Round 2 vs Gold Coast Titans

[GCRV]

St George Illawarra Dragons vs Gold Coast Titans​

Dragons:​

1. Tyrell Sloan
2. Mathew Feagai
3. Moses Suli
4. Zac Lomax
5. Mikaele Ravalawa
6. Jayden Sullivan
7. Ben Hunt
8. Francis Molo
9. Moses Mbye
10. Blake Lawrie
11. Ben Murdoch-Masila
12. Jaydn Su’A
13. Jack Bird
    
    
14. Jacob Liddle
15. Zane Musgrove
16. Toby Couchman
17. Michael Molo
    
    
18. Josh Kerr
19. Billy Burns
20. Max Feagai
21. Talatau Amone
22. Aaron Woods

1~5: No surprises there. Not a bad group at all but slow compared to almost every other 1~5, especially that of the Titans.

6 + 7: I really hope Sullivan goes well. We know he has talent. Needs to put it together this Sunday.

8~13: Really not sure about Ben Murdoch-Masila in the 17 and certainly the backrow. I wonder how Bird will go at 13. I hope he had plenty of tackling practice in the off season. And Mybe at 9. A surprise and I disagree. I think his best position is as an interchange utility but what would I know?

14~17: Obviously the big In is Couchman. If he and his brother are as good as many are saying, they will be the cornerstone of a good pack for the enxt 10 years. Though I agree with Illusion I'm not sure this is something Hook would have wanted to do. I think someone might have pulled him aside and said, "Mate, we (the board) like you but this thing with picking the same tried and tried again failures has gone on for far too long. It needs to stop now!"

18~22: I know Kerr is listed but wouldn't surprise me to see Amone promoted to 18th man.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

Junior is back. Severity of his misdemenour down graded so he is allowed to start the season. Will begin in Ressies but have no doubt he will regain his 5/8 spot soon.

St George Illawarra Dragons vs Gold Coast Titans​

Dragons:​

1. Tyrell Sloan- big tick
2. Mathew Feagai- tick
3. Moses Suli- tick
4. Zac Lomax- big tick
5. Mikaele Ravalawa-tick
6. Jayden Sullivan- big tick
7. Ben Hunt-tick
8. Francis Molo- a zero
9. Moses Mbye- tick
10. Blake Lawrie- big tick
11. Ben Murdoch-Masila- tick
12. Jaydn Su’A- tick
13. Jack Bird- zero
    
    
14. Jacob Liddle- tick
15. Zane Musgrove- big tick
16. Toby Couchman- big tick
17. Michael Molo- big tick

No JDB, a huge loss. Toby Couchman a huge surprise.

1. 
   
   
2. Josh Kerr
3. Billy Burns
4. Max Feagai
5. Talatau Amone
6. Aaron Woods

 

[GCRV]

Junior is back. Severity of his misdemenour down graded so he is allowed to start the season. Will begin in Ressies but have no doubt he will regain his 5/8 spot soon.

No JDB, a huge loss. Toby Couchman a huge surprise.

I agree with you RE 1~5. like them all as players but I'm really concerned about the lack of speed. A big, hard-running, skillful centre like Suli is crying out for a fast winger but instead he has one of the slowest, possibly the slowest regular first grade winger.

 

[jodragon40]

Can't believe that Foran was picked. Going to be an interesting game

 

[Morgan]

Can't believe that Foran was picked. Going to be an interesting game

He's out. Preston Campbell to play 5/8.

 

[jodragon40]

He's out. Preston Campbell to play 5/8.

The thing there is Campbell is no organiser but he's very fast so I'd suggest to you that there are more points in them with him in. This could get bad for us unless we match them in the forwards. Their backline looks extremely quick. They can't tackle but they can certainly put points on. I'd suggest a 50 points plus game.

 

[Illusion]

The thing there is Campbell is no organiser but he's very fast so I'd suggest to you that there are more points in them with him in. This could get bad for us unless we match them in the forwards. Their backline looks extremely quick. They can't tackle but they can certainly put points on. I'd suggest a 50 points plus game.

Yep they can score points , but can we score more than them ?

 

[jodragon40]

Yep they can score points , but can we score more than them ?

We would need to take our chances if and when they eventuate. I'm thinking with our defensive vulnerabilities they will put 4 on us at least. Can we score 5 to beat them? maybe, may even come down to conversions.

