Round 3 v Warriors

[Dragon David]

I've been watching the game between the Cowboys and Titans on Kayo Sports. The game is quick, similar to the nines games which the Cowboys won this year. I think if our guys play like they did in the nines comp, we should be hard to beat against the Warriors. We lost Korbin Sims and Matt Dufty in that final match against the Cowboys.

 

[Dragonslayer]

After watching the first 3 games back with the new rules etc, it is evident that teams need to have a second hooker on the bench.

Cam is a very good hooker, but first game back after 2 serious injuries and now add the speed of the game, I fear we are looking at a very weary #9 by the 60th minute or so. Looking at our bench, who can play hooker, mmm that would be no-one. If the Warriors get a sniff then it could get ugly for us.

Luke or Brittain should have been in the 21 named players, but alas, neither. Our only solution for this game is to drop out Aitken and promote Clune to the 17. This would allow, at the very least, that Hunt could assume the hooking role and Clune come on as the half.

Cam to play say 30 mins to start, move Hunt to hooker for 10 mins prior half time and bring on Clune. Extend this until the 60th minute then bring Cam back on with either Hunt reverting back to half or coming off altogether. Of course this may depend on how Clune is handling the game.

I think this would add better balance, at least for this game.

 

[This Year?]

After watching the first 3 games back with the new rules etc, it is evident that teams need to have a second hooker on the bench.

Cam is a very good hooker, but first game back after 2 serious injuries and now add the speed of the game, I fear we are looking at a very weary #9 by the 60th minute or so. Looking at our bench, who can play hooker, mmm that would be no-one. If the Warriors get a sniff then it could get ugly for us.

Luke or Brittain should have been in the 21 named players, but alas, neither. Our only solution for this game is to drop out Aitken and promote Clune to the 17. This would allow, at the very least, that Hunt could assume the hooking role and Clune come on as the half.

Cam to play say 30 mins to start, move Hunt to hooker for 10 mins prior half time and bring on Clune. Extend this until the 60th minute then bring Cam back on with either Hunt reverting back to half or coming off altogether. Of course this may depend on how Clune is handling the game.

I think this would add better balance, at least for this game.

I like this idea. Eases Clune into the game. Sadly our f**kwit coach can't do things that even casual fans could think of doing. Innovation is something this team never does under Mary. Soul destroying.

 

[Dragon David]

After watching the first 3 games back with the new rules etc, it is evident that teams need to have a second hooker on the bench.

Cam is a very good hooker, but first game back after 2 serious injuries and now add the speed of the game, I fear we are looking at a very weary #9 by the 60th minute or so. Looking at our bench, who can play hooker, mmm that would be no-one. If the Warriors get a sniff then it could get ugly for us.

Luke or Brittain should have been in the 21 named players, but alas, neither. Our only solution for this game is to drop out Aitken and promote Clune to the 17. This would allow, at the very least, that Hunt could assume the hooking role and Clune come on as the half.

Cam to play say 30 mins to start, move Hunt to hooker for 10 mins prior half time and bring on Clune. Extend this until the 60th minute then bring Cam back on with either Hunt reverting back to half or coming off altogether. Of course this may depend on how Clune is handling the game.

I think this would add better balance, at least for this game.

I honestly think that we need Clune on the bench for the reasons you have said Dragonslayer. We have to have more possession and less handling errors in the game. Backing up is the key in attack so Dufty needs to be close to the action in most of our attacking raids so he can get to run the ball more.

Our forwards need to maintain stamina and the bench has got to be used wisely.

 

[hewi]

From Fox Sports

Without the luxury of an extra hooker option on the bench following the departure of Andrew McCullough, Brisbane lacked spark around the middle as the game wore on.

I wonder if it will bite us this afternoon?

 

[Como Connection]

I reckon Mary's move is Hunt to hooker, Lomax to 6 and EA in.
CC

 

[blacksafake]

I reckon Mary's move is Hunt to hooker, Lomax to 6 and EA in.
CC

Interesting, can’t really poo poo it.

 

[BLM01]

Standard muppet Mcflop. Drops the 2 young backrowers with big motors that could give us a big chance defensively and both have big minutes in them and instead he will flog a 34 year old ( who has a heart like phar Lap ) Lawrie who is a slug and heaven help us his love child mr can’t pass ‍

Don’t discount The 18th or 19th man coming in for Aitken

 

[getsmarty]

Interesting, can’t really poo poo it.

Usually agree with you blacksafake , except for the fact that Lomax is not a 6.... if this occurs , the poor kid would have played 6 different positions under mcGregor and people wonder why he hasn't had an impact in the top grade...

Wouldn't surprise me...Who knows what idiotic idea will come into play in terms of selections.

Why not Clune 17 or another Forward ? Aitken at 17 offers zero............

 

[jeffdragon]

Who knows what we will dish out today.
The 3 games so far have been decided by +13.
It would be typical saints if we see anything other than a comfortable win.
Which for us rarely happens.

 

[Dragon David]

Who knows what we will dish out today.
The 3 games so far have been decided by +13.
It would be typical saints if we see anything other than a comfortable win.
Which for us rarely happens.

Hopefully our team will be fitter to run the Warriors ragged. Like all the games we have had in this 3rd round it should be fast. Our play the balls need to be quick and crisp to the receivers and our guys need to do a lot of hard running onto the balls passed to them. Lomax with his swerve and darts will help us score a few on his side whilst I am sure Williame will make several breaks to result in tries. Flanno and Young hopefully will have the guys ready to defend with Cam leading the way.

