The road ahead - Great expectations

[denis preston]

I’m keen to know what peoples expectations are for this year.
Surely we play finals or is a fail?
We got rid of Mary to improve but under Hook I dare say we’ve gone backwards? If you are looking purely at win loss ratio that is.
I notice some posters calling for patience again, it’ll take time, new combinations etc. Why?
Doesn’t seem to be taking Sharks too much time with their new combinations?

My expectations, make the top 8 or sack the coach at seasons end and not waste anymore time on rubbish, second rate reject coaches and players.

For all the hysteria about resigning the coach it's only for one extra year so not like the Mcmoney 4 year deals. Yes making the 8 has to be the minimum goal and for all the coaches etc their KPI. Hook has done some good things but he has to answer to this KPI. The only thing that may save him for 2023 is who is available ? It may be time to consider the Penrith AC or Ryles ( or both ) ? I just want to see the side gain respect this year with better combinations & improvement from the younger ones. We have a great opportunity to improve in all areas whilst playing the bottom half sides, if we don't then players & coaches will deserve to be under the pump.

 

[justadragon]

For all the hysteria about resigning the coach it's only for one extra year so not like the Mcmoney 4 year deals. Yes making the 8 has to be the minimum goal and for all the coaches etc their KPI. Hook has done some good things but he has to answer to this KPI. The only thing that may save him for 2023 is who is available ? It may be time to consider the Penrith AC or Ryles ( or both ) ? I just want to see the side gain respect this year with better combinations & improvement from the younger ones. We have a great opportunity to improve in all areas whilst playing the bottom half sides, if we don't then players & coaches will deserve to be under the pump.

I would like us to have a red hot go at Bellyache.

 

[denis preston]

I would like us to have a red hot go at Bellyache.

Even If we were only 1% chance to secure him i'd agree . What a challenge for him !

 

[justadragon]

Even If we were only 1% chance to secure him i'd agree . What a challenge for him !

Totally agree, would he want to put his reputation at risk

 

[Dragon David]

Even If we were only 1% chance to secure him i'd agree . What a challenge for him !

Exactly!

 

[Gareth67]

Even If we were only 1% chance to secure him i'd agree . What a challenge for him !

We cannot sign any players of true quality - Su’a being the exception - but Bellamy is top tier and well beyond our mob’s grasp .

 

[Dragon David]

Totally agree, would he want to put his reputation at risk

But what if he succeeds with us, how would that reputation look then? Bellamy has achieved huge success withe the Storm over many years and knows how to get his teams in those years to perform at the highest level week in and out. He would do very well at any club as the head coach. I think though that the Storm have him lined up to be the "consultant" when he throws in the coaching towel and for maybe Jason Ryles to take over.

 

[Adolf_Spritzer]

I would like us to have a red hot go at Bellyache.

Pretty sure we tried this before, I remember hearing something about him and Cronk as a package deal.

That would have been insane, even if it was only a tiny chance of eventuating

 

[justadragon]

Pretty sure we tried this before, I remember hearing something about him and Cronk as a package deal.

That would have been insane, even if it was only a tiny chance of eventuating

Yes it would have been wonderful and very impressive, maybe if not Bellyache we could give Smith a go with Sowie as the AC, Smith broke just about every record in RL is well respected is very astute and demands the best out of his playing group, could be worse ))

 

[justadragon]

But what if he succeeds with us, how would that reputation look then? Bellamy has achieved huge success withe the Storm over many years and knows how to get his teams in those years to perform at the highest level week in and out. He would do very well at any club as the head coach. I think though that the Storm have him lined up to be the "consultant" when he throws in the coaching towel and for maybe Jason Ryles to take over.

Maybe the fire still would burn for that final challenge, if the Dragons dont put it to him they will never know will they ..

 

[Slippery Morris]

Saints have a good squad with plenty of depth in the forwards this season and a good balance of youth and experience in the backs. The issue is playing them to their potential and with the dull game plans (if any) that Hook has is not helping them develop. They need a guy that is with the times for 1. If he is overseeing stuff and leaving it to Gentle and Head then maybe get rid of them asap before the season is gone. They can't be on too much coin and I am sure there are others out there that can bring something different to the club.

If Hook loves the Qlders so much why not approach the Walker brothers and have these 2 as his assistants? They seem to have runs on the board in their coaching. Maybe prepare them for the future at Saints and have them ready for when Hook leaves. They keep getting mentioned that they are doing great stuff in Qld but nobody is game enough to give them a gig in the NRL.

 

[Dragon David]

Yes it would have been wonderful and very impressive, maybe if not Bellyache we could give Smith a go with Sowie as the AC, Smith broke just about every record in RL is well respected is very astute and demands the best out of his playing group, could be worse ))

Never thought of C Smith as a Head Coach. If he is a success as an assistant with the Maroons this year, his credentials would rise a few bars. He certainly has a great football brain and would certainly be able to work wonders with any No. 9 in the team. I think that he lives in Queensland with his family now and would be unlikely to come down south.

 

[Puff]

I would like us to have a red hot go at Bellyache.

Problem is Bellyache isnt a moron.

What coach, with a brain, would be stupid enough to leave a successful organisation, with a winning culture and a recruitment mindset to maintain that winning culture (continually making him look good) , to join a club run by people in the dark ages, who recruit players from the dark ages, and who will do nothing but extend a coach that has a below 50% win record with that said club (will make him look like a hoax).

