Sloan

[matPORTS]

The dropping Sloan ship has sailed. It was attempted back against the Panthers, then he was recalled a week later and then had a 'blinder' against the competition front runners.

Other than Lomax, taking him out now would leave us with next to no pace in our back five.

As I've said before, it's a critical off season coming up for the guy. With Val Holmes (and possibly Gutherson) on the way to the club, he will be under real pressure to keep his spot. Equally, I've yet to see any real indication from Flanno and the rest of the support staff that they are fully prepared to walk away from him yet.

Biggest concern for him will be copping any sort of injury in these last few games. He was delayed getting back to training last year having to recover his ankle, and will not want that again. He's gotta be ready to rip and tear come 1st November.

 

[TheRev]

We had that 1 panthers game with Matt Feagai (for 20mins) followed by Lomax for 60, and fullback was only 1 small part of our problems that day, but it was pretty clear it wasnt working.. defensively safe yes.. but way too easy to read in attack.. especially combined with 2 fairly robotic halves.. Flanno addressed it in the post-match, you need 'something' to worry the opposition so the other guys can get an opportunity.. words to that effect.

Sloan is it for this year, lets just hope he can play near his best.

2025 is a whole different deal.. id be shocked if Allan was quick enough with all his injuries, but Val I would say is a really big shot of taking the fullback jersey in Round 1.

 

[SBD82]

If flanno doesn't drop sloan for next 2 games season over . Why is he still in the team each week they drop Rav and he was our only player in the backs that scores tries .

I’m going to say this as nicely as I possibly can.

Would you please shut the f**k up about Sloan.

 

[Dribble&Yarn]

We had that 1 panthers game with Matt Feagai (for 20mins) followed by Lomax for 60, and fullback was only 1 small part of our problems that day, but it was pretty clear it wasnt working.. defensively safe yes.. but way too easy to read in attack.. especially combined with 2 fairly robotic halves.. Flanno addressed it in the post-match, you need 'something' to worry the opposition so the other guys can get an opportunity.. words to that effect.

Sloan is it for this year, lets just hope he can play near his best.

2025 is a whole different deal.. id be shocked if Allan was quick enough with all his injuries, but Val I would say is a really big shot of taking the fullback jersey in Round 1.

Val to fullback will be interesting, he hasn't played there in years so will be interesting to see if he still has it.
What that would do is almost guarantee a Feagai will be a starting centre next season

 

[Gourley's Socks]

Sloan made two front-on tackles on the weekend that he probably wouldn't have made only a couple of months ago. He dropped a bomb while leaping - which happens to even the best of fullbacks.

The only one I blame him for was not properly contesting the bomb that led to the Kennedy try. But that was either laziness or being too conservative: both coachable failings.

I didn't think he was nearly as bad as has been made out. Still holding out hope that he's trending in the right direction.

 

[TheRev]

Val to fullback will be interesting, he hasn't played there in years so will be interesting to see if he still has it.
What that would do is almost guarantee a Feagai will be a starting centre next season

Yah I mean nothing is a lock I dont think..... im sure over pre-season all 3 players will get time at fullback... but I think thats the #1 reason he would want to keep Max on a cheap contract... gives him an 'ok' right centre if he does want to play around with Val @ fullback...

We do need a couple moved on though.. to fit Max and some sort of Marschke equivalent back into our 30....

 

[KogarahWarrior]

Sloan made two front-on tackles on the weekend that he probably wouldn't have made only a couple of months ago. He dropped a bomb while leaping - which happens to even the best of fullbacks.

The only one I blame him for was not properly contesting the bomb that led to the Kennedy try. But that was either laziness or being too conservative: both coachable failings.

I didn't think he was nearly as bad as has been made out. Still holding out hope that he's trending in the right direction.

Too right mate, he made an error dropping that bomb, but everyone's quick to forget that he defused like 10 of them vs Melbourne and the Titans. Also, Bula scored the same try as Kennedy pretty much by jumping over Ponga and nobody called for KP's head, did they?

I will say this about Tyrell though. He needs to stop being so shy in attack in terms of running direct. I remember clearly in that 2nd half against the Titans, had he accelerated enough, there were a few gaps for him to run off his kick returns but he actually physically flinched which I wasn't happy with. He decelerates too much which has the opposite effect to what he thinks will happen if he runs it straight. The harder he runs, the less likely he is to get smashed. Even though Staines from the Tigers is shit he learnt that pretty quick and no longer gets whacked every time he runs the ball

 

[moes]

Too right mate, he made an error dropping that bomb, but everyone's quick to forget that he defused like 10 of them vs Melbourne and the Titans. Also, Bula scored the same try as Kennedy pretty much by jumping over Ponga and nobody called for KP's head, did they?

I will say this about Tyrell though. He needs to stop being so shy in attack in terms of running direct. I remember clearly in that 2nd half against the Titans, had he accelerated enough, there were a few gaps for him to run off his kick returns but he actually physically flinched which I wasn't happy with. He decelerates too much which has the opposite effect to what he thinks will happen if he runs it straight. The harder he runs, the less likely he is to get smashed. Even though Staines from the Tigers is shit he learnt that pretty quick and no longer gets whacked every time he runs the ball

Yer nah Sloan ain’t no KP but agree on the overall sentiments

 

[BLM01]

If flanno doesn't drop sloan for next 2 games season over . Why is he still in the team each week they drop Rav and he was our only player in the backs that scores tries .

