Charity Shield 2026 Thread

J

Justadragon

SGI NSW Cup
jodragon40 said:
I acknowledge its our first game with our top 30 and I know its per say a trial BUT. Disappointment is my first reaction.

Statistically most of them did favour us, except the errors, 13 - 8 in our favour, and that's not a stat you want to be winning. Completion rate improved slightly from last week 69% to 75%, Rabbits 85% so lost that one as well.

So to my eye my fears are being confirmed. Our 7 who hasn't played 7 in 2 seasons and it shows, and it is to be expected was ok but rusty.

Our 6 who played 7 the last 2 seasons didn't play 6 very well tonight. Defensively he was again good 32 tackles made 1 missed but lacks creativity in attack.

I was hoping to see some different attacking structures especially straightening the structure in midfield but alas nothing, same structures as the last 2 seasons.

It is vital that at least 1 of your halves run the ball and plays eyes up football and one manages the game. Tonight, Flanagan 3 runs for 30m and Atkinson 7 runs for 47m. That is simply not good enough. Absolutely no improvement in that area of the game.

Our 9 wasn't much better 6 runs 45m. So our 6, 7, and 9 made a total of 16 runs for 122m.

It means that defensively the opposition are not placed into two minds because our 6/7 with ball in hand are just linking in attack and not straightening the attack or running through or at the least taking on the line, and our 9 isn't going to make surprise darts out of dummy half but just clear the ruck area.

So defensively you just slide in defence and on most occasions any balls that were turned back inside in those type of attacking structures are and were covered tonight.

Now compare that to our 1st round opponents the Bulldogs today, and a saving grace for us is the unfortunate injury to their 6 Burton who won't be there come round 1 now with his hamstring injury.

Their 6, 7 and 9 combined for 36 runs and 260m, a very big difference, they were impressive today winning 28 zip. The zip being the impressive part. We leaked 28 points.

Kicking metres tonight, well when you take into consideration that the Rabbits lost their starting 7 early, we were still out kicked by their 2nd and 3rd tier halves, 711m - 822m, that's diabolical.

Anyone who honestly believe's that Cook at his age can play 80 min and be effective, well tonight would have answered that question. Liddle can't come back quickly enough.

So we still appear to still have issues with our spine. Yes it will take time for our halves to gel and compliment each other's playing styles but one of them needs to run the ball.

Positives out of that loss, very few, the return of Hamish Stewart by far our best forward, whilst he was out there, 7 runs, 70m , 39 tackles very impressive.

Unfortunately I was hoping to see more impact from our edge players Sua and Leilua but that really didn't eventuate with no line breaks and only 5 tackle breaks between them.

So we have Holmes to come back in for Fale in the backline otherwise that is it. One wing spot is up for grabs although CT has had 2 ordinary games.

We ran at one time or another during tonight's game our top 21 for this season.

It may well be another long season for us unless there is a rapid improvement from tonight's performance.

Just my views.
Click to expand...
Excellent post !!! One thing to add, we leaked 28 points to a reserve grade side.
 
R

RandomDragon

SGI Jersey Flegg
TheRev said:
100%, Young will be the interim for sure and that could spill into 2027 which would be a disaster for us. Run Hard Tackle Hard boyz.

It just depends how the season starts, if were 0from6 for example.. perspectives will be different.. but thats a long way away, lets get through Vegas first and get everyone back to their families and safe and then we can start our season proper...
Click to expand...
It’s not even interim, he will be signed to a 3 year deal. It’s not even up for debate that is what will happen
 
D

Dragon David

SGI Jersey Flegg
TheRev said:
I think if you hand Flanno the Sharks roster or the Storm or the Cows or the Titans roster, anything like that with juicy big packs and plenty of strike in the backs.. I think he would be a rly good coach.. he would harden them and hes good at getting players up..

