Anzac Day: St George Illawarra Dragons v Sydney Roosters

[jodragon40]

Well Mbye is injured Sua is out and Bird out. So don't be surprised to see Sloan and Amone in the starting line up with Ramsay. Burgess is not match fit so Mcguire will or should partner Molo with Woods, Lawrie and Burgess off the bench next week. Our NSW Cup team made it 3 in a row with Ramsay getting 2 tries Sloan, Kerr and Ford scoring. Things are turning around.

 

[GCRV]

Well Mbye is injured Sua is out and Bird out. So don't be surprised to see Sloan and Amone in the starting line up with Ramsay. Burgess is not match fit so Mcguire will or should partner Molo with Woods, Lawrie and Burgess off the bench next week. Our NSW Cup team made it 3 in a row with Ramsay getting 2 tries Sloan, Kerr and Ford scoring. Things are turning around.

Mbye is injured? What happened?

 

[Morgan]

A few points from the game.

• Burgess didn't seem to have much impact. I wonder whether McGuire prop and Fuimaono on the bench is a better option.
• Are our forwards unfit? What was with the not moving up in defence in the second half?
• I think that's the best game I've seen Lawrie play. Not a step backward was his moto.
• I can see why Woods was dropped. He was good in attack. Charging forward and a few offloads but in defence sometimes he hangs out an arm and lets opposition ball runners go straight past.
• I read in the live game chat, "Amone remembered that he can run but can't tackle." I think this is pretty accurate. He needs a few training sessions with JDB, Su'A and Suli. Take turns running at him and coaching him. But it was good to see him playing to his strength and running.
• What is going on at the club with the last play options? First the NRLW and now this. Running on the last, mixing things up is good but should kick most of the time and run rarely, not vice-versa.
• Feagai is so good when he gets involved but needs to go looking for more work.

That's all I've got for now.

• McGuire has played really well in both games. I think he played for 80min today.

 

[Eric]

IT’S TIME TO UPGRADE HUNT’S $1M DRAGONS CONTRACT​

This is why the Dragons signed Ben Hunt on a monster deal and it’s why the Red V should extend him as soon as possible. Coming up against a Roosters side that had beaten them seven times in a row, Hunt orchestrated one of the great ambushes to guide his team to a shock 14-12 win at the SCG to somehow have them on the edge of the top eight, although they suffered a couple of potentially serious injuries.

The St George Illawarra skipper has for some reason been the whipping boy when his side loses, but he showed again on Anzac Day that the criticism is unwarranted and that he is the man who can turn this club’s fortunes around. “The Roosters were coming at us pretty hard,” Hunt said. “I find those wins pretty special when you’re just toughing it out. To hang on, it’s right up there (as the best win I’ve had at the club).”

The veteran No.7 was excellent on Monday afternoon, leaving the red and white faithful in the Bill O’Reilly Stand in raptures as he dazzled with a couple of try assists and a ridiculous defensive stop to carry his side to victory. He set the tone with a 20-40 attempt in just the fourth minute that turned the Roosters around and fired up his defence for the rest of the first half. His teammates defended the line time and time again which frustrated the Roosters and allowed Hunt to pick them apart at the other end.

He played short for Francis Molo to open the scoring at mind-blowing odds and then kicked high for Zac Lomax, although it was a grateful Jaydn Su’A who scooped up the loose ball to stroll over. And when the Roosters threatened to steal the win in the second half, Hunt saved his exhausted teammates with a spectacular 40/20 with three minutes to go to save them.

“The 40/20 was the play of the day,” Dragons coach Anthony Griffin said. But they had to defend one more set, and it looked like the Roosters had finally cracked them when Daniel Tupou threw a pass to an unmarked Luke Keary. Instead, Hunt appeared out of absolutely nowhere to knock it down to stop the attacking raid in its tracks to seal the stunning upset win to add another chapter to the long list of Anzac Day classics.

---

I've been been supporting Ben Hunt for the length of his contract. I was adamant his best position was halfback despite commentators, especially those affiliated with opposition teams, urging supercoach McGregor to pick him at hooker.

And Hunt was very good last night but with all due respect, he's 32 and Sullivan is the future halfback. Hunt shouldn't be considered for an upgrade. In fact, the club should be trying to move him on for next year, the last year of his contract.

 

[jodragon40]

Yep. I'm glad the coach was willing to make unforced changes to a winning team with Kerr. Now I think he needs to do the same thing with Mbye.

Mbye was injured early on and did a good job to stay on and play his part

 

[jodragon40]

Mbye is injured? What happened?

