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The Rumours Thread

Ronnie Dobbs

Coach
Messages
17,457
I was a bit confused with my positions.

Atkinson is a rising utility half/ back who broke out last year. That accounts for his $500k I guess.

But obviously, flanno is engineering the side.

My understanding is that coaches regularly coach each players in different positions as cover.

I think most of the backs start the pre-season in a genuine wrestle. But I think you’ve got a few players I would be resting until the comp starts proper. Maybe get some kids involved.

My list of resting players:

Gutho
illias
Corey Allan
Val
Sloan
JDB
Sua
Cookey
Francis

Maybe a few more.

That pre season Gasnier thing in the Charity Shield freaked me out awhile ago. 2005 I think. He was a freak footballer.
2007
 

Ronnie Dobbs

Coach
Messages
17,457
They could possibly change and straighten up and fly right under Madge or they could (more likely) eventually anyway, rebel, self implode and collapse in a smouldering heaps as souffs and the tigpies did under him.

Let's hope it's the later...
Spoiled kids don’t change. No matter how much you yell at them.

The culture is rotten and Madge will wear thin pretty quickly.
 
Messages
17,223
It used to be South’s grand final.

Madge is a known as a good recruiter and after enough chances he will throw players under the bus publicaly.

My favourite quote from Kevvie was almost immediately after the grand final where he wanted to move on very quickly. I mean what else can he say?

Everyone wanted a story or some sad and regretful crap and he’d already accepted the loss.

It was Kevvie to his essence. I don’t like Queenslanders as a rule, but I like Kevvie and sorry his players treated him like crap last season. They had injuries but there were a few on holiday.

Good luck with that Madge, you’ll need it.

Renno saw it like I did and I’m happy with that. Madge and renno should be a good team if his body holds out.
 

Ronnie Dobbs

Coach
Messages
17,457
This is probably the last year for RFM, JDB, and Eisenhuth. We have not signed any big forward names for 2026, so it looks like it will soon be all up to Sua, Leluia, and the young guys. Couchman boys, F. Molo (last year of contract), V. Fifita (last year of contract). LPT will get at least a few runs.

Not much depth there. Lawrie, of course. Who have I missed?

We have some young ones who have not played NRL, Halangahu, Egan, Stewart, Latu. Do they get a run this year? The forwards are looking at a changing of the guard.
We are still thin up front and lack on the flanks. More good players than we had this time last year at hooker, fb and centre. Cook brings the forwards on to the ball better than Liddell and they both have great running games. If The back five can be better in starting sets after kicks, the middles should be more effective.

Halves are recycled and solid at best. Depth and overall balance on the mend, but still a middling squad on paper at best.

If we win as many as we lose, get games into the capable rookies and continue to cycle out the old and the deadwood in the squad and get a few more upgrades in the free agent market next year, then I think we’ll be in a window starting in 26.

Place an adsolute amateur basketcase for years, so it’s a process of knocking down and rebuilding to a large degree.

I want to see consistency next year regardless. That’s THE KPI for mine.
 

Ronnie Dobbs

Coach
Messages
17,457
It used to be South’s grand final.

Madge is a known as a good recruiter and after enough chances he will throw players under the bus publicaly.

My favourite quote from Kevvie was almost immediately after the grand final where he wanted to move on very quickly. I mean what else can he say?

Everyone wanted a story or some sad and regretful crap and he’d already accepted the loss.

It was Kevvie to his essence. I don’t like Queenslanders as a rule, but I like Kevvie and sorry his players treated him like crap last season. They had injuries but there were a few on holiday.

Good luck with that Madge, you’ll need it.

Renno saw it like I did and I’m happy with that. Madge and renno should be a good team if his body holds out.
The Queenslanders will be the issue as you mentioned. Not Reynolds. I lived in Zetland for years when Reynolds’s was starting out in FG. He’s as NSW as The pubs up and down Elizabeth St on the way to Central.
 

The Word

Juniors
Messages
323
I was a bit confused with my positions.

Atkinson is a rising utility half/ back who broke out last year. That accounts for his $500k I guess.

But obviously, flanno is engineering the side.

My understanding is that coaches regularly coach each players in different positions as cover.

