Trials 2021

[Dragonslayer]

Well, mmmmm

I don't think Dufty has any 'worries" that someone will take his fb spot......yet. Add to that is maybe Sloan (as many have pointed out before) is the answer to fb after Dufty.
Ramsey is a winger who I believe they're trying to make into a centre.

Big gap between our 1st grade players and CC standard players.

I will give some small plus mark only based on a few having 5 day turns and Parra were 'fresh', however, still some concerning signs

 

[Old Timer]

Will some posters finally work out they have pumped up far too many tyres way to early and now cut them some slack as they develop or will the posters concerned just make these kids they have over inflated their new whipping boys?

A lot to be liked in our younger players and a hell of a lot to be done to get them remotely near 1st grade standard so opinions / criticisms need to be tempered with reality and not on the basis what was mistakenly thought / hoped for.

 

[goldiesaintz]

Parra players too big and too strong and better coached. Their first grade players will be very much too big and too strong and will be hard to beat throughout the year.

Hook and Co needing to do more work with our players who are enthusiastic but still green. For us, we can only hope and pray for some wins.

Yes, fair comments there, mate.

I know it was only a trial but l thought the effort overall, especially the backs letting in ridiculously soft tries, was really poor.

The forwards lacked impact.
As mentioned, Parra have some big men.

l keep telling myself.....it’s just a trial.

 

[blacksafake]

Didn’t see the game so thanks to all for the updates. Sounds like it’s going to be a looooong season, starting next week in the CS.

 

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

Didn’t see the game so thanks to all for the updates. Sounds like it’s going to be a looooong season, starting next week in the CS.

Against near premiership favourites it’s going to be a long night.

 

[boardlumps62]

Will some posters finally work out they have pumped up far too many tyres way to early and now cut them some slack as they develop or will the posters concerned just make these kids they have over inflated their new whipping boys?

A lot to be liked in our younger players and a hell of a lot to be done to get them remotely near 1st grade standard so opinions / criticisms need to be tempered with reality and not on the basis what was mistakenly thought / hoped for.

There's only a couple of those youngsters that will make it this year or get a run. Sullivan Ramsey Fengai Wishart maybe the bloke that hurt his head. Blacker not yet others will make it later or next year.

 

[goldiesaintz]

Will some posters finally work out they have pumped up far too many tyres way to early and now cut them some slack as they develop or will the posters concerned just make these kids they have over inflated their new whipping boys?

A lot to be liked in our younger players and a hell of a lot to be done to get them remotely near 1st grade standard so opinions / criticisms need to be tempered with reality and not on the basis what was mistakenly thought / hoped for.

True that, OT.

l’m guilty for sure but more so from the point l built up my belief in the team as a whole, the coaches etc.

You are correct though. We must hope for small mercies over the whole season.

Time and plenty of it will be required.

 

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

Well, mmmmm

I don't think Dufty has any 'worries" that someone will take his fb spot......yet. Add to that is maybe Sloan (as many have pointed out before) is the answer to fb after Dufty.
Ramsey is a winger who I believe they're trying to make into a centre.

Big gap between our 1st grade players and CC standard players.

I will give some small plus mark only based on a few having 5 day turns and Parra were 'fresh', however, still some concerning signs

It was Ramsey’s first hit out of the year the other blokes played last week. I’d play him on the wing anyway until he is a bit more hardened at NRL level then he might be able to explore a move to 1. But he is one player I wouldn’t judge too harshly on tonight’s performance.

 

[Eatons Hill Dragon]

Against near premiership favourites it’s going to be a long night.

Grand Final preview
Go the Saints

 

[muzby]

I give it a few days before people start posting their 2022 team lists..

 

[Crush]

Gotta love the off season. 3 weeks ago Fegai bros and Ramsey were immortals in waiting now after a trial they are CC players not ready for first grade.

 

[muzby]

Gotta love the off season. 3 weeks ago Fegai bros and Ramsey were immortals in waiting now after a trial they are CC players not ready for first grade.

I’m sure tonight’s backline was the one that plenty were saying was the solution last year..

 

[kit66]

Will some posters finally work out they have pumped up far too many tyres way to early and now cut them some slack as they develop or will the posters concerned just make these kids they have over inflated their new whipping boys?

A lot to be liked in our younger players and a hell of a lot to be done to get them remotely near 1st grade standard so opinions / criticisms need to be tempered with reality and not on the basis what was mistakenly thought / hoped for.

Same every year, we get ahead of ourselves.
We must also remember a lot of our guys out there tonight have never played CC let alone 1st Grade ( well no more than a game or two ).
Having said that though the defence and discipline were still poor. These are the basics. Parra must have made nearly as many post contact metres as they did just plain metres. A lot of bump off tackles and grabbing, too few good solid one on one tackles in the middle and too often 1 or two guys tackling the ball ( high ) and no-one coming in to get the legs or coming in too slow.
It's mostly our forward stocks that concern me. Any injuries to our starting pack or bench forwards and we're in the pooh.
I'll cut them all some slack though because the potential is obviously there with some of them and they'll benefit greatly from a full year in reserves.

