Dragons v Dogs Round 1

[redv13]

Leo thompson should be out fingers crossed, I like our chances, again yesterday was a trial... we will be much better

I tend to agree. I’ll save my energy for round 1 and see what attitude and effort is there before I go off the deep end

 

[jodragon40]

I still think Lawrie is passable and experienced as a bench forward (depth only), definitely think he will handle longer minutes this year if needed he seems to move with more energy now...hes not in my first choice 17 but we will need him... its a spot maybe Liu could have taken if still here.. but dont think anyone else is rdy from reserves, Hutchinson is getting there..

The question is how Flanno feels about the younger ones.. Ive noticed Halangahu appears to get more minutes than most.. that prob says something.. LPT I still dont love but hes getting there.. maybe 2027 will be his breakout year.. but I dont mind him from the bench, again prob not in my first 17.

And Nick I still dont think Flanno takes him too seriously, but I think its a mistake, I reckon the guy is an animal and energy up the wazoo.. I guess I dont know how he would go in the prop rotation.. maybe im wrong and hes just a 2nd rower.. but I just think hes a guy you find room for, and he covers lots of positions.

If everyone does actually stay fit when Egan returns, that will be a challenge for sure... what to do with Luciano.

I expected big things from Luc this season and I was personally underwhelmed by his performance last night

 

[Eric]

I still think Lawrie is passable and experienced as a bench forward (depth only), definitely think he will handle longer minutes this year if needed he seems to move with more energy now...hes not in my first choice 17 but we will need him... its a spot maybe Liu could have taken if still here.. but dont think anyone else is rdy from reserves, Hutchinson is getting there..

The question is how Flanno feels about the younger ones.. Ive noticed Halangahu appears to get more minutes than most.. that prob says something.. LPT I still dont love but hes getting there.. maybe 2027 will be his breakout year.. but I dont mind him from the bench, again prob not in my first 17.

And Nick I still dont think Flanno takes him too seriously, but I think its a mistake, I reckon the guy is an animal and energy up the wazoo.. I guess I dont know how he would go in the prop rotation.. maybe im wrong and hes just a 2nd rower.. but I just think hes a guy you find room for, and he covers lots of positions.

If everyone does actually stay fit when Egan returns, that will be a challenge for sure... what to do with Luciano.

I don't know. Last year most people were saying Luciano is better than Egan until Egan got a chance. I'd go with a middle forward rotation of:

• Couchman
• Couchman
• Stewart
• LPT
• Sele
• Kerr

I figure Flanno will take 6.

Backrowers I'd take are:

• Su'A
• Halangahu
• Luciano
• Nick T

But barring everyone staying healthy, Halangahu and Su'A to start.

 

[Ryan]

I don't know. Last year most people were saying Luciano is better than Egan until Egan got a chance. I'd go with a middle forward rotation of:

• Couchman
• Couchman
• Stewart
• LPT
• Sele
• Kerr

I figure Flanno will take 6.

Backrowers I'd take are:

• Su'A
• Halangahu
• Luciano
• Nick T

But barring everyone staying healthy, Halangahu and Su'A to start.

They will 7 or 8 middle forwards. Maybe only 7 because Couchmans can play in the middle or an edge. So this list looks right and add Lawrie.

 

[Frank Facer]

Burtons good but he’s a bit overrated. He hasn’t really kicked on how I thought he would the last 2-3 years

O Sullivan at 7 with Galvin at 6 in Vegas then

I agree. When Canterbury signed Burton, I would have liked us to have signed him. but I agree he hasn't kicked on like I expected him too. There was a time I would have picked him on the bench for NSW, as he could cover 5/8 and centre, which would have allowed Mitchell or Turbo to cover an injury to wing or fullback and Burton is also big enough to cover an edge backrower if needed. He was playing some good football at centre for Penrith, before Canterbury signed him.

 

[Frank Facer]

The Dogs were very impressive mind you Knights are favourites for the wooden spoon

No, Gold Coast are favourites with the TAB for the most loses. We are equal second favourites wjth Newcastle for most loses with the TAB.

