Round 9: St. George Illawarra v Wests Tigers

[Morgan]

This will be a hard game. Sunny weather is forecast which won't do us any favours against a team which throws the ball around a lot. A lot more than the Dragons do. But I guess they can because they have May and that young prop Pole who I think is destined for very big things making metres in the middle, giving backs so much more space to use the ball than our backs get. And their halves v our halves is a comical. I also think Koroisau is the best hooker in the competition right now. He's like Cook was 5 years ago.

 

[RedVictory]

This will be a hard game. Sunny weather is forecast which won't do us any favours against a team which throws the ball around a lot. A lot more than the Dragons do. But I guess they can because they have May and that young prop Pole who I think is destined for very big things making metres in the middle, giving backs so much more space to use the ball than our backs get. And their halves v our halves is a comical. I also think Koroisau is the best hooker in the competition right now. He's like Cook was 5 years ago.

The way Api left the field I wouldn’t be so sure if he’ll be playing.

 

[Just a Mug Fan]

Qld game so we take a few extras up there, expect Stewart and Allan to come into the 19.
Talk of a halfs change, big game to do it in thou.
Also begins our run of Suncorp games with 3 of our next 5 games there.

 

[Mailroomsgi]

I think Leilua has been terrible so far this season, I’d almost consider dropping him out of the squad altogether

Hopefully they get one of the chuckle brothers out of the halves and let LKT get a deserved chance. Tigers at Suncorp into warriors in Wollongong is a decent 2 games for him to play rather than Storm in Melbourne or Broncos at Suncorp

 

[Morgan]

I think Leilua has been terrible so far this season, I’d almost consider dropping him out of the squad altogether

Hopefully they get one of the chuckle brothers out of the halves and let LKT get a deserved chance. Tigers at Suncorp into warriors in Wollongong is a decent 2 games for him to play rather than Storm in Melbourne or Broncos at Suncorp

Leilua is on some very serious money too. Tariq Simms was good but Mary had him on such good coin it was ridiculous. Leilua is in the same boat but he's not even as good as Simms was. But I agree 100% about the halves. That is the first thing that needs to happen.

 

[Eric]

This will be a hard game. Sunny weather is forecast which won't do us any favours against a team which throws the ball around a lot. A lot more than the Dragons do. But I guess they can because they have May and that young prop Pole who I think is destined for very big things making metres in the middle, giving backs so much more space to use the ball than our backs get. And their halves v our halves is a comical. I also think Koroisau is the best hooker in the competition right now. He's like Cook was 5 years ago.

Pole is much better than the prop who went to Melbourne. Uto......something.

 

[Illusion]

I think Leilua has been terrible so far this season, I’d almost consider dropping him out of the squad altogether

Hopefully they get one of the chuckle brothers out of the halves and let LKT get a deserved chance. Tigers at Suncorp into warriors in Wollongong is a decent 2 games for him to play rather than Storm in Melbourne or Broncos at Suncorp

Doesn't matter which game he comes in he will be more creative than what we have now ........ Our halves are just catch and pass never threaten the line ........

 

[Dave03]

It doesn't matter which half you pick if the instructions remain the same. Our fwd pack lacks any punch too, we always struggle with field position. Whoever out of Glover & LKT has performed better this season should get first crack in the halves. I'd drop Guler & Lawrie, bring in Stewart & LPT. I'd how no issues with a Jett Liu or Nick T for Luch. I doubt any changes will occur apart from Stewart for Lawrie or Guler & Illias for one of LKT or Glover.

I'd rather get games into the youngsters, figure out how far they are from 1st grade standard then going through the motions with Lawrie, Guler, Klemmer, Luch etc. I'm over it but it won't happen cos Flanno is only contracted until next year & I don't think he wants 2 years of missing finals footy with us on his resume.

8. Klemmer
9. Cook
10. Couchman
11. Egan
12. Sua
13. JDB
14. Liddle
15. Stewart
16. LPT
17. Liu/Nick T

 

[jodragon40]

A tale of two opposites. The Dragons coming off a deflating confidence sapping hiding at the hands of the Roosters.

The Tigers coming off an exhilarating victory over the Sharks in extra time.

So Dragons fans are fearing the worst next Saturday night on neutral ground. Obviously the Dragons are no chance.

But wait a minute, betting markets have the Dragons @ $1.93 the Tigers @$1.91 surely its not going to be that close a game?

History reveals in the last 47 games, Dragons 26, Tigers 21. Last season, Dragons won both games convincingly.

