Round 2 v South Sydney Rabbitohs - Sat 3pm

[Dave03]

Interesting game, we beat them easily in charity shield but they won in round 1 while we lost.

We might have a few out depending on injuries & suspension. They've potentially got wighton out. We could be forced to debut 1 or 2 players.

Looking for a better performance from our halves & middles. Hopefully more minutes for Liddle.

 

[Edward]

Interesting game, we beat them easily in charity shield but they won in round 1 while we lost.

We might have a few out depending on injuries & suspension. They've potentially got wighton out. We could be forced to debut 1 or 2 players.

Looking for a better performance from our halves & middles. Hopefully more minutes for Liddle.

Who comes in for Couchman? I think Gular is facing 1~3 weeks on the sideline depending on prior record. So we lose two players in the position we are already light in. I hope it's Tonga and Latu. Probably overdoing it with the young players but who else? Is Gular better than Lawrie?

 

[Eric]

Who comes in for Couchman? I think Gular is facing 1~3 weeks on the sideline depending on prior record. So we lose two players in the position we are already light in. I hope it's Tonga and Latu. Probably overdoing it with the young players but who else? Is Gular better than Lawrie?

Unless he is injured, Finau will surely be on the wing in Feagais place.

 

[Dave03]

Who comes in for Couchman? I think Gular is facing 1~3 weeks on the sideline depending on prior record. So we lose two players in the position we are already light in. I hope it's Tonga and Latu. Probably overdoing it with the young players but who else? Is Gular better than Lawrie?

Unsure. Really depends on our injury list but all those guys will be underdone. Read somewhere that klemmer should join us this week. Desperately need him imo.

Maybe luch moves to lock? JFB to prop? Rfm to edge? Then have potentially a Nick T debut or latu debut?

 

[TheRev]

Such a massive game for us before the Bye > Storm.. need a win to take the pressure off and sing the song for the new players.

I dont think any wingers in our system would have done a better job than Feagai today with Burton getting kicking free practice and 2-4 players smashing him as he caught it each time... id be amazed if he doesnt have rib damage after the last hit in particular... I dont expect Souths will execute anything like that however... today was brutal.

But yes we need to see whether Guler was charged, and make sure Toby and Jack are healthy.. Toby did 70 minutes today.. we cant do that too him too often.. he was also hobbling... Jack didnt seem as good after his head knock.

We need to secure Klemmer who I am sure we will be throwing everything at to get done by tuesday.... but beyond that big trouble.. we need to see if Lawrie or Eisenhuth or Sele are fit enough for selection.. I doubt we would play Tonga+Stewart.. but its not impossible.. Stewart showed today that hes a tackling machine (44mins, 38 tackles, 92% efficiency)... but struggled to make any impact with his hit-ups (5-6m per carry).. but we can work with that if defence is his focus.. but ideally we would have guys like Sele, Klemmer, Ryan etc on the bench..

 

[Mailroomsgi]

Yeah we need Sele back ASAP,

we’re fortunate we have south’s next week instead of one of the elite sides Ala Penrith/sharks etc

Sounds like Sele is out for another couple weeks so maybe Loko gets a debut then? I think if he’s gonna debut then this is the sort of game you’d want it to be, at home against a bottom 8 side(most likely)

 

[Chris M]

Yeah we need Sele back ASAP,

we’re fortunate we have south’s next week instead of one of the elite sides Ala Penrith/sharks etc

Sounds like Sele is out for another couple weeks so maybe Loko gets a debut then? I think if he’s gonna debut then this is the sort of game you’d want it to be, at home against a bottom 8 side(most likely)

Injuries happen but Sele is unbelievably unlucky.. Is he ever fit??

 

[Edward]

Unsure. Really depends on our injury list but all those guys will be underdone. Read somewhere that klemmer should join us this week. Desperately need him imo.

Maybe luch moves to lock? JFB to prop? Rfm to edge? Then have potentially a Nick T debut or latu debut?

I think Nick T is on a development contract so can't play for the first several rounds.

