose or draw they put in every week

there is an outstanding documentary on Stan about Craig Bellamy….Id highly recommend it to everyone to see how a real club should be run and I’ll know I’ll be flogged on here but I’ve come to really like Bellamy

If I had kids, I’d refuse to let them follow St George. I wouldn’t want them to be miserable like me every year

 

[Wolfgang90]

That was soo bad. They had multiple guys missing & injuries during the game but we still couldn't beat them.

Our yardage game which was a strength was a weakness with Sloan's inclusion, alongside a weak forward pack it led to poor field position.

Lucky we only lost by 1 point. Most other teams would've killed us.

 

[Dragons4me]

No answer. Home ground advantage. Decent crowd. Rabbits missing players. Rabbits 2 wins from 2. Dragons 0 from 2. Probably will be bottom after the weekend.
It's about as low as one can get.

Sunday morning now since my post game rant above and as usual I'll get over it. The Bunt lead 2024 side would have got flogged by 50. I mean yesterday's conditions were ripe for that result! 2026 is my hope year for a real football team so it's a long road ahead.

 

[carltonsouth79]

My kids follow the Storm…..they feel sorry for me. They enjoy their footy every week knowing that their team puts in a 100% effort EVERY WEEK….over the whole season…. Win, lose or draw they put in every week

there is an outstanding documentary on Stan about Craig Bellamy….Id highly recommend it to everyone to see how a real club should be run and I’ll know I’ll be flogged on here but I’ve come to really like Bellamy

It’s a very good insight into Bellyache and the Storm culture. Telling for me was that they seek players of character and have passed on talent if they felt the character was not right. Bellamy builds teams of players with mental and physical toughness. I’m sure all teams aspire to that but we aren’t in the same league with them. Another great series is the one on the Panthers called Undisputed I think. You can see how a great dynasty is built and works. I hope things can change but as expansion continues I feel at some point there will either be a conference system or promotion and relegation and I don’t see us as we are being best placed for that. Flip side, Reggie’s looked great and most our forwards look much more promising than some of the plodders we have at the moment.

 

[carltonsouth79]

That was soo bad. They had multiple guys missing & injuries during the game but we still couldn't beat them.

Our yardage game which was a strength was a weakness with Sloan's inclusion, alongside a weak forward pack it led to poor field position.

Lucky we only lost by 1 point. Most other teams would've killed us.

Harsh on Sloan, Feagai makes very few metres and Sloan looked the best I’ve seen him. He is the only back with speed and an X factor. We need him in there for mine

 

[Blood Shot Eyes]

Take away from the game

Positives
T Couchman improving rapidly and hardening into a quality big minute player

T Sloan showed commitment and heart in a much improved outing on the wing

LKT soft hands, subtlety & option selection plus the performances of some of our young forward tyros shows their coach is imparting skills that is improving them before they get to 1st grade hopefully they get a shot.

Negatives
Lawrie selection simply bewildering

Bench utilisation equally bewildering

Critical defensive lapses by senior players as well as continued poor alignment of players in general

Mentally weak

Lack of killer instinct at key moments

Not one attempt to secure the game with a field goal which is a long standing issue plus the usual sub standard kicks in general play.

Our continued belief that we can somehow win by “being in the grind”.

S F barb in the press conference singling out 1 player when many could have been.


Losing yesterday was bitterly disappointing and frankly the loss means the coaching staff, selection panel, senior players especially the co-captains have a lot to answer for.

100 % OT
As for our belief that we can somehow win for being in the grind is pure fantasy......we dont know the meaning of grind.....on most occasions we get ground......

Sadly we are Mentally weak week in week out
Except for Gutho the best on ground yesterday was Campbell Graham and he's hardly played for over a year ...now that's an example of Mentally strong

 

[Number of the Beath]

It’s a very good insight into Bellyache and the Storm culture. Telling for me was that they seek players of character and have passed on talent if they felt the character was not right. Bellamy builds teams of players with mental and physical toughness. I’m sure all teams aspire to that but we aren’t in the same league with them. Another great series is the one on the Panthers called Undisputed I think. You can see how a great dynasty is built and works. I hope things can change but as expansion continues I feel at some point there will either be a conference system or promotion and relegation and I don’t see us as we are being best placed for that. Flip side, Reggie’s looked great and most our forwards look much more promising than some of the plodders we have at the moment.

