Round 20: Dragons vs Bulldogs

[Morgan]

Sloan's defence and the kicking game of Kyle in particular continues to cost us big.

And some very dubious refereeing. I've seen plenty of crucial mistakes made but 2 in the space of 10min? Crazy stuff. Almost seems like a conspiracy. I don't think it is. I think refs just have an unconscious bias expecting the teams up around the top of the table to beat the teams around the bottom.

Though I don't think the Dragons played well. I just think the Bulldogs are very overrated and the inclusion of Galvin, who apart from that one try try assist Sloan gifted had a very ordinary game, has only made them still more overrated.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

what possessed Sloan to come in, why why why ??

Jd if Galvin was nullied either by Suli or another, Sloan had no reason to leave his wing. I am not denying it was a misjudgement that gave the play maker the opening he needed to float the cut out and pip us at the post. Yet again, had Gutho thumped the leather way down field they'd not have been in that attacking position to win it almost on the siren.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

Finau deserves an upgrade simply from that one try where he put his body on the line as the swarming defense closed on him, almost winning us the game, then bunging his shoulder and prob ending his season. In every one of his trips up to Firsts he has shown his exceptional finishing ability to use either pace, step, agility, handling or in this case power and determination.

 

[TheRev]

That could be season over for Finau, I think he is the best we have currently.. Lawson still an unknown quantity.. im not huge on CT, Lyric is starting to make me think he might be able to step up next season also... I think hes more ready than WIlliams.. and im tired of saying it, I also think Heidke could play first grade wing tomorrow (if fit), but perhaps just leave him as a right ctr, thats far harder to develop....maybe im underestimating the leap from NSW Cup to 1st grade, but I think these kids are old enough to atleast be trialled, and potentially they might manage half a season in 2026....

The concern I have though is certain players like VFifita, SFinau, JWilliams and throw in the older CT/Sele.. they r injured A LOT... I dunno if its just a temporary thing, but its very hard to plan around players like that.. and its very hard for the young prospects to 'get gud' when they dont get to play long spells of football or getting a good preseason in.. their progress keep getting reset and its very hard to hold a window open for them in the squad.. so its a big call if we do extend a few of those younger ones.. but whats the alternative I guess.

 

[Red T]

The ball plant video ref did not take long to overturn the penalty. She must be a bulldogs fan.

 

[GCRV]

That could be season over for Finau, I think he is the best we have currently.. Lawson still an unknown quantity.. im not huge on CT, Lyric is starting to make me think he might be able to step up next season also... I think hes more ready than WIlliams.. and im tired of saying it, I also think Heidke could play first grade wing tomorrow (if fit), but perhaps just leave him as a right ctr, thats far harder to develop....maybe im underestimating the leap from NSW Cup to 1st grade, but I think these kids are old enough to atleast be trialled, and potentially they might manage half a season in 2026....

The concern I have though is certain players like VFifita, SFinau, JWilliams and throw in the older CT/Sele.. they r injured A LOT... I dunno if its just a temporary thing, but its very hard to plan around players like that.. and its very hard for the young prospects to 'get gud' when they dont get to play long spells of football or getting a good preseason in.. their progress keep getting reset and its very hard to hold a window open for them in the squad.. so its a big call if we do extend a few of those younger ones.. but whats the alternative I guess.

Agree completely about CT. Flanno seems to really rate him but from what I've seen, Finau is the best winger we have.

 

[GCRV]

That could be season over for Finau, I think he is the best we have currently.. Lawson still an unknown quantity.. im not huge on CT, Lyric is starting to make me think he might be able to step up next season also... I think hes more ready than WIlliams.. and im tired of saying it, I also think Heidke could play first grade wing tomorrow (if fit), but perhaps just leave him as a right ctr, thats far harder to develop....maybe im underestimating the leap from NSW Cup to 1st grade, but I think these kids are old enough to atleast be trialled, and potentially they might manage half a season in 2026....

The concern I have though is certain players like VFifita, SFinau, JWilliams and throw in the older CT/Sele.. they r injured A LOT... I dunno if its just a temporary thing, but its very hard to plan around players like that.. and its very hard for the young prospects to 'get gud' when they dont get to play long spells of football or getting a good preseason in.. their progress keep getting reset and its very hard to hold a window open for them in the squad.. so its a big call if we do extend a few of those younger ones.. but whats the alternative I guess.

I don't know nearly as much about juniors as you but I thought J Williams had a long term injury, came back from it and was then in a car accident. Doesn't seem like that means he's injury prone.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

I think these kids are old enough to atleast be trialled, and potentially they might manage half a season in 2026....

Same here. Lyric, Charlie, Jessie, all three for mine.

Corey Ackers rated by News Corp as sitting among the codes most promising and skillful junior props. At season start he was out the door so what has happened for us to now want him again and for NC league scribes to single him out. If we intend keeping him he has to be upgraded.