Key match ups , not hard,

illias v Luia,
Flanagan v Galvin.
Koroisau v Cook

In the forwards May, and wow hasn't he been a revelation played 84 min yesterday, 29 hit ups 228m, 73m post contact v Couchman, 9 hit ups 85m surely a mismatch all four on current form.

In today's game you need impact off the bench.

Leilua v Hunt.
Leilua, 10 runs, 72m, 31m post contact and
Hunt, 13 runs 127m, 66m post contact

So statistically and historically the stats are on our side. Recent form and personal performances are not.

In saying that, I would expect a bounce back from that embarrassment.

 

[GCRV]

A tale of two opposites. The Dragons coming off a deflating confidence sapping hiding at the hands of the Roosters.

The Tigers coming off an exhilarating victory over the Sharks in extra time.

So Dragons fans are fearing the worst next Saturday night on neutral ground. Obviously the Dragons are no chance.

But wait a minute, betting markets have the Dragons @ $1.93 the Tigers @$1.91 surely its not going to be that close a game?

History reveals in the last 47 games, Dragons 26, Tigers 21. Last season, Dragons won both games convincingly.

Key match ups , not hard,

illias v Luia,
Flanagan v Galvin.
Koroisau v Cook

In the forwards May, and wow hasn't he been a revelation played 84 min yesterday, 29 hit ups 228m, 73m post contact v Couchman, 9 hit ups 85m surely a mismatch all four on current form.

In today's game you need impact off the bench.

Leilua v Hunt.
Leilua, 10 runs, 72m, 31m post contact and
Hunt, 13 runs 127m, 66m post contact

So statistically and historically the stats are on our side. Recent form and personal performances are not.

In saying that, I would expect a bounce back from that embarrassment.

Decent halves will probably help the whole team improve a lot. Couchman we all know is much better than his game last week.

 

[GCRV]

It doesn't matter which half you pick if the instructions remain the same. Our fwd pack lacks any punch too, we always struggle with field position. Whoever out of Glover & LKT has performed better this season should get first crack in the halves. I'd drop Guler & Lawrie, bring in Stewart & LPT. I'd how no issues with a Jett Liu or Nick T for Luch. I doubt any changes will occur apart from Stewart for Lawrie or Guler & Illias for one of LKT or Glover.

I'd rather get games into the youngsters, figure out how far they are from 1st grade standard then going through the motions with Lawrie, Guler, Klemmer, Luch etc. I'm over it but it won't happen cos Flanno is only contracted until next year & I don't think he wants 2 years of missing finals footy with us on his resume.

8. Klemmer
9. Cook
10. Couchman
11. Egan
12. Sua
13. JDB
14. Liddle
15. Stewart
16. LPT
17. Liu/Nick T

Like the idea but think it's a bit too much going with LPT, Stewart, Egan, Liu/Nick T.

 

[TheRev]

Lets see how we bounce back.. every team has been up and down this year, coming back to earth after wins.. im just glad anzac day is done, we always struggle with the pressure and the roosters were much more clinical than I had hoped.

Nothing really special about magic round imo, its as good a game as any if he wants to try something new, but as others have said we pretty much have out best forwards available now (bar Ryan/Sele which are nowhere near coming back), so these guys have to get it done every week....

Leilua was pretty ordinary last week I agree, but he was a game-changer the week before.. I feel like there is always risk in his role if hes being asked to come on and become a 3rd playmaker. BMM would be an alternative but hes well and truly unfit after a long lay-off.. could just throw tonga and ask him to charge on.. its a lot of young kids mind you... thats pretty much all our next up kids actually.. Latu only if desperate.

As for the halves, if were gonna make a change... this is again as good as any, im sort of on the fence with it, I dont love what LKT does, and I dont think hes there in 2026 when Atkinson comes... but if we think he can make his tackles.. then I guess sure, there is only 1 way to find out if he can exceed expectations and step up.. I just dont know whos getting dropped.. if its Ilias then there will be no more hiding for Kyle, he has to wear the 7.

 

[jodragon40]

Lets see how we bounce back.. every team has been up and down this year, coming back to earth after wins.. im just glad anzac day is done, we always struggle with the pressure and the roosters were much more clinical than I had hoped.

Nothing really special about magic round imo, its as good a game as any if he wants to try something new, but as others have said we pretty much have out best forwards available now (bar Ryan/Sele which are nowhere near coming back), so these guys have to get it done every week....

