2025 Round 1 vs Canterbury

Ryan

SGI NSW Cup
I think Hamish Stewart might be 17. Got more minutes than LPT in the trails and was 18th man last year. Other than that, this will be it. I'd bet the house on it. If I owned one.
Tonga will almost certainly turn out better but right now, I think Stewart might be in front. You remember Ryles and Bailey? Ryles started out a bit better. I think he's a year or two older. But Bull Bailey soon surpassed him. Maybe that will be like Stewart and Tonga. A number of injuries didn't help Ryles. I think it was a shoulder problem which kept him out a long time.
 

Chris M

SGI NSW Cup

Halves state of play​

DRAGONS

First-choice: Lachlan Ilias, Kyle Flanagan
Back-up: Clint Gutherson, Jonah Glover*, Kade Reed*, Lyhkan King-Togia*, Aaymon Fitzgibbon*

Analysis: After an awkward split with Ben Hunt, the Dragons have been left with an unproven halves combination and little depth. Ilias is a quality player but was deemed expendable at South Sydney, while Flanagan is on to his fourth club at age 26. There is upside in both starting halves and it needs to come out this season if dire predictions for the Red V are to be staved off. Kade Reed had some bright moments in pre-season action but is still SG Ball age, while Glover and King-Togia are other works in progress. Gutherson could play five-eighth but if that happens, the season has already gone crook. Fitzgibbon – son of Roosters legend turned Sharks coach Craig – is a famous name to watch for the future at age 18.

I think this is a surprisingly fair comment from Fozx Sports. At least they didn't nominate Blake Lawrie to play in the halves.
 

Chris M

SGI NSW Cup
Personally I'm surprised Tom Eisenhuth is apparently, according to the comments on another thread, even in contention for a spot in the 17 in round 1. Nothing against him but it's just that the club has a number of better forwards. As a matter of fact, in the top 30, Mike Molo is the only one I would say isn't better and I believe that is debatable.

As for RFM, not fussed either way. I wouldn't pick him if I were Flanno but I can see some benefit of picking him.

We will know soon enough.
 

Chris M

SGI NSW Cup
Fox sports latest prediction. Only nominated 16.

Predicted Dragons team:​

  1. Clint Gutherson
  2. Sione Finau
  3. Valentine Holmes
  4. Moses Suli
  5. Matt Feagai
  6. Kyle Flanagan
  7. Lachlan Ilias
  8. Blake Lawrie
  9. Damien Cook
  10. Emre Guler
  11. Luciano Leilua
  12. Jaydn Su’A
  13. Jack de Belin
  14. Jacob Liddle
  15. Raymond Faitala-Mariner
  16. Toby Couchman
Getting closer. Lawrie won't be there, Ryan C will be and then as Flanno said, one of Egan, Tonga, Stewart. Best we can hope for at this stage.
 

Mailroomsgi

SGI Jersey Flegg
Canterbury missing Kiraz/Curran/Sitili is big. 3 excellent players. Hopefully Jacob Liddle is back fit and we have a full strength side
 

Chris M

SGI NSW Cup
Canterbury missing Kiraz/Curran/Sitili is big. 3 excellent players. Hopefully Jacob Liddle is back fit and we have a full strength side
Never heard of the last of those 3. Others not a huge loss. They will have no excuses and neither will we.
 

Eric

Staff
Unpopular opinion. As a forward on the bench, Tom E is better than RFM. Unless Su'A or Luciano are injured or sin binned or sent off, they are going to play 80min. So why would RFM be on the bench? Though I agree picking both of them will be a very negative signal.

Why does Leilua need to play on a edge anyway? He must be the heaviest bloke in the team unless LPT is picked and might even have a kg or two on him. Just a thought given the number of very good backrowers in the squad but lack of good props.
 

Chris M

SGI NSW Cup
Unpopular opinion. As a forward on the bench, Tom E is better than RFM. Unless Su'A or Luciano are injured or sin binned or sent off, they are going to play 80min. So why would RFM be on the bench? Though I agree picking both of them will be a very negative signal.