 

[GCRV]

Same here. Lyric, Charlie, Jessie specially for mine.

Corey Ackers rated by News Corp as sitting among the codes most promising and skillful junior props. If he proves less injury prone we need to upgrade him.

As far as I know, Ackers was given permission to seek a deal elsewhere. @MugFan explained there are just too many guys as young or younger ahead of him.

 

[TheRev]

I don't know nearly as much about juniors as you but I thought J Williams had a long term injury, came back from it and was then in a car accident. Doesn't seem like that means he's injury prone.

He's had a heap of injuries, concussions and then car incident.. I cant really check his games played stats without opening up every game in 2024/2025 on nswrl website... but I dont feel like ive seen him put more than 2-3 games together at a time.. he has to stay fit if he wants to establish himself as a first choice for reserve grade... they obviously are giving him a shot with his T&T deal though.. lets hope he comes good.

 

[jodragon40]

That could be season over for Finau, I think he is the best we have currently.. Lawson still an unknown quantity.. im not huge on CT, Lyric is starting to make me think he might be able to step up next season also... I think hes more ready than WIlliams.. and im tired of saying it, I also think Heidke could play first grade wing tomorrow (if fit), but perhaps just leave him as a right ctr, thats far harder to develop....maybe im underestimating the leap from NSW Cup to 1st grade, but I think these kids are old enough to atleast be trialled, and potentially they might manage half a season in 2026....

The concern I have though is certain players like VFifita, SFinau, JWilliams and throw in the older CT/Sele.. they r injured A LOT... I dunno if its just a temporary thing, but its very hard to plan around players like that.. and its very hard for the young prospects to 'get gud' when they dont get to play long spells of football or getting a good preseason in.. their progress keep getting reset and its very hard to hold a window open for them in the squad.. so its a big call if we do extend a few of those younger ones.. but whats the alternative I guess.

Those players that consistently get injured or fail to recover from on going injury concerns must be either cut loose or play ressies. You simply can't base your selections hoping that certain players will get through the game

 

[Eric]

Those players that consistently get injured or fail to recover from on going injury concerns must be either cut loose or play ressies. You simply can't base your selections hoping that certain players will get through the game

The Sele situation is really quite ridiculous. Still a good player in the 2 or 3 games per year he is fit.

 

[Dave03]

Sloan panicked. Another proud performance. We've turned the corner imo. These guys don't collapse in a heap (hope it doesn't start again). Refs are cooked, reamed once again. Need to carry Nick T on the bench as he can cover a few positions since our players always get in game injuries. Sua played significant mins at ctr...

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

He's had a heap of injuries, concussions and then car incident.. I cant really check his games played stats without opening up every game in 2024/2025 on nswrl website... but I dont feel like ive seen him put more than 2-3 games together at a time.. he has to stay fit if he wants to establish himself as a first choice for reserve grade... they obviously are giving him a shot with his T&T deal though.. lets hope he comes good.

Reckon with his T&T deal, the club rates him as a player but he needs to be on the field more than off to go further. Been following Corey since his second yr of Saints Matts Cup so he has done the hard yards thru our Pathway and deserves to stay with the club providing he can lose this injury prone tag . Had not heard of his car accident?

 

[GCRV]

Reckon with his T&T deal, the club rates him as a player but he needs to be on the field more than off to go further. Been following Corey since his second yr of Saints Matts Cup so he has done the hard yards thru our Pathway and deserves to stay with the club providing he can lose this injury prone tag . Had not heard of his car accident?

TheRev was talking about the winger Jesse Williams. I think you are talking about the prop, Corey Ackers.

 

[Morgan]

Ref boss sided with the ref and video ref which we all guessed they would but for which we know is total BS. The excuse they gave for the Sloan-Kikau thing was particularly cringe. Seemed to me it was a subtle way of saying, 'Yes, they messed up badly with that one but we have to publicly back them.'

 

[Mailroomsgi]

Ackers ain’t it mate, work ethic off the field isn’t good enough, doesn’t help that he had the bad injury which put him out for a while

It’s still early and things can change but Weatherall is heading down the same road, doesn’t do the extras. He wasn’t a particularly big standout in SG ball either

Im very high on Daniel Meafou, he’s the one that once he sheds the injuries I think he’ll be immense.
I think his ceiling is actually higher than the couchmans personally, moves well laterally and is a better tackle breaker/ball runner

Id be giving Daniel the same contract Cyrus has got with development next year and top 30 2027

 

[Mailroomsgi]

Same here. Lyric, Charlie, Jessie, all three for mine.

Corey Ackers rated by News Corp as sitting among the codes most promising and skillful junior props. At season start he was out the door so what has happened for us to now want him again and for NC league scribes to single him out. If we intend keeping him he has to be upgraded.

That shows how much Carayannis/riccio/Read know about the pathways and players coming through. He wouldn’t be in my top 20 players to watch for us in the pathways.
ask any scout and they’ll tell you the same thing