The Lurker - Brett Morris

[Como Connection]

I was recently told Brett was no hope of coming back.
FACT
CC

 

[Saint_JimmyG]

I still say that McGregor was a big reason why he left in the first place.

 

[Old Timer]

So you would agree that Graham falls in that category as well?
Everyone is touting him as a messiah number 2.
All I see is a prop at the end of his career that doesn't bend the line any more.
Philosophically I agree with preferring our young future champions but to be successful at introducing them into first grade you need a coach who has the nous and aptitude to achieve that.
McGregor has wasted a number of opportunities to blood young stars and given recruitments like Graham, it seems that "experience" is the main criteria in terms of selection and recruitment.
I would have no problem dumping Nightingale if we had a coach that was capable of providing an alternative from within our own ranks.
In the same breath, I would prefer to promote Hind, Kerr, Lawrie into that vacant prop rotation.

My position on Graham is well documented.
Old prop at 32 and on tired legs.
People support his purchase with the argument that he brings this, that the other with him and some salivate over the prospect of him captaining and leading as we don't really have much in that department.
How can it possibly be that we have to buy a captain???
That complete notion makes me sick to the core.
We are buying these relics / senior players to compensate for what we are unable to do and that is build a strong junior base that self perpetuates and manifests into top notch NRL players.
IMO more paper mache and spakfilla being applied to the enormous cracks in our organisation.
Any condoning of these purchases simply prolongs the agony of being mediocre.
Simple equation old players with their best behind them V's youth with potential and their best years just in front of us.
I know which way Newcastle is heading and why they will make it and I also know where we are heading and why we haven even further to fall.

 

[RedVDragon]

Go after Koroibete or Rona or both and forget about Morris.

 

[ALSGI]

If you properly evaluate Nightingale's tries in 2017, very few, if any, featured him running a mere 10 metres, and "falling over" the line.

Most involved a fair amount of skill that not too many wingers possess.

Yeah, I love the old Nighty too, but respectfully, that's total BS mate.

Go back and have a look at the highlights. Most players at senior grade could and would have scored most if not all of his tries this year. I was happy for him and the team each time he scored but honestly, didn't jump out of my chair.
An example is (if you bother to have a look) in Rd 23 when he scored two against Titans, both tries about 5-8m out, not a hand on him and he looked like he struggled to get up after scoring.
I could only see 1 of his tries this year that maybe possessed extraordinary skills and that was short range stuff too. The rest, any of our backline would have scored.

I've already said what a club legend Nighty is in many posts, but I'm not ashamed to say he's too slow by a few country miles to play in our backline.
FFS I'm over the blind, delusional wishful thinking some people have that he can do the job better than our youngsters anymore. He can't, he'll be slower next year and meanwhile we have speed and skill in the ranks that need to be injected or it'll be the same Dragons footy we're all becoming used to.

I want Dragons to win another premiership and it won't hapen with Nighty on the Wing again.

 

[Life's Good]

I was originally against it but Bmoz still has plenty to offer and would put pressure on both Nighty & Nene. Sure, he would take up a spot that might go to a junior but, by the sounds of it, we don't have any ready yet and won't for a good 12 months.

One other point to consider is our conservative(missionary position only)coach likes to rely on old heads first eg. McCrone so Bmoz would fit the bill nicely.

 

[gregstar]

We don't need either of the downie twins.

Their day has passed.

We should kidnap the winger from the storm or the winger from the eels.

Or both.

In fact if we got both, I'd consider giving jowls a hummer.