We could have a red hot go all you like. IT AINT HAPPENING.

 

[Trifili13]

Weren't the Broncos trying to get Bellyache a few years ago? If he didn't go to them with all their financial backing, why would he come to us?

 

[Puff]

And unfortunately our delusion as fans, make the farce that is our club management possible. Because we sit there suggesting youngster that will win us games, or parrot on about how we are a top 8 side.

Guys, our squad is terrible, our youngster have potential but wont realize it under a coach of the caliber we will hire. And our club management are only interested in keeping well paid jobs without overextending themselves.

We aren't even the definition of mediocrity anymore. We f**king sit alongside the Tigers. Mediocrity would suggest we are middle of the road. News flash, we aren't MID we are BOTTOM.

This delusion we have, keeps us lining the pockets of a club that aren't interested in the reasons we support the club. And the problem is we don't act in the right way to make it change. The only way this is going to change is if we as fans stop supporting it and make a stand saying enough is enough. Stop wasting your money until you see a product that you want to pay for.

 

[Gareth67]

If the rot continues there is always Flanagan sitting in the office doin nothing but making doodles on the club’s paperwork .

Swap the pair of them - Flanagan to coach and Griffin to doodling , what could be more simpler ?

 

[Dragon David]

If the rot continues there is always Flanagan sitting in the office doin nothing but making doodles on the club’s paperwork .

Swap the pair of them - Flanagan to coach and Griffin to doodling , what could be more simpler ?

Others have said this and it is an obvious solution, but just won't happen. What Puff has said below is reality and this reality has been happening for far too long.

People can look at the Dragons and say it's only early days with Hook. Give him time and allow him to slowly bring the young ones through, get the squad working together etc. etc.

But positive results are needed from the get go from good recruitment, from good management, from good coaching, from being proud to work for the Dragons, from aspiring to reach the upper heights of the competition each and every year. Just don't live in the past, just don't say ahhh we won the comp in 2010 and that will do us and mediocre performances aren't too bad.

Hook dropping the young ones is a sign of uncertainty with the type of players he wants. He should just stick to Sloan and Amone in the positions for as long as possible. Sloan playing in reserves and being coached by z grade person will not teach him a thing and he will go backwards. Is he doing the Sloan what he did to Dufty?

I'm trying to come to grips with all of this mish mash affair with this club and at some point not worry about a thing as I don't think that the club cares anymore.

Put everything in the too hard basket fellas!

And unfortunately our delusion as fans, make the farce that is our club management possible. Because we sit there suggesting youngster that will win us games, or parrot on about how we are a top 8 side.

Guys, our squad is terrible, our youngster have potential but wont realize it under a coach of the caliber we will hire. And our club management are only interested in keeping well paid jobs without overextending themselves.

We aren't even the definition of mediocrity anymore. We f**king sit alongside the Tigers. Mediocrity would suggest we are middle of the road. News flash, we aren't MID we are BOTTOM.

This delusion we have, keeps us lining the pockets of a club that aren't interested in the reasons we support the club. And the problem is we don't act in the right way to make it change. The only way this is going to change is if we as fans stop supporting it and make a stand saying enough is enough. Stop wasting your money until you see a product that you want to pay for.

 

[Gareth67]

I do agree with both yourself and Puff , my post was more in jest than anything else mate .

This talk of Bellamy is simply crazy , the bloke already rejected the Dragons once and he is not on the market in any case .

I also agree that Griffin requires more time , we have a couple of names out of our squad out at the moment that will make a difference to the team once they return.

But the coach truly needs to have a good look at just who he is selecting as imo there are other players available who could do a far better job than those that ran around against the Eels last weekend .

Here’s hoping that everything falls into place soon , in fact preferably very soon .

 

[justadragon]

I do agree with both yourself and Puff , my post was more in jest than anything else mate .

This talk of Bellamy is simply crazy , the bloke already rejected the Dragons once and he is not on the market in any case .

I also agree that Griffin requires more time , we have a couple of names our squad out at the moment that will make a difference to the team once they return.

But the coach truly needs to have a good look at just who he is selecting as imo there are other players available who could do a far better job than those that ran around against the Eels last weekend .

Here’s hoping that everything falls into place soon , in fact preferably Rey soon .

Totally agree with you, I dont believe the the answer is Flanagan either because he was the AC to Mcgregor and nothing much was happening there, mind you if he is put in charge of ressies and turns that side around from what they are, thats a different story. Surely as a collective group of coaches they must all talk and see what is going on across all the grades, or does Russ Aitken think himself above that, I'd be seeking all the help I could get if I were him.

 

[Dragon David]

Totally agree with you, I dont believe the the answer is Flanagan either because he was the AC to Mcgregor and nothing much was happening there, mind you if he is put in charge of ressies and turns that side around from what they are, thats a different story. Surely as a collective group of coaches they must all talk and see what is going on across all the grades, or does Russ Aitken think himself above that, I'd be seeking all the help I could get if I were him.

It is clear that Russ Aitken has been incorrectly hired to coach the reserves. He isn't doing any of the players any favours with development and confidence. The Dragons though don't like to cut short and pay out any of their staff so hopefully his contract is just for this year only and they can get somebody with some nous to help the back-up "depth" players.