Round 9 vs Dogs

[Dragon David]

I think it's no surprise that we've been struggling since McGuire joined the team, In my opinion our main issue was our agility/slow forwards in defence, and McGuire has added to this problem, I think he can be a good addition but is currently used the wrong way.

Kerr and McGuire should be bench props/locks, and someone more agile (bird, fui and or hopefully JDB soon) given more game time in the pack.

As I have said in another thread, McGuire was a loser at the Cowboys (lost 3) then came to us and started playing after we beat the Eels. We have lost 3 in a row with him in our team. Is he a jinx?

 

[getsmarty]

As I have said in another thread, McGuire was a loser at the Cowboys (lost 3) then came to us and started playing after we beat the Eels. We have lost 3 in a row with him in our team. Is he a jinx?

No...the whole team ( bar a few ) are playing badly...

 

[Reddragon]

McGuire is actually one of our better players.

 

[redv13]

As I have said in another thread, McGuire was a loser at the Cowboys (lost 3) then came to us and started playing after we beat the Eels. We have lost 3 in a row with him in our team. Is he a jinx?

In his 3 games so far with us, McGuire has been in the top 2 or 3 forwards each game. Just silly nonsense being thrown up on social media. He was busting his guts out in the 2nd half vs the Tigers along with Vaughan trying to make something happen defensively

 

[Reddragon]

Totally agree with that. Those two were only forwards making a dent against the Tigers while the rest of the entire team were dropping the ball all around them.

 

[Maddragon99]

In his 3 games so far with us, McGuire has been in the top 2 or 3 forwards each game. Just silly nonsense being thrown up on social media. He was busting his guts out in the 2nd half vs the Tigers along with Vaughan trying to make something happen defensively

Remember his really strong first carry right after halftime? Then we made an error right after which lead to a try. Moose is going well he’s the least of our problems.

 

[redv13]

Remember his really strong first carry right after halftime? Then we made an error right after which lead to a try. Moose is going well he’s the least of our problems.

Vaughan and McGuire can hold their heads high. A few of the other forwards need to take a look at themselves in the mirror and pull their fingers out quick smart

 

[Maddragon99]

Vaughan and McGuire can hold their heads high. A few of the other forwards need to take a look at themselves in the mirror and pull their fingers out quick smart

Kerr in particular has been terrible

 

[redv13]

Kerr in particular has been terrible

He’s definitely 1

 

[Dragonslayer]

He’s definitely 1

I think Kerr is trying and maybe trying too hard, however, I think that experiment should be closed down and he moved bavk to the middle.

One is Sims, a good game followed by several average ones, and average is being nice.
Another is Alvaro who is starting to plod a bit too much for my liking.

The rest are ok. Fui is really come slive this year, Blocka doing ok and even Ellis has some good moments. Have to remember Ellis is only 24, younger than Kerr and Poasa.

 

[redv13]

I think Kerr is trying and maybe trying too hard, however, I think that experiment should be closed down and he moved bavk to the middle.

One is Sims, a good game followed by several average ones, and average is being nice.
Another is Alvaro who is starting to plod a bit too much for my liking.

The rest are ok. Fui is really come slive this year, Blocka doing ok and even Ellis has some good moments. Have to remember Ellis is only 24, younger than Kerr and Poasa.

Fui has been fine this year, definite step up from last year. Sims I’m willing to stick with.
My issues up front are:
Kerr, Alvaro, Ellis and to a lesser point Burns. Burns hasn’t shown me anything to get excited about and has butchered a certain try by not passing in the last 2 games. Has zero impact with ball.
Faamausili has been out for a few weeks but he gets another chance this week, needs to step up and step up quickly.

Vaughan, McGuire, Lawrie, Fuimaono are doing their job every week and trying their guts out. Sims too except for last week but you can see he’s trying.

 

[BLM01]

St George Illawarra face season-defining six-game stretch

• Chris Boulous

Local Sport

Dejected: St George Illawarra play Canterbury on Sunday (4pm) at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium. Picture: Getty Images
St George Illawarra are at the crossroads after eight rounds of the NRL.

Are they the team that started with four wins in their opening five games who based their game around commitment and doing the little things right?

Or are they the team that slumped to their third loss in a row on Sunday against the Wests Tigers who struggled to make metres with ball in hand and looked disjointed in attack?

The answer will come in a season-defining six-game stretch starting against the Bulldogs on Sunday.

Anthony Griffin's team play the Bulldogs, Storm, Sharks, Wests Tigers, Broncos and Bulldogs.