 

[Old Timer]

Morris made his debut as a 20 year old in 2006.
During his time with us, he was amazing and became a truly great player despite a somewhat indifferent start.
Anyone remember some of the Gus Gould statements about the brothers Morris catching ability early on?
At the end of 2014 when he left for the Dogs I was greatly disappointed and thought to myself where is our next B Moz.
A young brilliant up and comer who will enthral us all with his athleticism, sizzling pace and long range scoring feats.
Well evidently my prayers have been finally answered by some of the genius' posters in this place. The next B Moz is available to us and guess what it's actually B Moz but this time it's the 31 year old version.
Time has evidently stood still and nothing has changed and he will be as he was and no younger players anywhere in our system are worth considering to be given the same opportunity that was given the initially bumble fingered oaf that become such a great player.
He was given his opportunity, the club persevered and it paid huge dividends. Now FMD people want to go back to the old tried and previously good players and to top it off they want to throw Nightingale in for good measure.
They should provide brail text in this place because there is an awful lot of blind people around. (no disrespect to you possm)

 

[Bests Golden Boots]

My position on Graham is well documented.
Old prop at 32 and on tired legs.
People support his purchase with the argument that he brings this, that the other with him and some salivate over the prospect of him captaining and leading as we don't really have much in that department.
How can it possibly be that we have to buy a captain???
That complete notion makes me sick to the core.
We are buying these relics / senior players to compensate for what we are unable to do and that is build a strong junior base that self perpetuates and manifests into top notch NRL players.
IMO more paper mache and spakfilla being applied to the enormous cracks in our organisation.
Any condoning of these purchases simply prolongs the agony of being mediocre.
Simple equation old players with their best behind them V's youth with potential and their best years just in front of us.
I know which way Newcastle is heading and why they will make it and I also know where we are heading and why we haven even further to fall.

We haven't got a coach who encourages youth.
We have a coach that encourages youth to go to other clubs cause they are never getting a run.

Lomax, Thompson, Garrick, Field, Sailor, FFS give them a go, if they're good enough great, if they're not, they are still young enough to go back an learn and get another crack.

 

[dragonssamy61]

.people its the friggen lurker.
Any rate morris want come back and we sould not want him

 

[Dragonslayer]

This is one of the biggest issues in my opinion. McGregor may argue with you that he has debuted Dufty, Aitken, Leilua, Sele, Host, Kiti Glymin, Field and Lawrie. But the point is what did he do for them after debueing. Only Aitkin has had any continuous game time the rest have had only dribs and drabs. And usually alternating between Reserve grade and being on the bench which is no development for them at all. I see other clubs using their Juniors and developing them such as Cotric, Mitchell and Hess to name a few. While we persevere with the old Brigade hoping they will come good. And yes I am speaking about Nighty for 1.
We have the juniors abd Millward keeps telling us how good they are, so lets now run with that.
Going back to the past is not the answer

 

[dragonssamy61]

I think McDonald has a lot of upside but he just isn't scoring any tries.
Maybe it`s the coach`s game plan his main involvement seems to be as a battering ram coming out of our defensive zone.
Morris, for a year or two, is a ready made solution.

I think McDonald has a lot of upside but he just isn't scoring any tries.
Maybe it`s the coach`s game plan his main involvement seems to be as a battering ram coming out of our defensive zone.
Morris, for a year or two, is a ready made solution.

Dennis
It is the coaches plan .
The problem with dufty at fb is he want make 100 + meters bringing the ball back as he get bashed and pushed back regularly.
So we need wingers how will do 15 or more hit ups and gain 100 or more meters , and get quick play the balls.
That way then we can get on a roll though our pack.
But if we had a coach how truly was a coach they would have a plan be and use McDonald's strengths.
Using him a bartering ram is not working because he is to slow and needs to work on his speed and toughness.
But mary only has one plan

 

[MrDragon007]

Yeah, I love the old Nighty too, but respectfully, that's total BS mate.

Go back and have a look at the highlights. Most players at senior grade could and would have scored most if not all of his tries this year. I was happy for him and the team each time he scored but honestly, didn't jump out of my chair.
An example is (if you bother to have a look) in Rd 23 when he scored two against Titans, both tries about 5-8m out, not a hand on him and he looked like he struggled to get up after scoring.
I could only see 1 of his tries this year that maybe possessed extraordinary skills and that was short range stuff too. The rest, any of our backline would have scored.

