Round 22 vs Canberra

[Eric]

TBH, I'm looking forward to this season ending. Was never very confident but thought it would be better than this. As for this game, does anyone give us a chance? At full-strength I think we would be every chance but now? Take JDB, Gutho and Cook then replace the rest of the team with the NSW Cup team.

 

[Mailroomsgi]

I’m so disengaged from whatever the team does for the rest of the year, all the young guys was the only thing to look forward to and their all injured or playing cup

Id love to see a change in approach from Young/Flanagan how we defend. The old saying is it’s insanity to do the same thing over and over and expect different results

Regardless, hopefully LKT keeps progressing and this becomes a great learning curve for him to build on for 2026

 

[Dragons Chris]

TBH, I'm looking forward to this season ending. Was never very confident but thought it would be better than this. As for this game, does anyone give us a chance? At full-strength I think we would be every chance but now? Take JDB, Gutho and Cook then replace the rest of the team with the NSW Cup team.

And Liddle. Ironically Connor Muhleisen was one of the better reserve graders yesterday.

 

[jodragon40]

TBH, I'm looking forward to this season ending. Was never very confident but thought it would be better than this. As for this game, does anyone give us a chance? At full-strength I think we would be every chance but now? Take JDB, Gutho and Cook then replace the rest of the team with the NSW Cup team.

Did you watch the ressies yesterday?

 

[Eric]

Did you watch the ressies yesterday?

I did. But I also see they sit second on the competition table.

 

[Dragon David]

I don't think we have any chance of winning against the likely Minor Premiers, Canberra - or they will go close to it. I am just hoping that we put in 100% and not get thoroughly thrashed. It has been a disappointing year to say the least when my expectation was that we would make the finals.

We are placing a lot of hope on our youngsters coming good next year. I can see that they will help us win more games and with some astute recruiting by Daniel Anderson, we could make the finals with tongue in cheek. Lady luck has alluded us this year so I hope she is with us in years to come for a change.

 

[Dragons Chris]

I don't think we have any chance of winning against the likely Minor Premiers, Canberra - or they will go close to it. I am just hoping that we put in 100% and not get thoroughly thrashed. It has been a disappointing year to say the least when my expectation was that we would make the finals.

We are placing a lot of hope on our youngsters coming good next year. I can see that they will help us win more games and with some astute recruiting by Daniel Anderson, we could make the finals with tongue in cheek. Lady luck has alluded us this year so I hope she is with us in years to come for a change.

We are not that far off. With a decent halfback and a bit of luck with forwards staying fit, the mood would be very different.

 

[TheRev]

I’m so disengaged from whatever the team does for the rest of the year

It's been harder and harder for me to watch 1st grade as the injuries worsen (and the draw intensifies), we need so much to go our way and the commentators are torture the way they froth over the top 8 sides. I actually find myself by chance listening to the radio sometimes as its less painful..

The injuries are starting to impact NSW Cup now also, Nick is a big one.. but he should be back before finals.. hes really the last one im looking forward to seeing get some 1st grade gametime.. 1 of the only guys left who might make a real difference... Heidke is another I think would revolutionise our right side attack, but he seems injured now also.. Sione probably back at some point, but its too little too late..

Then throw in the lack of signings despite (I believe) our best efforts.. Daniel Atkinson could be one of the most interesting things yet to come...

And my gosh do we need atleast 1 more win.. ideally 2 to stay out of this spoon race which didnt go to plan at all this weekend, but between byes and the bottom 4 teams playing eachother.. its gonna go down to the wire...

 

[Runner]

It's been harder and harder for me to watch 1st grade as the injuries worsen (and the draw intensifies), we need so much to go our way and the commentators are torture the way they froth over the top 8 sides. I actually find myself by chance listening to the radio sometimes as its less painful..

The injuries are starting to impact NSW Cup now also, Nick is a big one.. but he should be back before finals.. hes really the last one im looking forward to seeing get some 1st grade gametime.. 1 of the only guys left who might make a real difference... Heidke is another I think would revolutionise our right side attack, but he seems injured now also.. Sione probably back at some point, but its too little too late..

Then throw in the lack of signings despite (I believe) our best efforts.. Daniel Atkinson could be one of the most interesting things yet to come...