 

[Frank Facer]

His weight loss has only made him still more prone to being man-handled.

lol. I agree. lol If Lawrie goes to Vegas, it will be a waste of a plane ticket and waste of a motel room/bed.

 

[Frank Facer]

I don’t like disrespecting anyone that plays 1st grade but Flanno can’t be persisting with him when Jacob, Loko and Nick should be the priority especially if this is his last season for us before he is moved on. Just makes zero sense in my eyes

I think if opposition teams are happy when they see Lawrie picked in our 17. I also agree about not wishing to disrespect players picked to play first grade.

 

[Frank Facer]

He still has more impact on us winning games than those guys at this point in their careers. 2 years from now those guys will have likely gone past him but if we’re being honest, Luch as a seasoned first grader is better at this moment.

That may change over the next few months

I disagree. I think Pasifiki Tonga would have more impact on us winning. I even think Halangahu would be a better prop option than Lawrie, even though he isn't a prop.

 

[Frank Facer]

I still think Lawrie is passable and experienced as a bench forward (depth only), definitely think he will handle longer minutes this year if needed he seems to move with more energy now...hes not in my first choice 17 but we will need him (during the year)... its a spot maybe Liu could have taken if still here.. but dont think anyone else is rdy from reserves, Hutchinson is getting there..

The question is how Flanno feels about the younger ones.. Ive noticed Halangahu appears to get more minutes than most.. that prob says something.. LPT I still dont love but hes getting there.. maybe 2027 will be his breakout year.. but I dont mind him from the bench, again prob not in my first 17.

And Nick I still dont think Flanno takes him too seriously, but I think its a mistake, I reckon the guy is an animal and energy up the wazoo.. I guess I dont know how he would go in the prop rotation.. maybe im wrong and hes just a 2nd rower.. but I just think hes a guy you find room for, and he covers lots of positions.

If everyone does actually stay fit when Egan returns, that will be a challenge for sure... what to do with Luciano.

I don't want Lawrie playing more minutes, no matter under any circumstances

Halangahu debuted for us last year, just after turning 18. He handled the step up to first grade well and looked at home there. He should get better over the next few years. Right now he looks to have the likes of Su'a, Leilua, Egan all in front of him and competing with Ryan Couchman for an edge backrow spot.

I am hopeful of Pasifiki Tonga developing into a very good first grader and want to see him given more minutes this year. I want to see him grow in confidence.

I would be playing Leilua at prop this year. I think he would make a good prop. I think he could even be our second best prop behind Toby Couchman if we played him there. I would probably even start with him and Toby as my two props, if I was coach. If we had Toby Couchman, Leilua, Pasifiki Tonga and Kerr as our 4 props, we would have 3 with size about them and Toby who can play big minutes.

Leilua played 74 minutes in the Charity Shield. That may indicate Flanno plans to play him for 80 minutes this year on the edge? Last year averaged 64 minutes per game and many of them were a lot less.

 

[Eric]

lol. I agree. lol If Lawrie goes to Vegas, it will be a waste of a plane ticket and waste of a motel room/bed.

3 ways to look at it.

1. Is he better than Gular? 50/50 for me.
2. A reward for long service.
3. Not taking him due to hom not providing value for money now.

 

[RandomDragon]

Loko has been great in the 2 games I’ve seen him in this season, looks to be developing a quick play the ball too which would allow cook to be more dynamic from DH freeing up Atkinson and Kyle. In the bunnies trial both Atkinson and gutho showed good pace off the mark to quickly get away from middle defenders to break the line

 

[GCRV]

Loko has been great in the 2 games I’ve seen him in this season, looks to be developing a quick play the ball too which would allow cook to be more dynamic from DH freeing up Atkinson and Kyle. In the bunnies trial both Atkinson and gutho showed good pace off the mark to quickly get away from middle defenders to break the line

I'm not into bashing him or anyone else. I know I have before but few and far between only in moments of extreme frustration. But how long do you plan on defending Flanno jnrs spot in the team? Because frankly speaking, it's become ridiculous. LKT should be 5/8 for the first several weeks then if that isn't working out, O'Neill or Reed depending on how they are going in reserve grade.

LPT and the Couchman brothers should be the first 3 props named. Then the rest to fight for the remaining spots.

