Utard

[Shanghai Charlie]

Utard has to go. That performance tonight was inept. Many have said he will cost us a game eventually and he did everything he could tonight to do just that.

It's an insult to Mitch Brown as a footballer that he's stuck behind Utard in the pecking order.

 

[hybrid_tiger]

Fingers crossed Lawrence is back next week and we won't have to have this discussion.

Utai is great for metres with ball in hand but his lateral defence is shocking.

 

[westie]

On the flip side: that would have to be one of the few games Gasnier has ever not scored against us. He's run three by Lawrence before, I'm sure.

 

[sensesmaybenumbed]

Lawrence is a much better defensive unit these days.

 

[westie]

And Utai isn't a centre. He did a job last night, hopefully he won't be required next week. Although he probably would have scored when Ryan kicked the ball 10m out, 1 on 1.

 

[851]

He was a witches hat for Gasnier,has to go.

 

[Tigers Tale]

Utai and Lote we both off big time last night and for 60 minutes I thought one or both of them were going to cost us points. Thank heavens Fulton, Ellis and Gibbs were around to tidy up. Like most I was thinking Sheens had to get Brown out there to get defence on Gasnier. More good luck than good management.

Our left attack and defence was really shown up last night. Lawrence will be welcomed back.

 

[Das Hassler]

I wouldn't be too harsh on Utai..as always he gave it his all...also...here's a possibility i doubt too many have considered (it's just a thought,ok) ...like every other coach Sheens knows the Dragons game plan and just like most of the other coaches and a good many experienced commentators (Daniel Anderson ..Warren Ryan earlier yesterday as examples) was not convinced Gasnier was anywhere back to his best yet..so, why not tempt Saints to go right hoping Gasnier can't make the most of it and have Utai's back covered in expectation that they will fall for it...laugh all you want but Gasnier was cut down straight after he got past Utai each time..he may have been a speed bump but a speed bump slows you none the less..if Gasnier was at his best i.e. had the desire that didn't have him announcing his retirement specifically for that reason then it would have been a disaster..but the 4 or 5 times that he tried his luck through the turnstile were 4 or 5 times it didn't go out to that oh so famous left side..would you put it past (Quote Gould) "Shifty Sheens" ??
Just one "out of" left field (corny pun fully intended) for your consideration or amusement whichever works for you
now for next week

 

[Tigerm]

I wouldn't be too harsh on Utai..as always he gave it his all...also...here's a possibility i doubt too many have considered (it's just a thought,ok) ...like every other coach Sheens knows the Dragons game plan and just like most of the other coaches and a good many experienced commentators (Daniel Anderson ..Warren Ryan earlier yesterday as examples) was not convinced Gasnier was anywhere back to his best yet..so, why not tempt Saints to go right hoping Gasnier can't make the most of it and have Utai's back covered in expectation that they will fall for it...laugh all you want but Gasnier was cut down straight after he got past Utai each time..he may have been a speed bump but a speed bump slows you none the less..if Gasnier was at his best i.e. had the desire that didn't have him announcing his retirement specifically for that reason then it would have been a disaster..but the 4 or 5 times that he tried his luck through the turnstile were 4 or 5 times it didn't go out to that oh so famous left side..would you put it past (Quote Gould) "Shifty Sheens" ??
Just one "out of" left field (corny pun fully intended) for your consideration or amusement whichever works for you
now for next week

Just think Brown could have done this as well, plus added to other areas where Utai can't, i.e. speed.

Maybe it was a gamble, but in semi's it was very risky?

But Brown must be definately on the outer, does anyone know why?

 

[Old Time Tiger]

I don't think Brown is on the outer. I think that he is the new Daniel Fitzhenry that Sheens will use, wants to use and has to use.

Utai, will go from starting 13 to not being in the 17, I believe.

 

[37916319]

He was a witches hat for Gasnier,has to go.

No, less than that. Even Superman would eventually trip over a witches hat.

 

[Crazyperpman]

And Utai isn't a centre. He did a job last night, hopefully he won't be required next week. Although he probably would have scored when Ryan kicked the ball 10m out, 1 on 1.

What job did he do? I thought he was marking up against Gasnier.

I take on board he is not a centre and no doubt did his best so I dont want to single the bloke out too much, but the simple truth is Gasnier gave him a bath and so will every other centre in the game. Every other coach has taken note and if the Dragons had half a brian they would have noticed in the first 5 minutes it was a monumental miss match.

I like every other fan is hoping Rowdy is back 100% next week.

 

[Das Hassler]

Yes..Brown for sure would have done a much better job out there against Gasnier but as you know the scoreboard doesn't have a column for missed tackles on Gaz..only the points scored due to them..i'll bet Sheens and Folkes were surprised (as were all the commentators) that the Dragons didn't go that way more often or in Gould's opinion "should have gone that way every play"...if they did do you believe Sheens wouldn't have expected it...look at it another way..if one of our backs beat their man that many times how many tries do you think he would have scored or been responsible for?..how many were attributed to Gaz?
Something worth noting for a few of the more sensitive Dragons fans...they cite dropped balls in their own half, penalties, undisciplined play etc as the reasons for losing...we also beat them hands down in all those areas as well...go figure

 

[Das Hassler]

What job did he do? I thought he was marking up against Gasnier.

I take on board he is not a centre and no doubt did his best so I dont want to single the bloke out too much, but the simple truth is Gasnier gave him a bath and so will every other centre in the game. Every other coach has taken note and if the Dragons had half a brian they would have noticed in the first 5 minutes it was a monumental miss match.

I like every other fan is hoping Rowdy is back 100% next week.

I'm pretty sure Utai won't be back in the starting side again ..different opponent next time
Hey, we got this far despite the long injury list..the internal/external stuff and despite the..(quote) "stupid..dumbf--k..idiotic...maronic selections that make no sense by a hasbeen merkin of a coach that's lost all sense of reality" etc etc etc (unquote)...luck's a funny thing and here's hoping for a few more weeks of it

 

[macnaz]

...we also beat them hands down in all those areas as well...go figure

Your probably right there Das

 

[andrew9148]

I thought he played great. Re defence those wombats scored only two tries and one of them was a fluke

 

[b.bear]

Utai and Lote we both off big time last night and for 60 minutes I thought one or both of them were going to cost us points. Thank heavens Fulton, Ellis and Gibbs were around to tidy up. Like most I was thinking Sheens had to get Brown out there to get defence on Gasnier. More good luck than good management.

Our left attack and defence was really shown up last night. Lawrence will be welcomed back.

Agreed ,I they are very scary to watch...

 

[Matchball]

Utai needs to be a impact player off the bench.
Run him straight and hard and don't pass.

Move to the back row?

 

[Hooch]

Hasn't got the motor. He's a winger or nothing, that's why his career ended a few years ago.

Good to see him get another run and get back a bit of form on the wing tho this year, always liked watching thunder thighs go round.

 

[westie]

Whether or not it was a tactic, or just a product of the line speed we bring to finals games; Utai actually may have defended well.

Yeah he missed a thouuusand tackles and didn't even get there for a few more, but Gasnier never had time and space to run at us on the line. Utai, despite missing, was always up on him with the rest swarming once Gaz was slowed. A few sides employ this tactic every week on every team.