Trial form cause for concern? Or just teething problems?

[Dragonslayer]

The teams 1st legitimate hit out after a wretched month or so of multiple blunders.

If this was Hook & Co's 2nd preseason and the team dished this up then more than reason for concern but as it is very early in there tenure and lots of things to be done let's put it down to teething problems.

Don't forget Mc Innes being out would have been a massive blow.

His injury will be felt for weeks to come as Hook tries to work out how to plug a significant hole and with little to no back up 13's at this point in time.

Agree.

McInnes was going to play lock with McCollough at hooker, Lawrie in the prop rotation, Kerr was mentoined at edge tor a while.
This was a major upset to plans in such a short space of time. Hard to see if it will improve in 2 weeks, lets hope so.

 

[Dragon_psa]

I’ve never taken a lot of notice of trial form.

Does anybody remember how we trialled in 2010?

Beat Parra 34-20
Beat Dogs 16-14
Charity Shield drew 26 all

https://www.nrl.com/news/2010/02/08/2010-nrl-pre-season-fixtures/

 

[Maddragon99]

NRL great Laurie Daley has questioned the mentality of the St George Illawarra Dragons heading into the 2021 season, after being alarmed by how easily they were taken apart by a rampant South Sydney on Saturday.

The Bunnies cruised to an easy win in the club's ninth-straight Charity Shield success, as Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker ran riot in the first half.

Jack Bird of the Dragons. (Getty)
"The thing that surprised me was how easily they opened up defensively," Daley said on Sky Sport's Radios' The Big Sports Breakfast on Monday.

"South Sydney were good there is no denying that, but some of the tries that they scored left a lot to be desired.



Round 1

Storm
VS

Rabbitohs
NRL 2021: Round 1AAMI ParkThursday March 11th, 9:05 am
Round 1

Knights
VS

Bulldogs
NRL 2021: Round 1McDonald Jones StadiumFriday March 12th, 7:00 am


"There was no desperation or full commitment to go and get the job done, make the tackle, cover for your mate. All the little things that they would have spoken about in the off-season."

Can Wayne Bennett’s men go all the way in 2021? Andrew Johns talks to James Bracey about their 2021 chances.
His former Origin teammate Greg Alexander said the Dragons were lacking toughness in the middle.

"They need some grunt, they need some aggression," Alexander said on SEN Radio.

"They need some animals and someone who's going to stand up. Josh Kerr started on the edge, but I think he has to play in the middle.

"I know with Tyson Frizell moving on they are a bit short there. Maybe Tariq (Sims) needs to move to the middle - he only played nine games last year."

 

[Old Timer]

To be perfectly honest who gives a tinker’s cuss about what Gonzo Daley says or thinks?

Nowhere to be seen with criticism when the late not so great Mc Fookknuckle was coaching us into being the cream puffs we currently are and let’s not forget “Big Flannos” less than meagre contribution whilst on our payroll which also attracted nil criticism.

You would think that big conk of Gonzo’s would make it difficult to lick Big Gus’s piccolo salsiccia but evidently where there is a will there must be a way.

 

[muzby]

Dragons fans: “we showed no commitment on Saturday night”

Laurie Daley: “the dragons showed no commitment on Saturday night”

Dragons fans: “what the f**k would Daley know?”

 

[Banjo2014]

Off topic I know but are the 7's being played this year - cannot find any info on line - ta

 

[muzby]

Off topic I know but are the 7's being played this year - cannot find any info on line - ta

Yes, all teams will have a halfback.

 

[redv13]

Off topic I know but are the 7's being played this year - cannot find any info on line - ta

The nrl season starts in 9 days time

 

[Gareth67]

Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield hit the nail on the head when he said that the Dragons pack lacked the ‘ grit ‘ required to make a game of it against the Rabbitohs.

The bloke usually bores me to tears , but he does know what he is yakking on about and in this instance he is certainly correct .

We have no steel in our pack , no determination , Tariq Simms seems to have more off days than he does on and he is about the only true ( aging ) muscle we have at present .

Josh Kerr unfortunately doesn’t have that precious ingredient that will truly make the opposition’s players avoid him when he is on the charge , Vaughan tries hard however until we have someone to give our engine room the necessary fire power the Dragons will be up against it this season .

Until that gaping void is filled the team will continue to struggle against most opponents , unless Griffin can manage to inject that ‘ show no mercy - give no quarter ‘ instinct into the pack .

 

[FlameThrower]

Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield hit the nail on the head when he said that the Dragons pack lacked the ‘ grit ‘ required to make a game of it against the Rabbitohs.

The bloke usually bores me to tears , but he does know what he is yakking on about and in this instance he is certainly correct .

We have no steel in our pack , no determination , Tariq Simms seems to have more off days than he does on and he is about the only true ( aging ) muscle we have at present .

Josh Kerr unfortunately doesn’t have that precious ingredient that will truly make the opposition’s players avoid him when he is on the charge , Vaughan tries hard however until we have someone to give our engine room the necessary fire power the Dragons will be up against it this season .

Until that gaping void is filled the team will continue to struggle against most opponents , unless Griffin can manage to inject that ‘ show no mercy - give no quarter ‘ instinct into the pack .

That’s been our problem for years with our forwards. We play like Saints instead of playing like Dragons...

