Rumours and Stuff

[Noise]

I know. But was Watmough an Origin middle forward that year, or just later in his career?

He played 2 origin games in 2011 (games 2 and 3) and the highlights seem to indicate he was defending in the middle

 

[Chipmunk]

So it appears that all NRL Premiers since 2005 (more than a decade) have had BOTH a current rep level spine player AND a current rep level middle forward.

PS - Actually at the time the Dragons didn't have a current rep player in their spine in 2010. Just a middle forward, although Hornby had played the season before

 

[Wicked Witch Of The West]

We should be set anyway. Mannah played State of Origin a few times.

Timmy is our future........FFS

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Well the only year it wasn't current was 2001 who had Josh Perry who played NSW origin in 2003.

Once we start making the finals we'll get plenty of players picked in rep teams. For most rep players there's a merkinhair between them and a lot of blokes who missed out. Most of these rep middle forwards fit that category. The causal relationship is that the same thing that helps you win premierships (finals experience) is the same thing that gets you picked in rep teams over other players with similar levels of ability. Brown is already good enough for Origin and Moeroa will be by 2019.

We've got Moses and now Evans for 2018. We just need another hooker, and he doesn't even need to be a rep player. We will be a much better team next year and we are already mid table. We won't win the comp this year but we're a chance in the near future.

Unless we sack the coach and start another rebuild.

 

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

I think the reality is that you need very good to elite level players in those positions. The rep selection can sometimes be a bit 'circular'. If you figure in the last few games of the season, your players are much more of a chance of being picked for post-season rep games, partly coz they may the best in their position, but also form / match fitness has some effect.

 

[Noise]

So it appears that all NRL Premiers since 2005 (more than a decade) have had BOTH a current rep level spine player AND a current rep level middle forward.

PS - Actually at the time the Dragons didn't have a current rep player in their spine in 2010. Just a middle forward, although Hornby had played the season before

They had Darius Boyd.

 

[Noise]

Once we start making the finals

And I wonder when that will start happening?

 

[Eelementary]

The reason I've been saying we need some size up front is that, from my experience playing, a tall, wide prop can help slow down opposition's momentum; shorter props are more agile and mobile, but when big boppers on the other team wind up, it's tough to stop their momentum.

I was a Matagi-like prop (though I am talker, and played heavier than him), and my starting front row partner was about 5cm shorter than me, and heavier.

Whenever we came up against a monster pack, we really struggled to stop their momentum.

We had a dude that looked like Dave Klemmer on our bench, and when he came on, we would start to balance things out in the ruck; it wasn't that he was a great defender, but because he was so big, tall, and strong, we were able to wrestle back some momentum.

I honestly think we are lacking that at the moment, but it isn't the reason we are struggling for form.

Hell, I thought the Raiders would put 50 on us, and they only just beat us by 6 with 10 to go!

 

[Chipmunk]

They had Darius Boyd.

Yeah good pick up

 

[Noise]

Yeah good pick up

I reckon that Dragons team had the weakest spine of all premiership winning teams in the NRL era.

 

[hybrideel]

But Boyd was a rep winger at that time not a rep spine player

 

[Noise]

But Boyd was a rep winger at that time not a rep spine player

We are talking spine players who played rep football (irrespective of positions)

 

[Poupou Escobar]

And I wonder when that will start happening?

Would've happened last year but for the points penalty.

 

[Noise]

Would've happened last year but for the points penalty.

Didn't help our players making rep teams. And no answer to when we will start making finals then?

 

[Wicked Witch Of The West]

I think we should hire players based on penis size.
Nobody under 9 inches erect.
I dont think Brads got a better theory, if he has its not working.

 

[chiefy1]

What's happening ?

 

[chiefy1]

What's happening with the hooker scoop. Why has it died in the ass ??

 

[hineyrulz]

What's happening with the hooker scoop. Why has it died in the ass ??

You normally have to pay extra for that.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Didn't help our players making rep teams. And no answer to when we will start making finals then?

We're about a 50% chance this year, with a better team next year.

 

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

Just an observation.......the spine plus the middle forwards represent more than half the starting team. So, even if they were not abnormally important positions, you'd expect that the successful teams would have good players in those spots.