Round 8 vs Eels

[getsmarty]

To me the players seem to be lacking in energy, even in the first half when we were in front 14-0. In the second half line speed became non existent and there seemed to be no structure in defence or attack. To me there seemed to be no 'plan'.

More like "No Idea "..happens every time we fall a little behind in the arm wrestle...no change in "tactics"

 

[Old Timer]

For what it's worth

1. Our forwards make on average 40m in 5 tackles and opposition teams make more than that in general terms and when we get tired them make double that. Our forwards are not as good as people think they are.
2. We end up with Latimore, Leilua and Graham all on at the one time and they are defensively poor and even worse when they are tired.
3. Ben Hunt is over rated and has a shit kicking game. The one to Gutherson today and the 1 to Tommy Turbo a while back just show bad his bombs really are.
4. Our best attack is by individual incidents and we have nothing in respect of set moves or 2nd phase play.
5. We have a very slow side and hold no real terror for the opposition teams. The good sides know they can come from behind to get us.
6. We are completely clueless and whitless as an organisation.
7. A win or two will appease so many in here it will be sickening and despite these occurrences like today happening on a regular basis, year in year out some fans will be conned into thinking it is all ok.

 

[Blood Shot Eyes]

To me the players seem to be lacking in energy, even in the first half when we were in front 14-0. In the second half line speed became non existent and there seemed to be no structure in defence or attack. To me there seemed to be no 'plan'.

10 day turn around...not sure if they can blame energy levels in the first half...but agree no structure in defence and attack and certainly no plan B....Friz and Norman being off didnt help..but imo no excuse to the final score blowout

 

[True_Believer]

Take your point mate but does it really matter in the short/long term...if imo one bloke is just not producing (Latimore) then surely give someone else a shot....seriously what have we got to lose...with experienced players like Sims, Friz, McInnes around them I dont see a problem...its not that I dont like Lats its just that he brings very little enthusiasm yo the side when he comes on. anyjow just my observation

Yeah not denying the Lats thing - Just saying we will now have pretty much 3/4 of the CC team playing. To me it's too many in the team.

 

[getsmarty]

Dragons press conference

https://www.foxsports.com.au/video/league/nrl/press-conferences/dragons-press-conference!729411

Yep..he constantly talks about "Our Standards "....what winning 1 finals game in 5 1/2 years......

"If I had the answer it wouldn't happen again "....REALLY

 

[Stan Gorton 2511]

For what it's worth

1. Our forwards make on average 40m in 5 tackles and opposition teams make more than that in general terms and when we get tired them make double that. Our forwards are not as good as people think they are.
2. We end up with Latimore, Leilua and Graham all on at the one time and they are defensively poor and even worse when they are tired.
3. Ben Hunt is over rated and has a shit kicking game. The one to Gutherson today and the 1 to Tommy Turbo a while back just show bad his bombs really are.
4. Our best attack is by individual incidents and we have nothing in respect of set moves or 2nd phase play.
5. We have a very slow side and hold no real terror for the opposition teams. The good sides know they can come from behind to get us.
6. We are completely clueless and whitless as an organisation.
7. A win or two will appease so many in here it will be sickening and despite these occurrences like today happening on a regular basis, year in year out some fans will be conned into thinking it is all ok.

Disagree re Hunt I know you have a bent against him but he was good today you target one kick that unluckily went dead and ignore the other kicks he did that pinned them down
Out forwards are good but losing Tyson for most of the game and leaving Latimore on didn’t help
Look at the loss of Norman and the amount of possession we had in the second half as balanced view rather than sinking the boot in

 

[Mickthedragon]

The rot started with Latimores pathetic attempt on Gutherson from marker.
He is simply not NRL standard. Has to go, surely there is someone better available. I don’t watch lower grades.
I look at the young kiwi bloke that has been coming on for the Roosters, then I see Latimore

Latimore should of been dropped weeks ago but you are waisting your breath. Mary knows best, it seems. He see's something in him that nobody else can.

 

[Saint_JimmyG]

To me the players seem to be lacking in energy, even in the first half when we were in front 14-0. In the second half line speed became non existent and there seemed to be no structure in defence or attack. To me there seemed to be no 'plan'.

Actually, line speed has been non existent all season.

 

[Dennis Papaioannou]

People love to simplify everything to one problem: "MARY".

Its stupid.

Honesty, 14-0 we were flying. We let them back in.

We looked sharp in that first 35mins. Parra did look to have much in attack,

Parra rely A LOT on momentum. We gave it to them.

But objectively speaking. What percentage of the responsibility lies with the coach in your eyes.??
10%, 50%, 80%?.
It's simplified when one man selects the team, provides the game plan and half time direction and is running messages out to his troops all throughout the game.

 

[Saint_JimmyG]

Just an observation: are Saints the no 1. side to concede offloads from the opposition?

Again today, the failure to simply wrap up the ball carrier was horrific.

 

[The Friz]

Actually, line speed has been non existent all season.

The Mahoney try was obviously Leilua being lazy on the line. If you noticed the play before, the players did not move up, just stayed on the line and waited for them. Parra play the ball on our line and bingo, dummy half falls over. The whole set was just lazy.

