We have a monster pack !

[BennyV]

At the moment yes but wasnt the NRL going to further reduce the interchange to 6 from 2018? Or are they going to stop at 8 for now and assess it over a longer time period to get a good statistical sample of the effects of injuries and player fatigue from the 8 interchanges?

Not sure - either way, we've got Leeson Ah Mau, Jack deBelin and Tariq Sims who can play long minutes and Packer and Vaughn can play at least half a game. Theres still room for impact props in the rotation.

 

[inside_pass]

We've got the cattle, it's just a 7 and a Head Coach. That's literally the only thing holding us back from a potential premiership.

Really?
If you compare our roster with the better sides we are average at best.
I agree about the coach and halfback but there are a lot of other problems with our club especially the front office.Until its all fixed we won't be successful in the near future.
We will struggle in 2017.

 

[RedVDave]

We had a decent pack last year IMO we just didn't have the halves and outside backs to capitalise, our backs this year are slightly better and are halves are slightly worse I know ever the pessimist but it's hard to see much change in 2017.

 

[Dragonslayer]

We had a decent pack last year IMO we just didn't have the halves and outside backs to capitalise, our backs this year are slightly better and are halves are slightly worse I know ever the pessimist but it's hard to see much change in 2017.

Actually disagree here.
I don't think we had a decent pack last year. Firstly, who were our props?......Packer and LAM. Packer returning from a long time out of the game at NRL level and LAM was a shadow of 2015. Both have had surgeries in the off-season. We also had no back-up prop. Yes 2nd rowers are decent and we have a plethora of them. We had a hooker who couldn't really do much except tackle and each week I'm sure they drew straws as to who would play lock.
I'm expecting big improvement in our forwards this year from Packer, Vaughn right through to McInnis and now we have some real competition for spots. I do feel were 1 prop short (as a reserve), but maybe Sele is ready, not sure and I think Kerr is 12mths away yet.
As far as our backs are concerned, again we are in a much stronger position that this year. The recruitment of McDonald is a key advantage for us in height and agility. Milne will have another pre-season under his belt and don't discard Levi Dodd as a real possibility. Nighty, unfortunately is the one under most scrutiny IMO.

 

[coast_dragons]

The players need to worry about playing.

What happens with the front office really doesn't have that big of an effect on what happens on the field that is where Mary is certainly at fault and honestly he needs to take a step back and actually let the players play.

Instead of the tiresome shit he trundles out just let the players play what they see instead of trying to anticpate and getting it all wrong.

They were to robotic and just seemed to afraid to make mistakes. I rather they make them trying something new instead of the same old same old to appease a coach who really hasn't got a clue.

The way the Cutters and under 20's played was a indication they didn't follow anything that Mary said regardless of what the players said in regards to being trained the same way.

If Widdop and McCrone are the 6 and 7 they should just steer the team get the ball out wide and let the outside backs do something with decent ball.

McInnes couldn't be any worse then Rein so the paasing hopefully is better out of dummy half.

If they want Dugan to actually be involved then show him how to actually get involved properly or shift to centre and let Dufty play at fullback everyone knows he can set up tries.

 

[Saint_JimmyG]

I'm having visions of the so-called 'big hombres' as spruiked by the club during Price's tenure as coach.

A huge forward pack means 'squat' if a side doesn't have a competent halfback.

Saints failed to entice one during the off season.

It's as simple as that.

 

[SaintPauli]

Hard luck to Hutchinson. Frizelle,Vaughan and Leilua have a step in their runs with offloads, Sims and Packer meter eaters and like to find the line with hard forward runs. Jdb and Mc innes tackling machines. Up front WE LOOK THE GOODS. Our backs look good. need the offseason to try Nona and Mann.

 

[Belta]

I feel we have slightly more forward depth, I say this because host and Luch hav both played fg, we've. Added Vaughan and there's still a chance mose will figure at some stage in the season, Kerr or sele could be in contention, Packer has a season under his belt, I reckon savilli will be pushing hard as McInnes has not established himself yet, so I think there will be more competition for spots, and similar story in relation to our outside backs.

Will we monster sides like Canberra, Penrith etc not likely but I feel they'll hold there own better this year

 

[Carlton]

I feel we have slightly more forward depth, I say this because host and Luch hav both played fg, we've. Added Vaughan and there's still a chance mose will figure at some stage in the season, Kerr or sele could be in contention, Packer has a season under his belt, I reckon savilli will be pushing hard as McInnes has not established himself yet, so I think there will be more competition for spots, and similar story in relation to our outside backs.

Will we monster sides like Canberra, Penrith etc not likely but I feel they'll hold there own better this year

I actually think that we potentially do have the pack to monster any team. Packer, Mose, Sims, Vaughan, Thompson, Frizell we have size and a bit of mongrel for me the question is do they have the belief. This is where Bennett was good and Price and Mary have not measured up.

We have a pack that could lay a platform for the halves, we have a hooker who can pass, we have an improved backline with options in the lower grades unfortunately we still have Mary. I have been critical of the clubs lack of planning in regard to recruitment and also of Millward but, I have to give credit because, at the moment I think they are taking the right approach and building sensibly.

 

[hazzbeen]

I actually think that we potentially do have the pack to monster any team. Packer, Mose, Sims, Vaughan, Thompson, Frizell we have size and a bit of mongrel for me the question is do they have the belief. This is where Bennett was good and Price and Mary have not measured up.

We have a pack that could lay a platform for the halves, we have a hooker who can pass, we have an improved backline with options in the lower grades unfortunately we still have Mary. I have been critical of the clubs lack of planning in regard to recruitment and also of Millward but, I have to give credit because, at the moment I think they are taking the right approach and building sensibly.

