Walmsley to sign - Possm take a bow!

[nontime111]

Im so hoping they can pull something off to get him here for this season, wed totally dominate, imagine a prop rotation of Graham, Vaughan and Walmsley with Ah Mau , wed have no let up, if the young guns get a go like Lomax and Field along with Dufty Im sure wed have a crack at a premiership even this season, damn exciting times to be a Dragons supporter crap coach or not

 

[LINESPEED]

I think the issue these days isn't injury, it's the HIA process where there will be multiple games where we lose a back for a portion. I'm not totally against a bench of forwards, but I always think back to a Tigers game a few years ago where Lovett ended up in the centres due to injury and got taken to the cleaners. With the HIA process it could be more than 1 game.

If we're to go with 4 forwards than some of our forwards should be at least spending some time training in defence at centre. Personally, I'd look to rotate a utility and a fourth forward throughout the year. Where we're up against big packs or there are some tired forwards go with the 4 forwards on the bench. Otherwise go with the utility but use them more than the last 7 minutes. Queensland's approach to how they use Morgan from the bench

Aitken to the bench

 

[hazzbeen]

The problem is he wont use Mann other than a utility player . that's just my opinion . Mann deserves a starting position in a back line lacking speed and points .

 

[giboz71]

Losing Thommo suggests we won’t be using 4 forwards on the bench (almost 100% certain Mann will get a bench spot).

In the event a back went down, Thommo could easily slot in the centres. Not sure who of our forwards can fit that role now? Sims and Host possibly but it’s a risk to leave them out in the backline.

Hence I’m sure Mary will carry a back on the bench.

 

[RufusRex]

Losing Thommo suggests we won’t be using 4 forwards on the bench (almost 100% certain Mann will get a bench spot).

In the event a back went down, Thommo could easily slot in the centres. Not sure who of our forwards can fit that role now? Sims and Host possibly but it’s a risk to leave them out in the backline.

Hence I’m sure Mary will carry a back on the bench.

I don't thing that is the case at all .. I think losing thommo suggests that we were carrying too many back rowers and needed to free up some cash to spend in other positions. I don't thing that there is any correlation between that and whether or not mary plays 3 or 4 forwards on the bench.

Friz/Host could easily play that role in either right/left centre if a back went down. Thommo only played centre like a back rower anyway.

That being said - I think Mary will play Mann on the bench because he doesn't have the stones to drop Nightingale.

 

[giboz71]

I don't thing that is the case at all .. I think losing thommo suggests that we were carrying too many back rowers and needed to free up some cash to spend in other positions. I don't thing that there is any correlation between that and whether or not mary plays 3 or 4 forwards on the bench.

Friz/Host could easily play that role in either right/left centre if a back went down. Thommo only played centre like a back rower anyway.

That being said - I think Mary will play Mann on the bench because he doesn't have the stones to drop Nightingale.

I’m not saying one has to do with the other. I agree Thommo was let go to try and address other holes we have. But losing Thommo just robs us a little bit of versatility as he has played centre previously and is quite comfortable there. No other forward we have has this. Matthews played out in the centres on occasion and was all at sea.

Given Mary’s conservative approach, he likely won’t risk not carrying a back on the bench and making an already slow backline even slower.

 

[Overseas dragon]

I’m not saying one has to do with the other. I agree Thommo was let go to try and address other holes we have. But losing Thommo just robs us a little bit of versatility as he has played centre previously and is quite comfortable there. No other forward we have has this. Matthews played out in the centres on occasion and was all at sea.

Given Mary’s conservative approach, he likely won’t risk not carrying a back on the bench and making an already slow backline even slower.

Oh for a Roy masters or Harry Bath in the coaches box but we have the Dapto under 6s coach to be .....

 

[possm]

There's a big tip that Walmsley will seek a release for 2018.

WOW! I hope your right.

 

[possm]

FMD all this talk about if a back gets injured during a game what do we do?
People somehow think that the possibility of that occurring means that selecting a utility for the entire season is justifiable.
If we lose 1 game due to a back being injured during a game and we have only 4 forwards on the bench then so be it we lose 1 game.
We then regroup and replace the injured back with another back for the next game.
I guarantee you that we lose more games by having not enough forward cover on the bench than we ever do by not having a "utility" back warming the bench for 7 minutes a game.
Wake up people losing 1 game is not the issue losing lots of games due to having f**ked forwards that have blown their poofoo valves is what must be avoided.

