The game is on today or something. Sharks or someone.

[Poupou Escobar]

And it might still work this year

We need 13 wins from 21 remaining games to make the finals. It's doable.

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

It's a long season, and there's plenty of football to be played yet.

We will be ok, I think.

But I do hope that Norman and Moses work hard on their fifth tackle options at training this week...

Has Norman really been any good since Moses came? I think maybe he needs to feel like he's the man. He was also less than enthusiastic about Hayne's return when asked in one of those videos. Team cohesion and attitude is my major concern, far ahead of fitness and small forwards.

 

[Eelementary]

Has Norman really been any good since Moses came? I think maybe he needs to feel like he's the man. He was also less than enthusiastic about Hayne's return when asked in one of those videos. Team cohesion and attitude is my major concern, far ahead of fitness and small forwards.

If rumours are true, and he's playing up, then perhaps his mind is not completely focussed on the Eels; perhaps it is time we looked to part ways with him?

I mean, IF the story that he's partying hard and refuses to calm down are true, then it shows the attitude of a selfish player - and that goes against Arthur's policies.

However, as they say, winning cures everything, and I'm sure that as soon as we win our first game, we will get the monkey off our back, and things will turn.

 

[Delboy]

Viewing the Saints game, their backline would certainly be no better than ours..
One difference, they have big forwards punching holes in the middle, from that point they create space for the backs, Dufty is killing them as would French if we had the forwards moving the chains and setting up field position.
We can dream.

 

[Gazzamatta]

Ill bet the Tits tighten their defense by the time they play Parra Del.

 

[Chipmunk]

We need 13 wins from 21 remaining games to make the finals. It's doable.

Doable? That doesn't sound like we're a lock to make the Top 8.

 

[Bazal]

Viewing the Saints game, their backline would certainly be no better than ours..
One difference, they have big forwards punching holes in the middle, from that point they create space for the backs, Dufty is killing them as would French if we had the forwards moving the chains and setting up field position.
We can dream.

De Belin 106kg
Graham 107kg
Vaughan 110kg
Frizell 108kg
Sims 106kg
Leilua 116kg
Sele 102kg
Ah Mau 110kg

Apart from Fatty Leilua they are far from big...

 

[Delboy]

Ill bet the Tits tighten their defense by the time they play Parra Del.

Nothing to do with the way the Tits play, just demonstrates that if you have big forwards creating space in the middle, decent backs will open up the play.
Not sure why you commented on the Tits, we need our fwds to step up no matter the opposition

 

[Chipmunk]

De Belin 106kg
Graham 107kg
Vaughan 110kg
Frizell 108kg
Sims 106kg
Leilua 116kg
Sele 102kg
Ah Mau 110kg

Apart from Fatty Leilua they are far from big...

Forwards don't have to be big, they just have to know how to win the play the ball.

 

[Bazal]

Forwards don't have to be big, they just have to know how to win the play the ball.

I don't necessarily disagree, I was just responding to a comment that suggested the Dragons had a remarkably large forward pack. They do not.

 

[Jake the snake]

Viewing the Saints game, their backline would certainly be no better than ours..
One difference, they have big forwards punching holes in the middle, from that point they create space for the backs, Dufty is killing them as would French if we had the forwards moving the chains and setting up field position.
We can dream.

Would you have Terepo in for Evans ? Evans to wenty ?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Doable? That doesn't sound like we're a lock to make the Top 8.

I'm a proponent of understatement.

I'd be very surprised if we didn't improve on our recent form.

 

[Delboy]

A demonstration of the fact that fwds win matches. Being involved in the juniors we had a side that couldn't match the physicality of Cabra, Wenty and Mounties. We then recruited a few players from Plumpton,Doonside and Hebersham to get some pepper in the fwds, within 2 years the team was successful in winning a Div 1 title
Doesn't change in reality, wingers and centres get to play with footballers.

 

[Bazal]

Would you have Terepo in for Evans ? Evans to wenty ?

Evans needs to stay, he's the body type we need and will at least offer something with the footy when we do get a possession winning game. And I say that as a bloke who was leery of the signing, I think he showed an element of laziness at the Roosters.

Terepo is actually our smallest prop. Would not put him in for Evans, but probably his defence off the bench would be valuable. Start Mannah and Alvaro, bring Terepo and Evans off the bench

 

[Noise]

I'd bring in Terepo for Scott.

 

[Delboy]

De Belin 106kg
Graham 107kg
Vaughan 110kg
Frizell 108kg
Sims 106kg
Leilua 116kg
Sele 102kg
Ah Mau 110kg

Apart from Fatty Leilua they are far from big...

If you believe that our fwds are the same size and shape as the Saints forwards, then good luck. No comparison, Mannah v Graham and Alvaro v Vaughan, ummmm.
This year our side looks lean rather than muscly and it shows big time in the efforts to control the ruck and get through the line. In tackles we are pushed back consistently and are unable to achieve that when defending .

Live at the games it's even more apparent, close up is where it's so friggin obvious

 

[Bazal]

I'd bring in Terepo for Scott.

Yep, me too.

8-Alvaro
10-Mannah
11-Ma'u
12-Tepai
13-Brown

14-Edwards
15-Terepo
16-Evans
17-Whoever...a forward or Smith/Pritchard depending.

And I think we need to change our rotation a little. Mannah off at the 20, leave Alvaro out there, bring on Evans for 20 mins...Terepo to be used ideally in the second half to spell Evans, Mannah on for Alvaro, then Alvaro finishes the game with either Terepo or Evans

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Terepo is actually our smallest prop. Would not put him in for Evans, but probably his defence off the bench would be valuable. Start Mannah and Alvaro, bring Terepo and Evans off the bench

Terepo is bigger than Brown and Scott. And he officially played 'lock' today, so he is just a middle forward like those two.

 

[Bazal]

If you believe that our fwds are the same size and shape as the Saints forwards, then good luck. No comparison, Mannah v Graham and Alvaro v Vaughan, ummmm.
This year our side looks lean rather than muscly and it shows big time in the efforts to control the ruck and get through the line. In tackles we are pushed back consistently and are unable to achieve that when defending .

Live at the games it's even more apparent, close up is where it's so friggin obvious

Vaughan and De Belin are two of the most ripped humans in the comp...Alvaro and Brown have headed the same way.

You've seen what you want to see, simple as that. The thing the Dragons have done better is control the ruck, which has very little to do with size (and our two best are the leaner Alvaro and Brown much like their two best are the leaner Vaughan and De Belin).

They have also exploited weak Titans defence around the ruck, but any merkin can do that. You don't need to be a monster and in fact it's normally the halves and hooker who are crucial in this regard.

FYI our pack weights yesterday

Scott 100kg
Alvaro 108kg
Evans 110kg
Edwards 106kg
Ma'u 103kg
Brown 107kg
Moeroa 112kg
Mannah 110kg

Of course we could always bring in either the 106kg Terepo or the 118kg Williams (match fitness allowing) for Beau Scott, which I have already said I would be a fan of. But apart from Leilua (who is laterally disgraceful) any difference in size is purely in your head.

 

[Bazal]

Terepo is bigger than Brown and Scott. And he officially played 'lock' today, so he is just a middle forward like those two.

Scott isn't a prop, although the difference is semantics these days he's still the more traditional third back rower type of lock.

Brown has 1kg on Terepo, although he is 1cm shorter.