Trial Game 1 v Knights

[TheRev]

It seems to be a (n understandable) failing in Sloan and has held him back.

100%, I dont blame sloan or dufty at all, every sane human would do everything in their power to avoid that incoming car crash, we evolved with self-preservation for a reason.

But that's the game at this level.. The most elite of the elite and they're all mad... Even the lightweights don't mind a bit of contact or putting a hit on.. Even if their primary role in the team is to not get tackled when they run.. The key for me is a footballer can have hands on him but he will keep pumping the legs.. Sloan and dufty go down like a sack of spuds, it's not something you can retrain.. Its instinct and we *really* tried with both of them.

 

[jodragon40]

100%, I dont blame sloan or dufty at all, every sane human would do everything in their power to avoid that incoming car crash, we evolved with self-preservation for a reason.

But that's the game at this level.. The most elite of the elite and they're all mad... Even the lightweights don't mind a bit of contact or putting a hit on.. Even if their primary role in the team is to not get tackled when they run.. The key for me is a footballer can have hands on him but he will keep pumping the legs.. Sloan and dufty go down like a sack of spuds, it's not something you can retrain.. Its instinct and we *really* tried with both of them.

In 1sts you just have to put your body on the line. You can hide for short periods but you will get found out.

Speed, agility and evasiveness will also get you so far but eventually you are going to be in a 1 on 1 position and you just have to hold your own.

Sloan is slightly built , tall and has undoubtedly got talent but he has failed to learn how to lower his centre of gravity especially with ball in hand and just gets picked up and thrown/forced back.

You can try to physically fix these issues but unless you fix the mindset of a player it really won't matter. They will continue to play the same way.

What a wasted talent but kudos to him for pulling on a 1st grade jersey for the big red v, nobody can take that away from him.

 

[Justadragon]

100%, I dont blame sloan or dufty at all, every sane human would do everything in their power to avoid that incoming car crash, we evolved with self-preservation for a reason.

But that's the game at this level.. The most elite of the elite and they're all mad... Even the lightweights don't mind a bit of contact or putting a hit on.. Even if their primary role in the team is to not get tackled when they run.. The key for me is a footballer can have hands on him but he will keep pumping the legs.. Sloan and dufty go down like a sack of spuds, it's not something you can retrain.. Its instinct and we *really* tried with both of them.

Agree Rev, but the most disappointing thing for me was seeing the both of them get out of the way of an opposing player. Dufty used to mask it by going for the intercept all the time, Sloan just doesn't make the tackle.

 

[Dragon David]

I agree, Dave. With Sloan, every year I’m hoping he comes back stronger physically and mentally. I read somewhere that he’d been doing some boxing work, which might help him. Either way, he’ll need to make a significant step forward this season, or it will likely be his last in Dragons colours.

Sloan appears to have muscled up a fair bit during this pre-season, like several others have and so I hope that this will give him more confidence in making effective tackles and runs harder in attack to make it more difficult for the opposition to bring him down. He also needs to take the high kicks better and with more confidence. It is good that Flanno has made him the fullback in the first trial and I hope he does well.

 

[Kim]

100%, I dont blame sloan or dufty at all, every sane human would do everything in their power to avoid that incoming car crash, we evolved with self-preservation for a reason.

But that's the game at this level.. The most elite of the elite and they're all mad... Even the lightweights don't mind a bit of contact or putting a hit on.. Even if their primary role in the team is to not get tackled when they run.. The key for me is a footballer can have hands on him but he will keep pumping the legs.. Sloan and dufty go down like a sack of spuds, it's not something you can retrain.. Its instinct and we *really* tried with both of them.

Luke Keary is the guy in recent years who has amazed me. If you see him with his shirt off, he looks like a schoolkid waiting to be bullied. Plenty of guts there.

 

[Kim]

Sloan appears to have muscled up a fair bit during this pre-season, like several others have and so I hope that this will give him more confidence in making effective tackles and runs harder in attack to make it more difficult for the opposition to bring him down. He also needs to take the high kicks better and with more confidence. It is good that Flanno has made him the fullback in the first trial and I hope he does well.

I think that Sloan was never taught how to tackle. In cover defense or any kind of lateral moving defense, his speed should allow him to get close to the target, get hands, chest or shoulder contact and bring him down. He doesn't have to leave the ground or do anything dangerous. Oh well.

 

[Justadragon]

I think that Sloan was never taught how to tackle. In cover defense or any kind of lateral moving defense, his speed should allow him to get close to the target, get hands, chest or shoulder contact and bring him down. He doesn't have to leave the ground or do anything dangerous. Oh well.

He had one of the best tacklers in the NRL there at the club for years, he could have asked for help or had extra training.

 

[TheRev]

Sloan looks huge in the training videos/images... not huge legs but really size is not the reason for his issues.

I think this is the first pre-season he has stayed fit in also, he bulked up the last 2 years and then did lower leg injuries immediately after (think it was his foot last year).. but maybe they got it right this year.. in any case he will get plenty of opportunity this weekend, he might get 80mins.. these are his chances to prove himself... maybe TPH is the replacement fullback if he goes off.

 

[George Sancti]

Sloan appears to have muscled up a fair bit during this pre-season, like several others have and so I hope that this will give him more confidence in making effective tackles and runs harder in attack to make it more difficult for the opposition to bring him down. He also needs to take the high kicks better and with more confidence. It is good that Flanno has made him the fullback in the first trial and I hope he does well.

I can’t remember a trial generating this much interest. Looking over the team list again, there’s something to watch in almost every player. I’m hoping the guys who’ve been around a while, like Sloan and Lawrie, surprise with big performances, and that the next wave of potential stars in Halangahu and Reed go even better than expected. And then there are the juniors I only know from the pathways threads on this forum. Bring on Saturday night

 

[Dragon David]

I can’t remember a trial generating this much interest. Looking over the team list again, there’s something to watch in almost every player. I’m hoping the guys who’ve been around a while, like Sloan and Lawrie, surprise with big performances, and that the next wave of potential stars in Halangahu and Reed go even better than expected. And then there are the juniors I only know from the pathways threads on this forum. Bring on Saturday night

Win, lose or draw - preferably win of course - if they can show great commitment together with strong determination for the full 80 minutes then I will be happy. They will be up against a more formidable team in that the Knights will field more "first grade" players so if our guys can score a couple of tries and defend well that will be good.

 

[Xuiz]

 

[RufusRex]

putting your hands on an opposition players shoulders and pushing down like you want a blow job is not an effective tackling technique for a 1st grade football player.

 

[Mailroomsgi]

This upcoming trial is the perfect mix of established first graders and young guns

Will be a good gauge of where the likes of Reed/Halangahu/LKT are at who are set to start the match

2nd half will more than likely be just u21’s

Particularly keen to see Heidke/Loko/Cyrus/Buchanan with another preseason under the belt and developing some ‘man strength’

Have watched enough of Heidke to think he’s seriously underrated. If he can overcome the nagging injuries he gives me the same vibes as Euan Aitken when he burst onto the scene for us

Powerful and a mean fend + surprisingly good in the air

 

[RufusRex]

come on mailroom - Heidke has a small clue when it comes to setting up a winger and passing so that immediately puts him above Aitken

 

[Ryan]

View attachment 912

At first thought it might have been that new halfback O'Neill.