But were in a weird position where we are desperately trying to get this squad that has so many gaps to something respectable.. and the bash/barge style isnt rly working anymore.. im sure Ennis and co are telling him that.. but hes gotta believe it.. but at the same time the roster is pretty much poo so on one hand I cant blame him.. but on the other.. you have to commend Ryles who seemed to rly understand exactly what he needed to recruit.. and maybe Flanno cant get the players he wanted to recruit tbf.. but it does seem like its very hard to win with big oversized lads who do hurt ppl when they run.. but it doesnt seem to turn into points.

The key to the great coaches though.. is they do evolve.. and im not sure Bennett has evolved in terms of strategy.. but somehow he seems to find himself with good talent and it seems to work.. maybe its the talent not the coach.. i have no idea.. chicken or the egg maybe.
Click to expand...
You cannot beat good/great talent TheRev. When you have that it makes the coaches job a lot easier. The good talented players virtually run the whole kit and caboodle and help to win games without the need for the coach to lay down the law. We need a couple of fast and crafty playmaking halves, a strike centre and a defensive one, two fast and strong wingers and a reliable fullback who knows when to chime in, in a flash and make the extra man. That's in attack and of course we need guys who love to tackle and do it well. Not too much to ask for is it?

I think our players had Vegas on their minds and didn't want to cop injuries, they gifted a couple of tries and bombed one and put too much pressure on themselves. Souths on the other hand had nothing to lose and just played what they were coached to do by Bennett and Hornby and things worked out for them - luck favours the brave.
 
TheRev

TheRev

SGI NSW Cup
blacksafake said:
Feagai is our best winger which says a lot about what we’ve got.
I’m not seeing what others are seeing in Tu.

I’d be looking at someone like Derby from the cowboys,sure he has a few issues but can score a try & has something to work on. He may be one looking for more opportunities than what he’s getting.
I’m not seeing anything from what we’ve got.
Also if Kyle is going to be used at dummy half he really needs to work on his passing.
Click to expand...
Its crazy to think but yes Feagai is just more reliable right now than the others.. but he is... I just feel safer with him on the field.. and thats exactly as you say an indication that its one of the easiest to recruit position that we just keep getting wrong (Lawson, Sloan, SFinau, Tamale, CT, not sure on Fale/Tu).. I see so many gorgeous nsw cup type wingers, and I think we genuinely tried but cant seem to get one.. maybe we didnt want to pay up though... Derby for example is much loved up there.. but he aint playing wing in 1st grade anytime soon..

I do want to see Tu in open space and see what his finishing is like.. feel like all his job is in our team if catching bombs and doing hitups.. but I think thats more of a team issue.. but im on the fence.. as he doesnt excite me either.. but again I do want to see if he can ice a try for us... he hasnt done too much wrong so far tbf and many would see him as a bright spot.

And yes Kyle is an issue if hes the hooker, hes probably the 14, but Cook is so much more exciting, I dont rly get the Cook hate, I think hes a gun still.. but shouldnt have to do long minutes.. we need to manage him better to get someone his age through an entire season.. but not much we can do with Liddle out.. the other thing is LKT isnt exactly braining it either in terms of taking the 6 jersey.. its a real conundrum.
 
Frank Facer

Frank Facer

SGI Jersey Flegg
RedVHeartbeat said:
He was given some pretty good cattle in Gutho, Val, Cook to add to JDB and some promising forwards. Had the chance to nail some elites but did not have the pulling power. His biggest faux pas was hanging onto the nameless one too long and then favoring him and his son to steer the ship.
Click to expand...
Cook and Gutho's best years are behind them. They added much needed leadership, but wouldn't have been high on my shopping list. Although Gutho is an improvement on Slone
 
Frank Facer

Frank Facer

SGI Jersey Flegg
Mailroomsgi said:
I’ve been saying it for a little while now, I am getting worried he’s a bit like Hasler at the titans where he’s just washed and we’re flogging a dead horse with him

I hope I look like a schmuck 2 months from now and we’ve won 5/5 to start the season but it’s not an agenda to expect better and hold people accountable

Like the kick chase stuff last night for example. That’s on the coach, the patterns of play and everything that encompasses our shit performances fall under Flanno’s umbrella

His dud recruits are on HIM, if he can’t elevate and develop players to get better than what is he providing as a head coach?

