Why the Panic!

[Mark D]

With all due respect Mark...the reason the "Power game " isn't working is that other teams coaches have worked us out...Just look at Round 2 vs Parra...Brad Arthur nullified the "Power game" and exposed our weaknesses on the edge. Most of our tries come on the left edge, so Teams are crowding Widdop and Lafai which causes errors though pushing the pass.When the Power Game doesn't work we revert to the Block plays and sideways movement from 2016. It's not hard to figure out....

Its pretty much the same pattern from the last 3 years. Only thing that changed at the beginning of this year was the more direct attack with offloads and 2nd phase play. Once our forwards are contained, we have no PLAN B.

Agree to the extent I'm not sure Mary has the plan B.... Considering the cattle he has at his disposal what is your Plan B?

 

[BankstownDragon]

With all due respect Mark...the reason the "Power game " isn't working is that other teams coaches have worked us out...Just look at Round 2 vs Parra...Brad Arthur nullified the "Power game" and exposed our weaknesses on the edge. Most of our tries come on the left edge, so Teams are crowding Widdop and Lafai which causes errors though pushing the pass.When the Power Game doesn't work we revert to the Block plays and sideways movement from 2016. It's not hard to figure out....

Its pretty much the same pattern from the last 3 years. Only thing that changed at the beginning of this year was the more direct attack with offloads and 2nd phase play. Once our forwards are contained, we have no PLAN B.

100 % we have no plan B and the sad reality is that EVERYONE knows it.

Plus our astute 2 dollar coach cant and wont be able to fix it.

My prediction is that we wont turn it around and miss the 8, despite the good start and "easy draw", if there is such a thing.

Funny how just scrapping in the 8 is acceptable for this once mighty club.

We have:
The most recognisable brand, daylight 2nd.
Greatest history of any NRL team.
Huge catchment area for juniors on the south coast.
Merged entity with massive potential.
Biggest and BEST supporter base.

All this and yet we still cant compete on all fronts.

On the field and off it has been an absolute disgrace.....

 

[getsmarty]

Agree to the extent I'm not sure Mary has the plan B.... Considering the cattle he has at his disposal what is your Plan B?

Mary has no Plan B.. I stated this in my post. At this late stage in the season its hard to make drastic changes unless you have a coach like Bennett/Bellamy in charge who have the knowledge to deal with this type of thing. It basically should have been done during the pre-season...but it looks like the players revert back to the same plays over and over again even when they are not working which would lead me to assume this is what they do in training and therein lies the problem. We are reverting to the same block plays that didn't work in 2016..why would they suddenly work now? My Plan B would be get an External person in to help the coach..A.Johns/M.Elliott..etc simplify what we are doing. Play direct. Hold onto the Ball..Don't play players who are carrying injuries ..that's for starters.

 

[getsmarty]

100 % we have no plan B and the sad reality is that EVERYONE knows it.

Plus our astute 2 dollar coach cant and wont be able to fix it.

My prediction is that we wont turn it around and miss the 8, despite the good start and "easy draw", if there is such a thing.

Funny how just scrapping in the 8 is acceptable for this once mighty club.

We have:
The most recognisable brand, daylight 2nd.
Greatest history of any NRL team.
Huge catchment area for juniors on the south coast.
Merged entity with massive potential.
Biggest and BEST supporter base.

All this and yet we still cant compete on all fronts.

On the field and off it has been an absolute disgrace.....

Well Said...The Brand is being devalued by our current Board.

 

[Old Kogarah Boy 1]

After last nights debacle, I told Ethel that I was going to break out the home brew that has been fermenting away for the best part of a month now . Naturally she had a go at me and said that if I wanted to end up in hospital again , not to expect her to call the ambulance . I tell you there are times when a man is driven to drink .

Mate ....................... brewing for a month?
I'm impressed!
My homemade vintages are normally either AM or PM, depending on the time of day.
If something is left to mature overnight, I call it export material, hic!

 

[Life's Good]

i don't understand this forum sometimes - whenever the Dragons play ordinary or suffer a loss or two - mass panic sets in.

