Team v Warrior's

[Old Timer]

I may be an optimist but you are very pessimistic in my opinion.
"We are being shown up as mindless rabble"? They are strong words.
I think that they are competing well. They have had some tough losses that could have gone the other way.
I am very positive about the future.
I think we will finish either in the top 4 or just outside this year if we can keep our players fit.
Time will tell.

If Dugan and Widdop were going to be out for another 4 weeks would you still be willing to stick with the current situation until they were back?
When in your opinion should players that are average be replaced with players with potential?
When will you be willing to roll the dice to see the future rather than hoping the greasy pole dries out?
I do believe we are being shown up as mindless rabble because the decisions both at coaching and selection level have been abysmal post Widdop's injury.
Whilst I'm at it can someone explain the decision against the Roosters to run into the breeze in the first part of extra time an absolute howler IMO?
I suspect we were too frightened that we would kick the ball dead as we didn't have an alternate kicker who could be trusted.

 

[Dennis Papaioannou]

Agree.
Dufty, nows the time, but it won't hapen mate. He's a junior that might have the goods to be something special. Nona is not a junior, and was a whisker away from playing Qld cup this year so not someone I'd deem a good risk in FG.
I cringe every time Nighty gets driven backwards or over the sideline, too small and no longer has speed to counter his size. He ducks, weaves, niggles out a penalty sometimes but I'd prefer a threat of a line break, actual line break, beat his opposite with speed, sprint away for a try or something naughty and dangerous like that. Nighty wouldn't be in my team even on the wing, and I'll get howled down for saying it with perectly sound arguments, stats, emotion, etc.

Risk v Reward?

Dufty's a FB. Average performances in reggies so far, but I'd risk it and maybe give Duges and his lobster eating Manager something to think about, with Field at 6, Mann on the Wing, Milne at 3. Try time.
Try it.
Try giving the opposition something to guess about, not plan for like they do with Nighty be it at FB or the wing.

I think many would like to see the younger brigade get more exposure but I totally disagree about your comments regarding Nightingale. His stats,week in, week out are outstanding and fly in the face of your perceptions about him..
He is the most reliable back we have right now and we need that cool head when things are tight.

 

[Crush]

If Dugan and Widdop were going to be out for another 4 weeks would you still be willing to stick with the current situation until they were back?
When in your opinion should players that are average be replaced with players with potential?
When will you be willing to roll the dice to see the future rather than hoping the greasy pole dries out?
I do believe we are being shown up as mindless rabble because the decisions both at coaching and selection level have been abysmal post Widdop's injury.
Whilst I'm at it can someone explain the decision against the Roosters to run into the breeze in the first part of extra time an absolute howler IMO?
I suspect we were too frightened that we would kick the ball dead as we didn't have an alternate kicker who could be trusted.

I would agree that if widdop was to be out for another month then something has to be done about Mccrone being the playmaker. He isn't that guy. He is serviceable when the ball is going to Widdop on the 4th or 5th tackle but Mccrone constantly takes the wrong option. Whilst Widdop is out we are going to struggle hence why I said if we can "jag" a win against warriors on previous post.
Losing Dugan is tough because he is a dangerous player in attack and defensively excellent but has less impact than the loss of Widdop.
Playing Nightingale at the back he is safe and does a good job in defense. I think dufty would be a risk in defense and one we don't need to take right now.
We just lost to the roosters and were hard done by on the loss to the sharks.
I wouldn't be panicking just yet. Plus, no team is really killing it this year, all are inconsistent. I think we are doing better than most.

