Season Over?

[Mr Red]

- Hard to not come across as an armchair told-u-so-guy, but this was all completely obvious in the early games of the season, and I was 100% sure after I saw the lineup (Vidot/Style) and the way we played against the Roosters (despite the win) and again against Penrith when Fein was chosen to replace Soward (a free ticket to experiment with Style). The big difference is that back then we had time to experiment and groom players in key positions, but it became obvious that Price was going to persist with the same rough line-up.

- Doesnt matter if we fall over the line and win, or lose, our style of football is incompatible with the big-boys and finals football, I think we 'just' have the personnel to be competitive if we had of moved around the positions, but always going to be a struggle, we need all the luck to go our way, actually 2009-2011 was like this too.. but the defence was so tight and attack just good enough to get us home.

- As mentioned above, the spoon isnt out of contention, but more importantly, is that we dont waste the last half of the year where we can get 1st grade experience for the stars of 2013, and if we win games, even better, but that should be secondary to 'how' we play.

with you 100%..
at the start of the season i thought we could scrape into the top 8, but just be making up the numbers... but alas this now seems to be an over achievement if we make it.
there were concerns going into 2011 that we needed an injection of players and full credit to Bennett for making us as competitive as we were in 2011 despite some players better days being behind them..
i am very concerned that after bennett announced he was moving on mid 2011 that Price seemed to sit back and do nothing rather then start aggressive recruitment for 2012...
the results are there to see... Price = Fail

 

[coolumsharkie]

agree...
Browns cows are back in town...
Frizzell is largely untested at first grade... and from the glimpses i have seen is a good few years off being a quality first grade player...
although he looks an athletic back rower and could develop into something good, dont count on him being the Beau Scott or Dean Young replacement in the next 12 - 18 months..

He's managed to force his way onto the bench this year, I agree he's probably about 12-18 mnths off being a proper force in FG but there is no doubt he's going to be. Future rep player.

 

[getsmarty]

- Hard to not come across as an armchair told-u-so-guy, but this was all completely obvious in the early games of the season, and I was 100% sure after I saw the lineup (Vidot/Style) and the way we played against the Roosters (despite the win) and again against Penrith when Fein was chosen to replace Soward (a free ticket to experiment with Style). The big difference is that back then we had time to experiment and groom players in key positions, but it became obvious that Price was going to persist with the same rough line-up.

- Doesnt matter if we fall over the line and win, or lose, our style of football is incompatible with the big-boys and finals football, I think we 'just' have the personnel to be competitive if we had of moved around the positions, but always going to be a struggle, we need all the luck to go our way, actually 2009-2011 was like this too.. but the defence was so tight and attack just good enough to get us home.

- As mentioned above, the spoon isnt out of contention, but more importantly, is that we dont waste the last half of the year where we can get 1st grade experience for the stars of 2013, and if we win games, even better, but that should be secondary to 'how' we play.

Great post Rev...I think it sums things up well.

 

[Elias1983]

Has anyone seen the post match press conference?

Price was fuming!

http://www.dragons.com.au/

 

[Blood Shot Eyes]

We can't even put a makeshift Canberra side away. So you'd have to think we're all but gone. Sad for the guys retiring.

It is but it will be even more sad for us if some of them DONT retire.....

 

[R&WTILLIDIE]

Has anyone seen the post match press conference?

Price was fuming!

http://www.dragons.com.au/

It's like watching the Brown conferences of old....Would like to have heard Price say "Yes I pulled the best player off the park after he scored a try....yes I am a dumbass"

 

[_Johnsy]

Saying we worked our assess off means nothing.

If we cannot eliminate stoooopid penalties and making moronic decisions when the pressure is on, absolutely nothing will change.

 

[64 Dragon]

Start at the front office, because if you don't nothing will ever improve.

Nothing will ever improve then!

 

[TheRev]

I am very concerned that after bennett announced he was moving on mid 2011 that Price seemed to sit back and do nothing rather then start aggressive recruitment for 2012... the results are there to see... Price = Fail

Yeah to be fair though, when Prince was announced I wondered whether he was just going to be a scape-goat until Folkes took over, because although I do agree he had a chance to be more creative in 2012 (waste of a year), he has basically inherited a heap of issues he was probably not going to be able to fix, certainly not in 1-2 years.

Saying we worked our assess off means nothing.

If we cannot eliminate stoooopid penalties and making moronic decisions when the pressure is on, absolutely nothing will change.

Yeah I know what you mean, its dumb errors each week that cost us, though our completion was still pretty good last night, Canberra's was just better... however as a supporter, I think we all agree that we can cop losses a lot better if the team is putting in, its when they stop putting in (i.e. parramatta) is when you get very angry.