I hope people saw Storm dismantle Broncos last night by 30 points in BRISBANE and today Sharks smash Roosters by 30 points as well - or someone even looking at the early premiership favourites CANBERRA going through paces atm - if we were beaten by the above scores by either team or were even travelling as bad as CANBERRA this forum would melt down !

What I'm saying is to look at our season in a practical sense ! We have a modest roster with a solid forward pack and at this stage the team is sitting comfortably in the top 8.. Yes the team sometimes lacks consistency but that' has more to do with injuries and a shallow roster especially in key positions such as the halves..

Everyone needs to settle down and let the team go through its paces - by making the top 8 this year will be a great achievement for a team everyone had finishing in the last 2 positions.

Have confidence in the Team that proved early on how great they could be - I would be worried if we hadn't demonstrated any sort of form but we as supporters know what the teams capabilities are and hence all the frustration..

Enjoy the rollercoaster its a free ride BUT if u can't handle it - then get off the ride!

I can assure you I am not panicking at all. Been here before and with the current imposters in charge it will stay that way. What I am not is deluded to believe it's going to get better. It won't unfortunately.

 

[Saint_JimmyG]

i don't understand this forum sometimes - whenever the Dragons play ordinary or suffer a loss or two - mass panic sets in.

I hope people saw Storm dismantle Broncos last night by 30 points in BRISBANE and today Sharks smash Roosters by 30 points as well - or someone even looking at the early premiership favourites CANBERRA going through paces atm - if we were beaten by the above scores by either team or were even travelling as bad as CANBERRA this forum would melt down !

What I'm saying is to look at our season in a practical sense ! We have a modest roster with a solid forward pack and at this stage the team is sitting comfortably in the top 8.. Yes the team sometimes lacks consistency but that' has more to do with injuries and a shallow roster especially in key positions such as the halves..

Everyone needs to settle down and let the team go through its paces - by making the top 8 this year will be a great achievement for a team everyone had finishing in the last 2 positions.

Have confidence in the Team that proved early on how great they could be - I would be worried if we hadn't demonstrated any sort of form but we as supporters know what the teams capabilities are and hence all the frustration..

Enjoy the rollercoaster its a free ride BUT if u can't handle it - then get off the ride!

Sitting "comfortably" in the eight?

Given the paradigm of the last two months - two wins from the last eight matches - that level of comfort is on fast descent.

Wow. Talk about not only embracing mediocrity, but swallowing it whole.

 

[Drag Queen]

I agree but a couple thing that happen at those clubs that their fans can take some solace from

1. They at least get a glimpse at the future with juniors actually embraced in the top grade.
2. They can all score long range tries that will excite the fans.
3. Their coaches don't make piss week excuses.

I am sure we would all be a lot happier if we had those 3 things happening at St GI but alas we don't even get that.

We have nothing OT. You're right regarding the coaches. They actually give a damn. Not our one though. Give me a cranky arsed coach any day cos Mary is the equivalent of valium to me.

 

[Dragon Revival]

We will be lucky to win 2 of our next 8 games. We may not even win any games. Our backline is garbage. I watched the replay of the game and in the highlights package we bombed at least 3 tries. If Widdop, Lafai, Vaughan and De Belin do not fire we do not win. There is little class in the side and the backline is the worst I can remember.
No pace, no attack, no defence and a poor kicking game. Probably our worst backline ever with no thrust. Dufty is the only ray of light on the horizon.

 

[possm]

Unless there is a miracle turnaround, we are no chance of winning the comp this year.....from contenders to pretenders, a bitter pill to swallow. I've enjoyed the highs early in the season and loathe the recent losses, injury derailed us at first and now with our full squad back we are playing like busted's and flat as a tack so no excuses. I'm doubting we can bounce back now, it sucks, but just support the team. They gave us a good sight in the first few rounds.

There is however one thing about supporting this club (the last 30 to 40 years) one would know the pain that comes with it. This is the modern game and rich clubs who can bend the rules dominate, no question about that.....Support the team through thick and thin, it is what it is ( Glory days are gone, long gone).....our time will come, we will rise again......Have faith and belief and above all be realistic....

