The I was wrong thread

[Bayside Dragon]

My main concern has always centred around the previous useless peanut coach & the poor selection & utilisation of the bench. Both fixed by Hook in one swoop!!
3 out of the 4 Bench forwards are making impact, look fit & are keeping on the move forward with power.
Williame seems like insurance for Jack Bird at this stage only.

Think Williame is a cover for ALL the backs. Allows Bird to cover for injury in the halves. Even cover a reshuffle if wingers or Dufty go down. See why Williame was trialled on wing ahead of some of our youngsters. I expect those youngsters will be brought into the 17 once Hook feels that our current squad is mentally strong and well drilled enough to mentor the young guns in game situations without affecting their own focus.

Don't think Hook will change much over the next month or two with the current squad learning their roles and building combinations. Barring injuries of course.

Hope Gentle is sitting with the young guns group -watching and explaining our systems in the Big Show so that they can imagine themselves fitting in on the big stage when their time arrives.

 

[Miller was a legend]

Wait until we sign Fifita first.

Hahaha

 

[Crush]

I’d like to nominate @ALSGI as poster of the year. He said that trial form meant nothing. He predicted that we would be very competitive. He rightly so called us all “horrible f**kers” for bagging and doubting the team. He laughed at the idea of us getting the wooden spoon.

I was wrong. I was a whining little bitch and was wrong.
ALSGI was spot on, we are competing and competing very well!

 

[matPORTS]

These first three rounds of 2021 remind me of our first three rounds in 2009:

New coach/coaching staff just starting to implement their grand plan.
We were off a pre-season still full of unknowns and some questionable decisions around our recruitment.
Unlucky to lose in the first round.
Solid, yet still room for improvement, wins in rounds two and three.
'Diamond in the rough' players starting to show some glimpses of what they are really capable of doing.

Something changed in Rava last season in that fateful game against Parramatta where he made Sivo his b*tch for the night (and where we all finally experienced the euphoria of saying goodbye to Mary). Can't wait to see these two marking up again in a couple of weeks.

 

[ALSGI]

I’d like to nominate @ALSGI as poster of the year. He said that trial form meant nothing. He predicted that we would be very competitive. He rightly so called us all “horrible f**kers” for bagging and doubting the team. He laughed at the idea of us getting the wooden spoon.

I was wrong. I was a whining little bitch and was wrong.
ALSGI was spot on, we are competing and competing very well!

Did I? I really need to stop posting on the drink.

 

[SBD82]

I’m not prepared to start printing tshirts just yet.

The most positive thing so far is that we aren’t playing to our potential, but have still won a couple of games and been in the mix for the third.

As the players become more accustomed to the new systems and each other, hopefully we will continue the promising start and continue to improve.

 

[Crush]

I’m not prepared to start printing tshirts just yet.

The most positive thing so far is that we aren’t playing to our potential, but have still won a couple of games and been in the mix for the third.

As the players become more accustomed to the new systems and each other, hopefully we will continue the promising start and continue to improve.

I’ve already printed a few t-shirts.
They say “thank f**k SGI don’t completely suck this year like I thought they would”

 

[Inisai Toga]

I’ve already printed a few t-shirts.
They say “thank f**k SGI don’t completely suck this year like I thought they would”

Do you have them in XXL i have a wedding coming up?

 

[This Year?]

I’m not prepared to start printing tshirts just yet.

The most positive thing so far is that we aren’t playing to our potential, but have still won a couple of games and been in the mix for the third.

As the players become more accustomed to the new systems and each other, hopefully we will continue the promising start and continue to improve.

Me meither. For large parts of that game last night it felt like a cripple fight. Even though we almost got to 40 our attack isn't fluid and better sides will defend that easily. The game against Knights next week will show where we're really at, but at the moment I'm just enjoying the fact we got a win and love seeing our team beginning to play and act like a team.

 

[Bring back John Fifita]

Rava has been awesome..

He had suspicious hands earlier on, but damn he’s not only fixed those but is an axe in defence too.

Should be the first winger picked every week.

Ive always been a Rav fan but yes, it too would get full-body-shakes any time he was under a high ball.

As for “I was wrong”..

My contributions...

Ryan Webb. I was very doubtful of the appointment given his background but I’ve really been impressed so far, and particularly with his communications to the public. He’s recognised our fan base can be “volatile” and the regular comms on various club matters have been one real standout for nine.

Paul Vaughan. I thought he’d lost his nuts last year and doubt he’d find them again this year. Has been great in the middle so far. I would have happily seen him go elsewhere but now I’m wanting him to stay once again.

Blake Lawrie. I was adamant he wasn’t a true prop but has been the biggest surprise to me this year. Has really taken it up a few gears and deserves high praise...

And on the theme but with a twist...

future posts I hope I can be proven wrong on for the benefit of the club..

