Saints spine

[West coast dragon]

After last nights effort the thread title should read Saints, Spineless!

 

[Nanadragon]

Who do I have to pay to ensure Ravalawa never plays first grade for us again?

I'll chip in to that collection too. Also have doubts about Leilua's abilities to play at the top level.

 

[Life's Good]

The problem isn’t our on field spine. It is the lack of spine from our board to say enough with this failed rookie coaching experiment that is at least 2 years too late.

 

[Coffs dragon]

The problem isn’t our on field spine. It is the lack of spine from our board to say enough with this failed rookie coaching experiment that is at least 2 years too late.

Our current spine is dysfunctional cause the ARSE (coach) is making all the decisions!

 

[Carlton]

I dont understand the Norman hate, he was the only one with vision with his passing game and setup two tries. This nonsense about giving the ball to Dufty because he is fast is ridiculous.

We have missed a game manager and a playmaker who will take the ball to the line and utilise a clever passing game not just going through the set play motions. If he is not hamstrung with Mary's idea of a power game Norman can be the player we have needed.

 

[blacksafake]

Of the things I saw last night that I did not like (and there were more than a few), seeing McInnes take hit ups and get smashed when the musical chairs started in the 2nd half annoyed me. He deserves better.

Robson onto the bench to give McInnes a spell.

This
We needed points so L plate replaces Leilua with Dufty & uses McInnes as a battering ram.
#uneffingbelievable

 

[Como Connection]

I dont understand the Norman hate, he was the only one with vision with his passing game and setup two tries. This nonsense about giving the ball to Dufty because he is fast is ridiculous.

We have missed a game manager and a playmaker who will take the ball to the line and utilise a clever passing game not just going through the set play motions. If he is not hamstrung with Mary's idea of a power game Norman can be the player we have needed.

100% correct.
CC

 

[utility dragon]

I dont understand the Norman hate, he was the only one with vision with his passing game and setup two tries. This nonsense about giving the ball to Dufty because he is fast is ridiculous.

We have missed a game manager and a playmaker who will take the ball to the line and utilise a clever passing game not just going through the set play motions. If he is not hamstrung with Mary's idea of a power game Norman can be the player we have needed.

Totally agree, if anything it’s Widdop who looks un focussed and don’t forget that dufty wasn’t the greatest high ball taker. We have major fullback issues. Widdop can easily be that player but I feel like he has one foot on the plane.

 

[epDragon62]

This
We needed points so L plate replaces Leilua with Dufty & uses McInnes as a battering ram.
#uneffingbelievable

And, how many times has the Leilua and Dufty combo cracked open a defence? They should be on together.

 

[Carlton]

Totally agree, if anything it’s Widdop who looks un focussed and don’t forget that dufty wasn’t the greatest high ball taker. We have major fullback issues. Widdop can easily be that player but I feel like he has one foot on the plane.

I might be reading too much into but a couple of comments made by McGregor and Widdop lately hint at the fact Widdop wanted out this year and agreed to stay under sufferance. If this is true it is a huge mistake as you are right, at the moment Widdop almost looks like he is just going through the motions

 

[Carlton]

And, how many times has the Leilua and Dufty combo cracked open a defence? They should be on together.

I dont know, how many times has a Leilua / Dufty combo cracked open a first grade defence. But I know that a first grade attack has carved up both Dufty and Leilua numerous times.

 

[jak]

dufty in norman to the bench

 

[possm]

Restore 2018 spine and Norman to Right Centre - he can kick, has quick hands and is actually a solid defender. He can work the right side in attack with Hunt and we'd have Wids and Dufty terrorizing opposition defences on the left. Win, win.

Dufty's poor defence and lack of confidence under the high ball is why we have all of this turmoil with the spine. To revert to Dufty at fullback is OK but if he fails he will get the Mann treatment from Mary.

Lomax to right centre and stick with him, he is part of our long term future. Robson at 14 on the bench.