 

[Lovemedragons]

I would agree that if widdop was to be out for another month then something has to be done about Mccrone being the playmaker. He isn't that guy. He is serviceable when the ball is going to Widdop on the 4th or 5th tackle but Mccrone constantly takes the wrong option. Whilst Widdop is out we are going to struggle hence why I said if we can "jag" a win against warriors on previous post.
Losing Dugan is tough because he is a dangerous player in attack and defensively excellent but has less impact than the loss of Widdop.
Playing Nightingale at the back he is safe and does a good job in defense. I think dufty would be a risk in defense and one we don't need to take right now.
We just lost to the roosters and were hard done by on the loss to the sharks.
I wouldn't be panicking just yet. Plus, no team is really killing it this year, all are inconsistent. I think we are doing better than most.

Indeed we have had just one poor performance however we are now in real danger of being that team that plays well but loses the close ones and perhaps stumbles into the 8.

 

[Crush]

Indeed we have had just one poor performance however we are now in real danger of being that team that plays well but loses the close ones and perhaps stumbles into the 8.

I guess that could happen but I am hopeful that it won't. Our forwards are too good this year and our completions excellent. Offloads are finding their man, ball handling in general has been very good. Its just our kicking that is letting us down at the moment and thats because of Mccrone. If widdop returns and plays as he was in the first 6 weeks this year we will be more than stumbling into the 8.

 

[GC Dragon]

Nighty at FB for FFS what retro grade football that is, it's just ridiculous.

I totally agree well said . I think it is hilarious how people think that we should let Dugan go and have Nighty play fullback next year . Take note of where and how our sets start without Dugan on the field . Not to mention the tries Dugan saves and the way he covers the back to cover up for some very ordinary outside backs .

Next week is the perfect chance to try Dufty for a game before Dugan returns . Dufty has been playing really well the last 3 or 4 weeks in the reggies . He has played 10 games and improved a lot . Reward him with a top grade game .

 

[GC Dragon]

Nighty at FB for FFS what retro grade football that is, it's just ridiculous.

I totally agree well said . I think it is hilarious how people think that we should let Dugan go and have Nighty play fullback next year . Take note of where and how our sets start without Dugan on the field . Not to mention the tries Dugan saves and the way he covers the back to cover up for some very ordinary outside backs .

Next week is the perfect chance to try Dufty for a game before Dugan returns . Dufty has been playing really well the last 3 or 4 weeks in the reggies . He has played 10 games and improved a lot . Reward him with a top grade game .

 

[epDragon62]

I didn't watch the Gummies match but the major reshuffle when Aitken went off was a foolish decision I'd say, and still only one of two ref decisions being correct we still beat them.

I'd be working on Mann staying at 6 and give Field some time on the wing.

 

[possm]

I dont know why we are so scared to give the young blokes a go ..... Mann is another that has been screwed around give these guys a chance to settle into a position . Lets face it we are not going to win a premiership this year , so start blooding players so we have options in positions . If we dont start using these guys we will loose them .....

As I said earlier this year, the reason Mary won't give our juniors a run - unless there is no alternative - is because he really believes he still has a shot at a contract extension. Announce that he won't be coaching next year and you will see him give the likes of Dufty, Field and Herbert opportunities to show there skills. Dugring the absence of Widdop and Dugan I'd go:

Dufty
Herbert
Lafai
Milne
Nightingale
Field
Mann

 

[CarrrnDragons]

If we believe Field is a realistic alternative to Dugan next year in the number 1, we should be playing him at 1 in this game.. Even in Cutters he is playing 6. Where is the logic to that, he should be learning to play 1 in both grades to learn that position...as we have signed up both Widdop and Hunt to long term deals at 6 & 7.

 

[saint.nick]

I think we'll win. The Warriors' attitude stinks and they'll be down after what they let happen against Penrith. They're also our whipping boys.

 

[hazzbeen]

If we believe Field is a realistic alternative to Dugan next year in the number 1, we should be playing him at 1 in this game.. Even in Cutters he is playing 6. Where is the logic to that, he should be learning to play 1 in both grades to learn that position...as we have signed up both Widdop and Hunt to long term deals at 6 & 7.

Stop making sense .....

 

[saint.nick]

Stop making sense .....

