Dragons v Dogs Round 1

T

The Word

SGI Jersey Flegg
I'm quietly confident we will be competitive against the Dogs in Vegas. For all the fanfare about them last year we were not far away when we played them twice. Apart from missing Liddle we have far more depth with our injury situation atm and the likes of LPT, Truck, Hamish, Couchies all chomping at the bit and a year older. Charity Shield was a little disappointing but tbh I couldn't care less about trial game results no matter who plays against whatever team it never signifies what's to come when the season really gets going. The constant moaning and lack of trust for our coaching staff and players on some of the other threads is pathetic at this point in the season. We need to back the team and what they're trying to change. Start calling for heads ten games in if we've shown no improvement.
 
jodragon40

jodragon40

Staff
The Word said:
I'm quietly confident we will be competitive against the Dogs in Vegas. For all the fanfare about them last year we were not far away when we played them twice. Apart from missing Liddle we have far more depth with our injury situation atm and the likes of LPT, Truck, Hamish, Couchies all chomping at the bit and a year older. Charity Shield was a little disappointing but tbh I couldn't care less about trial game results no matter who plays against whatever team it never signifies what's to come when the season really gets going. The constant moaning and lack of trust for our coaching staff and players on some of the other threads is pathetic at this point in the season. We need to back the team and what they're trying to change. Start calling for heads ten games in if we've shown no improvement.
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Sometimes you have to call a spade a spade. To my eye on the weekend we struggled. It was not unexpected considering our new halves combination.

In my experience such combinations can take anything up to a half season in playing together before they compliment and understand each other's game style's, strengths, weaknesses and individual roles in the team.

Realistically we have a 7 who hasn't played 7 in a run on team for at least 2 seasons and a 6 who tried to play 7 last season. That doesn't make the transition any easier.

I was hoping to see a running half against the Rabbits and there wasn't one.
 
RedV01

RedV01

SGI NSW Cup
jodragon40 said:
Sometimes you have to call a spade a spade. To my eye on the weekend we struggled. It was not unexpected considering our new halves combination.

In my experience such combinations can take anything up to a half season in playing together before they compliment and understand each other's game style's, strengths, weaknesses and individual roles in the team.

Realistically we have a 7 who hasn't played 7 in a run on team for at least 2 seasons and a 6 who tried to play 7 last season. That doesn't make the transition any easier.

I was hoping to see a running half against the Rabbits and there wasn't one.
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My theory, or wishful thinking is that the coach on purpose hid things the team has working on in the off season.
 
GCRV

GCRV

SGI NSW Cup
RedV01 said:
My theory, or wishful thinking is that the coach on purpose hid things the team has working on in the off season.
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Proud Of You Yes GIF

If this is true, Flanno will be the new master coach. As long as the subtefuge lasts the whole season.
 
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R

redv13

SGI Jersey Flegg
Everyone needs to chill a little and let’s see how things pan out at Vegas. If it pans out well then you little ripper, if it doesn’t then we all go a little cray cray. Bit too early to write off 2026 from the CS
 
D

dragonheart

SGI Jersey Flegg
In the CS there were lots of 6 agains against us, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves. And unfortunately once again no one took the bull by the horns and steered the team around the park and finished them off, this was our achilles heel last year.
I must say K.Reed has something we desperately need and looks a real fighter and competitor with great decision making skills, cant wait for him to improve more and become our 7 leading the team, he has quality for sure.
 
GCRV

GCRV

SGI NSW Cup
dragonheart said:
In the CS there were lots of 6 agains against us, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves. And unfortunately once again no one took the bull by the horns and steered the team around the park and finished them off, this was our achilles heel last year.
I must say K.Reed has something we desperately need and looks a real fighter and competitor with great decision making skills, cant wait for him to improve more and become our 7 leading the team, he has quality for sure.
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Only has to get bigger to be able to handle the 110kg second rowers who will be running at him at every opportunity.
 
jodragon40

jodragon40

Staff
redv13 said:
Everyone needs to chill a little and let’s see how things pan out at Vegas. If it pans out well then you little ripper, if it doesn’t then we all go a little cray cray. Bit too early to write off 2026 from the CS
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Call it as I saw it. Love my dragons following them since arriving in Australia in 1969. It hurts to say anything negative but I've always worked and lived by the mantra, sometimes the truth hurts but the truth should always be told.