Matt Dufty. For the great moments he delivers at times, he just isn’t ever a fullback I’m ever truly confident in. Not his size. Just where his head is sometimes and bad habits. I truly want him to own that number 1 jersey but those bad habits still pop up and sadly can lead to opposition tries. If he was demoted or left the club it wouldn’t bother me one bit as it stands. Cmon mate..

McCullough. To me we should have gone all out to get a guy like Brandon Smith, whose got many more seasons ahead and has played (and won) in arguably the best Rugby League system in the comp. Guys of this quality rarely come into the market. At 31 McCullough fills a gap ok and may help our salary cap, but is he the guy to drag us into the 8. And we’ve signed him for 3 years. 2 I could understand... but 3.... I doubt he’s gonna absolutely be that spearhead out of dummy half we so desperately need but want to be proven wrong.

Kerr playing on the edge. To me it smacked of trying to create our own “Kikau”. We need horsepower in the middle, and someone who can help us “get out of the shit” when stuck in our own 20. Against manly last night I still think that was an area we struggled in. He’s one of those guys and I feel is wasted out wide.

Anthony Griffin. Many will think he’s great already coz he’s not McGregor. And a coaching change can usually bring initial renewed positivity. I thought Griffin was the best option of mediocre options to coach at the time but had no real expectations things would be much different than 2020. I’m still on the fence even though we’ve had a few wins. Cautious optimism is where I’m at rather than being convinced he’s a great coach and a great signing for us. Yet.

At 2 wins from 3 games this season so far, it’s a seemingly positive start too. However our wins have been against the 2 most impotent clubs in the comp. If offered 2 from 3 at the start of the year I’d take it... but it’s been like winning at the bong bong picnic races. The true test of where we really are is when we race at Randwick. Against the likes of Penrith, Melbourne, Souths again. I’m not going to be fuming if we don’t beat them, but it’ll be how we truly compete that’ll dictate where my head is at.

I really want us to succeed. Rather than be a punchline like we have for the last few seasons. I never thought we were a wooden spoon team this year like many “experts” predicted in the media, but 10-12 is where - if I had to bet my life on it - we’ll finish. It’s a decent roster n far better than most see.

I’m glad I’ve been wrong about a few dragons folk and want to be wrong about the others I’m still doubtful of.

 

[Illusion]

Here we go now in the right thread ......Mate I put my hand up 12 months ago I didnt want Rav anywhere near the team ...... Boy did I get that wrong ..... I just could not see him improving so fast ..... Well done .....

 

[This Year?]

I was one of the few who likes having Kerr in the 2nd row. Yes his lateral defence is questionable against the faster blokes and he's not the quickest bloke on an edge, but I think the positives outweigh the negatives.
He creates lots of room on that edge in attack and isn't just a battering ram like Friz was used as. Hunt and Lomax are benefitting most from it. Kerr is improving there with every week and is getting more minutes.
If Kerr goes back to prop, who will be put into the 2nd row and will that person be as effective?

 

[SBD82]

I was one of the few who likes having Kerr in the 2nd row. Yes his lateral defence is questionable against the faster blokes and he's not the quickest bloke on an edge, but I think the positives outweigh the negatives.
He creates lots of room on that edge in attack and isn't just a battering ram like Friz was used as. Hunt and Lomax are benefitting most from it. Kerr is improving there with every week and is getting more minutes.
If Kerr goes back to prop, who will be put into the 2nd row and will that person be as effective?

I was happy to let Kerr have a crack and see what happened.

But before the season I was telling anyone that would listen that Bird needed to be moved to the right edge, and was done as a centre.

What I’m trying to say is, I’m an idiot. Ask someone smarter.

 

[matPORTS]

Ive always been a Rav fan but yes, it too would get full-body-shakes any time he was under a high ball.

As for “I was wrong”..

My contributions...

Ryan Webb. I was very doubtful of the appointment given his background but I’ve really been impressed so far, and particularly with his communications to the public. He’s recognised our fan base can be “volatile” and the regular comms on various club matters have been one real standout for nine.

Paul Vaughan. I thought he’d lost his nuts last year and doubt he’d find them again this year. Has been great in the middle so far. I would have happily seen him go elsewhere but now I’m wanting him to stay once again.

Blake Lawrie. I was adamant he wasn’t a true prop but has been the biggest surprise to me this year. Has really taken it up a few gears and deserves high praise...

And on the theme but with a twist...

future posts I hope I can be proven wrong on for the benefit of the club..

Matt Dufty. For the great moments he delivers at times, he just isn’t ever a fullback I’m ever truly confident in. Not his size. Just where his head is sometimes and bad habits. I truly want him to own that number 1 jersey but those bad habits still pop up and sadly can lead to opposition tries. If he was demoted or left the club it wouldn’t bother me one but as it stands. Cmon mate..

