Team Changes v Storm

[BennyV]

Can't argue as really I've only seen Witt against the Tigers in the 1st game and I thought his attack was sound and his defence was sensational for a 7. As they saying goes....you are only as good as your last game! Our danger now is if he has a shocker lol wtf can Price do? Before our 1st game I said that the team must pick itself or create selection issues by great form but unfortunately for Price he has to deal with injuries, indifferent form and being trounched by Bronco's/Souths to form his own opinions.....not easy!

He can pick Williams! Hopefully he's spent the last 2 weeks brushing up on being disciplined, because those extra 1-2 tries per game that he basically single-handedly created with his kicking and passing game could come in handy...

 

[blacksafake]

1. Quinlan just played half last week so little disruption

2. We have been using Stanley as a DH which has been disruptive so far as he isn't suited or experienced in that role and I'm pretty sure doesn't want it

3. Witt has plenty of experience as a hooker

4. Williams got dropped due to brain explosions with midfield chip kicks and the dropped balls against the Sharks the week previous. He hasn't been selected last week or this week

5. We are talking about an interchange of 15-20mins of the game unless we get a roll on and are making line breaks or scoring tries then you would extend it

6. It gives the defense something different to deal with and especially when they are tired and slow to react Quinlans speed can take advantage of that. Do you really see either Witt or Williams making a 40mtr break? They haven't yet given Witt hasn't played a full game and Williams doesn't seem to have any pace......great short kicking game and possibly still our long term prospect.

I'm just making a point and have no real objection to any of the 3 spending time at half as they all have something to offer, I just object to anyone bagging the selections and if you train for those changes in time it should be seamless. Amongst many things that killed us in the back end of Bennetts tenure was our predictability.

What's killed us this year is our discipilne, attitude and defence not our half selections. I agree making 2 changes instead of 1 is generally not desirable unless you can do it to your advantage and potentially that is the case with us. We have other options as well with a few putting Garvey up and we will only find the balance by trying a few thing The comp is not won in the 1st half of the season and we want to have our best possible team by mid season so don't panic!

You're right but it can be lost!

 

[watatank]

I've seen enough of Michael Witt to think that he is blessed with endless mediocrity.

I don't dislike him, but I don't understand, or agree with his selection as our starting half. If he really is the clubs best halfback, then I see us finishing well outside the Eight this year.

To judge him on just his limited time at Dragons so far, is to ignore a long career that has yet to achieve any great heights, and as I've said, I've watched him play plenty of times, and am singularly unimpressed.

I hope I'm wrong about him (I have been wrong before), because I love my Dragons, and I really hate loosing.

Agreed. Even his Round 1 performance was overrated.

 

[grouch]

Parra are a good example right now. Despite having a biggish powerful forward pack, they still looked pedestrian and average with Luke Kelly at halfback. He's a pedestrian and average player. Swapping him for the dynamic but risky Chris Sandow has made a big difference to their team.

 

[dragonreddy]

You're right but it can be lost!

Absolutely as we should know only too well ,playing catch up isnt where we want to be at the back end of the season we used to do it well but not with this side.

 

[dragonreddy]

I've seen enough of Michael Witt to think that he is blessed with endless mediocrity.

I don't dislike him, but I don't understand, or agree with his selection as our starting half. If he really is the clubs best halfback, then I see us finishing well outside the Eight this year.

To judge him on just his limited time at Dragons so far, is to ignore a long career that has yet to achieve any great heights, and as I've said, I've watched him play plenty of times, and am singularly unimpressed.

I hope I'm wrong about him (I have been wrong before), because I love my Dragons, and I really hate loosing.

Agreed the highlight reel is pretty short for an almost completed career, two other things that could be an issue are his match fitness and stability of his shoulder ,his shoulder seem to pop fairly innocuosly suppose we will find out in a few hours , trouble is if there is a change again next week we will be past the quarter way may and still f...king with key positions .Recipe for disaster.

