Team List Tuesday

[Old Timer]

Yes there is more to the story. Gone Garrick, Johns, Sele and Herbert and now on his way Robson.

There can be only one explanation Millward incompetence; what a MESS!

Can’t agree with you
Whilst I don’t like either Millward or coach the issue with them leaving sits squarely with coach
He tells Basil who he wants to keep and he obviously advised the players you mention were not a priority.
The players are also smart enough to know that coach had them well and truly snookered.
Indeed it is a mess and one of the club’s own making

 

[Dragonslayer]

Can’t agree with you
Whilst I don’t like either Millward or coach the issue with them leaving sits squarely with coach
He tells Basil who he wants to keep and he obviously advised the players you mention were not a priority.
The players are also smart enough to know that coach had them well and truly snookered.
Indeed it is a mess and one of the club’s own making

You are correct OT.
Even if Millward did offer a contract to all those mentioned you cant force them to sign, particularly if the prospect of playing 1st grade is almost zero.

Sele was aways a back-up player and once we signed K. Sims his card was marked. Penrith signed him as a starting forward, so why wouldn't he go! So tgis us a coachingcsekection problem not a re-signing problem.
Garrick was, and still is, suspect in defense even in reserve grade. The fact here wasn't the signing of Ravalawa, it was the re-signing of Saab and the commentary around it that marked his card. He signed with Manly, but originally only a 1yr deal, so if ge was that good why didnt they sign hin to a multi-year deal originally! Again an opportunity for 1st grade v playing CC wirh us, that again is a coach selection issue.
Herbert, I believe wanted to return to NZ for family reasons and an opportunity. But he did start the year in CC.
Matheson Johns was signed by Penrith to a part-time CC contract, he's not part of their top 30 players.

Until something is done to the coaching ranks it doesn't matter who we sign or who our juniors are, the roadblock is firmly in place at CC level. Continuous selection of out of form players, plodders just because they've played some 1st grade ans "favourites" will always force the hand of our young stars. Thats nothing to do with signing or re-signing players that rests solely on player selection and that sits firmly on the shoulders of one person, the coach.

 

[possm]

Can’t agree with you
Whilst I don’t like either Millward or coach the issue with them leaving sits squarely with coach
He tells Basil who he wants to keep and he obviously advised the players you mention were not a priority.
The players are also smart enough to know that coach had them well and truly snookered.
Indeed it is a mess and one of the club’s own making

Come on Old Timer, you really don't believe this do you? Wasn't the whole idea of creating the Director of everything position for Millward in order to protect the club from stupid decisions made by the head coach. Remember Millward would provide the squad for Mary and Mary would then only have to coach the players. The NFL way of doing things, remember?

 

[Gareth67]

Three more exasperating seasons of gut wrenching ludicrous decisions for the team lineup and that does not take into account the game day decisions and instructions to his team . All thanks to the Dragons longest serving imbecile - the maestro , with the compliments of the Joint Venture board whose motto apparently is ‘ Its better to give than to receive “ . Lawd forbid , just how much can a man( fan ) take ?

 

[Crush]

I am feeling extremely dejected with the Dragons at the moment.
We have lost 3 games in a row that we really should have won.
Lats has to go.
Aitken has to go.
Rava has to go.
Only that news at 4pm today will give me any hope at all.

 

[Dragons 09]

I am feeling extremely dejected with the Dragons at the moment.
We have lost 3 games in a row that we really should have won.
Lats has to go.
Aitken has to go.
Rava has to go.
Only that news at 4pm today will give me any hope at all.

Surround yourself with good people at 4pm mate, you're going to need the support.

 

[Hardcore Dragon]

The NFL way of doing things, remember?

More like the NFI way of doing things.

XXX

 

[possm]

I am feeling extremely dejected with the Dragons at the moment.
We have lost 3 games in a row that we really should have won.
Lats has to go.
Aitken has to go.
Rava has to go.
Only that news at 4pm today will give me any hope at all.