Leilua was pretty ordinary last week I agree, but he was a game-changer the week before.. I feel like there is always risk in his role if hes being asked to come on and become a 3rd playmaker. BMM would be an alternative but hes well and truly unfit after a long lay-off.. could just throw tonga and ask him to charge on.. its a lot of young kids mind you... thats pretty much all our next up kids actually.. Latu only if desperate.

As for the halves, if were gonna make a change... this is again as good as any, im sort of on the fence with it, I dont love what LKT does, and I dont think hes there in 2026 when Atkinson comes... but if we think he can make his tackles.. then I guess sure, there is only 1 way to find out if he can exceed expectations and step up.. I just dont know whos getting dropped.. if its Ilias then there will be no more hiding for Kyle, he has to wear the 7.

If I have said this once, I have said this a thousand times.

'If your engine room is not consistently making the advantage line and you are not obtaining a quick play the balls clearing the ruck and initiating your attacking structures '.

It wouldn't matter if we had the Kangaroos halves or backline.

A prime example of this was last week's game against East's. Nobody rates their current halves combination of Smith/Savala and rightly so. Yet after that game they both looked like future origin players.

My point is, do we have the best halves in the competition? Most certainly not . Are they good enough to get us into the bottom end of the top 8, perhaps. That will depend on our pack, luck and of course our opponents.

What most armchair critics and coaches conveniently forget unless you have reached the pinnacle or at the very least sub pinnacle of our game. Any player good enough to pull on a 1sts jersey has achieved something that 96% of registered RL players will never.

No matter what your personal opinion is of both they are there, they are wearing the big red V and they are trying. On some occasions like last week they may not get the result we all yearn for but they are human, make mistakes and as long as they are wearing that 1st grade jersey they should be supported. Just the views of an ageing retired ressies coach

 

[Just a Mug Fan]

Any player good enough to pull on a 1sts jersey has achieved something that 96% of registered RL players will never.

No matter what your personal opinion is of both they are there, they are wearing the big red V and they are trying. On some occasions like last week they may not get the result we all yearn for but they are human, make mistakes and as long as they are wearing that 1st grade jersey they should be supported.

 

[Dave03]

If I have said this once, I have said this a thousand times.

'If your engine room is not consistently making the advantage line and you are not obtaining a quick play the balls clearing the ruck and initiating your attacking structures '.

It wouldn't matter if we had the Kangaroos halves or backline.

A prime example of this was last week's game against East's. Nobody rates their current halves combination of Smith/Savala and rightly so. Yet after that game they both looked like future origin players.

My point is, do we have the best halves in the competition? Most certainly not . Are they good enough to get us into the bottom end of the top 8, perhaps. That will depend on our pack, luck and of course our opponents.

What most armchair critics and coaches conveniently forget unless you have reached the pinnacle or at the very least sub pinnacle of our game. Any player good enough to pull on a 1sts jersey has achieved something that 96% of registered RL players will never.

No matter what your personal opinion is of both they are there, they are wearing the big red V and they are trying. On some occasions like last week they may not get the result we all yearn for but they are human, make mistakes and as long as they are wearing that 1st grade jersey they should be supported. Just the views of an ageing retired ressies coach

Let's hope it improves with our young crop of fwds coming through because we'll go through plenty of short term pain. I still think we should give a ridiculous short term contract to a top level prop to help in this area. I'm annoyed we didn't go harder at May or AFB.

 

[jodragon40]

Let's hope it improves with our young crop of fwds coming through because we'll go through plenty of short term pain. I still think we should give a ridiculous short term contract to a top level prop to help in this area. I'm annoyed we didn't go harder at May or AFB.

Me too me too, Klemmer has been very ordinary as has Guler, perhaps they are still getting accustomed to our structures and culture. Both need to start firing.

 

[Dave03]

Me too me too, Klemmer has been very ordinary as has Guler, perhaps they are still getting accustomed to our structures and culture. Both need to start firing.

I've been very disappointed with Guler but I had low expectations for Klemmer.

 

[jodragon40]

I've been very disappointed with Guler but I had low expectations for Klemmer.

Just can't attract the bookends were need such as the 2 you previously mentioned

 

[Edward]

I've been very disappointed with Guler but I had low expectations for Klemmer.

I had higher expectations for Klemmer but both have been worse than much maligned Blake Lawrie.

 

[TheRev]

Yah I thought Klemmer would be one of our best.. but hes doing fine imo.. hes a serviceable cog.. were just missing 1 or 2 that are more than just serviceable.. Im not sure how close we are to filling that #30 spot.. I think Flanno wants to aim higher, but I dunno who were gonna pull at short notice.