Sometimes the game just moves past coaches. Mourinho in soccer was the best coach in the world between 2004 and 2010 and from 2016 onwards he’s garbage. These things happen
Click to expand...
It isn't Hasler's fault that Gold Coast have only made the semi finals once in the last 15 years, finishing 8th in 2016. It is a worse record than us over the same period. Remember I pointed out how teams not from Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne have not had much success, but the thread was deleted? Here is what the search engine said their record has been over the last 15 years. One can't keep blaming the coaches for club's on going failure.

Gold Coast Titans' NRL ladder positions over the last 15 seasons (2009–2024):

  • 2009: 16th (last)
  • 2010: 16th (last)
  • 2011: 14th
  • 2012: 16th (last)
  • 2013: 16th (last)
  • 2014: 16th (last)
  • 2015: 16th (last)
  • 2016: 9th → NRL Finals (elimination final loss to Brisbane Broncos)
  • 2017: 15th
  • 2018: 16th (last)
  • 2019: 14th
  • 2020: 16th (last)
  • 2021: 14th
  • 2022: 14th
  • 2023: 14th
  • 2024: 14th
  • 2025: 16th
When I first looked it up, I got the results for the Gold Coast Suns from the AFL. Their record was very similar to the NRL team. It looks like a similar pattern.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kim
jodragon40

jodragon40

Staff
Frank Facer said:
It isn't Hasler's fault that Gold Coast have only made the semi finals once in the last 15 years, finishing 8th in 2016. It is a worse record than us over the same period. Remember I pointed out how teams not from Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne have not had much success, but the thread was deleted? Here is what the search engine said their record has been over the last 15 years. One can't keep blaming the coaches for club's on going failure.

Gold Coast Titans' NRL ladder positions over the last 15 seasons (2009–2024):

  • 2009: 16th (last)
  • 2010: 16th (last)
  • 2011: 14th
  • 2012: 16th (last)
  • 2013: 16th (last)
  • 2014: 16th (last)
  • 2015: 16th (last)
  • 2016: 9th → NRL Finals (elimination final loss to Brisbane Broncos)
  • 2017: 15th
  • 2018: 16th (last)
  • 2019: 14th
  • 2020: 16th (last)
  • 2021: 14th
  • 2022: 14th
  • 2023: 14th
  • 2024: 14th
  • 2025: 16th
When I first looked it up, I got the results for the Gold Coast Suns from the AFL. Their record was very similar to the NRL team. It looks like a similar pattern.
Click to expand...
Holiday city up here
 
GCRV

GCRV

SGI NSW Cup
Frank Facer said:
It isn't Hasler's fault that Gold Coast have only made the semi finals once in the last 15 years, finishing 8th in 2016. It is a worse record than us over the same period. Remember I pointed out how teams not from Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne have not had much success, but the thread was deleted? Here is what the search engine said their record has been over the last 15 years. One can't keep blaming the coaches for club's on going failure.

Gold Coast Titans' NRL ladder positions over the last 15 seasons (2009–2024):

  • 2009: 16th (last)
  • 2010: 16th (last)
  • 2011: 14th
  • 2012: 16th (last)
  • 2013: 16th (last)
  • 2014: 16th (last)
  • 2015: 16th (last)
  • 2016: 9th → NRL Finals (elimination final loss to Brisbane Broncos)
  • 2017: 15th
  • 2018: 16th (last)
  • 2019: 14th
  • 2020: 16th (last)
  • 2021: 14th
  • 2022: 14th
  • 2023: 14th
  • 2024: 14th
  • 2025: 16th
When I first looked it up, I got the results for the Gold Coast Suns from the AFL. Their record was very similar to the NRL team. It looks like a similar pattern.
Click to expand...
Hasler was hired to turn them around. Wasted a huge amount of cap space on duds or guys way past their best. Far from turning them around, he took them backwards.
 