 

[Blood Shot Eyes]

Lomax to reserve grade. Ok so Lafai our kicker and Aitken back in? It appears we need to make a decision between a green centre and a clueless one.

Yeah I wonder how Lomax is supposed to change colour playing in reserve grade....he made a few errors which one would expect from one so young but I thought he went ok for basically his first full run in ones

 

[Mickthedragon]

Lomax needs time in reserve grade playing against men.

He is way too green for FG.

Way too Green.

Problem is, Aitkens had a few years in FG and gives us very little as well.
I would rather give him a few games and some time to settle, see where it goes from there. Its a tough one cause neither has done enough to cement their spot.

 

[Tuddy]

Ravalawa....you've got to be kidding if you think he deserves another chance.

Latimore.....the only time I noticed him was when he was jogging behind Gutherson as he was heading for the try line.

Both have got to go.

I'd particularly like to see Pearson get a shot and I'm looking forward to seeing what Field can offer as well.

All in all though, I've got to say I'm surprised we are doing as well as we are given the players missing and the coach we've been lumped with.

I havent given up on us yet. Those boys have got a tonne of heart.

 

[LINESPEED]

It's so bizarre that somehow the players get out of this scott free for some fans. I don't like Mary, but some of the things raised in this forum defy belief.

Yeah poor ball retention, leadership & linespeed

Loved that try though

Lack of player rotation long term meant we are rendered exposed when hit by injuries?

Again it’ll be forced changes that’ll ultimately make us stronger later in the year - because we’ll have a more NRL experienced depth.

So Jai to 5/8, Timm/Kerr for Plod or Tyson for starters

It’s also called form FFS

If Waterboy goes Allgood & Nichols -
& keeps Plod
we’re fuc*ed

& the wrath of the Forum will descend on him

 

[Blood Shot Eyes]

The Mahoney try was obviously Leilua being lazy on the line. If you noticed the play before, the players did not move up, just stayed on the line and waited for them. Parra play the ball on our line and bingo, dummy half falls over. The whole set was just lazy.

Yep spot on...I called it seconds before it happened...yawning gap from the marker defence line which really pissed me off especially that close to half time...turned the whole nature of the game

 

[Dennis Papaioannou]

We were outplaying them in the first half - wouldn't you expect them to come back on in the second half and do more of the same?

But that's the point.
Good teams can play 80 minutes, repel swings in game momentum and then claim the 2 competition points.
Second half was not just a momentum swing against us. It was a capitulation.
Embarrassing and not worthy of our club jumper and heritage as a football club.
It's one of the reasons I don't like McGregor.
I have seen too many games like today where we get overrun without a whimper.
Losing is not the end of the world if you go down fighting.
No one in our team is even in the slightest bit worried about being dropped next week.

 

[hazzbeen]

For what it's worth

1. Our forwards make on average 40m in 5 tackles and opposition teams make more than that in general terms and when we get tired them make double that. Our forwards are not as good as people think they are.
2. We end up with Latimore, Leilua and Graham all on at the one time and they are defensively poor and even worse when they are tired.
3. Ben Hunt is over rated and has a shit kicking game. The one to Gutherson today and the 1 to Tommy Turbo a while back just show bad his bombs really are.
4. Our best attack is by individual incidents and we have nothing in respect of set moves or 2nd phase play.
5. We have a very slow side and hold no real terror for the opposition teams. The good sides know they can come from behind to get us.
6. We are completely clueless and whitless as an organisation.
7. A win or two will appease so many in here it will be sickening and despite these occurrences like today happening on a regular basis, year in year out some fans will be conned into thinking it is all ok.

Exactly this , they were going along ok , had a lot of field position , scored point but I was waiting for it . Soon as Parra scored 1 and got more ball , I for one wasn't surprised. It happens most times when they look comfortable . Anyway thats Dragons Footy as they call it.....

 

[Dennis Papaioannou]

The usual stuff on here about Mary but let’s face it incomplete sets , poor defensive reads , poor discipline ,horrible game management, terrible kicking comes down to the responsibility of the players... As a man they need to own today’s 2nd half performance... I’m expecting them to really show up next week and hammer the warriors ...

It is just fanciful to suggest that it all comes down to the players.
It's called responsibility and accountability.
Of course the players should be accountable as well but the lion's share of the responsibility has to fall on the coach's shoulders.
Defence, discipline, game management are all directly influenced by the coach.
At the end of the day, the coach can also drop players for non performance.
Players not pulling their weight will play again next week if they get selected.
So even here, the coach's influence is significant.
McGregor is not only responsible but he is also culpable.

 

[Dennis Papaioannou]

The usual stuff on here about Mary but let’s face it incomplete sets , poor defensive reads , poor discipline ,horrible game management, terrible kicking comes down to the responsibility of the players... As a man they need to own today’s 2nd half performance... I’m expecting them to really show up next week and hammer the warriors ...

It is just fanciful to suggest that it all comes down to the players.
It's called responsibility and accountability.
Of course the players should be accountable as well but the lion's share of the responsibility has to fall on the coach's shoulders.
Defence, discipline, game management are all directly influenced by the coach.
At the end of the day, the coach can also drop players for non performance.
Players not pulling their weight will play again next week if they get selected.
So even here, the coach's influence is significant.
McGregor is not only responsible but he is also culpable.