St George Illawarra Dragons' selection committee different - but working, according to Flanagan
Written By Chris Danks 25/06/20
With two straight wins under the belt, it appears the Dragons’ three-man selection of Paul McGregor, Shane Flanagan and Dean Young is producing results.
Admittedly, those two results were a 30-16 win over a Sharks devoid of direction or devotion, and a 20-8 win over the Titans in James Graham’s farewell game for the Red V; but the joint venture club can only beat the teams in front of them on the park.
“[A selection committee] not something I’ve seen before but something the board put in place a couple of weeks ago,” Flanagan told SEN on Thursday. “To Paul’s credit, he didn’t make too much of a fuss about it.
“He’s been outstanding and just got on with this job. If that’s the way the club wants to go, he’ll work with it and just focus on doing his job. That’s rubbed off on everyone else; we’ve just to do our job and assist where we can. Over the last couple of weeks we’ve had some good results go our way and just need to continue to do that.
“It’s a credit to Mary for the way he’s handled it.”
One of the perceived advantages of introducing the selection committee is the return of fullback Matt Dufty. After being dropped before the round 4 loss, Dufty was recalled for the win over the Sharks, scoring a try, setting up a further two and running for just short of 200 metres.
His return against the Titans was, while less impressive in numbers, equally as influential.
Was this all because the selection committee, introduced before round 5?
“That’s speculation, what would have happened that week…who knows,” Flanagan said. “What goes on in that selection meeting stays inside there and won’t come out of the room, but that’s just speculation that Matt wouldn’t have been in that team.
“Players pick teams, not coaches, really. Form picks players and we just need to slot them in and create an atmosphere where they can play their best footy.
“If they play good footy, they’ll get in the team.”
The Dragons will need Dufty to be at his unpredictable best on Friday night against the Roosters, with the back-to-back premiers’ defensive line speed still league-leading.
“When Matt’s in the game, we’re a better football team,” McGregor said during Thursday’s press conference. “That unpredictability is vital to capitalise on fractured defensive lines, quick play the balls or six-again sets.
“Matt’s past couple of weeks have certainly been his best for the year and, again, the more involvement, the more push around the footy, the better he gets our defensive splits right, we become a better footy team.
“He’s getting the balance right at the moment; it’s just about consistency now.”
https://www.nospam47.com/au/league/...line-up-matt-dufty/1ph9hnam1lxgw17nypjj7wka6i
Written By Chris Danks 25/06/20
With two straight wins under the belt, it appears the Dragons’ three-man selection of Paul McGregor, Shane Flanagan and Dean Young is producing results.
Admittedly, those two results were a 30-16 win over a Sharks devoid of direction or devotion, and a 20-8 win over the Titans in James Graham’s farewell game for the Red V; but the joint venture club can only beat the teams in front of them on the park.
“[A selection committee] not something I’ve seen before but something the board put in place a couple of weeks ago,” Flanagan told SEN on Thursday. “To Paul’s credit, he didn’t make too much of a fuss about it.
“He’s been outstanding and just got on with this job. If that’s the way the club wants to go, he’ll work with it and just focus on doing his job. That’s rubbed off on everyone else; we’ve just to do our job and assist where we can. Over the last couple of weeks we’ve had some good results go our way and just need to continue to do that.
“It’s a credit to Mary for the way he’s handled it.”
One of the perceived advantages of introducing the selection committee is the return of fullback Matt Dufty. After being dropped before the round 4 loss, Dufty was recalled for the win over the Sharks, scoring a try, setting up a further two and running for just short of 200 metres.
His return against the Titans was, while less impressive in numbers, equally as influential.
Was this all because the selection committee, introduced before round 5?
“That’s speculation, what would have happened that week…who knows,” Flanagan said. “What goes on in that selection meeting stays inside there and won’t come out of the room, but that’s just speculation that Matt wouldn’t have been in that team.
“Players pick teams, not coaches, really. Form picks players and we just need to slot them in and create an atmosphere where they can play their best footy.
“If they play good footy, they’ll get in the team.”
The Dragons will need Dufty to be at his unpredictable best on Friday night against the Roosters, with the back-to-back premiers’ defensive line speed still league-leading.
“When Matt’s in the game, we’re a better football team,” McGregor said during Thursday’s press conference. “That unpredictability is vital to capitalise on fractured defensive lines, quick play the balls or six-again sets.
“Matt’s past couple of weeks have certainly been his best for the year and, again, the more involvement, the more push around the footy, the better he gets our defensive splits right, we become a better footy team.
“He’s getting the balance right at the moment; it’s just about consistency now.”
https://www.nospam47.com/au/league/...line-up-matt-dufty/1ph9hnam1lxgw17nypjj7wka6i
