Round 20 v Cowboys

[18to87]

Chain of events from memory:

1. McGregor played McInnes as hooker for virtually 80 minutes every week: No doubt McInnes was whole-hearted and tackled everything that moved, but was never creative.
2. Robson either playing reggies or getting splinters sitting on the bench.
3. Robson left.
4. McGregor sacked.
5. McInnes didn't want to stay after McGregor left.
6. Robson is now in the mix as the next NSW hooker and showing why a lot of people believed he should have been our starting hooker when he was with us.
7. McInnes is no longer a hooker but a backrower.

McGregor- ruining this club for 20 years.

Well all knew this already, but far out it is depressing seeing it all laid bare.

 

[Kiwi Dragon supporter]

Young fit blokes against old blokes at the end of their career. Our mob were just run into the ground. That’s what happens when you sign blokes like Sharon and co. I’m hoping this is a ploy by hook to keep these old codgers for a year until we get our hands on some young fresh meat.

It is true that the Dragons are somewhat of a geriatric side, however players like Cameron Smith were in their late thirties when they retired but were still playing well up until their last game. It is faulty recruitment that is the main problem, along with an old world coach. Another glaring mistake is the non promotion of club juniors which is a foundation problem

 

[SaintPeter]

In the second half the Cowboys threatened on every play. Meanwhile we just hit it up the middle with some plodding forward and then throw to Hunt or Amone for a kick. Really embarrassing to watch.
Talk about a side that looked coached verses a side with no idea.
Tell Hook to have a look back at that game and see what a drilled and attacking side looks like.
PS Amone at five eight is not working and we missed Cody and Suli big time

 

[Como Connection]

In the second half the Cowboys threatened on every play. Meanwhile we just hit it up the middle with some plodding forward and then throw to Hunt or Amone for a kick. Really embarrassing to watch.
Talk about a side that looked coached verses a side with no idea.
Tell Hook to have a look back at that game and see what a drilled and attacking side looks like.
PS Amone at five eight is not working and we missed Cody and Suli big time

Exactly SP.

 

[Draginzaaar]

That was terrible. Never seen a team just open up so easily close to the line. Just run hard and aim between two players and through you go.

While our blokes run at the man and not the gap.

 

[Draginzaaar]

In the second half the Cowboys threatened on every play. Meanwhile we just hit it up the middle with some plodding forward and then throw to Hunt or Amone for a kick. Really embarrassing to watch.
Talk about a side that looked coached verses a side with no idea.
Tell Hook to have a look back at that game and see what a drilled and attacking side looks like.
PS Amone at five eight is not working and we missed Cody and Suli big time

When we got a 6 again close to their line, we didn't know what to do. They would have been thinking 'another 5 and a kick'?

 

[Dragon David]

Not a lot to be said about that game, the boys did their best which unfortunately isn't good enough to get them to the finals or to beat most teams.
Gourley's Socks and Illusion pointed out an interesting stat and it's primary cause. All our oppositions have to do is hold us for 40 - 60 minutes, til we tire out and then put the foot on the pedal. Old and not particularly fit it would seem. The inability to control the game for long periods didn't help either, nor did our inability to score freaking points when the opportunity is right there.
Another year of failing to make the finals and 2023 doesn't look much better, fmd.

Someone said on this forum that the players for Penrith look as fit at the end of each game as they do at the start. I have said several times that our fitness levels should be raised significantly and that the guys should be doing a lot of running not only say 5 kilometres before field drills and gym work but in their spare time and all should do a sand dunes run every second week. Johnny King said running was so important to the players during his time as a player for the Dragons.

Besides getting the players really fit, we haven't signed up the right guys. It is obvious - cheap and nasty doesn't work. Recruitment and Retention is nowhere near what it should be and our pathways for the juniors isn't going ahead in leaps and bounds and our development is lacking.

All these things have created another bad year for us and the future isn't looking any rosier in my opinion.

If the Board members of this club want us to be even 30-50% better, they need to do a lot of soul searching and get people in who can turn things around quickly and I mean quickly before lots of us lose interest.

 

[Dragon David]

When we got a 6 again close to their line, we didn't know what to do. They would have been thinking 'another 5 and a kick'?

Do they even have set play movements drilled into them for these situations? What do they do to improve their attacking structure? What do they do to improve their defensive structure? No wonder Gentle and Head won't be there next year. Why are they still our assistants? They should just go now and the same for Hook.

Not all blame falls on them though, there are others who must go such as the fitness and conditioner guy(s) and of course several older and reject players.

Come on Board members do your thing and get us winning again and make us fans proud to be following this club.

 

[VodkaSaint]

Last night when I was at the game I noticed Bird making defensive errors and forced passes and dropped balls
I like this guy but he needs to pull his head in
Anyone have kayo
Have a look at the 5 minute mini

 

[BBTB]

Do they even have set play movements drilled into them for these situations? What do they do to improve their attacking structure? What do they do to improve their defensive structure? No wonder Gentle and Head won't be there next year. Why are they still our assistants? They should just go now and the same for Hook.