I know my time as a player and coach has come and gone but I analysed that game and God we were poor.

Just from a coaching perspective, you train very hard during the off season especially working on new structures and combinations. So unless the coach has said to the team not to go hard in that game which would disapoint me if that was the case then the stats and actual performance dont lie.

We will be playing an understrength Dogs team in Vegas and Im tipping we can surprise them. But only if we improve our completion rate, our 6 or 7 run the ball and take on the line and straighten up our attack before executing our structures. Time will tell
 
AyiosYiorgos

AyiosYiorgos

SGI Jersey Flegg
www.dragons.com.au

Dragons confirm Las Vegas touring squad

The Dragons can confirm that the following players will travel to Las Vegas for the squad’s 2026 season opener against the Bulldogs.
www.dragons.com.au www.dragons.com.au

VEGAS TOURING SQUAD​

  • Daniel Atkinson
  • Damien Cook (c)
  • Ryan Couchman
  • Toby Couchman
  • David Fale
  • Mathew Feagai
  • Kyle Flanagan
  • Emre Guler
  • Clint Gutherson (c)
  • Jacob Halangahu
  • Valentine Holmes
  • Josh Kerr
  • Lyhkan King-Togia
  • Blake Lawrie
  • Luciano Leilua
  • Hame Sele
  • Tyrell Sloan
  • Hamish Stewart
  • Jaydn Su’A
  • Moses Suli
  • Setu Tu
  • Christian Tuipulotu
 
jodragon40

jodragon40

Staff
LAS VEGAS DRAGONS SQUAD

Official Announcement

The Dragons can confirm that the following players will travel to Las Vegas for the squad’s 2026 season opener against the Bulldogs.

The squad will fly to the US on Saturday morning and spend the week in Las Vegas as they continue preparations for their highly anticipated Round 1 clash.

The squad is headlined by co-captains Clint Gutherson and Damien Cook as well as offseason recruits Daniel Atkinson, Josh Kerr, David Fale and Setu Tu.

Dylan Egan will also travel with the group as he continues his recovery from an ACL injury suffered last May.

VEGAS TOURING SQUAD
Daniel Atkinson
Damien Cook (c)
Ryan Couchman
Toby Couchman
David Fale
Mathew Feagai
Kyle Flanagan
Emre Guler
Clint Gutherson (c)
Jacob Halangahu
Valentine Holmes
Josh Kerr
Lyhkan King-Togia
Blake Lawrie
Luciano Leilua
Hame Sele
Tyrell Sloan
Hamish Stewart
Jaydn Su’A
Moses Suli
Setu Tu
Christian Tuipulotu

Bar, Liddle, and Nick T I would believe that's going to be our go to players for this season. Lawrie surprised me but it could be a reward for his hard work in the off season or a loyalty selection.

Anyway let's hope we can pull off a 1st round surprise against an understrength Dogs team.
 
jodragon40

jodragon40

Staff
AyiosYiorgos said:
www.dragons.com.au

Dragons confirm Las Vegas touring squad

The Dragons can confirm that the following players will travel to Las Vegas for the squad’s 2026 season opener against the Bulldogs.
www.dragons.com.au www.dragons.com.au

VEGAS TOURING SQUAD​

  • Daniel Atkinson
  • Damien Cook (c)
  • Ryan Couchman
  • Toby Couchman
  • David Fale
  • Mathew Feagai
  • Kyle Flanagan
  • Emre Guler
  • Clint Gutherson (c)
  • Jacob Halangahu
  • Valentine Holmes
  • Josh Kerr
  • Lyhkan King-Togia
  • Blake Lawrie
  • Luciano Leilua
  • Hame Sele
  • Tyrell Sloan
  • Hamish Stewart
  • Jaydn Su’A
  • Moses Suli
  • Setu Tu
  • Christian Tuipulotu
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You beat me to it, yes no LPT instead Lawrie is a surprise, Nick T another omitted surprise me as well. Anyhow let's hope we can spring a 1st round surprise against an understrength Dogs team.
 
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