Teams seem pretty evenly matched on paper, except for Jai Field vs Heighington.
But they also have Brown vs Mary.... Tips it in their favour to actually have someone with a clue.
Teams seem pretty evenly matched on paper, except for Jai Field vs Heighington.
Macdonald was piss poor on Sunday but so was the whole team bar a VERY select few.
He's been one our better players throughout the year. Calling for him to be dropped is a bit of an overreaction imo.
They aren't going out to lose.....they'd like to win without trying
DRAGONS
I love the passion the Dragons fans have: Tariq Sims
Author
Brad Walter Senior Reporter
Timestamp
Wed 29 Aug 2018, 08:01 AM
Dragons players have urged disgruntled supporters to get behind them as they aim to become the first team to win the NRL premiership from outside the top four.
Angry St George Illawarra supporters gathered around the tunnel at Jubilee Oval after last Sunday’s 38-0 loss to Canterbury to let the players know in no uncertain terms how they felt, and one fan later posted footage of him burning his jersey on social media.
Prop James Graham had a Dragons scarf thrown at him and other players needed to be dissuaded from responding to the abuse, which was so vitriolic at times that police felt the need to intervene.
While Tariq Sims and Jack de Belin said throwing things at players was unacceptable, they admitted the fans had a right to be unhappy with such a performance on the eve of the finals.
“We are in the top eight but to be honest I can see where they are coming from,” Sims said. “Memberships and tickets aren’t cheap so to hand over their hard-earned cash and be let down like that, I would be pretty filthy myself.”
Dragons remain stoic despite upset fans
De Belin described the performance as “embarrassing” and said St George Illawarra fans deserved better.
“It was hard but at the same time they are very passionate, the Dragons fans, so when you are winning they are right behind you and when you are losing they can kind of turn on you,” de Belin said.
“We hold ourselves accountable, we know it wasn’t good enough and the fans were quick to remind us that it wasn’t good enough as well.”
Sims also praised the passion of St George Illawarra fans and said their support could lift the team during the finals.
“I love the passion that St George Illawarra fans have, they turn out in droves and they travel and they pack out the hill, and carry their banners and that is just something that as a player really inspires me,” he said.
Dragons fans vented their anger after the loss to the Bulldogs. Nathan Hopkins/NRL Photos
“As a player, with fans so passionate that they’re screaming, they’re cheering and they’re crying, I think something about that really inspires me to want to go out there and satisfy them, and make them proud of myself and the club in general.”
Despite winning just two of their last eight games to drop out of top-four contention last Sunday, the Dragons are confident they can regain their early-season form and advance deep into the finals.
If they can achieve that, de Belin pointed out the Dragons had beaten the top four teams – Melbourne, Sydney Roosters, South Sydney and Cronulla – this season, and were capable of becoming the first team to win the Telstra Premiership from the bottom half of the eight.
“When you look at the big picture we are going to make finals and I supposed plenty of teams that haven’t been in the top four have gone on deep runs or teams have lost a lot going into the finals and had a deep run,” de Belin said.
“The ball’s in our court, how we want to handle it is up to us. We have just got to stay positive and know what we have got here in the group and the culture we have created at the Dragons.
“We have played all the top four sides and beaten them so I feel like when we are on our game we can beat anyone.”
Asked if he had a message for Dragons fans, de Belin said: “Players don’t go out there to lose. We know we have got to be better and we are accountable”.
https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2018/08/29/i-love-the-passion-the-dragons-fans-have-tariq-sims/
How sad .. I haven't heard, where are they going ?? And yet we resign Latimore ???? A club going forward !!!!Herbert - Leaving. Sele - Leaving Garrick - Leaving.
If things don't change with the young players getting a shot, there will be more heading out the door in 12 months time.
Players can't keep being told to be patient and wait. Something has to give eventually.
They see other players their same age in first grade and start to ask themselves why they aren't getting a go.
Rumoured. Not confirmed. All those types of rumours rise up when a club is in the shit as we are.How sad .. I haven't heard, where are they going ?? And yet we resign Latimore ???? A club going forward !!!!
We are currently short of big first grade quality wingers. We need to turn Macdonald around. Bring in Lomax and Herbert, play Lomax at fullback, Herbert at left centre, Lafai at right centre.
We are currently short of big first grade quality wingers. We need to turn Macdonald around. Bring in Lomax and Herbert, play Lomax at fullback, Herbert at left centre, Lafai at right centre.
yep Im sorry to insult frogs Im sure they do a much better job at coaching this team, at least theyd know the value of giving burnt out players restsFroghead.....
ONYA Tariq and Jack!! 2 who TRULY get it!!
DRAGONS
I love the passion the Dragons fans have: Tariq Sims
Author
Brad Walter Senior Reporter
Timestamp
Wed 29 Aug 2018, 08:01 AM
Dragons players have urged disgruntled supporters to get behind them as they aim to become the first team to win the NRL premiership from outside the top four.
Angry St George Illawarra supporters gathered around the tunnel at Jubilee Oval after last Sunday’s 38-0 loss to Canterbury to let the players know in no uncertain terms how they felt, and one fan later posted footage of him burning his jersey on social media.
Prop James Graham had a Dragons scarf thrown at him and other players needed to be dissuaded from responding to the abuse, which was so vitriolic at times that police felt the need to intervene.
While Tariq Sims and Jack de Belin said throwing things at players was unacceptable, they admitted the fans had a right to be unhappy with such a performance on the eve of the finals.
“We are in the top eight but to be honest I can see where they are coming from,” Sims said. “Memberships and tickets aren’t cheap so to hand over their hard-earned cash and be let down like that, I would be pretty filthy myself.”
Dragons remain stoic despite upset fans
De Belin described the performance as “embarrassing” and said St George Illawarra fans deserved better.