Having said that, im pretty disolusioned to watch the guys putting in each week with seemingly no structure/plan to improve.. because sooner or later they are going to switch off, especially if were out of contention for the 8.

A big test will be to see the side announced this weekend, hopefully Flo finally gets fullback for starters, though its too late now anyway... people got carried away when Morris went to fullback, there were guys on this Forum saying that Morris was > Slater after 1 game...

 

[blacksafake]

Has anyone seen the post match press conference?

Price was fuming!

http://www.dragons.com.au/

He certainly was lets just hope he takes his frustrations out on a few players come next selection time.As for hornby what about his comment of "we (don't you mean I) keep giving away stupid penalties & making dumb mistakes".Hello you have been the main culprit this year so FRKN start leading be example or pull the pin.

 

[Bring back choc]

agree...
Browns cows are back in town...
Frizzell is largely untested at first grade... and from the glimpses i have seen is a good few years off being a quality first grade player...
although he looks an athletic back rower and could develop into something good, dont count on him being the Beau Scott or Dean Young replacement in the next 12 - 18 months..

Mate that is so true. I just knew the raiders would score with a minute to go.
It's just back to the "hold out breath" days. I feel like we're always going to give away a penalty, always going to knock on, always going to f**k up!!!

 

[moik]

I'll still watch every minute of every game from here on in but all I can hope for is the occasional upset.

Our season is done.

 

[64 Dragon]

Mate that is so true. I just knew the raiders would score with a minute to go.
It's just back to the "hold out breath" days. I feel like we're always going to give away a penalty, always going to knock on, always going to f**k up!!!

"I just knew". Mr Know It All. Pity you don't know when to quit.

 

[jenninga]

I'll still watch every minute of every game from here on in but all I can hope for is the occasional upset.

Our season is done.

Unfortunately i felt our season was done v the Panthers when Weyman injured his knee,though always still hoped we could string some wins together but not now.
How beautiful was our 1st try and we just don't back ourselves,but go straight back to trying to grind out wins.DAMN.

 

[The Commissioner]

I think Price should bite the bullet and bring BBC in for a full weeks intensive sessions with the team

His insight and unrivalled knowledge can only benefit the squad.

FFS get off their cases, do you think they want to lose?

Rugby League is an incredibly tough game played by blokes who give everything they have got, this includes teams I despise.

I get your passion, you make some great points too at times but you are losing currency by sh£t canning every post.

We got pipped last night due to fatigue, couple of dud calls and a flawless display by the green slime.

Good luck

 

[Bring back choc]

I think Price should bite the bullet and bring BBC in for a full weeks intensive sessions with the team

His insight and unrivalled knowledge can only benefit the squad.

FFS get off their cases, do you think they want to lose?

Rugby League is an incredibly tough game played by blokes who give everything they have got, this includes teams I despise.

I get your passion, you make some great points too at times but you are losing currency by sh£t canning every post.

We got pipped last night due to fatigue, couple of dud calls and a flawless display by the green slime.

Good luck

Im shit canning because there's shit canning that needs to be done.
I do honestly think the club needs some really tough decisions to be made for us to move forward.
It's not unacceptable to have such a fall from grace like we are experiencing.
Something is wrong and we have the opportunity to fix it. Just like we fixed the brown debacle by hiring wayne Bennett. Price ain't on a large contract. Pay him out, get rid of him. He's way before his time and that's simply the truth. Great guy, will be good coach. But the players do not respond to him.

 

[country_dragon]

as the crows would say... f**k....f**k....f**k.... this year is shot.

blame whom you want -price, hornby, internal bickering, drugs - whatever, but the old red V is shot for this year.

so, what plans for next year?

 

[Stdavid]

I wish we would the whole game like we were four behind, rather than getting two in front and putting the cue in the rack.

 

[Willow]

I just knew the raiders would score with a minute to go.

I have no doubt you were death riding us. Must have been a very satisfying result for you.

 

[TruSaint]

Like all of us i was gutted yesterday. For whats its worth i think that the club is definetly some time away from glory. I know there are many here dissapointed with Gaz, but lets face it, at this point we have no strike out there. Coops is a legend, but he is busted. Tries his heart out. The whole backline is either new or playing out of position. Our number one prop is out. Benny looks tired and unsure. Youngy cant take any more pain killers. And our coach is trying his heart out with the stock he has.
Nothing would make me happier than being proven wrong, but we are 2-3 years away from competing again on the scale we are used to.
Love my Saints