Under 20's today (vs Raiders)

[TheRev]

Was televised again, my brief thoughts:

Overall:
After absorbing 15 straight minutes of Defence (where we didnt hold the ball at all), it was a great effort to come out in the 2nd half and put them away, nice composure.. not the strongest opposition but really nice result for the guys.. plenty of room for improvement though which is always great.

Individual Performances:

o Crook was best on field by a mile, kicking game was pinpoint lethal (better than Soward at his best), ran the ball too very effectively.. went down injured again at one point, is my constant fear with him however, that he might be a bit like Kyle Stanley, all talent but cant take the impact.. but hey hes still young *crosses fingers*.

o Aiken looked more composed than ive ever seen him, scoring 3 tries and just dominating at Right Centre, didnt look more than 1-2yrs from First Grade (if he continues to develop)

o Dufty was a god as always, not his best performance but still lethal and 1 try

o Bird still looks to be trying too hard, seems like he pushes a lot of offloads at inappropriate times which lose possession, not sure whats going on there, was same story earlier in the season. However he did get involved in 1 play where he got out to the right edge and gave a matt gidley special for a try.. I mentioned last year that I saw him as a potential Centre for 1st Grade, he has ball-playing skill, good hands, size, speed.. I mean hes playing 2nd row atm, but hes not big enough for first grade yet, I do wonder if he could pick up at Centre.. dunno.. hes an interesting one.

o Gallagher: Hadnt seen this guy before, looks like a beach bum in the JDB mould, but a bit faster and hits with plenty of vigor.. I liked what I saw! Hope to see more of him =)

 

[hardbaby]

Cheers

 

[Mr Red]

Score?

 

[tumbidragon]

Score?

Dragons won 42-22.

 

[denis preston]

Host looks the goods , very big & strong for a 17 year old. Being introduced slowly and noticed yesterday he was allowed to do a couple of hitups for the first time.

This Ben Haran character must be doing a good job?

 

[Mr Red]

Dragons won 42-22.

Thanks

 

[citizen]

Gallagher was very good.

Hard to handle with the ball. Hit hard in defense.

Crook looked very composed. Got the centre on the outside with ease.

 

[coast_dragons]

Haran is good at spotting talent better than that boozo Young plus Haran himself isn't a bad footballer for the Helensburgh tigers.

 

[GT0007]

Was televised again, my brief thoughts:

Overall:
After absorbing 15 straight minutes of Defence (where we didnt hold the ball at all), it was a great effort to come out in the 2nd half and put them away, nice composure.. not the strongest opposition but really nice result for the guys.. plenty of room for improvement though which is always great.

Individual Performances:

o Crook was best on field by a mile, kicking game was pinpoint lethal (better than Soward at his best), ran the ball too very effectively.. went down injured again at one point, is my constant fear with him however, that he might be a bit like Kyle Stanley, all talent but cant take the impact.. but hey hes still young *crosses fingers*.

o Aiken looked more composed than ive ever seen him, scoring 3 tries and just dominating at Right Centre, didnt look more than 1-2yrs from First Grade (if he continues to develop)

o Dufty was a god as always, not his best performance but still lethal and 1 try

o Bird still looks to be trying too hard, seems like he pushes a lot of offloads at inappropriate times which lose possession, not sure whats going on there, was same story earlier in the season. However he did get involved in 1 play where he got out to the right edge and gave a matt gidley special for a try.. I mentioned last year that I saw him as a potential Centre for 1st Grade, he has ball-playing skill, good hands, size, speed.. I mean hes playing 2nd row atm, but hes not big enough for first grade yet, I do wonder if he could pick up at Centre.. dunno.. hes an interesting one.

o Gallagher: Hadnt seen this guy before, looks like a beach bum in the JDB mould, but a bit faster and hits with plenty of vigor.. I liked what I saw! Hope to see more of him =)

Good call from what I've seen this year though I missed the game and not seen Crook play yet. Can't see bird at centre and although he looks to have some ability he does push for the miracle ball. How did the Lolo's go?

 

[gorilla]

Good call from what I've seen this year though I missed the game and not seen Crook play yet. Can't see bird at centre and although he looks to have some ability he does push for the miracle ball. How did the Lolo's go?

I haven't seen them play for a couple of weeks but Bird's total play (across a range of skills and performance standards) was advanced.

At that time he was playing at a cogniscent level above others in the team.

He was there to do what was needed at the time, cover, advance, take the hard work - a range of activity that was more like a 1st grade attitude than a 20s player.

He may be testing his arm, but he stood out - like others have, but i thought Bird was the most mature (in playing terms) than most.

He looks the goods too.

We have a good bunch of young players atm and I lke that both Herbie and Deano are coaching.

 

[TheRev]

Good call from what I've seen this year though I missed the game and not seen Crook play yet. Can't see bird at centre and although he looks to have some ability he does push for the miracle ball. How did the Lolo's go?

The last 2 games ive seen Bird play, he has been 0 from 4 with his offloads (when playing as a forward), he pushes them in heavy traffic, im not sure whats going on.

But remember he was a former 5/8, he really does have a diverse skillset, I cant see him playing in the halves, but I can see centre or wing as the most likely place for him to start in 1st grade (if they want to start him early), his Gidley flick was fantastic and he reads the game well, he has pace, size, skill, hands, I think he'd kill it.

I just am not sure at what age he would be able to hit 1st grade as a Backrower, he doesnt look like a huge bloke, very light frame still.