How much worse than Nighty could he be? I don't mean to say that Nighty is terrible, but what's the better alternative, a kid who's played all his juniors in the spine or a specialist winger in his twilight?

 

[gitano]

I may be an optimist but you are very pessimistic in my opinion.
"We are being shown up as mindless rabble"? They are strong words.
I think that they are competing well. They have had some tough losses that could have gone the other way.
I am very positive about the future.
I think we will finish either in the top 4 or just outside this year if we can keep our players fit.
Time will tell.

It's overreactive fans like OT and objective view that give me the most laughs.

Sensationally calling for mass changes after one game each time. Lol.

 

[possm]

If we believe Field is a realistic alternative to Dugan next year in the number 1, we should be playing him at 1 in this game.. Even in Cutters he is playing 6. Where is the logic to that, he should be learning to play 1 in both grades to learn that position...as we have signed up both Widdop and Hunt to long term deals at 6 & 7.

I agree. We should be taking the time to play a replacement for Dugan while Dugan is injured. It won't be Nightingale in 2018 at fullback, so what's the point. If it's all about Mary's contract, the Club should just tell him he is not our coach for 2018. Give him instructions to play our juniors in the halves and at fullback so we know what we have.

Good first graders are being snapped up each week and we're not even bidding for them. Soon there will be none left and we will have in-tested juniors as our only option for prop and fullback.

 

[getsmarty]

Game Day Information: Round 11
Mon 15th May, 12:00PM
A A

New Zealand Warriors v St George Illawarra Dragons
Friday, 19th May
FMG Stadium, Waikato, New Zealand

NRL: 6.00pm (AEST), 8.00pm (NZ)
NYC: 3.45pm (AEST) 5.45pm (NZ)
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New Zealand Member Event

Dragons Members (and up to two guests) are invited to watch the Dragons Captains run Training Session and meet the players at the conclusion of training.

Thursday May 18, 2017
Time: 5:15pm - 6pm

FMG Stadium, 128 Seddon Rd, Frankton, Hamilton 3204, New Zealand

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Rugby fans can take a free rugby shuttle bus to FMG Stadium. The free BUSIT buses leave from Hood St outside the Knox St car park.

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http://www.dragons.com.au/news/2017/05/15/game_day_information.html

 

[slippery5]

I think many would like to see the younger brigade get more exposure but I totally disagree about your comments regarding Nightingale. His stats,week in, week out are outstanding and fly in the face of your perceptions about him..
He is the most reliable back we have right now and we need that cool head when things are tight.

I hate stats, you don't aim to finish in the top 4 in stats, he should not be at fullback just because he is reliable, Dufty would give us some much needed speed & a passing game chiming into the backline.

 

[Crush]

I hate stats, you don't aim to finish in the top 4 in stats, he should not be at fullback just because he is reliable, Dufty would give us some much needed speed & a passing game chiming into the backline.

I was banging on to my mates about how dufty was the next billy slater last year after watching highlights of 20s. His speed, his step, it really is something.
Then I watched a bit of him in reserve grade and saw how terrible his positional play was. Every time a try off a grubber or bomb dufty was nowhere.
Dufty has potential but I would be sticking with reliable fullbacks like nightingale. Always there under the bomb or covering in defense against grubbers. Nightingale is safe. Dufty is an unnecessary risk at the moment.
In my opinion.

 

[Dennis Papaioannou]

I hate stats, you don't aim to finish in the top 4 in stats, he should not be at fullback just because he is reliable, Dufty would give us some much needed speed & a passing game chiming into the backline.

I hate stats too and there is always room for subjectivity but, generally speaking, figures don't lie and one thing you can't argue with is Nightingale's reliability and consistency.
In my opinion, I love Dufty as an attacking player but in FG he would be a defensive liability at this stage.

 

[SaintElroy]

I love stats .. here's one. Coen Hess has already scored as many tries as Clive Churchill did in 13 years of footy.