 

[Ryan]

1. Gutho
2. Finau
3. Suli
4. Holmes
5. CT
6. Flanno
7. Illias
8. Couchman
9. Cook
10. Klemmer
11. Leilua
12. Su'A
13. JDB
    
    
14. Liddle
15. RFM
16. Stewart
17. Gular

 

[Illusion]

Interesting game, we beat them easily in charity shield but they won in round 1 while we lost.

We might have a few out depending on injuries & suspension. They've potentially got wighton out. We could be forced to debut 1 or 2 players.

Looking for a better performance from our halves & middles. Hopefully more minutes for Liddle.

We did beat mostly, their back-up team and we were at near full strength ........

 

[Chris M]

We did beat mostly, their back-up team and we were at near full strength ........

Nothing wrong with a dose of negativity. Much better than flattering the team when it isn't deserved but I think Souths were closer to full strength for most of the game than the Dragons were.

 

[jodragon40]

Well as I said in another post I identified our weakest defensive edge that being Illias/ Su'a. The previous stats analysis indicated to me that between the 2 of them they would miss 6 tackles they missed 7. Dogs targeting that edge. So you can bet your bottom $$ that St Benny will have Walker doing the same. It will definitely be a different Rabbits team next week especially under the coaching of Bennett. Last season they wouldn't have won that game against the Dolphins. Tough game coming up

 

[Chris M]

Well as I said in another post I identified our weakest defensive edge that being Illias/ Su'a. The previous stats analysis indicated to me that between the 2 of them they would miss 6 tackles they missed 7. Dogs targeting that edge. So you can bet your bottom $$ that St Benny will have Walker doing the same. It will definitely be a different Rabbits team next week especially under the coaching of Bennett. Last season they wouldn't have won that game against the Dolphins. Tough game coming up

A few poor defensive efforts on the line in the early part of the second half. Feagai was targeted and found out and forwards allowed Burton the time to target him. But the biggest issue is the one I was talking about all off season. The halves. I wish I was wrong and I hope they turn it around quickly but I'm not confident. But I'd still prefer Hunt gone and have a bottom 4 or 5 team than have a fringe top 8 team with Hunt. I want a premiership heavyweight, not a fringe top 8 team so it's better Hunt is gone sooner rather than later.

 

[Illusion]

Nothing wrong with a dose of negativity. Much better than flattering the team when it isn't deserved but I think Souths were closer to full strength for most of the game than the Dragons were.

Don't thing so if I'm wrong I'll put my hand up ....... We are talking about the Charity Shield right .........?

 

[Chris M]

Don't thing so if I'm wrong I'll put my hand up ....... We are talking about the Charity Shield right .........?

Yes. Dragons had half the U19s or Jersey Flegg teams on for the second half.

 

[Illusion]

Yes. Dragons had half the U19s or Jersey Flegg teams on for the second half.

Yes they did but they Souths had a lot of their regular first graders sitting on the sidelines while we were at near full strength for first half ......... That's why I don't go much on that game , even though it was great to win .......

 

[Chris M]

Yes they did but they Souths had a lot of their regular first graders sitting on the sidelines while we were at near full strength for first half ......... That's why I don't go much on that game , even though it was great to win .......

Maybe. Still, I'm backing the Dragons to win easily.

 

[Illusion]

Maybe. Still, I'm backing the Dragons to win easily.

I hope you are right on the money ........ We need to win this game to start our season ........

 

[Dave03]

Jamie Humphreys tore us up in CS, apparently played very well in rd.1

Need to watch out for him. I think they have Wighton missing. If Klemmer plays, do we start him or bench him?

 

[jodragon40]

Jamie Humphreys tore us up in CS, apparently played very well in rd.1

Need to watch out for him. I think they have Wighton missing. If Klemmer plays, do we start him or bench him?

Wighton is a big out but I liked the look of what the Rabbits did last week haven't seen them dig in like that for years obviously St Benny influence. They have speed to burn in the backs but Munro another big loss for them. How good was Campbell Graham? Koloamatangi is going to be a handful on that edge. We are short favourites but it's going to be closer than many people believe.