I know all of this is wishful thinking and I know that our unwanted head coach has his ideas already set for the day's game, hopefully he heeds the advice given to him by Flanno and that at the end of the game he shows decency in thanking the players and his assistants in the presser following our win today.

 

[Old Timer]

In recent seasons we have had a "let them come to us" type defence at major parts of the game.

Other teams managed to get a "role on" effect when that happens and we have conceded easy ground to them and often leaked points especially just before and after half time.

Any sign of that today will see the natural physical strength of the Warriors punch gaping holes in and around our ruck and that can be magnified significantly as we have several penalty magnets in our team.

Whilst the Warriors certainly have their fair share of issues the new format of the game and looseness created by fatigue to all sides will actually be of some benefit to them as they already tend to suffer from it, so any sign of it in the opposition has to be a plus for them.

A bit like Fiji in the rugby 7's where they are for more dominant than in the highly structured 15 man game.

If we show fatigue and get then get the bench rotation wrong this could be a very difficult game to win.

If Graham starts hopefully he gets subbed out as I cannot see any tangible benefit in him being there let alone using up 2 interchanges.

 

[hazzbeen]

Hopefully our team will be fitter to run the Warriors ragged. Like all the games we have had in this 3rd round it should be fast. Our play the balls need to be quick and crisp to the receivers and our guys need to do a lot of hard running onto the balls passed to them. Lomax with his swerve and darts will help us score a few on his side whilst I am sure Williame will make several breaks to result in tries. Flanno and Young hopefully will have the guys ready to defend with Cam leading the way.

I know all of this is wishful thinking and I know that our unwanted head coach has his ideas already set for the day's game, hopefully he heeds the advice given to him by Flanno and that at the end of the game he shows decency in thanking the players and his assistants in the presser following our win today.

Dont like it the game is setup up for a warriors win , after super coach has put everyone on notice except himself ..... To be honest really don't care if we get beaten , if we do l can see all hell breaking out ...... the board the CEO won't know where to run .......

 

[BLM01]

Dont like it the game is setup up for a warriors win , after super coach has put everyone on notice except himself ..... To be honest really don't care if we get beaten , if we do l can see all hell breaking out ...... the board the CEO won't know where to run .......

Warriors have had the wood on us lately..especially when we are roaring favourites and god forbid tend to show any complacency

 

[BLM01]

From Fox Sports

Without the luxury of an extra hooker option on the bench following the departure of Andrew McCullough, Brisbane lacked spark around the middle as the game wore on.

I wonder if it will bite us this afternoon?

I call that BS..McCullogh has lost his spark anyway that is why they let him go
Brisbane lack sparked as nothing was created by their halves in combination with their fullback....Croft tried..Milford unsighted.
Isaako wont last at fullback as is out of form IMO.
The other problem is Parra had too much ball..Bris hooker had to make 60 odd tackles..all their other forwrads had to make plenty.

 

[Dragonslayer]

In recent seasons we have had a "let them come to us" type defence at major parts of the game.

Other teams managed to get a "role on" effect when that happens and we have conceded easy ground to them and often leaked points especially just before and after half time.

Any sign of that today will see the natural physical strength of the Warriors punch gaping holes in and around our ruck and that can be magnified significantly as we have several penalty magnets in our team.

Whilst the Warriors certainly have their fair share of issues the new format of the game and looseness created by fatigue to all sides will actually be of some benefit to them as they already tend to suffer from it, so any sign of it in the opposition has to be a plus for them.

A bit like Fiji in the rugby 7's where they are for more dominant than in the highly structured 15 man game.

If we show fatigue and get then get the bench rotation wrong this could be a very difficult game to win.

If Graham starts hopefully he gets subbed out as I cannot see any tangible benefit in him being there let alone using up 2 interchanges.

I think moving Graham to lock was/is a veiled attempt by Mc85 to 'cover' Graham and keep out of the intial impacts. Given the speed of the games so far played, Graham will he gassed very quickly, but, who replaces him at lock? Of course there are several 'ways' to cover it like move Friz in and put Fui into edge, or direct Fui for Graham swap etc.

The overall point is why does Graham have to start? Surely, if he needs to play at all, coming from the bench would be more beneficial.

Unfortunately, our genius coach has included Aitken as the 4th bench player, who, in the scheme of things, is a waste of a position and we've already indicated the hooker situation as a need.

I suppose we'll know at 2pm what inspirational leadership decision our 'coach' will come up with.

 

[RedVDave]

I reckon Mary's move is Hunt to hooker, Lomax to 6 and EA in.
CC

That would imply he has a game plan so I very much doubt this will be the case.

 

[redv13]

That would imply he has a game plan so I very much doubt this will be the case.

Can we just go Clune to 17. Much easier you bald headed muppet, then you have options galore for 6,7,9,13 etc.

 

[blacksafake]

Usually agree with you blacksafake , except for the fact that Lomax is not a 6.... if this occurs , the poor kid would have played 6 different positions under mcGregor and people wonder why he hasn't had an impact in the top grade...

Wouldn't surprise me...Who knows what idiotic idea will come into play in terms of selections.

Why not Clune 17 or another Forward ? Aitken at 17 offers zero............

Oh don’t worry Smarty I’m with you.
I was probably more thinking the dummy half situation. I’d actually like to see Brittain there on the bench. Agree wholeheartedly re Zac. He needs to be able to have a real good crack at centre.

 

[jeffdragon]

NRL app
Dragons prepare to win ugly
Isn't that always is the case if we win.
I don't like to hear that.