Leg injury in the 1st half saw him being treated in backplay

 

[jodragon40]

IT’S TIME TO UPGRADE HUNT’S $1M DRAGONS CONTRACT​

This is why the Dragons signed Ben Hunt on a monster deal and it’s why the Red V should extend him as soon as possible. Coming up against a Roosters side that had beaten them seven times in a row, Hunt orchestrated one of the great ambushes to guide his team to a shock 14-12 win at the SCG to somehow have them on the edge of the top eight, although they suffered a couple of potentially serious injuries.

The St George Illawarra skipper has for some reason been the whipping boy when his side loses, but he showed again on Anzac Day that the criticism is unwarranted and that he is the man who can turn this club’s fortunes around. “The Roosters were coming at us pretty hard,” Hunt said. “I find those wins pretty special when you’re just toughing it out. To hang on, it’s right up there (as the best win I’ve had at the club).”

The veteran No.7 was excellent on Monday afternoon, leaving the red and white faithful in the Bill O’Reilly Stand in raptures as he dazzled with a couple of try assists and a ridiculous defensive stop to carry his side to victory. He set the tone with a 20-40 attempt in just the fourth minute that turned the Roosters around and fired up his defence for the rest of the first half. His teammates defended the line time and time again which frustrated the Roosters and allowed Hunt to pick them apart at the other end.

He played short for Francis Molo to open the scoring at mind-blowing odds and then kicked high for Zac Lomax, although it was a grateful Jaydn Su’A who scooped up the loose ball to stroll over. And when the Roosters threatened to steal the win in the second half, Hunt saved his exhausted teammates with a spectacular 40/20 with three minutes to go to save them.

“The 40/20 was the play of the day,” Dragons coach Anthony Griffin said. But they had to defend one more set, and it looked like the Roosters had finally cracked them when Daniel Tupou threw a pass to an unmarked Luke Keary. Instead, Hunt appeared out of absolutely nowhere to knock it down to stop the attacking raid in its tracks to seal the stunning upset win to add another chapter to the long list of Anzac Day classics.

---

I've been been supporting Ben Hunt for the length of his contract. I was adamant his best position was halfback despite commentators, especially those affiliated with opposition teams, urging supercoach McGregor to pick him at hooker.

And Hunt was very good last night but with all due respect, he's 32 and Sullivan is the future halfback. Hunt shouldn't be considered for an upgrade. In fact, the club should be trying to move him on for next year, the last year of his contract.

He is flourishing this year because the pack was going forward. In the 2nd half though because of fatigue and being 2 players down we made only 20m in 2 sets coming out from our own half, it looked bad for us but make no mistake about this our defence won that game. Hunts kicking game was apart from 1 poor kick a 9/10 effort and so was his overall game and he rightly won the MOM Anzac Day medal in my view and I had a great view

 

[jodragon40]

• McGuire has played really well in both games. I think he played for 80min today.

He is at the moment the teams enforcer

 

[jodragon40]

A few points from the game.

• Burgess didn't seem to have much impact. I wonder whether McGuire prop and Fuimaono on the bench is a better option.
• Are our forwards unfit? What was with the not moving up in defence in the second half?
• I think that's the best game I've seen Lawrie play. Not a step backward was his moto.
• I can see why Woods was dropped. He was good in attack. Charging forward and a few offloads but in defence sometimes he hangs out an arm and lets opposition ball runners go straight past.
• I read in the live game chat, "Amone remembered that he can run but can't tackle." I think this is pretty accurate. He needs a few training sessions with JDB, Su'A and Suli. Take turns running at him and coaching him. But it was good to see him playing to his strength and running.
• What is going on at the club with the last play options? First the NRLW and now this. Running on the last, mixing things up is good but should kick most of the time and run rarely, not vice-versa.
• Feagai is so good when he gets involved but needs to go looking for more work.

That's all I've got for now.

Burgess is not match fit he's good for 15 min each half at the moment but will improve with more matches. He needs to be a 25 min a half player in my view

 

[RedV01]

He is flourishing this year because the pack was going forward. In the 2nd half though because of fatigue and being 2 players down we made only 20m in 2 sets coming out from our own half, it looked bad for us but make no mistake about this our defence won that game. Hunts kicking game was apart from 1 poor kick a 9/10 effort and so was his overall game and he rightly won the MOM Anzac Day medal in my view and I had a great view

I was actually yelling at the TV. The Rorters were getting off their line so fast, didn't seem possible they weren't going early. I still think that's the case but like the Tupou incident, they were getting away with it because that's what the Rorters do.