Not all blame falls on them though, there are others who must go such as the fitness and conditioner guy(s) and of course several older and reject players.

Come on Board members do your thing and get us winning again and make us fans proud to be following this club.

Think your whipping a dead horse, unfortunately.
Our COMATOSED Board, aren't going to take the time
to get their SNOUTS OUT OF THE TROUGH.

 

[possm]

In the second half the Cowboys threatened on every play. Meanwhile we just hit it up the middle with some plodding forward and then throw to Hunt or Amone for a kick. Really embarrassing to watch.
Talk about a side that looked coached verses a side with no idea.
Tell Hook to have a look back at that game and see what a drilled and attacking side looks like.
PS Amone at five eight is not working and we missed Cody and Suli big time

Being afraid to lose the young guns Saints have spent so much time and money developing, we seemed to make the wrong choices once they become available for selection in first grade.

Not all players are the same. Some need more time to develop others adapt quickly to the riggers of first grade. The trick is to have the ability to manage this situation. If it was my decision I would have:
Kept Robson with McCinnus moving to lock.
When both players were available, rotated in turn Amone and Sulliven at firve-eighth.
When Ravalawa became unavailable, selected Sloan on the right wing in short stints.

And if Flanno is not our target, then go for Maguire with two new assistant coaches.

 

[denis preston]

While our blokes run at the man and not the gap.

Burns runs great lines but Hunt never drew the inside & outside man to create any space for him.

 

[justadragon]

Think your whipping a dead horse, unfortunately.
Our COMATOSED Board, aren't going to take the time
to get their SNOUTS OUT OF THE TROUGH.

The board ensured that regardless of what happens they have a job for life, no voting them out for underperformance, as a matter of fact they probably get a bonus for the club not having the wooden spoon.

 

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

Not sure why everyone is complaining. Did anyone really expect this to go any differently? Ben Hunt has been carrying this team all year. We win against lower sides but lose against better ones. We lose against lower sides if Ben Hunt is not 100%. We desperately need a strong hooker and five-eight to take some of the load off Hunt. We haven't got them. Other than Hunt it's a very average roster with many players well past their prime.

 

[denis preston]

Perhaps rumours of our tight salary cap position can be explained on how much money we pay for indifferent performances. Do we have players who get more from us than the market will ? Are we paying overs just to get players to resign ? I'm looking at you Jack Bird !

 

[denis preston]

Last night when I was at the game I noticed Bird making defensive errors and forced passes and dropped balls
I like this guy but he needs to pull his head in
Anyone have kayo
Have a look at the 5 minute mini

Worst player on the field due to crucial dropped ball and defence lapses. Put him in Reggies and who knows he might renege on his contract and leave. Bet he doesn't as we are paying him what no one else will.

 

[Smacka]

In the second half the Cowboys threatened on every play. Meanwhile we just hit it up the middle with some plodding forward and then throw to Hunt or Amone for a kick. Really embarrassing to watch.
Talk about a side that looked coached verses a side with no idea.
Tell Hook to have a look back at that game and see what a drilled and attacking side looks like.
PS Amone at five eight is not working and we missed Cody and Suli big time

Credit to Amone - Dearden was very quiet yesterday. Townsend was as well. The damage was done in the middle : Sims , Bird , Burns , Woods , McGuire were terrible.

 

[BBTB]

Worst player on the field due to crucial dropped ball and defence lapses. Put him in Reggies and who knows he might renege on his contract and leave. Bet he doesn't as we are paying him what no one else will.

Bird , unfortunately is a mere shadow of his former self.
We need to provide a coach that can communicate with BIRDIE & explain what he wants & expects from him.
Or byebye BIRDIE .
BIRD is trying to play a style he played 6 years ago. He can't play like that anymore.

 

[SnowDragon]

I travelled home to Aus for first time in years. Got sick and missed the manly match. Got to the cows game. Oh dear. its so much clearer at the match to see how the cows run lines and force openings. We are too slow to react to this and as tiredness comes, holes open. Is this match fitness? Type of players? (E.g. Burns looks dangerous at times In attrack, but defence is poor). Made worse by the cows speed I guess.

we played ok at times, but couldn’t take Our chances. They did.

pity thats the only game I get too

 

[justadragon]

Credit to Amone - Dearden was very quiet yesterday. Townsend was as well. The damage was done in the middle : Sims , Bird , Burns , Woods , McGuire were terrible.

Amone produced nothing in attack yesterday, yes deardon and townsend may have been quiet, thats what happens when you have attacking players right across the park, you could also say that Holmes was quiet so not much needs to be done by the halves except to keep the shape both in attack and defence, both of which the dragons failed miserably at.