Carlton I agree we are slowly putting things in place , I just have a feeling that Mary is still here , and someone else is calling the shots . Getting ready for a new coach for 2018 . Time will tell ...

 

[Lethal25]

Definitely an improved squad, pack now has props that are actually props and back row far more competitive.

Problem is still in the halves, we need one good player to make the difference there. Remember it's not the biggest pack that wins the comp

 

[Carlton]

You're right Lethal25 its not just about having the biggest pack. Its about having the best balanced team, we now have some big aggressive forwards, we have forwards that can work and put in big minutes, from what I've seen we don't have edge forwards that can run as part of the backline and pass (this is where Luciano is important), we have some size and pace in the backs. Our halves are an unknown quantity at this stage and we still have Mary. Overall an improvement but I am not holding out for a great 2017. I am hoping that the "team" starts to come together in 2017 and that by 2018 the pieces will all be in place, outside purchases where needed, the right juniors brought through and a proper coach.

 

[Gareth67]

Carlton I agree we are slowly putting things in place , I just have a feeling that Mary is still here , and someone else is calling the shots . Getting ready for a new coach for 2018 . Time will tell ...

I hope your right about someone else calling the shots hazzbeen . Although we will have a pack of a similar size to some of the better clubs in the comp. we certainly won't be as as good as they are . Our pack will need time to ' gel ' before they will be anywhere near the top teams .

We probably won't see the best of the big boys until a number of weeks in the competition , and hopefully ( I always seem to use that word with Mary ) our coach will listen to others who can guide him in the right direction . If he has no wax in his ears , we could all be smiling next season as the Dragons show that they haven't forgotten how to breathe fire .

 

[Lethal25]

I hope your right about someone else calling the shots hazzbeen . Although we will have a pack of a similar size to some of the better clubs in the comp. we certainly won't be as as good as they are . Our pack will need time to ' gel ' before they will be anywhere near the top teams .

We probably won't see the best of the big boys until a number of weeks in the competition , and hopefully ( I always seem to use that word with Mary ) our coach will listen to others who can guide him in the right direction . If he has no wax in his ears , we could all be smiling next season as the Dragons show that they haven't forgotten how to breathe fire .

It will take time to gel Gareth, remember we will have at least a new hooker and a half. Possibly a new fullback if Dufty gets a shot. These are major changes to a team.

We will also need luck with injuries, if we lose Widdop despite his average form it will have a major impact on how the team is structured. That change in structure will need time to develop and that will put pressure on the new guys that they wouldn't have been expecting.

 

[Dragon Revival]

Last year we had two good sets of halves in the lower two grades who have all been retained. The shame is that Hutchison is injured. I am hopeful that we will get by this year. I think that last year the Club was shell-shocked when Creagh and Masoe were ruled out for virtually the whole season along with Glymin and then Benji was a non-contributor due to injury. The younger players did well and are now a year older and we have a dozen more players signed up for NRL in 2017. This year no-one will have an easy ride and Coyne will hound Mc Gregor as the former was not impressed with the squad and selections last year or the coaching.
Head and Collins who has played in at least two Grand Finals will put the pressure on Mc Gregor to perform.
Here's hoping for some better results than last year!

 

[Kilkenny]

Mose Masoe was a fan favourite in his one year stint with the Panthers in 2014.

I hope he recovers and get back on the field in 2017.

He can be a real impact player fully fit, albeit only for 30 minutes in 2 times 15 minute spells.

At his best, you guys will love him as he can really get over that advantage line and get a forward roll on.

I loved watching him play.

 

[Dragsters]

Mose Masoe was a fan favourite in his one year stint with the Panthers in 2014.

I hope he recovers and get back on the field in 2017.

He can be a real impact player fully fit, albeit only for 30 minutes in 2 times 15 minute spells.

At his best, you guys will love him as he can really get over that advantage line and get a forward roll on.

I loved watching him play.

That is something we have not had for some time and I look forward to watching him.

2 x good 15 minute spells can change a game!

 

[Saints Forever]

We have some size and hopefully coaching staff can get the forwards to play more aggressively

The forward pack has better quality depth with Host and Leilua having go some FG experience.

Adding Vaughan and hopefully Masoe will allow us to match the better packs in the NRL.

If we can generate good metres in the early tackles with fast play the balls and better dummy half distribution the halves will have more time and space.

Add a couple of quick guys who will be sniffing around for an offload in Dufty/Mann and we can be competitive.

 

[2010]

Ok forwards look good, but unless we have the halves to follow the forwards then it is all for nothing, we need speed and more speed to follow any breaks made by the forwards.
We don't have that now, widdop is not the answer, I would hope he is dropped early in the season and replaced by one of the junior players, I also have some doubt about Mann, good player but not a specialist half, we should be picking players on their skill set, it's asking a lot from a player to switch to a position he hasn't played for in years.

 

[Gareth67]

Ok forwards look good, but unless we have the halves to follow the forwards then it is all for nothing, we need speed and more speed to follow any breaks made by the forwards.
We don't have that now, widdop is not the answer, I would hope he is dropped early in the season and replaced by one of the junior players, I also have some doubt about Mann, good player but not a specialist half, we should be picking players on their skill set, it's asking a lot from a player to switch to a position he hasn't played for in years.

That is the first thing that Mary should be instructing his backs and blokes such as Fizzell
and Thompson to do - follow the big boys closely , more so when they are attacking the line .

If I was the coach I would write it , paint it and email that very message to the players at the beginning of each game , until the meaning was set like concrete in their brains .

There will be a tries on offer should the pack get that forward momentum going , so it is up to the players to make the most of those opportunities . As you said , Duffy and Mann have the speed needed to get the tries , if they follow the big boys around the park , should the other players follow suit , then that will give us that 2nd phase play that has been missing for so long .