Team v Warrior's

[saintm]

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.

The last month he has been very good in all aspects of his game .Gaining more confidence every game,his time will come if he continues to impress.

 

[Dragonsteve2]

I am surprised by some of the negativity I have read in this thread. Apart from the Bennett years it is hard to recall a Dragons team playing so consistently well and a forward pack dislaying so much strength and ability to offload. While I have taken issue with some of Mary's selections I can understand his taking a conservative approach.

That having been said there have been two persistent and glaring weaknesses which Mary has refused to address:
1. McCrone's poor kicking game;

2.The right hand side defence.

I actually think McCrone has played quite well in Widdop's absence. However over the course of the season his kicking game at best has been satisfactory. At worst it has been little short of appalling for a professional full-time footballer. Nene was supposedly bought for his ability with the high ball but McCrone has proved incapable of utilising this potential weapon. He made some attempts to do so against the Sharks but was not able to hit the mark. Even worse the three consecutive 20 m 7 tackle starts he offered the Sharks early in the 2nd half just ruined any chance to build momentum.

In three of our four losses the right hand defence has been successfully targetted. Nothing changed on Friday with Milne's replacement of Aitken.

To me these are the two most pressing problems. Is Mann or Field or Nona the best answer for the tactical kicking role? Is Mann the best guy to plug the right hand defensive weakness? I don't know - I am just a spectator and fanatical fan. I don't spend everyday observing the strengths and weaknesses of the players. That is the coach's job.

Mary, you say you love coaching and you want to continue in your role. Well it's time for you to do your job and select the right mix of players from those available.
.

 

[Overseas dragon]

Yes Mary roll the dice ,grow some balls .maybe if you do you will have the warriors worried .and all the dragons fans appreciating your vision.unfortunately we all know that won't happen.Dufty , nighty ,mann, Milne mcdonald field Nona what have you got to lose mcrone on the bench just in case.

 

[Vinnie]

Anyone have the team sheet yet ??

 

[Vinnie]

Unfortunately we are losing games and Macregor will opt for safety first as always, but with that in mind i think McDonald has to be dropped. We are losing games and he has constantly been the weak link in defense. While Dugan was there he on many occasions mopped up and covered for him but lately he has been bad .... We need to win and we just cant carry him anymore. He needs time in the lower grades to learn positioning and defence and there's a time to go for the intercept and thats not all the time !!!! With that in mind i would have to go this way -

1. Mann
2. Nightingale
3. Lafai
4. Milne
5. Herbert (or anyone else who is better defensively) I'm open for suggestions on this one. I guess the bonus is he kicks as well.
6. Field
7. McCrone

Before anyone screams about McCrone I ask can we really afford to change 3 main positions in our spine after 3 straight losses ??? I don't think so we just have to win that's why we can't carry McDonald this week.
When DUGES AND Widdop come back then hey bring back McDonald (maybe being dropped he might learn ) and even replace McCrone with whoever but just not now ... We cant afford it.

 

[Dorothy the Winowhore]

Field should not play 6 with McCrone at 7. Got to be Mann at 6 with McCrone, and don't shift him out to the wing goddammit.

 

[Vinnie]

Field should not play 6 with McCrone at 7. Got to be Mann at 6 with McCrone, and don't shift him out to the wing goddammit.

I'd be happy to Have Field at F/B and Mann at 5/8 as well i was actually tossing and turning about that one so im happy either or.

 

[Alec's-saints]

me thinks dugan will train this week and may play

 

[Vinnie]

me thinks dugan will train this week and may play

Really ???

 

[Vinnie]

Actually what is the update ??? When are Duges and Widdop expected back ??

 

[Alec's-saints]

Actually what is the update ??? When are Duges and Widdop expected back ??

widdop back round 13 or 14. dugan should play this week. an extra week is nothing

 

[Dennis Papaioannou]

I am surprised by some of the negativity I have read in this thread. Apart from the Bennett years it is hard to recall a Dragons team playing so consistently well and a forward pack dislaying so much strength and ability to offload. While I have taken issue with some of Mary's selections I can understand his taking a conservative approach.

That having been said there have been two persistent and glaring weaknesses which Mary has refused to address:
1. McCrone's poor kicking game;

2.The right hand side defence.

I actually think McCrone has played quite well in Widdop's absence. However over the course of the season his kicking game at best has been satisfactory. At worst it has been little short of appalling for a professional full-time footballer. Nene was supposedly bought for his ability with the high ball but McCrone has proved incapable of utilising this potential weapon. He made some attempts to do so against the Sharks but was not able to hit the mark. Even worse the three consecutive 20 m 7 tackle starts he offered the Sharks early in the 2nd half just ruined any chance to build momentum.

In three of our four losses the right hand defence has been successfully targetted. Nothing changed on Friday with Milne's replacement of Aitken.

To me these are the two most pressing problems. Is Mann or Field or Nona the best answer for the tactical kicking role? Is Mann the best guy to plug the right hand defensive weakness? I don't know - I am just a spectator and fanatical fan. I don't spend everyday observing the strengths and weaknesses of the players. That is the coach's job.

Mary, you say you love coaching and you want to continue in your role. Well it's time for you to do your job and select the right mix of players from those available.
.

