Rumours and Stuff

[Joshuatheeel]

You reckon?

You reckon our completely different backline to the one you listed looked better than their completely different backline to the one you compared our completely different completely different backline to?

It's such a rubbish comparison. They had genuine plod in Dugan and way over the hill Nightingale (who has finally been dropped) in the backs last year, they had Josh fking McCrone playing 20 games at halfback. Euan Aitken had yet to cement his spot, they went through a few different fullbacks and centres and Dufty only played 7 games. Reserve graders like Taane Milne and Kalifa Fai Fai Loa played like 15 games between them.

We had the greatest winger of all time in our backline. Gutherson played a hell of a lot more 'fit' games. Jennings was in good form and French was fit and firing.

Of course we were better last year. That means jack all when comparing a potential future backline to the current Dragons backline. Theirs wins.

Yes I do reckon!!

 

[Bazal]

^^^^^^^^^ What he said.

You're not gonna agree with this but

I don't reckon our pack is THAT far off theirs (next year). Well, our starting pack anyway.

Looking at a likely starting pack for both sides based on what they have signed up now....

8-Paulo
10-Alvaro
11-Ma'u
12-Moeroa
13-Brown

8-Graham
10-Vaughan
11-Frizzell
12-Sims
13-De Belin

I think, straight off the bat, that Brown and De Belin are quite even. Similar style players, even.

Paulo is a better attacking prop than Vaughan, although his work rate is lower especially in defence and that's the major difference. Personally I'd say Vaughan edges it because of his defence and his consistently high work rate, but we did need an attacking prop and Paulo is certainly that

I rate Alvaro over Graham all day as it stands. Graham is obviously on the slide, he's making fewer metres, fewer tackle busts, much fewer tackles when compared to Alvaro and he's playing a lot fewer minutes than he was. Alvaro has had a stormer of a year, easily our best player IMO and again they are similar style players.

I'd say now that Ma'u has found his mojo again, he and Frizzell are pretty equal all things considered. Tougher to compare because they are different style players; Frizzell is a bash and barge type and there's no doubt he's stronger player, but I also think Ma'u is a far smarter player. I think Ma'u hits a hole better and is better at getting his outside man into space. Statistically this season Ma'u beats him in every category, which actually surprised me. Obviously that's not the whole story and I'd say they are reasonably equal players.

Right now, Sims beats Tepai easy.

The big difference is the one not listed. Their hooker smacks ours and that makes a huge difference. That being said I think McInness hasn't been as good as he was at the start of the year and I still reckon he's more likely to be a plodder who's had a purple patch than a star.

Of course, their bench may beat ours, but with signings as they are it's hard to say. They've lost Ah Mau who is massive off the bench for them, while we really only have a couple of bench forwards on the books at the moment. So we can't really compare that yet.

Still, I don't reckon the difference is as huge as people seem to think.

 

[hineyrulz]

You're not gonna agree with this but

I don't reckon our pack is THAT far off theirs (next year). Well, our starting pack anyway.

Looking at a likely starting pack for both sides based on what they have signed up now....

8-Paulo
10-Alvaro
11-Ma'u
12-Moeroa
13-Brown

8-Graham
10-Vaughan
11-Frizzell
12-Sims
13-De Belin

I think, straight off the bat, that Brown and De Belin are quite even. Similar style players, even.

Paulo is a better attacking prop than Vaughan, although his work rate is lower especially in defence and that's the major difference. Personally I'd say Vaughan edges it because of his defence and his consistently high work rate, but we did need an attacking prop and Paulo is certainly that

I rate Alvaro over Graham all day as it stands. Graham is obviously on the slide, he's making fewer metres, fewer tackle busts, much fewer tackles when compared to Alvaro and he's playing a lot fewer minutes than he was. Alvaro has had a stormer of a year, easily our best player IMO and again they are similar style players.

I'd say now that Ma'u has found his mojo again, he and Frizzell are pretty equal all things considered. Tougher to compare because they are different style players; Frizzell is a bash and barge type and there's no doubt he's stronger player, but I also think Ma'u is a far smarter player. I think Ma'u hits a hole better and is better at getting his outside man into space. Statistically this season Ma'u beats him in every category, which actually surprised me. Obviously that's not the whole story and I'd say they are reasonably equal players.

Right now, Sims beats Tepai easy.

