2026 pre-season

jodragon40

jodragon40

Staff
Well the 1st pre season game according to the experts will be a showdown between the two teams who are favourites to collect the wooden spoon in 2026.

Dragons v Knights on our holy ground, Kogarah Jubilee Oval, Saturday 7th February.

Obviously not knowing the make-up of the team this early the areas of improvement that I will be looking for are:
1. Defensive line speed
2. Kick return metres
3. Error rate
4. Runs whilst in possession
5. 40/20 s
6. Increased tackle breaks
7. Increased kicking game
8. Support plays whilst in possession

To my eyes these are the areas we need to vastly improve our game in.
 
Eric

Eric

Staff
jodragon40 said:
Well the 1st pre season game according to the experts will be a showdown between the two teams who are favourites to collect the wooden spoon in 2026.

Dragons v Knights on our holy ground, Kogarah Jubilee Oval, Saturday 7th February.

Obviously not knowing the make-up of the team this early the areas of improvement that I will be looking for are:
1. Defensive line speed
2. Kick return metres
3. Error rate
4. Runs whilst in possession
5. 40/20 s
6. Increased tackle breaks
7. Increased kicking game
8. Support plays whilst in possession

To my eyes these are the areas we need to vastly improve our game in.
Click to expand...
I'm not an expert but would've thought #3 isn't such a big problem in a trial game. That's when to see what's working and what needs to improve more.
 
D

Dave03

SGI NSW Cup
jodragon40 said:
Well the 1st pre season game according to the experts will be a showdown between the two teams who are favourites to collect the wooden spoon in 2026.

Dragons v Knights on our holy ground, Kogarah Jubilee Oval, Saturday 7th February.

Obviously not knowing the make-up of the team this early the areas of improvement that I will be looking for are:
1. Defensive line speed
2. Kick return metres
3. Error rate
4. Runs whilst in possession
5. 40/20 s
6. Increased tackle breaks
7. Increased kicking game
8. Support plays whilst in possession

To my eyes these are the areas we need to vastly improve our game in.
Click to expand...
1, 7 & 8 for me. That's a good list to work on across the season. I want to keep it simple for the trials, especially when we'll likely see nsw cup squad guys play a bit more.
 
jodragon40

jodragon40

Staff
Dave03 said:
1, 7 & 8 for me. That's a good list to work on across the season. I want to keep it simple for the trials, especially when we'll likely see nsw cup squad guys play a bit more.
Click to expand...
The thing I found most during my playing and coaching careers was if you introduce certain skills that you want individual players and team squads to adhere by then you practice those at training, in trial matches, in premiership matches.

Not just your 1sts and ressies but also your senior junior teams. Practice makes perfect it also identify If those skills are achievable. The more players and teams involved the better for the club. Just my views
 
J

Justadragon

SGI NSW Cup
jodragon40 said:
Well the 1st pre season game according to the experts will be a showdown between the two teams who are favourites to collect the wooden spoon in 2026.

Dragons v Knights on our holy ground, Kogarah Jubilee Oval, Saturday 7th February.

Obviously not knowing the make-up of the team this early the areas of improvement that I will be looking for are:
1. Defensive line speed
2. Kick return metres
3. Error rate
4. Runs whilst in possession
5. 40/20 s
6. Increased tackle breaks
7. Increased kicking game
8. Support plays whilst in possession

To my eyes these are the areas we need to vastly improve our game in.
Click to expand...
I really want to see what the halves are doing.
 
jodragon40

jodragon40

Staff
Justadragon said:
I really want to see what the halves are doing.
Click to expand...
That will depend upon how the pack is going. You can practice your structures and your combinations at training all you want, even have your controlled contact sessions but you won't know until you are in the heat of the battle.

The pack has to consistently make metres to allow the halves time and space. If they don't you won't be seeing much improvement.
 
J

Justadragon

SGI NSW Cup
jodragon40 said:
That will depend upon how the pack is going. You can practice your structures and your combinations at training all you want, even have your controlled contact sessions but you won't know until you are in the heat of the battle.

The pack has to consistently make metres to allow the halves time and space. If they don't you won't be seeing much improvement.
Click to expand...
Agree with what you are saying, and if that happens well I will want to see how they handle pressure and get some momentum back, unless the pack is getting absolutely annihilated.
 
jodragon40

jodragon40

Staff
Justadragon said:
Agree with what you are saying, and if that happens well I will want to see how they handle pressure and get some momentum back, unless the pack is getting absolutely annihilated.
Click to expand...
As a coach you look at your play makers during a game to show initiative and not simply follow your structures, like kick early if your defending multiple sets, slow the momentum of the game down. That comes down to your playmakers football brain.
 
jodragon40

jodragon40

Staff
Just seen the photos of the last training session. My takeaway :

1. The lads are fit,
2. The lads are happy,
3. Ennis is very involved
4. I have never seen LL so trim and has bulked up especially the arms and chest
 

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George Sancti

George Sancti

SGI Jersey Flegg
Dave03 said:
I guess it's a big trip going to Vegas so we might see regulars featured more in the 1st trial compared to the 2nd?
Click to expand...
Good point, Dave. With the first and second trial games falling twenty‑one and fourteen days respectively before the NRL opener in Vegas, the team selections will be interesting. As you suggest, Flanno may run with his preferred side in the first trial, then give them a half in the second trial before turning the second half over to the reserve‑grade players.
 
D

Dave03

SGI NSW Cup
George Sancti said:
Good point, Dave. With the first and second trial games falling twenty‑one and fourteen days respectively before the NRL opener in Vegas, the team selections will be interesting. As you suggest, Flanno may run with his preferred side in the first trial, then give them a half in the second trial before turning the second half over to the reserve‑grade players.
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I have a feeling this will occur. I'm not sure when we fly out to Vegas but I'd guess we give ourselves atleast 1 week. Potentially 2 weeks with media commitments, maybe a mini camp? Etc.

Gus went over last year to scope out how teams prepare. I hope we did something similar. Each weekend we get closer to some action. Excitement building.
 
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