 

[SaintPeter]

Why don't the SGI club recognize the need for some starch in the forwards?
Wayne showed them in 2010 that forward strength can work, but ten years later, and ten years of nothing performances, the club still don't get it.
Why haven't, Widdop, Frizzel, Graham, JDB, even Robson now shining at the cowboys etc been replaced.
Why are we not we sourcing some mongrel from NZ rugby or other internationals
Why was defense a key selection criteria for the new coach, yet trials have shown our defense is worse than before.
This club is teetering on the edge of becoming a joke, if its not already.

 

[Kiwi Dragon supporter]

Why don't the SGI club recognize the need for some starch in the forwards?
Wayne showed them in 2010 that forward strength can work, but ten years later, and ten years of nothing performances, the club still don't get it.
Why haven't, Widdop, Frizzel, Graham, JDB, even Robson now shining at the cowboys etc been replaced.
Why are we not we sourcing some mongrel from NZ rugby or other internationals
Why was defense a key selection criteria for the new coach, yet trials have shown our defense is worse than before.
This club is teetering on the edge of becoming a joke, if its not already.

There are a heap of big fast loose forwards in NZ provincial rugby who would adapt to league quickly. Much more powerful than most Dragons forwards. They earn peanuts playing at provincial level and would be easily tempted. Super rugby competition is a different level but provincial Mitre 10 cup has some very talented athletes. Ardie Savea the All Black stated he would like to have a go at League. He is enormously strong and powerful with the best leg drive in Rugby but he would not come cheap and would probably want to go to a premium club eg the Rorters.

 

[Gareth67]

Why don't the SGI club recognize the need for some starch in the forwards?
Wayne showed them in 2010 that forward strength can work, but ten years later, and ten years of nothing performances, the club still don't get it.
Why haven't, Widdop, Frizzel, Graham, JDB, even Robson now shining at the cowboys etc been replaced.
Why are we not we sourcing some mongrel from NZ rugby or other internationals
Why was defense a key selection criteria for the new coach, yet trials have shown our defense is worse than before.
This club is teetering on the edge of becoming a joke, if its not already.

There are a heap of big fast loose forwards in NZ provincial rugby who would adapt to league quickly. Much more powerful than most Dragons forwards. They earn peanuts playing at provincial level and would be easily tempted. Super rugby competition is a different level but provincial Mitre 10 cup has some very talented athletes. Ardie Savea the All Black stated he would like to have a go at League. He is enormously strong and powerful with the best leg drive in Rugby but he would not come cheap and would probably want to go to a premium club eg the Rorters.

Good posts gents ! That is the question I have been asking myself for years , just why oh why do not the Dragons recruitment earmark these huge athletic players from N.Z. Or the islands ? They have tremendous potential and would be a huge shot in the arm for the team , some may be a bit raw but under a good coach they would thrive .

 

[muzby]

 

[LINESPEED]

There are a heap of big fast loose forwards in NZ provincial rugby who would adapt to league quickly. Much more powerful than most Dragons forwards. They earn peanuts playing at provincial level and would be easily tempted. Super rugby competition is a different level but provincial Mitre 10 cup has some very talented athletes. Ardie Savea the All Black stated he would like to have a go at League. He is enormously strong and powerful with the best leg drive in Rugby but he would not come cheap and would probably want to go to a premium club eg the Rorters.

Agree.
And throw in a NZ AB forwards’ skills coach for good measure .

Basic stuff like how to tackle, dominate, backup, catch/pass, will-to-win & the fundamentals of pride & self-respect

Losing Luc’s silken skills - along with have-a-crack-at-least Tyson, Jacob, Hame & Reece

...because they weren’t in Mc Focker’s ‘let’s have a beer with Euey’ circle of trust

defied logic
... but defined
McGregor’s rank bastardry

 

[Gareth67]

The butcher ! A great idea muzby , he and big Mose Masoe ( until his unfortunate injury ) what a front row combination they would had made , throw in Savali (?) at hooker and we would had rule the roost .

 

[possm]

Why don't the SGI club recognize the need for some starch in the forwards?
Wayne showed them in 2010 that forward strength can work, but ten years later, and ten years of nothing performances, the club still don't get it.
Why haven't, Widdop, Frizzel, Graham, JDB, even Robson now shining at the cowboys etc been replaced.
Why are we not we sourcing some mongrel from NZ rugby or other internationals
Why was defense a key selection criteria for the new coach, yet trials have shown our defense is worse than before.
This club is teetering on the edge of becoming a joke, if its not already.

You should put that question to MIlward.

 

[epDragon62]

To be perfectly honest who gives a tinker’s cuss about what Gonzo Daley says or thinks?

Nowhere to be seen with criticism when the late not so great Mc Fookknuckle was coaching us into being the cream puffs we currently are and let’s not forget “Big Flannos” less than meagre contribution whilst on our payroll which also attracted nil criticism.

You would think that big conk of Gonzo’s would make it difficult to lick Big Gus’s piccolo salsiccia but evidently where there is a will there must be a way.

 

[Dragsters]

We couldn't afford him anymore.

Have you seen the price of meat these days???

 

[Maddragon99]

You should put that question to MIlward.

I’m super excited for the season to kick off & see how we aim up with points on the line. Can only hope trail form is behind us & we can make a fresh start on Sunday. Cronulla are a mid table side at best so it’s a good opportunity to start with a win.