I've already said what a club legend Nighty is in many posts, but I'm not ashamed to say he's too slow by a few country miles to play in our backline.
FFS I'm over the blind, delusional wishful thinking some people have that he can do the job better than our youngsters anymore. He can't, he'll be slower next year and meanwhile we have speed and skill in the ranks that need to be injected or it'll be the same Dragons footy we're all becoming used to.

I want Dragons to win another premiership and it won't hapen with Nighty on the Wing again.

I think the point your missing is that Nighty brings experience.
Dufty is raw in first grade, Nene is playing like a dud, Lafai is hot and cold, and Aitkens is also pretty raw and also injufry prone.
To add another rookie, the way our backline is, is a bit of a gamble in my opinion.
If we could snare Korabeti, then yes blood a rookie, but atm its a risk.
We have Lawrie, Host, Dufty, and Sele that are inexperienced.
We definetly need youth in the backline, the problem is we dont have a coach that can balance it out.
Lafai and Aitkens and Dufty cant take control on a weekly basis to let a youngster be blooded.
Nighty might lack pace, but the guy is as safe as a house... The blooded youngster should come in for MacDonald imo.

 

[ALSGI]

I think the point your missing is that Nighty brings experience.
Dufty is raw in first grade, Nene is playing like a dud, Lafai is hot and cold, and Aitkens is also pretty raw and also injufry prone.
To add another rookie, the way our backline is, is a bit of a gamble in my opinion.
If we could snare Korabeti, then yes blood a rookie, but atm its a risk.
We have Lawrie, Host, Dufty, and Sele that are inexperienced.
We definetly need youth in the backline, the problem is we dont have a coach that can balance it out.
Lafai and Aitkens and Dufty cant take control on a weekly basis to let a youngster be blooded.
Nighty might lack pace, but the guy is as safe as a house... The blooded youngster should come in for MacDonald imo.

Lol.
You say Nighty might lack pace but is as safe as a house.
Point you're missing is he has no pace and is no longer as safe as a house, far from it.

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

If the objective is to improve the backline then Brett Morris would be a great acquisition at our stage of development.
Straight swap for McDonald (6 tries 2017)
All the business about his unsuccessful stint at Dogs will be soon forgotten once starts scoring tries again in the big Red V.
Nighty is a specialist right winger playing out of position.
With Morris back the team will actually be more balanced.
Add a quality centre and the backline will start to look the goods.

Dribble, if you are going to use stats, then BMorris has scored 6 try's as well, Nene is a specialists left winger playing on the right mmmm wonder why Mcidiot has them playing out of their positions, Nightingale may have score 16 try's but he would be lucky to have run for 100m, all pretty simple try's, nightingale has lost the "pace" he had, he is letting in try's, letting players beat him easily on the outside, he needs to retire, yes he is still a capable winger but he is past it, BMorris is a shadow of the player he wants was and is injury prone, dont need him nor nightingale, bring one of the youngster into the side to play wing..

 

[Dragon Blood]

There is a dude called the Lurker who thinks he knows his stuff around player movements and stuff and he said that Saints are interested in Brett Morris if the Dogs pay a fair chunk of his salary.

Bulldogs and Saints may be interested but is he after kissing the scums badge and slamming the Saints when he left?

Would be interesting if he does come back but you would highly doubt it. Plus if he did, would you swap him with McDonald? Nighty cause Nighty ain't going nowhere.

% of his

If the objective is to improve the backline then Brett Morris would be a great acquisition at our stage of development.
Straight swap for McDonald (6 tries 2017)
All the business about his unsuccessful stint at Dogs will be soon forgotten once starts scoring tries again in the big Red V.
Nighty is a specialist right winger playing out of position.
With Morris back the team will actually be more balanced.
Add a quality centre and the backline will start to look the goods.

I would have Brett back as long as I see him kissing the arse sponsored advert on the dragons shorts and if the bullgrubs are paying the bulk of his fullback money they first forked out for to play winger.

The Josh twin brother can stay there until his lips rot for kissing that filthy emblem that falsely represents a reputable rugby league organisation.

 

[MrDragon007]

Lol.
You say Nighty might lack pace but is as safe as a house.
Point you're missing is he has no pace and is no longer as safe as a house, far from it.