 

[GCRV]

A few points from the game.

• Burgess didn't seem to have much impact. I wonder whether McGuire prop and Fuimaono on the bench is a better option.
• Are our forwards unfit? What was with the not moving up in defence in the second half?
• I think that's the best game I've seen Lawrie play. Not a step backward was his moto.
• I can see why Woods was dropped. He was good in attack. Charging forward and a few offloads but in defence sometimes he hangs out an arm and lets opposition ball runners go straight past.
• I read in the live game chat, "Amone remembered that he can run but can't tackle." I think this is pretty accurate. He needs a few training sessions with JDB, Su'A and Suli. Take turns running at him and coaching him. But it was good to see him playing to his strength and running.
• What is going on at the club with the last play options? First the NRLW and now this. Running on the last, mixing things up is good but should kick most of the time and run rarely, not vice-versa.
• Feagai is so good when he gets involved but needs to go looking for more work.

That's all I've got for now.

As for kicking, obviously you mean attacking kicks. As for other kicks, kicking before the last isn't a bad idea but often kicking on the 2nd or 3rd doesn't seem like a great idea to me.

 

[Morgan]

As for kicking, obviously you mean attacking kicks. As for other kicks, kicking before the last isn't a bad idea but often kicking on the 2nd or 3rd doesn't seem like a great idea to me.

It may also be an idea to make clear Ben Hunt isn't the only one allowed to kick.

Things like kicking tactics should be easy to fix. Amone's defence should fit into that category as well.

 

[Morgan]

He is flourishing this year because the pack was going forward. In the 2nd half though because of fatigue and being 2 players down we made only 20m in 2 sets coming out from our own half, it looked bad for us but make no mistake about this our defence won that game. Hunts kicking game was apart from 1 poor kick a 9/10 effort and so was his overall game and he rightly won the MOM Anzac Day medal in my view and I had a great view was excellent.

Hunt's kicking was excellent. No doubt at all. There's also no doubt the team will be better if Hunt isn't the only one kicking.

 

[Morgan]

HUNT GETS DRAGONS’ SEASON BACK ON TRACK​

Ben Hunt produced a superb performance to lead the Dragons to an upset victory over the Roosters that has the potential to turn around their season.

Hunt had 32 run metres, an offload, a linebreak assist and two try assists, but it was his creative and long kicking game that won the Dragons the game.

Two plays late in the contest summed up Hunt’s brilliance as he raced back to defuse a potential match winning try by knocking down a pass from Daniel Tupou before he produced a booming 40/20 to ice the game.

Cooper Cronk commended Hunt for stepping up on the biggest stage and willing his side to victory.

“We spoke about before the game for the Dragons to win, Ben Hunt had to be the best player and by far was he the best player on the field,” Cronk said.

“Congratulations to Anthony Griffin and Ben Hunt. I thought they did a tremendous job and performed in the true ANZAC spirit.”

Benji Marshall believes the Dragons need to bottle that brave performance and try and emulate it every week.

“Considering they lost a couple of players to injury, I thought their resilience was the best we have seen from them this season,” Marshall said. “This is a win that they can base the start of their season on and this can be their benchmark.”

The Dragons didn’t score in the second half as the Roosters stormed home, but their defence in the first half and their late desperation got them home and Hunt led the way.

“They did that down a few troops and the Dragons didn’t score a point in the second half, but they defended their tryline like their lives depended on it,” Cronk said.

“Nothing sums it up more than the last play of the game. The Roosters go down the left-hand side and make a break with 30 seconds to go and the Dragons are coming from everywhere.

“Ball over the top from Tupou and it is little Benny Hunt that comes through and puts a hand out for a try-saving effort.

“Six-foot Tupou running down the sideline and little five foot Benny Hunt comes across. He needs a step ladder to knock that ball down.

“It just shows the desperation. That is everything about defending your tryline. That effort from Ben Hunt alone should get him the man-of-the-match.”

Corey Parker believes Hunt stood up at crucial times to lead his side to an upset victory and the 40/20 at the end of the game summed up his superb display.

“Ben Hunt owned the big moments,” Parker said.
“None better than that 40/20 there at the end of the game. “His leadership was outstanding. It was a wonderful performance.”

 

[Eric]

So what do we need to go from a fringe top 8 side to a genuine premiership contender?

• Sort out the last play attacking options.
• Related to above, give someone else a license to kick, not just Hunt.
• Teach Amone to tackle!
• I feel we need one more good, middle forward. Kerr was a concern and Burgess was a concern yesterday. JDB, McGuire, Molo, Woods would work with Sims playing 80min on an edge but Sims seems to be off with the coach.
• Sloan needs to bring his NSW Cup form to the NRL.
• I've been really impressed by what Feagai does with the ball. He just needs to do it more!

