Pre-Season Scrimmage & Trials

RedVHeartbeat

SGI NSW Cup
Only playing 40 min games in both Flegg and Ressies, but two matches. First was against Rabbits which we won next up the Bears, a loss..
 
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Dave03

SGI Jersey Flegg
I wouldn't pick CT nor Sele, want battle hardened players for the early rounds so Feagai & CT would be my wingers. I'd roll the dice with LPT if we don't get Klemmer. I think the side is pretty much decided.

Some of Kyle's decision making needs to improve & Flanno Sr was giving him a bake at half time, rightly so.

We definitely need a powerful fwd coming of the bench, lost all momentum when our starters were rested. Not sold on RFM on the bench as a middle but he played the edge role very well. The others haven't really had consecutive standouts games to displace his bench spot either. Maybe Egan but then it's a very small bench. Need to get Klemmer asap imo.

Starting middles
Guler/T. Couchman/JDB

Bench:
Liddle
R. Couchman
RFM
LPT
 

Chris M

SGI NSW Cup
I wouldn't pick CT nor Sele, want battle hardened players for the early rounds so Feagai & CT would be my wingers. I'd roll the dice with LPT if we don't get Klemmer. I think the side is pretty much decided.

Some of Kyle's decision making needs to improve & Flanno Sr was giving him a bake at half time, rightly so.

We definitely need a powerful fwd coming of the bench, lost all momentum when our starters were rested. Not sold on RFM on the bench as a middle but he played the edge role very well. The others haven't really had consecutive standouts games to displace his bench spot either. Maybe Egan but then it's a very small bench. Need to get Klemmer asap imo.

Starting middles
Guler/T. Couchman/JDB

Bench:
Liddle
R. Couchman
RFM
LPT
It's good Flanno seems to have given up on Eisenhuth for round 1 but I think you are right about RFM. He's good on an edge but Su'A and Luch are going to be on for 80 min. As a result, I hope RFM isn't in the 17. If Klemmer is signed I guess he'll relegate LPT which is fair enough. Give him a few weeks to see how he is going in NSW Cup but if I was Flanno I'd be very tempted to throw Latu in to replace RFM. With the others on the bench I think Latu makes the bench more balanced. Just as mobile as RFM if he needs to play on an edge but offers a bit more in the middle.

Halves are still a worry but at least the wingers look the goods. In the trials Finau seemed to not have any of the problems that have plagued Rava and Feagai over the last few years. I mean, making the wrong decision when to rush in or stay out. But I know he (Finau) only played a half of each game or a bit less.
 

RedVHeartbeat

SGI NSW Cup
I wouldn't pick CT nor Sele, want battle hardened players for the early rounds so Feagai & CT would be my wingers.
Think you made a typo. Meant Finau. Ok Flanno goes CT and Feagai for how many rounds. What happens if in our coaches eyes MF kills it, where does the better player Finau stand. This kid has more ability in his big toe than MF has in his entire body.
 

Chris M

SGI NSW Cup

ROOKIE WATCH

At the Dragons, two-gamer Finau looks to be in a battle with Tyrell Sloan for the left wing spot for round one and after Saturday’s performance he may have locked away that jersey. Finau scored four tries inside 28 minutes before he left the field with what appeared to a combination of heat stroke and delayed concussion symptoms caused by Dodd’s high shot.

HOT TAKE

A player yet to set foot in Kogarah or Wollongong this season will start the year in the front row for the Dragons. David Klemmer will join the Red V within a week and partner Emre Guler upfront in round one.
 
My view of we don't sign Klemmer I'd suggest that Tonga would have to get a run off the bench prior to round 6. We definitely lost momentum after the first change rotation in the pack. If Mariner is selected off the bench in R1 he shouldn't be playing middle hes an edge forward or nothing.

It would appear to my eye the Flanagan is guiding the team around the park at the moment whilst Illias finds his feet, that has to eventually change. There were some poor last play options yesterday when placed under pressure.

The Dogs will be smarting after being outplayed by the Broncos and will want to make a point against us.

To me I'd say the coach will run with CT and Feigai on the wings to start the season off. If Liddle is available he will also have a bench spot so the 17 seems to me to be pretty well settled. The question is whether they are good enough. It's important that Kogarah is sold out unlike the past few years.
 