Hey, I'd be happy if they were all selected and because of this Mary was saked.

 

[Dragon David]

More like the NFI way of doing things.

XXX

lol so true!

 

[hewi]

If we get 1 from the 3 I would be happier.

 

[blacksafake]

I am feeling extremely dejected with the Dragons at the moment.
We have lost 3 games in a row that we really should have won.
Lats has to go.
Aitken has to go.
Rava has to go.
Only that news at 4pm today will give me any hope at all.

Don't hold your breath, mate waiting for good news.

 

[Dragonsteve2]

I am feeling extremely dejected with the Dragons at the moment.
We have lost 3 games in a row that we really should have won.
Lats has to go.
Aitken has to go.
Rava has to go.
Only that news at 4pm today will give me any hope at all.

Crush, I can recall many positive posts from you so your dejection which I share is a certainly a sign of a Dragons' low point. I cannot recall a Mary Press Conference in which he looked so red-faced and seemingly lost for answers.

No doubt Mary continues to believe he picks the best available players each week. If he cannot shake himself free from this belief then one significant avenue for improvement is denied to the team. I was pleased when he first picked Zac at centre but that was assuming that Aitken would play from the bench in the middle if there was no injured back to cover. Replacing Zac last week put a lie to that strategy and again emphasised the coach's incompetence.

Until the Roosters match I had been happy enough to play Lattimore but he has so clearly added nothing from the bench in the past 3 losses that any sane selector would be looking to the next prop in line whether that is Timm or Kerr. Of course the way Mary thinks it might be Allgood. But being out of the country I don't know how the form of these three measures up.

If Mary only thinks of Aitken as his reserve back he continues to force the team to play undermanned. I think McInnes has been great this year but that Lawton from the Warriors killed us on Saturday - who is to say the talented Robson could not do the same to the Knights? But I cannot imagine the stubborn Mary choosing a player who is looking elsewhere for his opportunity.

An issue I would like to see addressed is the captaincy. Three captains, Mary? One of your worst ideas!!

Crush, to cope with our dejection I would like to end with some positive thoughts. When you hit the bottom the only way is up. I thought Jai was a breath of fresh air last week. Additionally unlike 2016 and the losing runs of 2015, 2017 and 2018 I do not think the team is necessarily playing all that badly. But trying to win with 14 or 15 vs 17 on a regular basis is a really tough ask.

 

[Dragonsamy]

You are correct OT.
Even if Millward did offer a contract to all those mentioned you cant force them to sign, particularly if the prospect of playing 1st grade is almost zero.

Sele was aways a back-up player and once we signed K. Sims his card was marked. Penrith signed him as a starting forward, so why wouldn't he go! So tgis us a coachingcsekection problem not a re-signing problem.
Garrick was, and still is, suspect in defense even in reserve grade. The fact here wasn't the signing of Ravalawa, it was the re-signing of Saab and the commentary around it that marked his card. He signed with Manly, but originally only a 1yr deal, so if ge was that good why didnt they sign hin to a multi-year deal originally! Again an opportunity for 1st grade v playing CC wirh us, that again is a coach selection issue.
Herbert, I believe wanted to return to NZ for family reasons and an opportunity. But he did start the year in CC.
Matheson Johns was signed by Penrith to a part-time CC contract, he's not part of their top 30 players.

Until something is done to the coaching ranks it doesn't matter who we sign or who our juniors are, the roadblock is firmly in place at CC level. Continuous selection of out of form players, plodders just because they've played some 1st grade ans "favourites" will always force the hand of our young stars. Thats nothing to do with signing or re-signing players that rests solely on player selection and that sits
rmly on the shoulders of one person, the coach.

150% correct you nailed it.
Every decision in the end has to be signed off by Mary

 

[Dragonslayer]

I've got this horrible feeling Lomax will be benched this week with Aitken to start. GK to be shared by either Lafai or Field.

