The Rumours Thread

[kit66]

I’ll call you what I want and I’m not going to ruin this thread however molo was not bought to play reserve grade and he walks straight into the starting front row. Get over it and f**k your stupid opinion. That’s all

Having a hard on for Molo is one thing but throwing public tantrums over the guy is a bit much.
I give it about 10 rounds or less next year before we get a "Molo's a plodder" post on here.

 

[denis preston]

Are they reserve graders ? No. Did they play every first grade game they were available to play this year ? Yes.
Also Molo's a prop, I've got these two in the 2nd row and starting lock.

Kit , I think they are reserve grade standard and part of the demise we had in the second half of the season. Our forwards were diabolical.

 

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

Sloan and Amone have to be in the starting line up and Bird And Mbye to the bench.

I don’t think we can easily carry both on the bench. Where they both play is one of the questions of the off season. We need at least 2 props on the bench. My ideal bench would be 2 props, McGuire and either Mbye or Bird. I like McGuire because he’s one of our only squad members who can easily play anywhere in the pack. We have a few out and out props, plenty of backrow players but not many that can player good minutes and impact anywhere from 9-13

 

[Como Connection]

I don’t think we can easily carry both on the bench. Where they both play is one of the questions of the off season. We need at least 2 props on the bench. My ideal bench would be 2 props, McGuire and either Mbye or Bird. I like McGuire because he’s one of our only squad members who can easily play anywhere in the pack. We have a few out and out props, plenty of backrow players but not many that can player good minutes and impact anywhere from 9-13

Very good input.
CC

 

[randomdragon]

Having a hard on for Molo is one thing but throwing public tantrums over the guy is a bit much.
I give it about 10 rounds or less next year before we get a "Molo's a plodder" post on here.

ill put money on that he will play origin next year.

 

[kit66]

Kit , I think they are reserve grade standard and part of the demise we had in the second half of the season. Our forwards were diabolical.

That seems to be a popular perception about Kerr and Fui but if you look back at their games this year and the inexplicable changes Hook started making after round 5 when we were winning and more after our round 7 loss to the rorters it paints a different picture.
Rounds 1-5 Kerr started in the 2nd row playing 70-80 minutes and Fui starting lock and we had 4 wins and were competing really well.
Rounds 6,7,8 Hooks cuts Kerr's minutes back and even benches him - we lose all 3 games. About round 6-7 we lose Merrin, sign B.Burns and throw him straight into 2nd row or on the bench but big minutes and Hook makes weird changes to our pack. So Suddenly from round 6 Kerr's getting less minutes and from rnd 8 Fui's on the bench or playing at centre. I couldn't understand Hook's logic at the time and still don't get it. It had a big effect on our season.
Kerr ended up playing 11 games in the 2nd row at 70-80minute and we win 7 of those games. His other games are a mix of 2nd row, prop or bench and all much less time on the park.
Compare that to B.Burns - 9 starts in the 2nd row, most between 60-80 minutes ( 1 x 33 mns ) for 0 wins, zero.
6 games off the bench for 3 wins - I think a few were at Centre.
I know Fui and Kerr made some errors but so did all our players, overall though they played well when we showed confidence and some faith in them. Changing their positions and minutes didn't improve the teams fortunes, quite the opposite. And for all the Burns fans, Kerr's better all round.

Tackle efficiency ; Kerr 92.6% / Fui 91.8& / B.Burns 89% / Sims 92.8% in case you were wondering.

I'm not saying we can't do better, we'll see how the new guys go, I'm just saying they did their job, quite well and Hook pulled the rug from under them. I want Kerr to get another shot at least, telling him he needs to play like he did against Storm in round 10 this year, 171 mtrs, 28 tackles no misses, 5 off-loads, 3 tackle breaks, 1 try assist, really fast play the balls and smashed Solomona a couple of times.

 

[kit66]

ill put money on that he will play origin next year.

I've got a $2 scratchie says you're wrong.
I'd be happy if he did though because it'd mean he was playing great for us, which would be good.

 

[Reddragon]

Sanity or playing safety first, overly conservative and not looking to the future - or indeed not looking to win many games.
You may be right because Hook seems as anally retentive as Mary.

I want us to move forward and win games. I'd have a starting team like this for the trials and go from there and hopefully this or a very similar team for round one. Big blokes who can lay a platform and little fast, skillfull blokes who can capitalize. Bird, Woods and Kerr are off-load specialists, lots of 2nd phase play there. JDB,Lawrie and Sims were all below par this year, they need to work a lot harder to earn their spots next year.

1. Sloan
2. Suli
3. Bird
4. Lomax
5. Ravalawa
6. Amone
7. Sullivan
8. Burgess
9. Hunt
10. Woods
11. Kerr
12. Su'a
13. Fuimaono

14. Mbye
15. Lawrie
16. JDB
17. Sims

Reserves
1. Ramsey
2. Matt Feagai
3. Max Feagai
4. Moga
5. ?
6. Foster ?
7. ?
8. F.Molo
9. McCullough
10. M.Molo
11. B.Burns
12. Ford
13. McGuire - after rnd 5.

14. Goskiewski
15. Fa'amausili
16. O'Ofou
17. ?

It's all good to be critical of the club given the recent years have been terrible, but when you come up with squads like this, I can only think of Bennett's saying: if you listen to people in the stands, you'll soon end up there with them!

 

[baggygreen man]

Hunt Hooker

Only prob with this is we lose some 40/50 solid tackles with Mac out.