 

[jenninga]

so without reading too much into it..

was at the red v members function tonight and i saw in the room with me:

dugan
morris
beale
farrell
nightingale
whiddop
witt
hunt
rein
stockwell
thompson
creagh
merrin

cooper
harrison
stanley
matthews
ah mau

No Quinlan and Aillomai,hope Josh is unleashed tonight.

 

[The Commissioner]

Our bench lacks sting.
We just don't have the ammo to rattle teams when we need to.
I'd love to see us bash Melbourne into submission tonight but I cant see anyone other than Thompson (if he's on song) doing it and it's a 4 man job minimum.
I want to see fear in the eyes of the Purple vermin

 

[TheRev]

Having Quinlan come on to halfback and Witt to hooker is the dumbest move it would disrupt the team and we're needing Witt or Williams all the game time they can get to form a combination with Widdop

This is what ive been saying forever.. its pointless for Quinlan to come off the bench and play Halfback, he should just start there if thats the goal... and thats what Price just tried to do after Dugan came back.. but seemingly hes not sticking with it (for now).

So if Quinlan is coming from the bench.. it will be because hes replaced Stanley as Price's 2nd hooker experiment, which is feasible perhaps but defensively a big ask, and how will his dummy half service be anyway..

 

[Damo!]

According to @Rugbyleaguenews via twitter, Witt to remain Halfback, Stanley dropped and Quinlan on the bench. No word on who out of the pigs will remain on the bench. Not 100% on this guys reliability.

He is now reporting the Quinlan has a 'slight knee injury' and was left at home. Style is back on the bench.

Muz reports Quinny was nowhere to be seen at the members function so at least the first part of it appears true.

 

[mightydragon]

I read somewhere on twitter that Quinlan picked up an injury at training during the week and didn't travel to Melbourne

 

[BrissyRedV]

Well, I guess we have to wait and see the final team list then. If it is not Quinlan, I hope it is a pig and not Style.

 

[Slippery Morris]

Witt should be used as a back up to Rein, so If Quinlan or Kyle does come in then when Rein is off the field Price should put Quinlan or Stanley at half and Witt to hooker. Witt has played there before and has more experience than Quinlan and Kyle.

Any chance Saints can get the Cowboys to release Cameron King back to Saints? Wishful thinking. Has he played a game yet for the Cows?

 

[BrissyRedV]

Witt should be used as a back up to Rein, so If Quinlan or Kyle does come in then when Rein is off the field Price should put Quinlan or Stanley at half and Witt to hooker. Witt has played there before and has more experience than Quinlan and Kyle.

Any chance Saints can get the Cowboys to release Cameron King back to Saints? Wishful thinking. Has he played a game yet for the Cows?

King hurt himself playing reserves for them. Out for a few months.

 

[TheRev]

Any chance Saints can get the Cowboys to release Cameron King back to Saints? Wishful thinking. Has he played a game yet for the Cows?

Wouldnt that be hilarious lol..

 

[Elias1983]

King hurt himself playing reserves for them. Out for a few months.

Injured again???

Poor bugger can't take a trick...

Was hoping his luck would turn for him.

 

[Ace-STi]

RLW Mole is saying Cameron Smith and Billy Slater are carrying niggly injuries and not 100% fit........

 

[jenninga]

RLW Mole is saying Cameron Smith and Billy Slater are carrying niggly injuries and not 100% fit........

As we know Smith can play on one leg and Slater HAS been playing on one leg.
I can't fathom Will Matthews drafted in with a bench as light as it is,unless he will do some dummy half work.

 

[BrissyRedV]

Interesting. Last minute scratching maybe?

 

[BrissyRedV]

As we know Smith can play on one leg and Slater HAS been playing on one leg.
I can't fathom Will Matthews drafted in with a bench as light as it is,unless he will do some dummy half work.

Where did you get Will Matthews from???