Young forwards will replace Merrin.

[jasperdragon07]

On what I saw last night our young forwards look very promising (first game & man of the match) and able to replace Merrin. Who else do we have coming up in the ranks that's big, powerful and will bust there guts to play for the dragons?

 

[Get2dachopper!]

On what I saw last night our young forwards look very promising (first game & man of the match) and able to replace Merrin. Who else do we have coming up in the ranks that's big, powerful and will bust there guts to play for the dragons?

I don't think Matthews is that young, could be same age as merrin. Has been a fringe first grader for a few years now. For the right money, we should extend his contract.

 

[steggz]

Bloody hell, Matthews is 27!

 

[possm]

I don't think Matthews is that young, could be same age as merrin. Has been a fringe first grader for a few years now. For the right money, we should extend his contract.

In the past few years - since 2010, our Club management team have failed to replace key players with a similar standard of player to that of the one who left. Mathews is not of similar standard to Merrin. To remain competitive our Club should strive to maintain a quality 17 and resist the urge to gamble on potential players. If the Dragons were to retain Mathews, then they should recruit a prop who can achieve similar metres and tackle stats as that achieved by Merrin.

If Merrin does move to Penrith for the 2016 season, a forward squad of:
Props - Packer, Cooper, Creagh, Ah Mau, New Prop
Hookers - Rein/L'Estrange/Garvey/New Hooker
Back-row - Thompson, Frizell, De Belin, Mathews, New Back-rower

I say no matter how good your squad appears to be, each year our Club should strive to improve the squad make-up by letting go some non-performers and buying/recruiting players who are of equal or better standard compared to those we are letting go.

 

[FlameThrower]

Bloody hell, Matthews is 27!

Worst case is 3 years brings him up to 30 , but I see no reason why he could not play for us for at least another 4 years??? Excluding a serious injury...

Extend him now...

I liked what I saw last night, this guy may have come of age...or was late bloomer...

 

[coast_dragons]

I'll throw in Gerard the young backrower/centre they signed from the Warriors he is a work in progress but he's quick, agile and not a bad defender but as an offloader I am not sure at present.

 

[hardbaby]

Gerrard will be a gun.

 

[coast_dragons]

I agree hard he looked good today but I have to say both Alcock and Hind did alright to and they are both only part timers.

 

[denis preston]

Worst case is 3 years brings him up to 30 , but I see no reason why he could not play for us for at least another 4 years??? Excluding a serious injury...

Extend him now...

I liked what I saw last night, this guy may have come of age...or was late bloomer...

Hold on to your flame , isn't this akin to resigning Price after a couple of victories ?

Wait until he shows consistancy.

 

[Drain the Dragon]

Will Matthews to follow Merrin to the foot of the mountains in 2016 was just rumoured on Sky Sports Radio show this morning.

 

[saints4me]

In the past few years - since 2010, our Club management team have failed to replace key players with a similar standard of player to that of the one who left. Mathews is not of similar standard to Merrin. To remain competitive our Club should strive to maintain a quality 17 and resist the urge to gamble on potential players. If the Dragons were to retain Mathews, then they should recruit a prop who can achieve similar metres and tackle stats as that achieved by Merrin.

If Merrin does move to Penrith for the 2016 season, a forward squad of:
Props - Packer, Cooper, Creagh, Ah Mau, New Prop
Hookers - Rein/L'Estrange/Garvey/New Hooker
Back-row - Thompson, Frizell, De Belin, Mathews, New Back-rower

I say no matter how good your squad appears to be, each year our Club should strive to improve the squad make up by letting go some non performers and buying/recruiting players who are of equal or better standard with the demonstrated potential to significantly improve.

For me it's more than that. For too long we failed to have a "reserve grade" squad. Then the Cutters came along supposedly tied to the Dragons but not really. Seemes like the Dragons took very little real interest in them. We rarely talk of Cutters players as 1st grade back-ups (Garvey Hutchinson Crook possible exceptions & only Obrien Matthews Aitken who have made the transition). How many here knew the Cutters were on Foxtel yesterday morning? Also bigger picture embarrassment for the NRL was that they played to an empty stadium. Less than 50 (my opinion) in the crowd I reckon. One good thing I suppose at least no queues buying a beer & pie or traffic jam after the game!

 

[nrlnrl]

For me it's more than that. For too long we failed to have a "reserve grade" squad. Then the Cutters came along supposedly tied to the Dragons but not really. Seemes like the Dragons took very little real interest in them. We rarely talk of Cutters players as 1st grade back-ups (Garvey Hutchinson Crook possible exceptions & only Obrien Matthews Aitken who have made the transition). How many here knew the Cutters were on Foxtel yesterday morning? Also bigger picture embarrassment for the NRL was that they played to an empty stadium. Less than 50 (my opinion) in the crowd I reckon. One good thing I suppose at least no queues buying a beer & pie or traffic jam after the game!

Fair enough, but at 10:30 on a Saturday with tv audience & crowd only expected to be basically family, friends & a few dedicated fans. It was a standalone game at Campbelltown as the 3pm NRL fixture was a Titans home game. I'm impressed that you went though, I couldn't have backed up after leaving the Taj at around 3am.

As for our depth, I'd throw in Runciman as a solid backup player & Glymin looks to be improving. ( went well at the 9's too ). I haven't seen enough of Tuimavave-Gerrard to know whether he's going to be able to make it in the NRL. As most know, Hunt is wasting a spot in the top 25 & whoknkows what will happen with Nielsen.

The funny thing was Ray Warren was still referring to Will Matthews as a young up & coming player yesterday on the radio, but that's something for another thread.

 

[inside_pass]

I'm surprised they got 50 people there considering how bad the NSW Cup is?

 

[SBD82]

I enjoyed watching Mathews play on Friday night. But why is he included in a discussion of players that could replace Merrin? Merrin is a middle forward and from what I have seen of Mathews he is exclusively an edge player.