 

[denis preston]

I've got a $2 scratchie says you're wrong.
I'd be happy if he did though because it'd mean he was playing great for us, which would be good.

If his brother gets a contract that may help his form as well. Settling in Wollongong for all these players coming from interstate or regional NSW is not such a bad thing as well , with the slower life style, the beaches and more space . Players generally get a new lease of life when they change clubs so here's hoping

 

[baggygreen man]

I think the Amone, Sloan, Sullivan combination tantalized us. Cant wait for the main course.

 

[Willow]

I hope it's Redcliffe Dolphins, I like them a lot and they're not far from me and the same colours as the Dragons, I'll just have to get used to a white V instead of a Red V. I might try to get on the Board and suggest they poach Amone and Sloan for 2023. Woohoo !
The Norths Devils play the Sea Gulls in the Intrust Super Cup Grand Final this Sunday at 3pm (Qld time), it's on ch9 up here, should be a cracker.

Is it just me or is this the slowest site on the internet, loads so slowly ffs it's like dial up. Must be all the ads.

I don't know what you mean Kit. FTR, I only came across your post by chance, we can't help if we don't know.

The site has been running well, particularly since the last upgrade. Might have just been an temporary issue or something at your end.

 

[Willow]

What's wrong ? Why did you tag me ?

Looks like stgeorge1 is just grappling with the quote function.

 

[TruSaint]

Looks like stgeorge1 is just grappling with the quote function.

Thx mate. Welcome back. Hope all is well.

 

[Willow]

Thx mate. Welcome back. Hope all is well.

Never seen it bigger, better or brighter. Actually went to some games during our recent 'streak'.

Haven't gone anywhere, it just got to that point of the season where words escaped me. Y'know what I mean. lol.

 

[kit66]

I don't know what you mean Kit. FTR, I only came across your post by chance, we can't help if we don't know.

The site has been running well, particularly since the last upgrade. Might have just been an temporary issue or something at your end.

Yeah, I found out my new modem had a problem. All sorted ta.

 

[kit66]

If his brother gets a contract that may help his form as well. Settling in Wollongong for all these players coming from interstate or regional NSW is not such a bad thing as well , with the slower life style, the beaches and more space . Players generally get a new lease of life when they change clubs so here's hoping

I'm actually looking forward to Michael Molo coming on board. He was a slow starter up here with the Devils, took a couple of years to kick into gear but this year became one of their starting props from round 1 and played his first full season of footy. He actually got better I reckon as the year progressed and was part of the reason they made it to the grand final. He's only 24 and a pre-season with a first grade side will be really good for him. His defence, especially late in the season was outstanding, really busy and great coverage. Also a big improver in attack, very hard working, always getting in and taking lots of hit ups and making plenty of metres. If he stays on that trajectory I think he'll surprise us and worry a few of our established forwards.

 

[kit66]

It's all good to be critical of the club given the recent years have been terrible, but when you come up with squads like this, I can only think of Bennett's saying: if you listen to people in the stands, you'll soon end up there with them!

I don't think for a minute my selections will come even close to Hooks. But I have the luxury of thinking outside the box so why not. We should be able to win games with just about any combination of our top 30 as long as our spine is strong, and the majority of other players on the park play in their best positions. I could have gone with Molo and Lawrie to start with Ramsey on the wing and many others playing where they did last year but that won us just 8 games for the year. Our forwards were terrible this year, of those we've kept I wasn't impressed by JDB, Sims, Lawrie, Fa'amausili, McCullough, Alvaro or Burns - sure some had the odd good performance but overall they sucked, soft and defensively inept. Throw in McGuire for his judiciary issues. Hence my bench. Give the new guys a start - Woods, Burgess, Su'a, Hunt to his best position and two guys who I like for reasons I've posted a few times in Kerr and Fui ( if McGuire was available though he'd have been in the lock rotation with JDB and Fui misses out). Also I said give my team a run in the trials and work from there - I think they'd do OK. Swap Molo for Lawrie if you like, I'm not expecting much from either.
The only surprising (for some) selection I've made in the backs is Suli on the wing to give us better starts to our sets. Ramsey was the biggest disappointment for me last year. People moan about Dufty but Ramsey is the same, can't catch a ball and gets rag-dolled easily - at least Dufty was worth lot's of points. Ramsey was also a bit lazy - stayed out on his wing, low involvement, low impact - compare him to Blacklock, chalk and cheese.

Anyway put up your team and let's have a look. Be as predictable as you like.

 

[qld redvee]

I'm actually looking forward to Michael Molo coming on board. He was a slow starter up here with the Devils, took a couple of years to kick into gear but this year became one of their starting props from round 1 and played his first full season of footy. He actually got better I reckon as the year progressed and was part of the reason they made it to the grand final. He's only 24 and a pre-season with a first grade side will be really good for him. His defence, especially late in the season was outstanding, really busy and great coverage. Also a big improver in attack, very hard working, always getting in and taking lots of hit ups and making plenty of metres. If he stays on that trajectory I think he'll surprise us and worry a few of our established forwards.

Kit66, if michael molo can adapt to Nrl and contribute as you mentioned then he could well become a great sub similar to old leeson au mau , we need the bench players to keep the momentum going not like the last couple of years.. And if we get him on a T & T then will be a nice cheapie and at 24 could prove a worthwhile addition

 

[randomdragon]

Can anyone confirm or deny wether Michael molo has signed a train and trial? Right now it’s just speculation it seems