Morgan
SGI NSW Cup
Only one spot left in the squad so only one of Coric, Molo or Hunt could be selected if he is upgraded into the top 30.
2023 Pack
- Thread starter Morgan
- Start date
Chris M
SGI NSW Cup
Hunt is already in the top 30. Coric I think is still 19. A year in NSW Cup will do him good. So I suggest it'll be Molo upgraded with Reuben remaining on a development contract until round 10 when he can be upgraded or let go.
Morgan
SGI NSW Cup
Sounds like a plan!
Morgan
SGI NSW Cup
How do we rate Dragons middle forwards as they exist?
Not in any particular order:Molo Jnr: Too early to say after only 40min of a trail game but he seemed to have the full package with the possibly exception of stamina. Offload, not just run straight and hard, hard hitting in defence. We can't now about stamina for now.
Hunt: Only seen around 40min of a trial game but mobile for a front rower. Aggressive and effective in attack and defence. Negatively. seems only to run in a straight line. Seems he has no offload. Can't know about stamina yet.
Lawrie: Excellent stamina. No offload. Only runs straight and hard, no step or change of direction. Not so big for a prop. Effective defender but hardly puts fear into opposition ball runners.
Coric: Good signs early on. Been big wraps on him for a while. Has a step in order to put himself into gaps. Effective defender. Probably a year away from being an NRL player though in the event of an injury crisis, might get a chance this year.
Burgess: Not that he was bad but was much less effective than Molo jnr, Hunt and Coric. Is it possible the game has passed him by? Runs hard but only straight. Big. No offload. Poor handling (it was his achilles heel at Souffs and made a similar mistake last weekend.). Poor stamina.
Well documented that it was his first game in a long time so obviously too early to say but based just on last weekend, he might find it hard to get a spot in the 17.
Woods: Well known to have a good change of direction, offload both before the defensive line and in traffic. Lacks power and aggression in attack and defence. Has been known to be lazy. Good stamina. Will probably be a regular in the front row this season.
McGuire: Good leg speed, aggressive in attack and defence. Has an offload before the defensive line and in traffic. A favourite of the coach and will probably be a regular in the 17.
Kerr: Big and mobile but hardly puts fear into the opposition in attack or defence. No offload and no change of direction. Been given chances for the last 2 years but has never locked down his position in the 17 and probably never will.
Jack de Belin: He was a little disappointing when he came back last year. Hopefully back to his best this year.
F. Molo: Obviously had a night to forget last weekend. I'm sure Hook has put a rocket up him. Maybe the performance of his much less lauded brother will serve as motivation. I can only repeat what I said about his brother apart from that we know his stamina is average.
Bird: Who knows where he is going to play. I say starting on the bench and coming on to play in the middle after 20~25min. Fast. Has an offload before the line and in traffic. Good evasion and ball skills. Solid defender but not enough to put fear into ball runners.
Alvaro: Probably won't see NRL. Good stamina, hard worker. Like a downgrade of Lawrie. If we need someone to run hard and run around chasing ball runners but without scaring anyone, he'll get called up.
Ford: Hard worker and fast. New rules might suit him given how small he is vs most other forwards.
Sims, Su'a, Gosiewski, Fuimaono (was outstanding last weekend) are explicitly edge back-rowers.
RedV01
SGI NSW Cup
A little light on specialist edge backrowers. I guess Bird would fill in if there were 2 or more unavailable. Unless Jackson Shereb is going to be upgraded.
jodragon40
SGI NSW Cup
No chance only because they would have been working on combinations at training, although there would have been what we call as shadow players also training in those combination in case of injury or suspension and there is also no way the coach and recruiting would drop anyone recently acquired
jodragon40
SGI NSW Cup
If the props don't fire this week then they will still be given their chance in round 1 nothing surer, just who will start is the debate here and that should be decided after the rabbits game. Fitness will play a great part in also deciding this. The back row we have Sims, Su'a, Gosiewski, Fuimaono Debelin and Bird, although if things are bad Debelin can play prop as well.
RedV01
SGI NSW Cup
But if the combinations aren't working......
It would be a brave call. An admission the staff screwed up with recruitment.
jodragon40
SGI NSW Cup
Agree it just wont happen
Morgan
SGI NSW Cup
By backrow I mean, edge forwards rather than middle forwards. De Belin isn't an edge backrower. The others you mention are or can fill in there.
Morgan
SGI NSW Cup
He's justified in giving them a few weeks to get it right with the possible exception of Burgess. Given he has been out of the NRL for so long, Hook would be perfectly justified in giving him a few weeks in the NSW Cup if Molo jnr (what is his first name?) and Hunt are much more impressive again this week.
Chris M
SGI NSW Cup
Such a brave call could be an indicator of a good coach. Like not throwing good money after bad.
jodragon40
SGI NSW Cup
Unfortunately thats not the way it actually works, there will be no surprise axings or omissions in the first 6 rounds at the very least
RedV01
SGI NSW Cup
Assuming not selecting players such as Burgess, Woods, Lawrie in favour of players with better form in the trials is a surprise.
Though I agree with you. One trial doesn't represent a form line.
GCRV
SGI NSW Cup
It may be a tad early to wax lyrical about Hunt and Molo. Even if they were our best two props in the trial.
Eric
Staff
The most interesting thing about all this is that there doesn't seem like any contention on the make up of the backline come round 1 and of course barring injury.
GCRV
SGI NSW Cup
RedV01
SGI NSW Cup
Plenty of points in that providing they have a decent platform to work from.
Morgan
SGI NSW Cup
Sims, Su'a, Gosiewski, Fuimaono (was outstanding last weekend) are explicitly edge back-rowers. And I forget about Billy Burns. Another who can only play in the backrow.
Eric
Staff
St George Illawarra Dragons lock in star enforcer on one-year extension
St George Illawarra Dragons have secured one of their most promising forwards last season with Blake Lawrie inking a one-year extension to keep him in the Red V until the end of 2023.Lawrie has notched up 79 NRL games since debuting for the Dragons in 2017. The 25-year-old local junior played 21 games last season, averaging 100 running metres and 28 tackles per game. “I’m very pleased to remain a Dragon. The club has played a big part in my life and I’m looking forward to what lies ahead,” Lawrie said via a club statement.
“Securing my future before the season started was a big factor for me. My focus remains on the year ahead and helping the club return to where it belongs high up on the ladder.” Dragons general manager of football, Ben Haran added: “Blake has proven himself as a consistent NRL player and is an important and well-respected member of our squad.”
Good luck to him. I always like to see local juniors especially do well but he needs to add a few new tricks like an offload for example or I fear he won't make it in the NRL for long. Having said that, it's good to see a big prop chasing players around to make tackles and etc. For a prop, he is a veritable ball of energy.