And my gosh do we need atleast 1 more win.. ideally 2 to stay out of this spoon race which didnt go to plan at all this weekend, but between byes and the bottom 4 teams playing eachother.. its gonna go down to the wire...

Yes it’s getting a bit scary re the possibility of the spoon. The injuries have certainly impacted our performances and sucked the enjoyment out of watching the team. We sure need to shake a few quality recruits loose from somewhere and bring the quality juniors on next year.

 

[Mailroomsgi]

I hope the coaching staff don’t blame injuries for our ladder position at the end of the year

It’s fair to say there’s been little to no progression from year 1 to year 2 for Flanno

Its almost essential there’s a stark improvement early next season or I think he’s as good as gone

the media spin if Flanno is sacked as well will be massive with all his mates at fox piling in and calling us a dumpster fire

 

[TheRev]

I mean injuries are a huge part of the problem, we need guys like Egan, TCouch, RCouch to play Flannos game... we have a couple of chinks in the armour like Leilua and Sloan that have individually cost us a number of games on their own.. everyones perspective would be very different if we were pushing Top 8 atm as we really should be.

But the main problem underlying everything is our inability to seal those recruitment deals, thats more the clubs fault.. but we have to find a way to resolve it, and we are all in on Tim & Daniel for now....because that's what will make or break us in the future.

My only real criticism of Shane is the way he handled guys like Sione, Nick and Finau Latu.. was rly disappointed with that, and its the sort of stuff that does not encourage young players to come (or stay) at our club... if Flanno plays favourites and prefers old heads in every situation.

 

[Dragons Chris]

I mean injuries are a huge part of the problem, we need guys like Egan, TCouch, RCouch to play Flannos game... we have a couple of chinks in the armour like Leilua and Sloan that have individually cost us a number of games on their own.. everyones perspective would be very different if we were pushing Top 8 atm as we really should be.

But the main problem underlying everything is our inability to seal those recruitment deals, thats more the clubs fault.. but we have to find a way to resolve it, and we are all in on Tim & Daniel for now....because that's what will make or break us in the future.

My only real criticism of Shane is the way he handled guys like Sione, Nick and Finau Latu.. was rly disappointed with that, and its the sort of stuff that does not encourage young players to come (or stay) at our club... if Flanno plays favourites and prefers old heads in every situation.

Leilua and Sloan are chinks in the armour? It's true. Is there anyone else? Like a gaping wound so bad he's pissing off the rest of the team?

 

[Dragons Chris]

I hope the coaching staff don’t blame injuries for our ladder position at the end of the year

It’s fair to say there’s been little to no progression from year 1 to year 2 for Flanno

Its almost essential there’s a stark improvement early next season or I think he’s as good as gone

the media spin if Flanno is sacked as well will be massive with all his mates at fox piling in and calling us a dumpster fire

Dolphins injury list is far worse than ours. It's an excuse not to be as good but no excuse to be this bad.

 

[Mailroomsgi]

I mean injuries are a huge part of the problem, we need guys like Egan, TCouch, RCouch to play Flannos game... we have a couple of chinks in the armour like Leilua and Sloan that have individually cost us a number of games on their own.. everyones perspective would be very different if we were pushing Top 8 atm as we really should be.

But the main problem underlying everything is our inability to seal those recruitment deals, thats more the clubs fault.. but we have to find a way to resolve it, and we are all in on Tim & Daniel for now....because that's what will make or break us in the future.

My only real criticism of Shane is the way he handled guys like Sione, Nick and Finau Latu.. was rly disappointed with that, and its the sort of stuff that does not encourage young players to come (or stay) at our club... if Flanno plays favourites and prefers old heads in every situation.