 

[possm]

Totally agree, if anything it’s Widdop who looks un focussed and don’t forget that dufty wasn’t the greatest high ball taker. We have major fullback issues. Widdop can easily be that player but I feel like he has one foot on the plane.

To be honest I feel that Widdop is still recovering and does not want to cause further damage to his shoulder. For this reason he is playing very cautiously, for if he again damages the shoulder it could put his next ESL contract at risk.

Widdop should be let go and the money saved plus the money from De Belin's salary should be used to bolster our squad with extra genuine first grade talent.

 

[j0nesy]

Every player in that spine looks very unsettled to me. McGregor has really f**ked up the balance and confidence that is much needed with a spine.

1. Dufty
6. Widdop
7. Hunt
9. McInnes
14. Reece Robson

NSW Cup: Norman

Live or die by that. Norman is an overrated imposter.

Agree with your lineup and dropping Norman to reserves but I do not agree that Norman is an imposter. He does however need to prove himself and the best way to do that is through reserves.

 

[Dragsters]

And, how many times has the Leilua and Dufty combo cracked open a defence? They should be on together.

Yet another example of how poor marys bench use was.

Leilua splits Souths up the gut and into the clear with no support.

Then he subs Luc off and brings on Dufty???

These 2 are mutually exclusive imo...

 

[possm]

Agree with your lineup and dropping Norman to reserves but I do not agree that Norman is an imposter. He does however need to prove himself and the best way to do that is through reserves.

Norman is not the problem. His game improved over the past two rounds and he clearly was responsible for our two tries against Souths.

The Widdop / Dufty situation is causing the most confusion and disruption. I have stated elsewhere that in my opinion Widdop should be let go and Dufty should be on trial to keep his position at fullback. If he performs well, then he keeps is position. If he performs poorly then it is back to ISP and another player selected/recruited for the fullback position.

 

[2010]

Based on his performance against Souths he needs to either plays 5/8 or is allowed to leave and move to England.
He ran for 16 meters against Souths, was caught out of position more then once, he looked uncomfortable taking bombs and passed two maybe three times to wingers who were not expecting the ball.
I don’t place all the blame on him, McIdiot has one of the best 5/8 player in the league in an unfamiliar place, pushed Dufty to a bench player all so he could place Norman in the 5/8 slot.
Actually signing Norman was a big mistake in my opnion, there is no guarantee that Norman will turn out to be as good as Widdop was at 5/8.
The club needs to get rid of our coaching staff and the recruitment staff, McGregor and Millward to be gone.

 

[possm]

Based on his performance against Souths he needs to either plays 5/8 or is allowed to leave and move to England.
He ran for 16 meters against Souths, was caught out of position more then once, he looked uncomfortable taking bombs and passed two maybe three times to wingers who were not expecting the ball.
I don’t place all the blame on him, McIdiot has one of the best 5/8 player in the league in an unfamiliar place, pushed Dufty to a bench player all so he could place Norman in the 5/8 slot.
Actually signing Norman was a big mistake in my opnion, there is no guarantee that Norman will turn out to be as good as Widdop was at 5/8.
The club needs to get rid of our coaching staff and the recruitment staff, McGregor and Millward to be gone.

I'm sure that your above words would have featured in discussions at a meeting between Craig Young and Peter Doust and Bennett held in late 2017. So given that Bennett was not signed, it appears that those old boys supporting Millward in his position and Dean Young as the heir apparent for head coach won the day. By the way, Young will make his way to the head coach position by first being appointed interim coach - in a similar way to what happened with Mary.

 

[Red V for life]

I think we’re all (or most are) in agreement that the rotating spine doesn’t work. The problem is Mary’s pride will likely get in the way of commonsense and the experiment won’t stop until it is too late or an early season injury occurs.

I think Mary is on NRL360 next week. He’ll no doubt get hammered on the issue. I’d be very surprised if he conceded it doesn’t work.