Come on now! We know from last years experience that playing the power game without 4 forwards on the bench will see the forward pack burnt out or injured at the back-end of the season. If a back gets injured - Sims to centre and Mann to replace the injured player.

 

[possm]

Losing Thommo suggests we won’t be using 4 forwards on the bench (almost 100% certain Mann will get a bench spot).

In the event a back went down, Thommo could easily slot in the centres. Not sure who of our forwards can fit that role now? Sims and Host possibly but it’s a risk to leave them out in the backline.

Hence I’m sure Mary will carry a back on the bench.

Mann is too valuable to leave on the bench. Why repeat the same dumb bench management as last year? Sims has shown he is fast enough and should be trained to play at centre during the pre-season.

 

[Old Timer]

Mann is too valuable to leave on the bench. Why repeat the same dumb bench management as last year? Sims has shown he is fast enough and should be trained to play at centre during the pre-season.

Can't agree re Sims.
If a centre has to be fashioned from a forward you need that player to be your best front on, one on one defender and someone with good lateral movement.
He will be there for the defence a few hit ups and be able to catch and pass in attack and it keep in mind it will only ever be for part of 1 game.
So IMO that means the lock or the hooker .
If we carried Sele on the bench that would fix the problem immediately allowing lost of options i.e. Sele himself to centre, De Belin to centre Sele to lock, even Mc Innes (great defender) to centre Sele to hooker.
So training Sele to have some skills at hooker would be a far better option than trying to train Sims to be a centre.

 

[giboz71]

Mann is too valuable to leave on the bench. Why repeat the same dumb bench management as last year? Sims has shown he is fast enough and should be trained to play at centre during the pre-season.

We actually have a bench utility who can cover in the forwards or the backs. That is Aitken.

Mann woundn’t have been resigned unless Mary had him planned for the 17 and that is likely the bench utility role (which I agree is silly).

What I’d love to see is Mann on the left wing and eventually Lomax or Herbert as right centre and Aitken as the utility on the bench (assuming he can cover dummy half as well)

This gives us 3 versatile players in the 17. Mann, who can cover any position in the backline, Hunt who can cover hooker and Aitken who can play centre or back row.

 

[BennyV]

Can't agree re Sims.
If a centre has to be fashioned from a forward you need that player to be your best front on, one on one defender and someone with good lateral movement.
He will be there for the defence a few hit ups and be able to catch and pass in attack and it keep in mind it will only ever be for part of 1 game.
So IMO that means the lock or the hooker .
If we carried Sele on the bench that would fix the problem immediately allowing lost of options i.e. Sele himself to centre, De Belin to centre Sele to lock, even Mc Innes (great defender) to centre Sele to hooker.
So training Sele to have some skills at hooker would be a far better option than trying to train Sims to be a centre.

Disagree. Ability to attack and defend on the edge is a very specialised skill in itself, moving 1 player out from second row to centre is far less of a stretch than moving from being a middle player taking hit ups and tackling front one with high numbers to moving to second-man-in, where decision making, angled running and timing plays a huge part.

 

[Old Timer]

Disagree. Ability to attack and defend on the edge is a very specialised skill in itself, moving 1 player out from second row to centre is far less of a stretch than moving from being a middle player taking hit ups and tackling front one with high numbers to moving to second-man-in, where decision making, angled running and timing plays a huge part.

Not saying that it isn't a high skill set but if forced to do something like this, the defence IMO is far more important than the attack as it for only part of a game.
All the back rowers (other than Thommo) we played at centre all got caught out in defence.
I actually think Mc Innes would be perfect as he is a lot like Mann, good one on one and very strong in the initial contact and has greater agility and quicker lateral movement than the bigger back rowers.
Anyway I suggest both your ideas and mine are far better options than what will actually occur.

 

[RedV Resurgence]

Can't agree re Sims.
If a centre has to be fashioned from a forward you need that player to be your best front on, one on one defender and someone with good lateral movement.
He will be there for the defence a few hit ups and be able to catch and pass in attack and it keep in mind it will only ever be for part of 1 game.
So IMO that means the lock or the hooker .
If we carried Sele on the bench that would fix the problem immediately allowing lost of options i.e. Sele himself to centre, De Belin to centre Sele to lock, even Mc Innes (great defender) to centre Sele to hooker.
So training Sele to have some skills at hooker would be a far better option than trying to train Sims to be a centre.