 

[Morgan]

We would need to take our chances if and when they eventuate. I'm thinking with our defensive vulnerabilities they will put 4 on us at least. Can we score 5 to beat them? maybe, may even come down to conversions.

I hope it comes down to conversions.

 

[GCRV]

The thing there is Campbell is no organiser but he's very fast so I'd suggest to you that there are more points in them with him in. This could get bad for us unless we match them in the forwards. Their backline looks extremely quick. They can't tackle but they can certainly put points on. I'd suggest a 50 points plus game.

I think of the 14 players in each team's starting backline, Titans would have the 5 fastest.

 

[jodragon40]

I think of the 14 players in each team's starting backline, Titans would have the 5 fastest.

I watched them train yesterday after dropping the wife off at shopping and believe me if that Campbell or that winger Khan get fresh air nobody is going to catch either. I can tell you they are fast and I can tell you that Campbell was combining with Fafita on the left edge so are right edge is definitely going to be their go too in attack. It was depressing watching how quick they were

 

[jodragon40]

But it's not all doom and gloom. Their defensive line was jagged and they were susceptible to the ball inside. They missed a few tackles especially Campbell so I would be targeting him.

 

[GCRV]

But it's not all doom and gloom. Their defensive line was jagged and they were susceptible to the ball inside. They missed a few tackles especially Campbell so I would be targeting him.

Ben Hunt's job this weekend is to be passing to the big centres, wingers and backrowers to put them one on one with Campbell all day.

 

[Eric]

Ben Hunt's job this weekend is to be passing to the big centres, wingers and backrowers to put them one on one with Campbell all day.

Which is what he failed to do last year! I rate him as a halfback and a player but a great halfback would be able to do as he did with his running game and consistently have our big, slow outside backs and backrowers force opposition playmakers and weak defenders to tackle one on one on a regular basis. Hunt didn't so that so it annoyed me when commentators were consistently waxing lyrical about Hunt.

 

[RedV01]

Which is what he failed to do last year! I rate him as a halfback and a player but a great halfback would be able to do as he did with his running game and consistently have our big, slow outside backs and backrowers force opposition playmakers and weak defenders to tackle one on one on a regular basis. Hunt didn't so that so it annoyed me when commentators were consistently waxing lyrical about Hunt.

A great halfback does have a running game but they are more likely to do what you say Hunt didn't do. Even a good halfback. Need a good ball-player at half or 5/8. Maybe that's why Griffin told Amone to put his running game away and concentrate in his playmaking. Because he knew Hunt couldn't do it. Just my view.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

4: Zac Lomax
Did I not read that Zac had changed centres with Moses for this season. I like the idea as a majority of back line play seems to go to Moses' side while Lomax gets the dregs.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

Not a good start for Griffin with his view that Moses Mybe is our long term hooker. For starters Moses is no spring chicken and seconds Griffin is totally ignoring the claims of a pair of junior hookers who we all think are certain first graders. I speak of course of Sam Hooper and Declan Purcell. Then there is also Connor Muhliesen. And pray tell, if he thinks Moses is the future, why the hell did we bring Liddle here. The inmates are still running the asylum.

 

[Chris M]

4: Zac Lomax
Did I not read that Zac had changed centres with Suli for this season. I like the idea as a majority of back line play seems to go to Sulis side while Lomax gets the dregs.

I remember they were talking about Suli and Lomax swapping sides. Not sure if they actually did. I think it was a defensive thing. Zac is a good defender. Both making the tackle and reading the play to be in the right spot to make a tackle.

 

[jodragon40]

The big battle today will be the one between the two ex broncos players and good mates, Su'a v Fifita. Who comes out on top will go a long way to securing victory, Fifita ran for 206m last week, he can't be allowed to do that this week . Our engine room needs to match the Titans. F Molo should be fresh but may not be battle ready he's against Faasuamaleaui who I rate as one of the best props running around and he ran for 171m last week. Lawrie v Joliffe pretty even there. Mbye v Verrills, I have no idea why our specialist hooker isn't starting so that's a worry. Bird v Liu I rate the latter above our touch footy specialist in the defensive category. We get no respite when the interchange forward Fotuaika comes on he ran for 164m last week. On paper we can't match them but we will see what apparently, according to Hunt, our united team can offer to restoring pride in our jersey and to silence the doubters.

 

[Chris M]

Faasuamaleaui is a seriously good prop.