I think most of the backs start the pre-season in a genuine wrestle. But I think you’ve got a few players I would be resting until the comp starts proper. Maybe get some kids involved.

My list of resting players:

Gutho
illias
Corey Allan
Val
Sloan
JDB
Sua
Cookey
Francis

Maybe a few more.

That pre season Gasnier thing in the Charity Shield freaked me out awhile ago. 2005 I think. He was a freak footballer.
Honestly mate, resting half the squad before the season even starts? Ridiculous. Player conditioning is exceptional these days, and personalised to every player's physiology with the intention of hitting peak condition at the start of the season. They won't be resting anyone.
 
Messages
17,223
Honestly mate, resting half the squad before the season even starts? Ridiculous. Player conditioning is exceptional these days, and personalised to every player's physiology with the intention of hitting peak condition at the start of the season. They won't be resting anyone.
I respectfully disagree.

A lot of coaches deliberately hold back players and use the interchange pretty freely in these games. They try different moves and stuff.

Also clubs like ours don’t have the luxury of depth of the marquee clubs.

Flanno was devastated with the loss of Corey last year. I reckon that will resonate with him. So if he’s fit, I took him out.

In my view, the chances of a full strength SGI side running on and playing together for trials are pretty remote.

I know there’s the pre season code in play, but safety first.
 

Draginzaaar

Bench
Messages
3,647
I respectfully disagree.

A lot of coaches deliberately hold back players and use the interchange pretty freely in these games. They try different moves and stuff.

Also clubs like ours don’t have the luxury of depth of the marquee clubs.

Flanno was devastated with the loss of Corey last year. I reckon that will resonate with him. So if he’s fit, I took him out.

In my view, the chances of a full strength SGI side running on and playing together for trials are pretty remote.

I know there’s the pre season code in play, but safety first.
Our new spine have never played together. I know, lets wait until round 1 to see them gel.
 

Ronnie Dobbs

Coach
Messages
17,457
I respectfully disagree.

A lot of coaches deliberately hold back players and use the interchange pretty freely in these games. They try different moves and stuff.

Also clubs like ours don’t have the luxury of depth of the marquee clubs.

Flanno was devastated with the loss of Corey last year. I reckon that will resonate with him. So if he’s fit, I took him out.

In my view, the chances of a full strength SGI side running on and playing together for trials are pretty remote.

I know there’s the pre season code in play, but safety first.
They can’t be underdone for round 1.

There will be no players in cotton wool.
 
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Messages
17,223
They can’t be underdone for round 1.

There will be no players in cotton wool.
I think they can train to approximate attack not perfectly but in the lower end of the zone.

It’s my theory and my preference and i don’t mind if it’s rubbished. I don’t think we will see the firsts play in a trial match at the same time for any kind of extended period. We will all find out eventually.

Plus, don’t forget you don’t have the most conventional of coaches, he has an edge.

You could have been stuck with that idiot Ryles. Talk about a blessing in disguise!
 
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Dragons_#1

Bench
Messages
4,385
I think they can train to approximate attack not perfectly but in the lower end of the zone.

It’s my theory and my preference and i don’t mind if it’s rubbished. I don’t think we will see the firsts play in a trial match at the same time for any kind of extended period. We will all find out eventually.

Plus, don’t forget you don’t have the most conventional of coaches, he has an edge.

You could have been stuck with that idiot Ryles. Talk about a blessing in disguise!
We will have a full strength team running out for the first half of the charity sheild.

After half time comes the experiments.
 
Messages
17,223
Actually, this is my first and only bet on sport. My son put it on for me using his account. I’m not exactly a high-roller.
I partook of the SGI finals bet last year, it was good for bragging rights around friends and the office for most of the year.

Now that the expectation is there for finals or close thereto, I’m going to have to double down and bet the club into a top 4.

But as I occasionally work in an allied industry, I can assure you, the betting agencies have us well and truly covered.

No one can “gamble responsibly” lol.

It’s for fun and the social interaction and be prepared to lose!
 

Dragsters

First Grade
Messages
5,820
Actually, this is my first and only bet on sport. My son put it on for me using his account. I’m not exactly a high-roller.
I'm with you Mojo.

It's strictly once a year on the Melbourne Cup for me and I'm way ahead having arsly picked about 8 winners in 40 years...
 

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