You related to Ravalawa by the off chance?.
Have you been watching him the last 2 years in defense, his hands and being out of position and not up with the play
Yes he can barge over the line and contort himself to score a try but their is more upside to Sloan ATM as he grows and learns the game on the run

 

[TheRev]

Even ignoring the on-field stuff (which is not good), the fact that Flanno is so eager to move Ravalawa on is again all the hint you should need that the rumours about his attitude @ training and away from the field is accurate.

If he's not buying in.. move him on..

 

[Dribble&Yarn]

Yah I mean nothing is a lock I dont think..... im sure over pre-season all 3 players will get time at fullback... but I think thats the #1 reason he would want to keep Max on a cheap contract... gives him an 'ok' right centre if he does want to play around with Val @ fullback...

We do need a couple moved on though.. to fit Max and some sort of Marschke equivalent back into our 30....

I have concerns whether Val is up to being a modern fullback anymore (but as you say a good pre season could help this). I personally think he's a bigger weapon in the centres, and the balance of the side is better. If Sloan does have a poor pre season/start to next year, it will be nice to have a quality option though.

In terms of our top 30, it's obviously not confirmed yet, but I'd be shocked to see Rava and Lawrie (at a minimum) with the club next season

 

[Dribble&Yarn]

Too right mate, he made an error dropping that bomb, but everyone's quick to forget that he defused like 10 of them vs Melbourne and the Titans. Also, Bula scored the same try as Kennedy pretty much by jumping over Ponga and nobody called for KP's head, did they?

I will say this about Tyrell though. He needs to stop being so shy in attack in terms of running direct. I remember clearly in that 2nd half against the Titans, had he accelerated enough, there were a few gaps for him to run off his kick returns but he actually physically flinched which I wasn't happy with. He decelerates too much which has the opposite effect to what he thinks will happen if he runs it straight. The harder he runs, the less likely he is to get smashed. Even though Staines from the Tigers is shit he learnt that pretty quick and no longer gets whacked every time he runs the ball

I think specifically on Kennedy jumping over Sloan to score, that's a way harder catch for the defender than the attacker
Not absolving Sloan (who could've done better), but I think lots of fullbacks get beaten there

 

[R&WTILLIDIE]

I think specifically on Kennedy jumping over Sloan to score, that's a way harder catch for the defender than the attacker
Not absolving Sloan (who could've done better), but I think lots of fullbacks get beaten there

Agreed. Even if Sloan jumps for that, Kennedy has the momentum. Another issue is, where were the other dragons players who should’ve run back looking to attempt to make the catch to block Kennedy coming through? They all looked buggered by then.

 

[hook hook]

I have concerns whether Val is up to being a modern fullback anymore (but as you say a good pre season could help this). I personally think he's a bigger weapon in the centres, and the balance of the side is better. If Sloan does have a poor pre season/start to next year, it will be nice to have a quality option though.

In terms of our top 30, it's obviously not confirmed yet, but I'd be shocked to see Rava and Lawrie (at a minimum) with the club next season

I imagine Holmes will play left wing and they’ll chop and change throughout the game like he did with Barba at Cronulla.

 

[Dragon David]

I imagine Holmes will play left wing and they’ll chop and change throughout the game like he did with Barba at Cronulla.

A player like Barba is what we need. But not Barba himself as he is a dickhead.

 

[blacksafake]

I imagine Holmes will play left wing and they’ll chop and change throughout the game like he did with Barba at Cronulla.

Him & Flanno have already said he’s playing left centre.

 

[Dragon David]

Him & Flanno have already said he’s playing left centre.

I'm happy with that. Holmes is much more suited to playing centre nowadays. He really isn't a hogger of the ball and gives great passes to his winger and then backs up. He has a great step and his movement at pace is very good.

The thing about Holmes is that he can play at fullback and wing just in case, but to me his spot is left centre where he currently plays at the Cowboys.

I see Sloan getting some good ball from Holmes as well when Sloan chimes in when they attack.

We do need a quicker 5/8th and one that is deceptive and quick off the mark. With Lomax's wing position coming up next year, I hope that we have a speedy one capable of scoring goal line to goal line tries.

We do need a no nonsense front rower of the ilk of Andrew Fifita. We have some props coming through the system but we need one that can hurt when charging up field or hitting hard in tackles which of course are legal.

Speed, Might and Power are the ingredients to success.

 

[denis preston]

Yah I mean nothing is a lock I dont think..... im sure over pre-season all 3 players will get time at fullback... but I think thats the #1 reason he would want to keep Max on a cheap contract... gives him an 'ok' right centre if he does want to play around with Val @ fullback...

We do need a couple moved on though.. to fit Max and some sort of Marschke equivalent back into our 30....

I agree that we certainly need a couple moved on , but surely we have to set our targets higher than to accommodate a Marschke/ Max Top 30 spot. Move on & get someone new that hasn’t been damaged by the past 5 years.

 

[BLM01]

I have concerns whether Val is up to being a modern fullback anymore (but as you say a good pre season could help this). I personally think he's a bigger weapon in the centres, and the balance of the side is better. If Sloan does have a poor pre season/start to next year, it will be nice to have a quality option though.

In terms of our top 30, it's obviously not confirmed yet, but I'd be shocked to see Rava and Lawrie (at a minimum) with the club next season

I agree re Holmes. I do not think his efforts in keeping moving and chasing in defense are not there for todays fullback.

 

[Jersey No 14]

Show Sloan how good Josh Adocarr is then put him on the wing.
Sloan is a winger.