RedVHeartbeat

RedVHeartbeat

SGI NSW Cup
Jd I did manage to watch all of it. We had our moments. I'd not call the display diobolical but more mediocre. This is a trial so the guys that did not stand up against weaker opposition simply dont start the season.

First thing I noted was how much fitter we looked so Dan Lawson is now doing his job. Didnt recognize Gutho at first with the leaner bod and hair. Best I have seen Luch look for yrs having shed 15kg in off season, is more agile, specially laterally and now has a bigger engine for putting more into his long mins. His too offloads led to tries in first stanza and some of his tackling was brutal. He with Toby and Hamish were our best in the engine room. Have liked for Loko and Jake to have had more mins.
 
Last edited:
RufusRex

RufusRex

SGI Jersey Flegg
RedVHeartbeat said:
First thing I noted was how much fitter we looked. Dan Lawson doing his job. Didnt recognize Gutho at first with the leaner bod and hair. Best I have seen Luch look for yrs having shed 15kg in off season, is more agile, specially laterally and now has a bigger engine putting more into his mins. His too offloads led to tries in first stanza and some of his tackling was brutal. He with Toby and Hamish were our best in the engine room. Have liked for Loko and Jake to have more mins.
Click to expand...
They had already played a game
 
Eric

Eric

Staff
TheRev said:
I'd love to believe that, but that has changed the trajectory of the season, the path from here is quite different.. its one we will be hearing about every february for the next decade.

Buchanan is coming on fresh (relatively), and defensively not a lot he can do imo against a big bodied centre most 1st grade squads will run at him... but hes in the squad and a backup, obviously Val has that spot wrapped up.. well.. now im not so sure but assume hes still left ctr unless things go badly and hes needed elsewhere.

Im not rly on the Fale train at all, I want to be.. I can see the physical attributes are there, but he seems lethargic or something.. its why I wouldnt mind watching him play a game at wing where his 1 job is to run hard.. im also nervous hes gonna take heidkes spot in cup.
Click to expand...
True but Souths were also rotating their team. Suli and Fale looked to me to not threaten them at all. Suli made metres by running straight and hard but is that enough for centres?

Of course Holmes isn't going to get dropped but he's excellent in a number of positions.
 
D

Dragon David

SGI Jersey Flegg
TheRev said:
If we really do drop our bundle early season, then maybe things change quickly.. I hope that doesnt happen tbh, were in for a tough year no matter who coaches, Flanno should be able to get us up to atleast a few upsets...... right now every roster bar Newcastle scares me, so much talent out there.. and even Newcastle scares me a bit with ponga, sharp, brown, hunt.. but a big step down from the rest..

we are a very big shot of being 0 and 2 against dogs/storm, then we need to beat Parra in Round 3.... it could get dark if we dont...

But I feel like all the good coaches already went anyway, Hannah is the one I rly liked.. I dunno who the next brigade will be tbh.. I know there is Peters.. OBrien maybe comes back around, if we get Young I will be in the foetal position... anyone else I feel would be a stab in the dark...
Click to expand...
Isn't it terrible that we have had two trial games and we are already talking about coaches who we could get to take over from Flanno? It just shows how little confidence we have about the Dragons' season ahead. I had a very difficult time trying to get to sleep last night because all I could think about was how disappointed I was after we were beaten by the reserve grade Souths team irrespective of us gifting tries. Whether or not the players had Vegas on their minds and didn't want to suffer an injury which would prevent them being able to go to Vegas or thinking that they were only playing a reserve grade team, they just did not show that they had it in themselves to threaten the comp at all. Putting all that drama aside before I fell asleep, I don't think that they are in any way competent enough to win many games in a row that is needed to be on top. Winning one and then losing two over weeks and weeks and then losing many in a row is something I don't want to see again after the previous years.

We will know if our cattle and the coaches are good enough in the first 5 weeks of the comp I'd say to see what the year will end up like.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top