Why does Leilua need to play on a edge anyway? He must be the heaviest bloke in the team unless LPT is picked and might even have a kg or two on him. Just a thought given the number of very good backrowers in the squad but lack of good props.
Disagree about Eisenhuth and RFM. Latter is better in any position.
 

Dave03

SGI Jersey Flegg
Finally game week! Could the thread title be updated to reflect we're playing against the Dogs? Cheers!
 

Dave03

SGI Jersey Flegg
Unpopular opinion. As a forward on the bench, Tom E is better than RFM. Unless Su'A or Luciano are injured or sin binned or sent off, they are going to play 80min. So why would RFM be on the bench? Though I agree picking both of them will be a very negative signal.

Why does Leilua need to play on a edge anyway? He must be the heaviest bloke in the team unless LPT is picked and might even have a kg or two on him. Just a thought given the number of very good backrowers in the squad but lack of good props.

Tom is a better defender, RFM better attacker. Luch is unlikely to play 80mins, more around 60mins. Imo ineffective as 80min edge. He doesn't play in the middle because he's got the skillset for an edge player with his ball playing ability & 1v1 running power.

The ball playing is crucial as he can hit Valentine Holmes who is renowned for his hole running ability. These strengths are reduced in the middle, especially with the higher defensive work rate. 1v1 running against the halfback is also an important part of his game. It also lessens the burden on Kyle so he can concentrate more on game management & set up play. Kyle isn't a great ball player either, so his skillset compliments Luch on the edge.
 

Dave03

SGI Jersey Flegg
Pumped for this game. Kicking game, low errors & penalties will be crucial with forecasted rain. It might force us to play through the middle a bit more, maybe an extra prop on the bench? I think the starting side is pretty much set based on the trials. I would've loved Klemmer being available for this game.

14. Liddle
15. R. Couchman
16. RFM
17. Loko?
 

Eric

Staff
Tom is a better defender, RFM better attacker. Luch is unlikely to play 80mins, more around 60mins. Imo ineffective as 80min edge. He doesn't play in the middle because he's got the skillset for an edge player with his ball playing ability & 1v1 running power.

The ball playing is crucial as he can hit Valentine Holmes who is renowned for his hole running ability. These strengths are reduced in the middle, especially with the higher defensive work rate. 1v1 running against the halfback is also an important part of his game. It also lessens the burden on Kyle so he can concentrate more on game management & set up play. Kyle isn't a great ball player either, so his skillset compliments Luch on the edge.
If Luch can't play 80min in the backrow, Egan should be in while Luch gets fitter in NSW Cup. Backrowers are supposed to play 80min.
 

RedV01

SGI NSW Cup
Pumped for this game. Kicking game, low errors & penalties will be crucial with forecasted rain. It might force us to play through the middle a bit more, maybe an extra prop on the bench? I think the starting side is pretty much set based on the trials. I would've loved Klemmer being available for this game.

14. Liddle
15. R. Couchman
16. RFM
17. Loko?
No. 17 Stewart.
 

RedV01

SGI NSW Cup
Gutho
CT
Suli
Val
Mat maybe Ty
Kyle
Lachy
Toby
Cookie
Em
Luch
Sua
Bomber

Lids
Ray
Ryan
Hamish
Apart from no Finau, this is the best team available. But whyTF wouldn't Finau be in? What does this poor bloke have to do for Flanno to just fuking pick him!?
 

TheRev

SGI Jersey Flegg
I think Stewart is very lucky.. but lets see how he goes, and yeah maybe Finau hasnt fully recovered or something.. only thing that would make sense to me, could play either side also.
 

TheRev

SGI Jersey Flegg
I think Klemmer by Round 1 is all but gone as an option.. the question is are we working on (and we do have the funds) to offload a 2nd player while we wait for the Frank situation to sort itself out.. who knows how long we could be waiting otherwise, if indeed hes still on market.
 
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