McCullough. To me we should have gone all out to get a guy like Brandon Smith, whose got many more seasons ahead and has played (and won) in arguably the best Rugby League system in the comp. Guys of this quality rarely come into the market. At 31 McCullough fills a gap ok and may help our salary cap, but is he the guy to drag us into the 8. And we’ve signed him for 3 years. 2 I could understand... but 3.... I doubt he’s gonna absolutely gonna be that spearhead out of dummy half we so desperately need but want to be proven wrong.

Kerr playing on the edge. To me it smacked of trying to create our own “Kikau”. We need horsepower in the middle, and someone who can help us “get out of the shit” when stuck in our own 20. Against manly last night I still think that was an area we struggled in. He’s one of those guys and I feel is wasted out wide.

Anthony Griffin. Many will think he’s great already coz he’s not McGregor. And a coaching change can usually bring initial renewed positivity. I thought Griffin was the best option of mediocre options to coach at the time but had no real expectations things would be much different than 2020. I’m still on the fence even though we’ve had a few wins. Cautious optimism is where I’m at rather than being convinced he’s a great coach and a great signing for us. Yet.

At 2 wins from 3 games this season so far, it’s a seemingly positive start too. However our wins have been against the 2 most impotent clubs in the comp. If offered 2 from 3 at the start of the year I’d take it... but it’s been like winning at the bong bong picnic races. The true test of where we really are is when we race at Randwick. Against the likes of Penrith, Melbourne, Souths again. I’m not going to be fuming if we don’t beat them, but it’ll be how we truly compete that’ll dictate where my head is at.

I really want us to succeed. Rather than be a punchline like we have for the last few seasons. I never thought we were a wooden spoon team this year like many “experts” predicted in the media, but 10-12 is where - if I had to bet my life on it - we’ll finish. It’s a decent roster n far better than most see.

I’m glad I’ve been wrong about a few dragons folk and want to be wrong about the others I’m still doubtful of.

Great post. Good summary of where we are actually at as a team right now.

 

[This Year?]

I was happy to let Kerr have a crack and see what happened.

But before the season I was telling anyone that would listen that Bird needed to be moved to the right edge, and was done as a centre.

What I’m trying to say is, I’m an idiot. Ask someone smarter.

Bird killed it at centre for the Sharks. His body shape is right for an edge. For me it's not about right or wrong, but about filling positions that are needed. The Feegais were next in line but didn't trial well. We criticise our coach for not thinking outside the square, but when he does we critise that too. I don't think any of us are idiots, we just all see things very differently and it makes for great debate.

 

[SBD82]

Bird killed it at centre for the Sharks. His body shape is right for an edge. For me it's not about right or wrong, but about filling positions that are needed. The Feegais were next in line but didn't trial well. We criticise our coach for not thinking outside the square, but when he does we critise that too. I don't think any of us are idiots, we just all see things very differently and it makes for great debate.

Agree on most points, but I think you’re being very kind mate.

Sometimes I’m definitely an idiot.

 

[Bayside Dragon]

These first three rounds of 2021 remind me of our first three rounds in 2009:

New coach/coaching staff just starting to implement their grand plan.
We were off a pre-season still full of unknowns and some questionable decisions around our recruitment.
Unlucky to lose in the first round.
Solid, yet still room for improvement, wins in rounds two and three.
'Diamond in the rough' players starting to show some glimpses of what they are really capable of doing.

Something changed in Rava last season in that fateful game against Parramatta where he made Sivo his b*tch for the night (and where we all finally experienced the euphoria of saying goodbye to Mary). Can't wait to see these two marking up again in a couple of weeks.

Now if he could only return down-field kicks like he charges to the try line he'd be the stuff legends are made of. Still, I rate him as easily the most improved player in the NRL.

 

[This Year?]

Agree on most points, but I think you’re being very kind mate.

Sometimes I’m definitely an idiot.

If anyone needs confirmation of my idiot credentials just check out a game day thread.

 

[SBD82]

If anyone needs confirmation of my idiot credentials just check out a game day thread.

The only real idiots in the game day threads are the people who try to pretend that they aren’t.

 

[Inisai Toga]

I was one of the few who likes having Kerr in the 2nd row. Yes his lateral defence is questionable against the faster blokes and he's not the quickest bloke on an edge, but I think the positives outweigh the negatives.
He creates lots of room on that edge in attack and isn't just a battering ram like Friz was used as. Hunt and Lomax are benefitting most from it. Kerr is improving there with every week and is getting more minutes.
If Kerr goes back to prop, who will be put into the 2nd row and will that person be as effective?

agree, and not sure that Kerr is necessarily a more effective ‘prop’ than the others so i don’t think we lose anything running with this; hopefully he develops his lateral defence and become even more explosive in attack.