Sorry OT, but defending in the centre's is more about positioning and working with your winger and edge forward defender. Yes you need to be able to tackle head on, but they will get found out quickly if they don't position themselves correctly - they wouldn't get a chance to make front on tackle.

In defense its not much of a change for our second rowers to defense 1 position wider.

In attack, our again our second rowers will not be that out of place, particularly after watching aitken play. He looks like a second rower running out wide.

So I don't see a problem with 4 forwards on the bench - I hope Mary gives all of them at least 20 minutes for all 17 players barring injury each week.

 

[Dragonslayer]

We actually have a bench utility who can cover in the forwards or the backs. That is Aitken.

Mann woundn’t have been resigned unless Mary had him planned for the 17 and that is likely the bench utility role (which I agree is silly).

What I’d love to see is Mann on the left wing and eventually Lomax or Herbert as right centre and Aitken as the utility on the bench (assuming he can cover dummy half as well)

This gives us 3 versatile players in the 17. Mann, who can cover any position in the backline, Hunt who can cover hooker and Aitken who can play centre or back row.

This is the answer and best solution.
Aitken is the perfect bench option for utility role.
He played lock in juniors so it wouldnt be a stretch if a forward went down to slot him in at lock and move say JDB to prop or even Sims (who I think will play the vacant 2nd row spot) back to prop and Aitken as the edge runner.
If a back goes down then he can slit into the backline at centre with minimal shifting of others.
In both scenarios he would be fresh on the park where he could use his strength and speed to advantage in small bursts. Damaging in either the forwards or the backs.
I think this would also extend his life in the game given the injuries hes already suffered.

 

[Carlton]

Sorry OT, but defending in the centre's is more about positioning and working with your winger and edge forward defender. Yes you need to be able to tackle head on, but they will get found out quickly if they don't position themselves correctly - they wouldn't get a chance to make front on tackle.

In defense its not much of a change for our second rowers to defense 1 position wider.

In attack, our again our second rowers will not be that out of place, particularly after watching aitken play. He looks like a second rower running out wide.

So I don't see a problem with 4 forwards on the bench - I hope Mary gives all of them at least 20 minutes for all 17 players barring injury each week.

Defending in the middle is a lot different to defending out wide. Quite often it is not possible to get clean contact when defending in the centres and you are tackling your opposition without numbers in the tackle unlike in the middle. There is a far greater emphasis on agility, acceleration, decision making and understanding backline plays defending as a centre.

 

[BennyV]

Not saying that it isn't a high skill set but if forced to do something like this, the defence IMO is far more important than the attack as it for only part of a game.
All the back rowers (other than Thommo) we played at centre all got caught out in defence.
I actually think Mc Innes would be perfect as he is a lot like Mann, good one on one and very strong in the initial contact and has greater agility and quicker lateral movement than the bigger back rowers.
Anyway I suggest both your ideas and mine are far better options than what will actually occur.

Again, defense in the centres is more about reading the play, making decisions and moving laterally than it is about head on tackling, hence why Aitken is such a poor defender despite being a decent tackler.

This is easier to transfer from a second rower who defends wide anyway.

 

[GC Dragon]

We actually have a bench utility who can cover in the forwards or the backs. That is Aitken.

Mann woundn’t have been resigned unless Mary had him planned for the 17 and that is likely the bench utility role (which I agree is silly).

What I’d love to see is Mann on the left wing and eventually Lomax or Herbert as right centre and Aitken as the utility on the bench (assuming he can cover dummy half as well)

This gives us 3 versatile players in the 17. Mann, who can cover any position in the backline, Hunt who can cover hooker and Aitken who can play centre or back row.

100% . I have been saying for a while Aitken is suited for a bench spot . He is a Lock forward playing Centre . His defence is more suited to the middle and he could be used as a impact weapon in attack . When he come on JDB could push up front for a bit . Mann to left wing is a no brainer for me . He is the best option at the moment for that position .

We have a genuine classy young right Centre in Pat Herbert who needs to be given a chance to move up from reserve grade and play with better players . That kid he every skill needed to play that position and with some proper management I an sure would make a good first grade player .

 

[getsmarty]

Walmsley needs to drop asking price

England international Alex Walmsley continues to be linked with a stint in the NRL from 2019.

The Parramatta Eels and Newcastle Knights are just a few of the clubs that have made enquiries however some are baulking at the asking price of around $600,000 a year.

https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/01/31...rbury-bulldogs-boardroom-candidate-paul-dunn/