 

[TheRev]

I dont have Lawrie on the plane either, im just saying if we have 3-4 injuries (we had double that last year) and Lawrie is there as depth.. and what happens in a game is u get 1 injury or HIA and then 1 or forwards need to do more minutes than they planned too.. I think Lawrie could do more minutes now without dropping off in defence like he did last year.

A lot depends on both Couchmans staying fit, they can be big minute players.. but we will miss Klemmer who rly stepped up late season with BIG minutes.. even though it probably burnt him out in the weeks to follow.. there is a price to putting long minutes in older players (same with cook).

And lastly Egan.. if no injuries we have 5 2nd rowers all of which I think have a real argument for being Top17 players. Egan, Sua, Jacob, Nick, Leilua.. thats why im frustrated with our roster being so 2nd row heavy and not quality middles.. and its why I think 2 or 3 of those guys could be played as middles.. I just havent seen us try it yet.

 

[GCRV]

I dont have Lawrie on the plane either, im just saying if we have 3-4 injuries (we had double that last year) and Lawrie is there as depth.. and what happens in a game is u get 1 injury or HIA and then 1 or forwards need to do more minutes than they planned too.. I think Lawrie could do more minutes now without dropping off in defence like he did last year.

A lot depends on both Couchmans staying fit, they can be big minute players.. but we will miss Klemmer who rly stepped up late season with BIG minutes.. even though it probably burnt him out in the weeks to follow.. there is a price to putting long minutes in older players (same with cook).

And lastly Egan.. if no injuries we 5 2nd rowers all of which I think have a real argument for being Top17 players. Egan, Sua, Jacob, Nick, Leilua.. thats why im frustrated with our roster being so 2nd row heavy and not quality middles.. and its why I think 2 or 3 of those guys could be middles.. I just havent seen us try it yet.

Maybe it's not too late to turn Leilua into a prop? He played similar to a prop in the CS. Ran hard, made a lot of metres.

 

[TheRev]

Maybe it's not too late to turn Leilua into a prop? He played similar to a prop in the CS. Ran hard, made a lot of metres.

I hope so.. but until Egan is back, and im not sure what his fitness would be like either.. we dont have to make the decision.. but I am also curious to see if Nick or Jacob make the squad.. maybe they wont until we get more injuries..

 

[Dave03]

Loko has been great in the 2 games I’ve seen him in this season, looks to be developing a quick play the ball too which would allow cook to be more dynamic from DH freeing up Atkinson and Kyle. In the bunnies trial both Atkinson and gutho showed good pace off the mark to quickly get away from middle defenders to break the line

Atko was very fast off the mark in that try. I think gutho scored. Awesome to see.

 

[Dave03]

Need to maintain good line speed for longer. Atko gets good hang time on his kicks which will help when our sets aren't going far.

I think we need to keep up the offload style shown in both trials. Very important against a dog's team which gets multiple players involved in tackles. I can see us catching them out with offloads because their line speed will stifle our attacking shapes imo.

Hamish had some crisp fast passes through the middle v souths, I want to see that again even if it's unsuccessful. Imo if we're going to rely on that block play attack then getting the ball to our edges quickly is important against good defensive teams.

 

[Dave03]

Just remembered some awesome kick pressure against souths. I think it was when our players were fresh. Imo kick pressure will be crucial if Burton doesn't play. We could exploit Galvin/Sullivan long kicking game with good kick pressure.

 

[The Word]

I like it but we all know that Lawrie will be there and more than likely play and Nick will probably miss out which makes no sense to me. Doggies will destroy Lawrie with and without the ball. Even last night he was man handled by the Souths youngsters

If the forwards are all fit then there are more than 4 front rowers ahead of him in the queue so he won't play. Atm Guler, Kerr, Couchman (x1 or 2 depending on if the other plays back row) Sele, LPT all ahead of him with Hamish at lock. However if injuries start to happen then he will see game time which is why he's being given minutes in trials. He's in the 30 for one more year whether we like it or not so might as well just accept it.

As for Nick T he's competing for a back row spot with Sua, Luc, Couchman, and Halangahu. Probably 3 spots available so he doesn't play at this stage. He's promising though.