“It was hard but at the same time they are very passionate, the Dragons fans, so when you are winning they are right behind you and when you are losing they can kind of turn on you,” de Belin said.
“We hold ourselves accountable, we know it wasn’t good enough and the fans were quick to remind us that it wasn’t good enough as well.”
Sims also praised the passion of St George Illawarra fans and said their support could lift the team during the finals.
“I love the passion that St George Illawarra fans have, they turn out in droves and they travel and they pack out the hill, and carry their banners and that is just something that as a player really inspires me,” he said.
Dragons fans vented their anger after the loss to the Bulldogs. Nathan Hopkins/NRL Photos
“As a player, with fans so passionate that they’re screaming, they’re cheering and they’re crying, I think something about that really inspires me to want to go out there and satisfy them, and make them proud of myself and the club in general.”
Despite winning just two of their last eight games to drop out of top-four contention last Sunday, the Dragons are confident they can regain their early-season form and advance deep into the finals.
If they can achieve that, de Belin pointed out the Dragons had beaten the top four teams – Melbourne, Sydney Roosters, South Sydney and Cronulla – this season, and were capable of becoming the first team to win the Telstra Premiership from the bottom half of the eight.
“When you look at the big picture we are going to make finals and I supposed plenty of teams that haven’t been in the top four have gone on deep runs or teams have lost a lot going into the finals and had a deep run,” de Belin said.
“The ball’s in our court, how we want to handle it is up to us. We have just got to stay positive and know what we have got here in the group and the culture we have created at the Dragons.
“We have played all the top four sides and beaten them so I feel like when we are on our game we can beat anyone.”
Asked if he had a message for Dragons fans, de Belin said: “Players don’t go out there to lose. We know we have got to be better and we are accountable”.
https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2018/08/29/i-love-the-passion-the-dragons-fans-have-tariq-sims/
You know Mary could not pick Aitken or Lafai if Millward did not extend their contracts.2019
get rid of Nene, Aitken, Lafai for starters and move Widdop to accomodate Field
for any defensive leaks early on well always out score any team, and defence will come its already starting to, but no Old Froghead will never drop Aitken even though hes the worst 'centre' in the comp, nor drop Nene whos the slackest winger nor drop Lafai whos not a first grader aswell. thats why Ol Froghead MUST go....
Widdop
Dufty/Saab
Lomax
Mann
Sailor/Perriera
Field
Hunt
lawn bowls is coolI have always we need 2 strike backs .... i was prepared to live with Aitken as his defence once upon a time was rock solid (don't know what the hell happened since) but we needed and still need a strike centre ... thats not LAFAI and now Aitken can go as well !!!! Lomax looks and sounds like he might have the goods but due to our MAGNIFICENT coach and development program (NOT) he's had no game time and might have to start next year cause right now he is on a hiding to nothing (coming in to a team playing out of form, no confidence and beaten) what can he possibly do i ask ??? furthermore knowing our innovative and experimenting coach (again NOT) once Aitken is fit he will be straight back in (somebody please snap that hamstring please please)
Herbert - No Point unfortunately due to lack of game time (in a poorly playing team i might add) is leaving
McDonald - Nothing to say ... i can't believe people on here are talking about playing him in the centre's ?? Seriously ??? He's the laziest player on the paddock, No use for him send him back to Tweed Seagulls or wherever.
So in conclusion as long as McGregor is there our juniors won't get the chance to prove themselves and shine so our strategy should be to buy 2 top flight backs - centre, winger and or fullback !!!
And yet we let Herbert and Garrick leave as well as LAM and Sele (probably more Juniors will follow) but wait .... we resign Latimore and keep McGregor !!!
OVER AND OUT im off to support Mounties (my local team) and start following A League or Lawn Bowls cause im really getting over our coaching staff and boards total incompetence !!!!
Given the cloud of stagnation that hangs over us, just finding some form leading into the finals would be paramount.So what are we trying to achieve this weekend?
We sure as hell aren't trying to freshen anyone up.
- Prove the coach's methodology actually works?
- Make the already busted players more busted?
- Not finish 8th?
- Manipulate who we play week 1?
- Find form leading into the knock out stage?
If we play the same as Parra and the Dogs, Newcastle and Pearce are more than capable of doing a number on us.Teams seem pretty evenly matched on paper, except for Jai Field vs Heighington.
Mate, Dragons will win.If we play the same as Parra and the Dogs, Newcastle and Pearce are more than capable of doing a number on us.
If Ponga and Watson were playing, Newcastle would be specials this weekend.
I thought they would beat the Dogs and I'm a glass half empty sort of supporter.Mate, Dragons will win.
Win or lose they are done anyway.I thought they would beat the Dogs and I'm a glass half empty sort of supporter.
Look what happened.
In many ways, it doesn't matter if they win because if they can't bounce back against Newcastle and play for their own personal pride - then where does that leave us?
2016 was a train wreck, 2017 was an embarrassment and to be honest, I didn't think it could get worse given Hunt's arrival and filling in that big halfback hole.Win or lose they are done anyway.
They will beat an understrength knights team because of the embarrassment of last week but that will be where it finishes.
This could be the most disappointing season I can remember.
Hunts arrival is the reason why this season is the worst.2016 was a train wreck, 2017 was an embarrassment and to be honest, I didn't think it could get worse given Hunt's arrival and filling in that big halfback hole.
But alas...I was wrong.
If it leads to serious change, cloud will have a silver liningHunts arrival is the reason why this season is the worst.
He gave us so much hope. He was such a gun.
Then he lost the plot. They were right. He is a mental wreck. Its over.
So depressing. I don't even read the posts anymore on here, I just skim through and get the general gist, its all the same, doom and gloom.