 

[kit66]

I’m sure tonight’s backline was the one that plenty were saying was the solution last year..

Hard to judge them on that type of trial, impossible really, it was such a mess and with the forwards being totally out of their depth didn't help.
Ramsey, the twins, Moceidreke and Sloan would all do better behind a good pack and with experienced halves no doubt. Not so sure about Williame and Runciman. Sullivan is great but we'd be doing him a disservice not to give him time in CC before throwing him in the deep end.
Brittain's a dud though.

 

[Old Timer]

Same every year, we get ahead of ourselves.
We must also remember a lot of our guys out there tonight have never played CC let alone 1st Grade ( well no more than a game or two ).
Having said that though the defence and discipline were still poor. These are the basics. Parra must have made nearly as many post contact metres as they did just plain metres. A lot of bump off tackles and grabbing, few good solid one on one tackles in the middle and too often 1 or two guys tackling the ball ( high ) and no-one coming in to get the legs or coming in too slow.
It's mostly our forward stocks that concern me. Any injuries to our starting pack or bench forwards and we're in the pooh.
I'll cut them all some slack though because the potential is obviously there with some of them and they'll benefit greatly from a full year in reserves.

The 2 young halves will progress well with a mixture of CC and 1st grade and they will become more consistent with the things they do so I think 2023 is when they will break out.

Blacker a work in progress and jury still out as to whether he becomes anything more than solid but that is due to his body shape and lateral movement in this newsreel NRL more than anything else.

The twins are at least a full year away and even then they will make lots of errors when they initially nail down a 1st grade spot.

Ramsey suited to 1st grade wing at this point but may be up and down to CC as he learns his craft and maybe he transitions to FB but no certainty of that any time soon.

One I do think that will transition quickly and will greatly benefit from AM as a mentor is young Wishart and I can see him potentially getting some 20 minute game time around the 3/4 of the season mark.

 

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

Gotta love the off season. 3 weeks ago Fegai bros and Ramsey were immortals in waiting now after a trial they are CC players not ready for first grade.

The backline wasn’t the problem, discipline and defence across the board were. Ramsey will still be there.

 

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

The 2 young halves will progress well with a mixture of CC and 1st grade and they will become more consistent with the things they do so I think 2023 is when they will break out.

Blacker a work in progress and jury still out as to whether he becomes anything more than solid but that is due to his body shape and lateral movement in this newsreel NRL more than anything else.

The twins are at least a full year away and even then they will make lots of errors when they initially nail down a 1st grade spot.

Ramsey suited to 1st grade wing at this point but may be up and down to CC as he learns his craft and maybe he transitions to FB but no certainty of that any time soon.

One I do think that will transition quickly and will greatly benefit from AM as a mentor is young Wishart and I can see him potentially getting some 20 minute game time around the 3/4 of the season mark.

It will be interesting to see who Hook picks to cover hooker. I doubt Macca will be able to play 80 straight up.

 

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

Hard to judge them on that type of trial, impossible really, it was such a mess and with the forwards being totally out of their depth didn't help.
Ramsey, the twins, Moceidreke and Sloan would all do better behind a good pack and with experienced halves no doubt. Not so sure about Williame and Runciman. Sullivan is great but we'd be doing him a disservice not to give him time in CC before throwing him in the deep end.
Brittain's a dud though.

Sullivan definitely would benefit from time in CC but he’s definitely more ready than I thought given his age. I have no doubt outside an experienced half he would more than do a job if injuries struck.

 

[kit66]

Anyone know why Poasa didn't get a run tonight or last week ?

Secret weapon ?

 

[Dragon David]

Same every year, we get ahead of ourselves.
We must also remember a lot of our guys out there tonight have never played CC let alone 1st Grade ( well no more than a game or two ).
Having said that though the defence and discipline were still poor. These are the basics. Parra must have made nearly as many post contact metres as they did just plain metres. A lot of bump off tackles and grabbing, few good solid one on one tackles in the middle and too often 1 or two guys tackling the ball ( high ) and no-one coming in to get the legs or coming in too slow.
It's mostly our forward stocks that concern me. Any injuries to our starting pack or bench forwards and we're in the pooh.
I'll cut them all some slack though because the potential is obviously there with some of them and they'll benefit greatly from a full year in reserves.

Yes to judge how we will be during the competition proper on the basis of these trial games with guys having a couple of runs when many did not play last year (which applies to other players in other teams) is really not a good guide.

I just think that going forward we will lack toughness in both the forwards and backs compared to other clubs and we miss JDB. I don't know why we haven't signed up a couple of tough Islanders this year besides Poasa Faamausili who is a New Zealander.

Give it time and be patient will be the key to our season ahead.