There are no surprises, this was predicted by many on here very early in the season. Mary never has a B plan and always relies on the 'super effort' of players to obtain a win. When these players burn out or become busted, everything falls apart.

The sooner the old boys are cleaned out, the sooner we begin to rebuild the Club.

 

[possm]

We will be lucky to win 2 of our next 8 games. We may not even win any games. Our backline is garbage. I watched the replay of the game and in the highlights package we bombed at least 3 tries. If Widdop, Lafai, Vaughan and De Belin do not fire we do not win. There is little class in the side and the backline is the worst I can remember.
No pace, no attack, no defence and a poor kicking game. Probably our worst backline ever with no thrust. Dufty is the only ray of light on the horizon.

Watch the uproar from the fans and the weaving and bobbing of Doust and the Board. Surely the must come when all of these useless old boys must be held to account. Surely they must be sacked by the members eventually.

 

[TheOnlyTeam]

Because the roosters and broncos have coaches who can get them going again.

 

[mickeylane]

We will be lucky to win 2 of our next 8 games. We may not even win any games. Our backline is garbage. I watched the replay of the game and in the highlights package we bombed at least 3 tries. If Widdop, Lafai, Vaughan and De Belin do not fire we do not win. There is little class in the side and the backline is the worst I can remember.
No pace, no attack, no defence and a poor kicking game. Probably our worst backline ever with no thrust. Dufty is the only ray of light on the horizon.

Agree the backline is terribly slow! Need urgent pace for next year.. I'm sorry but nightingale has to be given a golden handshake - I've seen milk turn quicker!!

 

[Lovemedragons]

How can u reach the level of the storm when they boast the best coach in the NRL
Cronk
Slater
Smith and co
Bromwich

Look at their cattle then look at ours.. Worlds apart

So the problem is with the people who assemble both the coaching structure and the recruitment and development of players. Crap culture starts from the top, it's so obvious but can it ever change or does the club crumble away?

 

[Dragonslayer]

The bye aside, if we don't win another game we will drop out of the 8 by round 23.

 

[Saints Forever]

McGregor has confirmed that a number of the players are playing busted.

All the more reason not to have risked Frizzell against the Titans.

His lack of faith in the reserve forwards won't help the confidence of the entire squad.

This is where plan be is essential.

We can't execute a power game with several key players struggling with injuries.

If we had an excellent kicking game and better organisation from our 7 the team could get by.

Am hoping Mary gives Mann at least 2 more full games at 7 to settle in to the position.

The kicking duties need to be shared.

Where necessary one of the under performing outside backs needs to be dropped to make way for a lower grade player who has a good kicking game.

Who is that player ? McCrone is not the answer as 95% of his kicks find the opposition on the full.

Don't know. Hope the coaching staff have the answer.

 

[mickeylane]

Unless there is a miracle turnaround, we are no chance of winning the comp this year.....from contenders to pretenders, a bitter pill to swallow. I've enjoyed the highs early in the season and loathe the recent losses, injury derailed us at first and now with our full squad back we are playing like busted's and flat as a tack so no excuses. I'm doubting we can bounce back now, it sucks, but just support the team. They gave us a good sight in the first few rounds.

There is however one thing about supporting this club (the last 30 to 40 years) one would know the pain that comes with it. This is the modern game and rich clubs who can bend the rules dominate, no question about that.....Support the team through thick and thin, it is what it is ( Glory days are gone, long gone).....our time will come, we will rise again......Have faith and belief and above all be realistic....

We can't win the Comp nor were we expected to BUT if we make the top 4 it would b an amazing achievement !

 

[Objective View]

This is where plan be is essential.

I'm looking forward to plan see.

Straight Shooter

 

[Saints Forever]

I'm looking forward to plan see.

Straight Shooter

Sorry OV, auto correct incorrect

And on the question of plan see, when Mary takes his blinkers off he may well develop a plan B & C

 

[BringTheNoise]

We can't win the Comp nor were we expected to BUT if we make the top 4 it would b an amazing achievement !

Actually I expect us to win the comp. I just wish those in charge (and supporters such as yourself who embrace mediocrity) had the same expectations of the club.