The only thing that keeps me going is that the guys in KoE & Flegg roll their sleeves and get the job done, that they appear to be fit, enthusiastic and have a football head on their shoulders. No-one exemplifies this more than Cody Ramsey.
Hopefully the club acts to develop and retain them - unlike in recent years where the cream of our young players gets skimmed off by other clubs.
In the 70s I went to games expecting us to win. From the 80s onward I expected us to be competitive. Since the Bennett years I just expect to be disappointed. And the players/staff make sure that I'm never disappointed - except for all the disappointment.

 

[Blood Shot Eyes]

That was soo bad. They had multiple guys missing & injuries during the game but we still couldn't beat them.

Our yardage game which was a strength was a weakness with Sloan's inclusion, alongside a weak forward pack it led to poor field position.

Lucky we only lost by 1 point. Most other teams would've killed us.

Unfortunately that killing you speak about is only 2 weeks away

 

[Gippsy]

I keep thinking about the lack of pressure for their field goal, especially when it hit the turf a couple of times beforehand. That was inexcusable.

But it highlights our biggest problem imo. There were times during that game that we had no movement off our line in defence. We weren't just slow in defence, we would take a step or two and then stop. All that does is help the opposition with their momentum. The number of times I was yelling out "move up" !!.

That needs to be fixed if we are going to improve. If it is lack of fitness, fix it, if its Dean Youngs input, sack him.

 

[Number of the Beath]

Did you hear the Presser the way Flanno was responding to the game , something like " you won't want to be the players over the next couple of weeks " Does that mean another flogging ?

"It won't happen again!" again.

 

[Veteran Dragon]

Imagine if Val landed those goal kicks come Sunday morning we would be a much happier bunch but still carry doubts about the team putting in a 80 minutes performance.

 

[R&WTILLIDIE]

It’s a very good insight into Bellyache and the Storm culture. Telling for me was that they seek players of character and have passed on talent if they felt the character was not right. Bellamy builds teams of players with mental and physical toughness. I’m sure all teams aspire to that but we aren’t in the same league with them. Another great series is the one on the Panthers called Undisputed I think. You can see how a great dynasty is built and works. I hope things can change but as expansion continues I feel at some point there will either be a conference system or promotion and relegation and I don’t see us as we are being best placed for that. Flip side, Reggie’s looked great and most our forwards look much more promising than some of the plodders we have at the moment.

Bellamy also coaches a team that gets a lot of favourable calls. Also cheated the salary cap and got a slap on the wrist for doing so. Melbourne needs to be a successful team for the league to make money. Hence the reason they get a lot of favourable calls. f**k the Storm. I’d much prefer to watch a doco on how Wayne Bennett turned a team of chokers and under performers like the dragons into a premiership winning team.

 

[OneEyedDragon]

I keep thinking about the lack of pressure for their field goal, especially when it hit the turf a couple of times beforehand. That was inexcusable.

But it highlights our biggest problem imo. There were times during that game that we had no movement off our line in defence. We weren't just slow in defence, we would take a step or two and then stop. All that does is help the opposition with their momentum. The number of times I was yelling out "move up" !!.

That needs to be fixed if we are going to improve. If it is lack of fitness, fix it, if its Dean Youngs input, sack him.

Sadly the Dragons defence has been like this for years now. Like you, I yell at the TV " Stop with the stupid 2 steps forward, stop, wait for the opposition to reach you then try to tackle". I liked Dean Young as a player but he isn't making it as a defensive coach. Do something about it Flano!

 

[Saints Forever]

I have avoided posting to give myself some time to gather my thoughts.

First 2 games:

low energy

No line speed

Soft defence near out goal line

No killer instinct

Causes:

Very hot conditions

Training techniques

Possible player fallout from Molo incident

We simply lack the cattle and are playing senior players when we should be promoting KOE forwards

Forward Solutions:

Drop Lawrie
Luc Leilua to the bench
Drop RFM
Stewart to start
Cook/Liddle to share game time equally

Klemmer/Sele hopefully available for round 4

Consider elevating LPT to 17

Halves:

LKT to be considered if halves don’t improve by end of round 7

Halves lack the ability to manage the game

Sloan should be utilised to chase chip kicks. Only player we have with exceptional speed. Find ways to use that speed.