McRone plays with heart, always.
His commitment is not in question but he does not have a kicking game full stop.
Mary persists with McRone kicking and we are just losing games for nothing.
So the team needs a game manager with a good quality kicking game.
The only player that fits that bill right now is Nona. Surely we can't do any worse.
The back line shuffle is open to conjecture but I would be playing Milne on the wing, not in the centres.
Then Mann can either partner Nona in the halves OR he can play next to Lafai in the centres.
Mann will not let us down defensively and is prone to getting over the stripe no matter where he plays.

 

[Coffs dragon]

Team selected......Effiin Boring with KKLoafer on the wing!

 

[Dannyboy80]

NRL Team: Round 11 v New Zealand Warriors


Tue 16th May, 04:01PM

St George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor has named his mandatory 21-man squad for the Dragons' Round 11 clash against the New Zealand Warriors at FMG Stadium, Waikato on Friday, May 19.

Euan Aitken (hamstring) will miss the trip across the ditch with Taane Milne set to play in the centres and Kalifa Faifai Loa being named on the wing for the first time in 2017.

Livewire outside back Matt Dufty has also been named in the reserves for the first time this season.

The Dragons will celebrate the 50th NRL games of hooker Cameron McInnes and five-eighth Kurt Mann when they run out against the Warriors.

NRL Squad for Round 11 v New Zealand Warriors:

1. Jason Nightingale
2. Nene Macdonald
3. Taane Milne
4. Tim Lafai
5. Kalifa Faifai Loa
6. Kurt Mann
7. Josh McCrone
8. Russell Packer
9. Cameron McInnes
10. Paul Vaughan
11. Tyson Frizell (c)
12. Joel Thompson
13. Jack de Belin
Interchange:
14. Tariq Sims
15. Leeson Ah Mau
16. Hame Sele
17. Jai Field
18. Matt Dufty
19. Siliva Havili
20. Luciano Leilua
21. Jacob Host

Players unavailable:

Gareth Widdop (knee) – Round 14

Josh Dugan (cheekbone) – Round 13

Euan Aitken (hamstring) – indefinite

Drew Hutchison (knee) – season

Will Matthews (hip) – indefinite

Kiti Glymin (shoulder) – indefinite

Levi Dodd (knee) – season

 

[Dennis Papaioannou]

NRL Team: Round 11 v New Zealand Warriors


Tue 16th May, 04:01PM

St George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor has named his mandatory 21-man squad for the Dragons' Round 11 clash against the New Zealand Warriors at FMG Stadium, Waikato on Friday, May 19.

Euan Aitken (hamstring) will miss the trip across the ditch with Taane Milne set to play in the centres and Kalifa Faifai Loa being named on the wing for the first time in 2017.

Livewire outside back Matt Dufty has also been named in the reserves for the first time this season.

The Dragons will celebrate the 50th NRL games of hooker Cameron McInnes and five-eighth Kurt Mann when they run out against the Warriors.

NRL Squad for Round 11 v New Zealand Warriors:

1. Jason Nightingale
2. Nene Macdonald
3. Taane Milne
4. Tim Lafai
5. Kalifa Faifai Loa
6. Kurt Mann
7. Josh McCrone
8. Russell Packer
9. Cameron McInnes
10. Paul Vaughan
11. Tyson Frizell (c)
12. Joel Thompson
13. Jack de Belin
Interchange:
14. Tariq Sims
15. Leeson Ah Mau
16. Hame Sele
17. Jai Field
18. Matt Dufty
19. Siliva Havili
20. Luciano Leilua
21. Jacob Host

Players unavailable:

Gareth Widdop (knee) – Round 14

Josh Dugan (cheekbone) – Round 13

Euan Aitken (hamstring) – indefinite

Drew Hutchison (knee) – season

Will Matthews (hip) – indefinite

Kiti Glymin (shoulder) – indefinite

Levi Dodd (knee) – season

So basically we have not solved the kicking game.
We could easily dominate the stats and still lose the game like we did against Cronulla.
Hopefully our forwards will do enough to get us home.

 

[Alec's-saints]

if we play like we have been we should smash them. jai field and mann should cause a threat towards the warriors.

 

[possm]

if we play like we have been we should smash them. jai field and mann should cause a threat towards the warriors.

Field is on the bench, may get 10min if lucky.

 

[blacksafake]

Team selected......Effiin Boring with KKLoafer on the wing!

A typical McGregor selection.Steady as she goes.
My only hope is Dufty at 18, maybe a late change with Nighty replacing KFFL.Not sure this will happen as it will probably mean Field & Dufty in the side together which would be way outside Mary's comfort zone.

 

[possm]

A typical McGregor selection.Steady as she goes.
My only hope is Dufty at 18, maybe a late change with Nighty replacing KFFL.Not sure this will happen as it will probably mean Field & Dufty in the side together which would be way outside Mary's comfort zone.

But Field is on the bench. I'd love for Field to go to 7 partnering Mann in the halves. We certainly would have some flair and speed in the spine if Dufty at fullback and Field/Mann in the halves.

 

[Alec's-saints]

how's kalifas form of late?