The first 3 of those and last should be easy to fix.

 

[GCRV]

So what do we need to go from a fringe top 8 side to a genuine premiership contender?

• Sort out the last play attacking options.
• Related to above, give someone else a license to kick, not just Hunt.
• Teach Amone to tackle!
• I feel we need one more good, middle forward. Kerr was a concern and Burgess was a concern yesterday. JDB, McGuire, Molo, Woods would work with Sims playing 80min on an edge but Sims seems to be off with the coach.
• Sloan needs to bring his NSW Cup form to the NRL.
• I've been really impressed by what Feagai does with the ball. He just needs to do it more!

The first 3 of those and last should be easy to fix.

• The backline as it was yesterday is a little slow for my liking. Amone and Sloan in the run on 13 should fix that.

 

[Morgan]

• The backline as it was yesterday is a little slow for my liking. Amone and Sloan in the run on 13 should fix that.

Would be nice to have a little more speed in the centres or wingers but I don't think it's likely. The centres and wingers seems pretty fixed. In the event of injury to any of them, I think in a few weeks the other Feagai is next up. I'd say Ramsey is after that.

 

[Morgan]

So what do we need to go from a fringe top 8 side to a genuine premiership contender?

• Sort out the last play attacking options.
• Related to above, give someone else a license to kick, not just Hunt.
• Teach Amone to tackle!
• I feel we need one more good, middle forward. Kerr was a concern and Burgess was a concern yesterday. JDB, McGuire, Molo, Woods would work with Sims playing 80min on an edge but Sims seems to be off with the coach.
• Sloan needs to bring his NSW Cup form to the NRL.
• I've been really impressed by what Feagai does with the ball. He just needs to do it more!

The first 3 of those and last should be easy to fix.

Not a bad list but one bad miss.

• Need a little more attacking flair out of dummy half. I hope Connor Muhleisen is the answer.

 

[Eric]

Some fighting words by Josh McGuire

Dragons hardman Josh McGuire said he would have got “two years” and needed a leading lawyer if he had dished out a similar high shot.

“He didn‘t get sent off because of the occasion, but I’m glad,” said McGuire, who has a lengthy rap sheet over the years. “If that’s the precedent, then stay like that.

“I thought the worse one was the hip drop (by Jared Waerea-Hargreaves) on Jaydn Su’A. We lost an Origin back-rower. Just injury-wise, it will hurt us long-term.”

I like it. We haven't had a forward to fight fire with fire in quite a while.

Well, I guess Sims did that (fight fire with fire) but it's nice to have more than one.

 

[Eric]

Anyone got a rating from this game? 10 highest, 1 lowest.

1. Moses Mbye 5/10 Didn't do badly but hardly caused any problems for the Rorters.
2. Mathew Feagai 6/10 Really good when involved. We just need to see him involved more.
3. Moses Suli 7/10 Carried injury most of the game. Over 100m run, a few tackle busts. No missed tackles.
4. Zac Lomax 8/10 Excellent game in defence and attack.
5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6/10 Same as Feagai. Good but need to see more of him. Stupid mistake early on when he took the ball dead.
6. Jack Bird 8/10 I've been vocal in my wish for Amone to be recalled but I give credit where due. Excellent before injury struck.
7. Ben Hunt 8/10 "Only" 8 because he should be yelling at Mbye or Amone to take kicks when he or Bird can't.
8. Frank Molo 7/10 Good try. Solid apart that without being spectacular.
9. Andrew McCullough 8/10 Did what he does best. Good passing out of dummy half and lots of tackles.
10. Blake Lawrie 8/10 Best game I've seen him play. Giving a little lip to the opposition which I like.
11. Josh McGuire 8/10 Has really given the pack a shot in the arm for the two games he's been back. Is he heading back to Origin selection?
12. Jaydn Su’A 8/10 Excellent again. Surely if he isn't injured, he'll be in the QLD team as a starting backrower.
13. Jack de Belin 8/10 Really getting back to his best. Same defence and passing game with more minutes and offloads.
14. Talatau Amone 6/10 Someone said in the live game chat, "Remembered he can run and can't tackle."
15. Aaron Woods 7/10 Made good metres in the middle. A few good offloads and a few poor missed tackles.
16. Tariq Sims 6/10 Solid but not spectacular when he came on.
17. George Burgess 5/10 A big prop version of Mbye.