Nah these issues were there before a majority of those guys were injured, maybe it’s high standards but I don’t want us to be like Newcastle the last few years just making the finals and then getting knocked out first round

I’d like great systems that are interchangeable with most players so even if there’s a couple injured the level doesn’t drop and the performance levels week to week are consistent

I can’t see the way Flanno has set us up to be effective consistently, I am praying to be wrong and this time next year I’m eating my words but I think that’s unlikely

Who do people genuinely think we are going to recruit that’s a needlemover for us? I’ll give ya the hot tip, no 1 or 2 players will change this. It’s systemic

Speaking of signings (realistic)I’ve said for ages that I’d be knocking the door down to sign Trey Mooney, he’s Leo Thompson-esque but doesn’t start as much down in Canberra, he’s great. Go get him asap especially if Papalii decides to stay another year in Canberra

 

[blacksafake]

Nah these issues were there before a majority of those guys were injured, maybe it’s high standards but I don’t want us to be like Newcastle the last few years just making the finals and then getting knocked out first round

I’d like great systems that are interchangeable with most players so even if there’s a couple injured the level doesn’t drop and the performance levels week to week are consistent

I can’t see the way Flanno has set us up to be effective consistently, I am praying to be wrong and this time next year I’m eating my words but I think that’s unlikely

Who do people genuinely think we are going to recruit that’s a needlemover for us? I’ll give ya the hot tip, no 1 or 2 players will change this. It’s systemic

Speaking of signings (realistic)I’ve said for ages that I’d be knocking the door down to sign Trey Mooney, he’s Leo Thompson-esque but doesn’t start as much down in Canberra, he’s great. Go get him asap especially if Papalii decides to stay another year in Canberra

There’s something going on with Mooney.
I don’t know if he’s had injuries or just dropped off the cliff because he hasn’t been sighted off nobbies in their nrl side with a few jumping him.
Just maybe he could be our next Weyman?

 

[Illusion]

I hope the coaching staff don’t blame injuries for our ladder position at the end of the year

It’s fair to say there’s been little to no progression from year 1 to year 2 for Flanno

Its almost essential there’s a stark improvement early next season or I think he’s as good as gone

the media spin if Flanno is sacked as well will be massive with all his mates at fox piling in and calling us a dumpster fire

I'm scared if he gets sacked because you know who is waiting for the job and knowing our lot they will give it to him ......

 

[redv13]

I'm scared if he gets sacked because you know who is waiting for the job and knowing our lot they will give it to him ......

Knowing our management, he’ll get the job with a 5 year contract straight up

 

[Mailroomsgi]

Hiring a coach from within is absolutely amateurish and no good organisation does that

Manly look like their about to do it with Ennis/Ballin who are on the coaching staff at manly to replace seibold

Look what happened when the roosters put Freddy as head coach, jobs for the boys NEVER works

Its why the tigers who just put Shannon Gallant as recruitment boss after being a disaster as pathways manager will continue to be a basket case

If Young/Hornby even get close to head coach when it’s available then we aren’t doing our due diligence. Simple as that

 

[jodragon40]

Hiring a coach from within is absolutely amateurish and no good organisation does that

Manly look like their about to do it with Ennis/Ballin who are on the coaching staff at manly to replace seibold

Look what happened when the roosters put Freddy as head coach, jobs for the boys NEVER works

Its why the tigers who just put Shannon Gallant as recruitment boss after being a disaster as pathways manager will continue to be a basket case

If Young/Hornby even get close to head coach when it’s available then we aren’t doing our due diligence. Simple as that

If we haven't learnt the lessons of the past by recruiting a head coach internally then we are doomed to more years of being out of the top 8

 

[jodragon40]

I mean injuries are a huge part of the problem, we need guys like Egan, TCouch, RCouch to play Flannos game... we have a couple of chinks in the armour like Leilua and Sloan that have individually cost us a number of games on their own.. everyones perspective would be very different if we were pushing Top 8 atm as we really should be.

But the main problem underlying everything is our inability to seal those recruitment deals, thats more the clubs fault.. but we have to find a way to resolve it, and we are all in on Tim & Daniel for now....because that's what will make or break us in the future.

My only real criticism of Shane is the way he handled guys like Sione, Nick and Finau Latu.. was rly disappointed with that, and its the sort of stuff that does not encourage young players to come (or stay) at our club... if Flanno plays favourites and prefers old heads in every situation.

Absolutely agree, that has been a disappointment for me in this coach especially with Sloan. Ok we all agreed that at fb he just didn't have the nouse to organise our defensive line so move him to wing with little or no defensive responsibility except Mark the other winger. But he is a try scoring machine and when an immortal says on national TV there is a player inside of Sloan you should sit up and pay attention and ask why hasn't this coach been unable to unlock that player