GCRV

SGI NSW Cup
My view of we don't sign Klemmer I'd suggest that Tonga would have to get a run off the bench prior to round 6. We definitely lost momentum after the first change rotation in the pack. If Mariner is selected off the bench in R1 he shouldn't be playing middle hes an edge forward or nothing.

It would appear to my eye the Flanagan is guiding the team around the park at the moment whilst Illias finds his feet, that has to eventually change. There were some poor last play options yesterday when placed under pressure.

The Dogs will be smarting after being outplayed by the Broncos and will want to make a point against us.

To me I'd say the coach will run with CT and Feigai on the wings to start the season off. If Liddle is available he will also have a bench spot so the 17 seems to me to be pretty well settled. The question is whether they are good enough. It's important that Kogarah is sold out unlike the past few years.
Tonga is top 30. No need to wait until round 6.

If fit I think Finau has to be one of the wingers.
 

RedVHeartbeat

SGI NSW Cup
Flanno says one of LPT. Stewart or Egan will start season off bench. Go for our certain future the one with the size and skill to terrorize defenses. He is now 20, has done his apprenticeship, time to unleash him.
 

RedVHeartbeat

SGI NSW Cup
If Mariner is selected off the bench in R1 he shouldn't be playing middle hes an edge forward or nothing.
Has size that is it. Ressies or nothing.

You say CT and MF will start season, can you and Flanno tell me why Feagai is head of the queue for one wing spot. He has been little better than Rava since coming here.
 

Chris M

SGI NSW Cup
Flanno says one of LPT. Stewart or Egan will start season off bench. Go for our certain future the one with the size and skill to terrorize defenses. He is now 20, has done his apprenticeship, time to unleash him.
He said that? It's good. I think it's the right thing no matter what happens with Klemmer.
 
Has size that is it. Ressies or nothing.

You say CT and MF will start season, can you and Flanno tell me why Feagai is head of the queue for one wing spot. He has been little better than Rava since coming here.
Not my starting wingers mine would be Finau/CT or Sloan just because of the speed factor. I'm saying that I believe the coach will start Feigai
 

Chris M

SGI NSW Cup
Not my starting wingers mine would be Finau/CT or Sloan just because of the speed factor. I'm saying that I believe the coach will start Feigai
If CT isn't available, I'd go with Finau and Feagai. Otherwise Finau and CT. Not Sloan. He's just not a winger. Might be better as a centre.
 

RedV01

SGI NSW Cup
It's just trails so shouldn't get carried away but what I took from them is:
  • The halves can go ok if the forwards are going ok. I didn't say good but ok. But both need to improve if Dragons are going to be good this year. Specially Ilias because who else is there?
  • Related to above, Reed is the real deal. No more Sullivan/Amone false alerts. I would rush Buchanan, Halangahu and a few others. They are already balls of muscle or very large balls of muscle. But need to give Reed at least a year in the lower grades.
  • Finau is the best winger.
  • Finau's partner in crime who went to Canberra, I forgot his name already, won't be missed.
  • Gular surprised me. Think he's going to end up being a good investment and get himself an extension.
  • Couchmans, both of them, are guns. Going to go to another level this year.
  • Sloan is fullback or in reserve grade.
 

Mailroomsgi

SGI Jersey Flegg
I’d have loved to have seen Amone under Flanno, he was head and shoulders the best player in SG ball 2021 and had dolphins chasing him before he extended with us. Shame how it’s turned out.

I agree on most of your points except Sloan could play Wing but I’d rather Finau and Tuipolotu and I think Halangahu/Reed/Buchanan definitely need a year in cup and another preseason of growth before playing NRL
 

Wild383

SGI Jersey Flegg
Everyone talking about Finau and no one mentioning the work Holmes did to get him in those spaces, he's all class. I love Finau and hope he gets his shot, will be very interesting to see who he picks round 1, but dont sleep on the fact that sweeping left side attack with Flanno/Gutho/Luch/Holmes looked outstanding to setup most of those opportunities. We should be excited about that as well not just Finau icing them, very keen for round 1!
 
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