On their best form, they will start favourite in five of those matches and be in good shape for the finals if they can win four or five of those games.


https://www.theleader.com.au/story/7234809/at-the-crossroads/?cs=1633

Wish the media would POQ....with their favouritism 5 out of 6.
Go analyse someone else...stop putting the jinx on us
They did it with the Tigers bashing through last week
That is a sort of stat Mary would talk about at a presser
I still remember halfway through 2011 when we were leading the comp the TAB?? offering to pay out on all bets for us to win the minor premiership as we were unbackable favourites supposedly
Look what happended from there..we limped into 5th.
See if they do the same for Penrith

 

[thebigredv]

Fui has been fine this year, definite step up from last year. Sims I’m willing to stick with.
My issues up front are:
Kerr, Alvaro, Ellis and to a lesser point Burns. Burns hasn’t shown me anything to get excited about and has butchered a certain try by not passing in the last 2 games. Has zero impact with ball.
Faamausili has been out for a few weeks but he gets another chance this week, needs to step up and step up quickly.

Vaughan, McGuire, Lawrie, Fuimaono are doing their job every week and trying their guts out. Sims too except for last week but you can see he’s trying.

Faamausili was treated harshly. With ball in hand he has looked as threatening as any forward. He couldn't stop a big man near the line and suddenly became the scapegoat.

Alvaro, Burns and Ellis would probably go alright at their previous club if they were back there now because these types of fringe first graders can coast on the work on a well oiled machine. But at the Dragons they have a greater workload which they just can't handle.

Kerr just needs another spell in reserves. We've seen his potential but he just can't get it together and his errors are proving costly. His career is at a crossroads. I don't know his best position but at the moment it's left right out.

 

[redv13]

Faamausili was treated harshly. With ball in hand he has looked as threatening as any forward. He couldn't stop a big man near the line and suddenly became the scapegoat.

Alvaro, Burns and Ellis would probably go alright at their previous club if they were back there now because these types of fringe first graders can coast on the work on a well oiled machine. But at the Dragons they have a greater workload which they just can't handle.

Kerr just needs another spell in reserves. We've seen his potential but he just can't get it together and his errors are proving costly. His career is at a crossroads. I don't know his best position but at the moment it's left right out.

Faamausili was going well then injured his shoulder when we played Newy. Hopefully he brings his A game back, some very solid runs in the first month. Good solid bench player to come on after 25-30 mins to rip in and lift the intensity

 

[Dragonslayer]

Faama has had 1 game back in reserve grade last weekend, his stats weren't inspiring imo.

Played 59 mins
11 runs 98m
29 pcm
1 TB
1 offload
89.7% TE
26 Tackles
3 missed tackles
2 errors
1 handling error

 

[thebigredv]

Faamausili was going well then injured his shoulder when we played Newy. Hopefully he brings his A game back, some very solid runs in the first month. Good solid bench player to come on after 25-30 mins to rip in and lift the intensity

Didn't know about the shoulder. Makes more sense now.

 

[redv13]

Faama has had 1 game back in reserve grade last weekend, his stats weren't inspiring imo.

Played 59 mins
11 runs 98m
29 pcm
1 TB
1 offload
89.7% TE
26 Tackles
3 missed tackles
2 errors
1 handling error

Have faith, he’ll come good. Need him on the bench. Better numbers than both Alvaro and Ellis. Adds more grunt than those 2 as well

 

[redv13]

I’d like to think that if our forwards fire up we should belt the dogs by plenty. Feed Kerr and Sims some raw steak b4 kick off, the pack together need to send a message that were far from done for 2021. Belt the bullgrubs back to Belmore

 

[Lindsay Moss]

Without really analysing our squad I guess it will be both Feagai Bros, Bird and maybe Ford, Burns or Fuimaono at centre. A major surprise would be Amone maybe getting a run if they get approval. On a positive note by the end of this injury run we should have a better idea of our best backline and future makeup of the side. I reckon it will be 1.Dufty 2.Feagai 3.Bird 4.Burns 5.Feagai. It’s not how I’d go.

It's time to give the young guys a go in the right positions not put forwards in the backs give them a chance and see how they go.

 

[Lindsay Moss]

Our backline dilemma is as follows:

Clune: fit.
Hunt: fit: 1 game back from injury.
Williame: injured
Ramsey: injured (tbc)
Norman: fit
Bird: fit
Sullivan: injured
Periera: suspended
Amone: fit - DS player
Mat F: fit: 1 game back from injury
Dufty: fit
Max F: fit
Ravalawa: suspended
SSE: fit - DS player
Sloan: fit - DS player
Lomax: injured

5 fully fit players ( from top 30 squad)
2 with 1 game back from serious injury
4 injured (including Ramsey)
2 suspended
3 DS players

As far as I know, and I could be way off, but to get exemption for a DS player there must no-one available from the top 30 for that position. Ie: Amone cant get exemption because we have Clune available.

SSE is our only specialist left side player available, Mat F can play left side as can Norman. So, thats 1 pkayer in below ave form, 1 player 1game back from injury and 1 player from the DS.

If we are unfortunate to cop another injury or 2 thenbwe are really going to struggle against the Storm even though Rava will be back

We play the cards that we are dealt it's all experience in the long run.