The big difference is the one not listed. Their hooker smacks ours and that makes a huge difference. That being said I think McInness hasn't been as good as he was at the start of the year and I still reckon he's more likely to be a plodder who's had a purple patch than a star.

Of course, their bench may beat ours, but with signings as they are it's hard to say. They've lost Ah Mau who is massive off the bench for them, while we really only have a couple of bench forwards on the books at the moment. So we can't really compare that yet.

Still, I don't reckon the difference is as huge as people seem to think.

We sign another quality middle forward and we get so much closer, sure we have some good forwards next year but our depth is poor. Notice you didn't mention our super signing in Kane Evans

 

[Bazal]

We sign another quality middle forward and we get so much closer, sure we have some good forwards next year but our depth is poor. Notice you didn't mention our super signing in Kane Evans

Well I presume he'll be on the bench anyway, so like I said it's hard to compare when we basically have Mannah, potentially Evans after a full pre-season, and maybe but probably not Lane with a bunch of guys off contract and some young guys who may come into consideration (Stone, Kaufusi for eg).

I think if we signed, say, Taupau, we'd actually comfortably have a better pack than the Dragons

 

[Soren Lorenson]

So I read today that Austin has been told he won't be re- signed. Surely then we can get him cheap enough to be worth the risk. He's a Parra fan ffs.

 

[Noise]

Surely we aren't after the Morris twins?! They would have been decent 3-7 years ago. People are claiming Jennings and Hayne are past it but they are 2 years younger than the Morris boys.

 

[Noise]

Would BA trot out another spoon contender like this:

Gutherson
French
Jennings
J Morris
B Morris
Austin
Moses
Alvaro
Pritchard
Paulo
Mau
Moroea
Brown

Mahoney
Evans
Lane
Mannah

 

[Gronk]

So I read today that Austin has been told he won't be re- signed. Surely then we can get him cheap enough to be worth the risk. He's a Parra fan ffs.

Surely we aren't after the Morris twins?! They would have been decent 3-7 years ago. People are claiming Jennings and Hayne are past it but they are 2 years younger than the Morris boys.

Has to be a gee up

 

[hineyrulz]

Would BA trot out another spoon contender like this:

Gutherson
French
Jennings
J Morris
B Morris
Austin
Moses
Alvaro
Pritchard
Paulo
Mau
Moroea
Brown

Mahoney
Evans
Lane
Mannah

It's very exciting, might be pushing for a top 14 spot with that line up.

 

[El Diablo]

Cheap spoons will make Max happy.

he then sells them on ebay

 

[Twizzle]

I dont believe for 1 minute that we would be after the Morris twins, despite what the article says

 

[Djay]

It's very exciting, might be pushing for a top 14 spot with that line up.

HAHAHAHAHAHA

Hey it's an upgrade on this year, baby steps!

 

[Bazal]

Fox Sports News reporting we've been in pretty close contact with Oates. Likely to stay at Brisbane but he's moving managers and probably won't sign anything until after that happens.

Who knows how accurate it is.

 

[hindy111]

There is not a player this last few weeks we have been linked with that upsets me, they all appear to be value, keen to see some of this changing of the guard eventuate.

Cartwright at 250k would be perfect.

 

[hindy111]

Thoughts?

1. Gutherson
2. Gennings
3. Mennings
4. Ferguson
5. French
6. Austin
7. Moses

Garbage

 

[hindy111]

1 Bevan
2 Koribete
3 Gutherson
4 Jennings
5 Ferguson

 

[Stevie]

1 Bevan
2 Koribete
3 Gutherson
4 Jennings
5 Ferguson

Yep that looks better

 

[Cumberland Eel]

The best back we gave is Ethan Party, unfortunately he got a bad ankle injury at the end of last year playing school championship. Has gone for a second operation to clear it up finally, if he gets back 100% , then he is a genuine strike winger .

The perils of playing school footy at 17, interested if he gets full time training ahead of 2019.

Yeah he's a gun. Seen him play centre at the Australian schoolboys carnival too and dominate (outplayed Campbell Graham who is now a first grader). Great in the air and carries the ball well. Him and Dunster look very promising outside backs.

 

[hindy111]

Lets not undo these promising juniors for some big names like Fergo and a short term good season if means lose these kids. Id rather the Morris boys and keep young talent.

 

[Eelogical]

Lets not undo these promising juniors for some big names like Fergo and a short term good season if means lose these kids. Id rather the Morris boys and keep young talent.

They're Morris Minors these days.