Trial Vs Dogs

[East Coast Tiger]

The Raiders were pretty ordinary, especially in the first half. Tonguey tried his best but it was like he was playing hooker and half because the halves certainly weren't doing much. They looked all at sea, no direction at all. Seemed like they tried to just point the big blokes towards the other goal line and hope Dugan would come up with something, but he didn't. The outside backs had nothing against the bigger Dogs backs. Idris, Morris and Goodwin had a bit of a field day really, especially when the halves kicked wide. And the Dogs halves were good. I think it's fair to say the three best halves on the park were 1 Hodkinson, 2 Keating, 3 Roberts. Williams was good when he came on, scored the first try and then made another good run and put in a good kick or two. McCrone got better later on but hardly impressive. Shillington was probably the best of the big blokes. TLL ran hard and tackled hard. The front rowers were fine but they didn't get much help from the back row. Harrison was quiet. Fensom got belted everey time he touched it, seemingly. Joe Picker went off early, looked like a shoulder to me but apparently it was ribs. But ultimately the forwards weren't the main problem, that was a lack of any direction from the halves. Without Orford Canberra won't do much, unless this Williams kid gets a chance and has one of those outstanding rookie years that some blokes seem to have every now and then. The Dogs were without Ryam, Eastwood and Ennis too. They look pretty formidable. Good backline with Barba, Goodwin, Morris, Idris, Turner, Keating, Hodkinson. Add those missing to the pack and they have a handy side.

 

[Doga]

How did Nathan Massey play?

Just like Jamal Lolesi was our God I believe Massey will be yours.

 

[Green Machine]

I went to the game last night. Not many highlights for the Raiders. The plus’ for me was the limited amount of dropped ball, I really can’t think of much else. Tongue played the first half and Buttriss the second. The Raiders completed most of their sets in the first half with a lot of sets on the Dogs line, but with every set ending with a low kick to the in goal. And I do mean low, I can’t remember one pinning the Dogs in-goal. They got penalised once for dragging one bulldog back in-goal, another kick had Ben Barba returning the ball 50m. The rest went directly to players or over the dead ball line.
The field position offered to the Dogs in the first half was well utilised. When the Dogs got down to the Raiders end of the field, they scored on both sides of the field with cross field high kicks that were battered back. Vidot knocked one into Bulldog to score.
The Raiders forwards put on a lot of set ruck plays but the closest was a prop reaching over the line but couldn’t get it down. Mick Picker played No.6 in the first half and stayed mostly on the left side. Fenson got hit with a solid shot from Pritchard not long after Pritchard coming on and be his credit, he got straight back up.
Some of the lowlights of the match were Dugan hobbling around with an ankle injury and coming off midway through the second half. Dugan misjudged a high ball and dropped it (very unlike him). Croker went high on Idris coming back on the inside and got palmed off, which lead to a try. Along with Idris, Keating played well for the Dogs. Late in the game, he put on a great pass to Brett Morris coming back on the angle to set up a try.
The Raiders put on a good set in the second half from a 20m restart. Buttrus worked the ball either side of the ruck, Miller made a 20m break off Buttrus and the set ending with a try. Early in the first half Sam Williams ran onto a nice pass to score untouched. No one really stood out for the Raiders. All the forwards ran hard but just ran into Bulldog shoulders. McCrone didn’t create any opportunities. A lot will rest on Orford in the first round against the Sharks,

 

[Brimmer]

I was talking about Mick Picker , as was Aussie.

Im not sure Joe played last night , I thought I read he pulled out injured.

Yeah sorry mate... just realised that when i went past the point of no return. :crazy:

 

[Raidersrawesome]

I dont know why we play left and right halves , it doesnt work for us , Campo at the back end of last year was playing both sides. I also cant see Orford sticking to one side. Give the players a little creative freedom.

Why would you play McCrone at 7 as he will be playing 6 until Campo is back fit.

 

[canberra_raiders2k2]

The only positive is we play the sharks in round 1

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I dont know why we play left and right halves , it doesnt work for us , Campo at the back end of last year was playing both sides. I also cant see Orford sticking to one side. Give the players a little creative freedom.

Splitting the halves is best for structured, high-percentage play - you know, the type of play that won 3 of the past 4 grand finals.

The only teams that play one (or both) of their halves on both sides of the field either have a genuine dominant playmaker (Tigers, Cowboys) or they only have one playmaker in the halves (Manly in '08, Titans).

As good as Campese is (I'd have him in Origin ahead of all these other clowns), he's not a dominant playmaker.

Why would you play McCrone at 7 as he will be playing 6 until Campo is back fit.

If they play left and right halves then it doesn't matter what number they wear, does it?

 

[Green Machine]

How did Nathan Massey play?

Just like Jamal Lolesi was our God I believe Massey will be yours.

Scored a try and played fullback when Dugan went off,

 

[shear_joy9]

trials are a waste of time. As long as no one gets injured I don't care if they run round in circles and lose 100-nil. Furner seems to be using it purely as a fitness exercise. Just look at who playing, guys like Picker and Massey will be no-where near first grade unless there's an injury crisis.

Intra-club games are all that's required for season's preparations. A mate of mine has watched the squad train a few times in the past few weeks, something he has done for years prior to season start, he said it was the most focused and slick squad he's ever seen. They really are gunning for the premiership.

 

[shear_joy9]

dbl.

 

[shear_joy9]

dbl.

 

[Charlie124]

Ive picked Buttriss in my fantasy team in the hopes of him cementing the hooker position, what are his chances?? Buttriss, Tongue or Waddell?

 

[Raidersrawesome]

Ive picked Buttriss in my fantasy team in the hopes of him cementing the hooker position, what are his chances?? Buttriss, Tongue or Waddell?

Buttriss should be in the 17 , not sure what DF will do but he may start with Tongue for the 1st 20min before bringing on Butts. Waddell spent the weekend in QLD for a trial , so you would think he is behind Tongue and Butts.

 

[Doga]

Scored a try and played fullback when Dugan went off,

I know that, thanks. Did he play well though

 

[Timbo]

This Tongue situation at hooker is becoming maddening.

It's almost like he's playing him there because Fensom is so good at lock and he feels he needs to shoe-horn his skipper into the starting 17.

Buttriss and Waddell are our hookers. Tongue's best spot these days is as a bench utility.

 

[overandout]

How did Nathan Massey play?

Just like Jamal Lolesi was our God I believe Massey will be yours.

Yes