Just a feeling and no knowledge of what McGregor will do (well neither does he really!)

 

[hazzbeen]

I've got this horrible feeling Lomax will be benched this week with Aitken to start. GK to be shared by either Lafai or Field.

Just a feeling and no knowledge of what McGregor will do (well neither does he really!)

Mate would not surprise me in the least , for me as a coach he is very predictable .. So if I find him predictable , how do opposing coaches find him ?

 

[Dennis Papaioannou]

So only change is Field to 6 to replace Norman.
Plod is still there of course.

Still wait to see if this is the team that will run out on Sat. Somehow I'm expecting to see Lomax moved to 5/8 with lovechild to centre and Field as the reserve back.

Why do I keep imagining this?

It is incredible to me that McGregor has selected the same 17 to play Newcastle considering we got overrun by a team who had lost 5 in a row before playing us on Saturday.
Doubling down on Aitkin and Latimore in particular is just sheer folly.
Our bench rotation is one of our biggest problems and yet he makes no attempt to change those dynamics.
If we don't fix our marshmallow effort either side of half time, we will continue losing games.
I noticed with interest during the last press conference that he is starting to blame the players for not following his impeccable game plan.
Ran out of other excuses so that was the next most convenient explanation.
He criticized our "D" in the second half but from what I could see, Lomax was defending strongly on the right edge and we conceded tries once he was replaced.
McGregor's interchange decisions killed us. That's all.

 

[Smurf]

I am feeling extremely dejected with the Dragons at the moment.
We have lost 3 games in a row that we really should have won.
Lats has to go.
Aitken has to go.
Rava has to go.
Only that news at 4pm today will give me any hope at all.

I hope you are in a Bar somewhere with lots of Rum
I totally agree with you but apparently not Mary
Cut & Paste again
Even after 3 losses in a row

 

[dwight12]

1. Matt Dufty – sponsored by Dynamic Projects
2. Jordan Pereira – sponsored by SMAI
3. Zac Lomax – sponsored by Tosich Group
4. Tim Lafai – sponsored by Kingsgrove Sports Centre
5. Mikaele Ravalawa – sponsored by Professionals Padstow
6. Jai Field – sponsored by Illawarra Mercury/St George & Sutherland Shire Leader
7. Ben Hunt – sponsored by Paul's Customs and Forwarding Solutions
8. James Graham (c) – sponsored by EFEX
9. Cameron McInnes (c) – sponsored by Floormania
10. Paul Vaughan – sponsored by My Muscle Chef
11. Tyson Frizell (c) – sponsored by Val Morgan
12. Tariq Sims – sponsored by Stonemasons & Landscapers (since 1970)
13.Blake Lawrie – sponsored by Wollongong Jetski

Interchange:
14. Jeremy Latimore – sponsored by Dincel Construction System
15. Euan Aitken – sponsored by University of Wollongong
16. Jacob Host – sponsored by Stonemasons & Landscapers (since 1970)
17. Luciano Leilua – sponsored by Domus Lighting
18. Mitch Allgood
19. Jonus Pearson
20. Josh Kerr
21. Korbin Sims – sponsored by Stonemasons & Landscapers (since 1970)

 

[LINESPEED]

I hope you are in a Bar somewhere with lots of Rum
I totally agree with you but apparently not Mary
Cut & Paste again
Even after 3 losses in a row

Waterboy’s akin to a 14C flagellant

WTF is this self destructive penance he’s into - with his single focus on protecting Aitken’s career at the expense of everything else:
•the bench
•the team
•the Club
•the fans
•his career
•selection logic

What does Turnstile have on him
- it can’t just be the sulking Bassett hound eyes from the bench
or his frantic desire to prove his protege is SOO quality??


PS So he moves Allgood back up the pecking order - clutching a journeyman for comfort in his fear

Under threat he’ll close ranks with his favourites as he seeks protection in the sheds

 

[Coffs dragon]

Standard selection and brilliant bench by effin coach McCut&paste!