Lad, you cant honestly say pace is what makes a winger safe as a house? Pace makes you a finisher, Nighty doesnt have pace but is one of the safest wingers in the comp.
He can catch, he can score freaky tries, he can tackle, only gets caught out because of the centre running in, he is always the first one back to take a run from dummy half till the big boys get back, he just lacks pace.
And yes, pace is an important part of a wingers game, but to say because Nighty lacks pace he isnt safe is, in my opinion, wrong.

 

[RED73V]

So you would agree that Graham falls in that category as well?
Everyone is touting him as a messiah number 2.
All I see is a prop at the end of his career that doesn't bend the line any more.
Philosophically I agree with preferring our young future champions but to be successful at introducing them into first grade you need a coach who has the nous and aptitude to achieve that.
McGregor has wasted a number of opportunities to blood young stars and given recruitments like Graham, it seems that "experience" is the main criteria in terms of selection and recruitment.
I would have no problem dumping Nightingale if we had a coach that was capable of providing an alternative from within our own ranks.
In the same breath, I would prefer to promote Hind, Kerr, Lawrie into that vacant prop rotation.

You CAN NOT BE SERIOUS!!! Graham will make you eat your words . He is a leader amongst men & will show the rest of the forwards & young guys the way . He is a true competitor in every sense of the word. He certainly has a point to prove now & I think his addition to the team will be as valuable as Paul Vaughns make no mistake about that . I for one can't wait to see him rip in . I would love to see Dr Evil (Mcgregor) gone though..

 

[MrDragon007]

This is one of the biggest issues in my opinion. McGregor may argue with you that he has debuted Dufty, Aitken, Leilua, Sele, Host, Kiti Glymin, Field and Lawrie. But the point is what did he do for them after debueing. Only Aitkin has had any continuous game time the rest have had only dribs and drabs. And usually alternating between Reserve grade and being on the bench which is no development for them at all. I see other clubs using their Juniors and developing them such as Cotric, Mitchell and Hess to name a few. While we persevere with the old Brigade hoping they will come good. And yes I am speaking about Nighty for 1.
We have the juniors abd Millward keeps telling us how good they are, so lets now run with that.
Going back to the past is not the answer

Agree 100% with your comment regarding going back to the past is not the answer.
But in regard to the juniors you mentioned, Dufty will be our fullback in 2018, his run payed off.
Sele and Lawrie were given a run and Mary actually gave them a fair run to blood them imo. They will, or at the very least should, be part of the 17 in 2018.
Host, i feel for the kid. He is a backrower, and with Sims on the bench, i cant see the justification in having two backrowers on the bench.
Kiti is just injury prone, he got injured in the run he was given.
Field, he had a couple of trials and his style of play was picked by the opposition straight away. He only has the show and step. Pity.
As for Leilua, iv watched some illawarra games, and he is WAY OFF first grade standard. His fitness is shocking, his effort in games is low, he hasnt shown that he deserves a run in first grade.
I wanna say something, i understand people arent happy with Mary, im not either, but the Juniors werent a major problem of his coaching.
The problem was his lack of balls to make changes when required.
Mann should have had a run at fullback in the games Nighty was used. And he also should have had a longer run from earlier in the 7,
MacDonald should have been dropped,
Packer, before he got injured, the way he was playing, should have been dropped.
McCrone should have been dropped earlier.
Mary has given juniors a run when its warrented. But he hasnt had the balls to do what a coach should do to keep the team winning.
He doesnt have the balls, or the knowledge to work that aspect out.

 

[Dennis Papaioannou]

You CAN NOT BE SERIOUS!!! Graham will make you eat your words . He is a leader amongst men & will show the rest of the forwards & young guys the way . He is a true competitor in every sense of the word. He certainly has a point to prove now & I think his addition to the team will be as valuable as Paul Vaughns make no mistake about that . I for one can't wait to see him rip in . I would love to see Dr Evil (Mcgregor) gone though..

I am ready and hope he is a sensation.