For the past few years, the St George Illawarra Dragons have struggled to score points, but could an injection of youth spark their attack and get them breathing fire again?
When looking at the Dragons squad there’s a lot of players in the peak, or middle of their careers. Josh Dugan, Gareth Widdop, Joel Thompson, Tyson Frizell, Tariq Sims, Paul Vaughan, the list goes on.
Now while there is a great amount of experience in those names alone, balance is the key for any NRL side hoping to take out the competition.
I’m a firm believer that a premiership-winning side needs an experienced team with a dash of youth.
This is where the likes of Matt Dufty, Luciano Leilua, and recent sensation Jai Field come into play.
I haven’t seen much of any of these lads, but based on what I have seen, along with the hype around them, I have a feeling they’ll be getting a good taste of NRL this year.
We all know of Joey Leilua’s size and barging style of play at the Raiders, and his younger brother is no different.
Young Luciano stands at 186cm and weighs a whopping 112kg.
Able to play in the backrow, he faces a lot of competition from teammates Sims, Thompson and Frizell, but his impact off the bench will be needed during games and will be on show.
NYC standout Matt Dufty appears to be Josh Dugan’s main rival for the fullback jersey.
The St George junior ran amock in the underage competitions and will by vying for a spot in first grade, and I think by year’s end he will be wearing the #1 jersey on his back.
His fleet-footed style of play is something that can’t be taught and will be a great attacking point for the Dragons should he make the cut.
Finally we have half Jai Field, who tore his opponents to shreds just this weekend at the Auckland Nines.
Now I am aware that the Nines format and the 13-a-side game are completely different, but the glimpses of speed and playmaking from this kid are sure to make Red V fans excited.
With the season ending injury to promising half Drew Hutchison, the Dragons have a few options to throw in the halfback position. They could go with steady seasoned veteran Josh McCrone, upgraded Illawarra Cutters player Shaun Nona, or young gun Field.
While the halfback role is a very important one, I feel as though Field is the best fit for the team, and is the one I wanted to elaborate on.
Firstly, five-eighth and captain Gareth Widdop is an experienced campaigner and is an organiser, so someone with pace and unique style of play would do wonders for him, and Field fits the bill there.
Another great thing about young halfbacks is that they’re unpredictable and confident.
Look at how rookies Ash Taylor and Nathan Cleary did last season. Their input lead to their teams playing in the finals, and I have no doubt that Field could do the same for the Dragons.
It’s all fine and well to have an experienced NRL side, but you also need a sprinkle of youth, and I think this trio of Dragons could do wonders for their club in 2017.
Adam
Guest
Nightingale is a champ and a great all-round winger, you are clueless is you think he won't be there
Adam
Guest
Dufty suffered a minor knee injury in the Nines, so will miss the first couple of rounds I'd say and be eased back through the Cutters, but he is our best fullback going forward. Field is young, and small, but needs to be the halfback in round one, it's time the Dragons take risks instead of playing it safe for 20 round and then taking a gamble when the year is over, like last year with Tim Lafai. Taane Milne showed what he can do in a handful of games but was wasted in reserve grade for too long.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Why are so many gung ho about Mann playing halfback or nowhere? My memories of him at the storm are as a capable outside back - don't recall him playing halves at all. Last year he had a shocker at fullback before getting moved to the wing later in the season where he was a good finisher. Was he a half in the juniors? Nothing I've seen from him suggests he's the Dragons answer in the halves. Certainly not a playmaker as the Dragons need...?
maroubranos
Guest
Nona is not 1st grade standard - Mann, Dufty, Widdop & Field are better options in the halfs.
maroubranos
Guest
Totally agree that Mann must play in the half's.
maroubranos
Guest
The team won't have an organiser until 2018 when Hunt arrives. At the same time,hopefully they will have a decent/experienced Coach in place. 2017 is marking time year with these potentially great youngsters gaining much needed experience - hopefully their enthusiasm isn't coached out of them.
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
1. Nightingale 2. Mann 3. Aitken 4. Dugan 5. MacDonald 6. Widdop 7. Dufty 8. Ah Mau 9. McInnes 10. Vaughan 11. Frizzell 12. Thompson 13. De Belin 14. Sims 15. Matthews/Marketo/McCarthy 16. Packer 17. Leilua Nightingale has lost too much pace to be playing on the wing - but he's pretty safe under the high ball and great at kick returns. Positionally though, he needs to improve to keep the gig long term.
Paul
Guest
There is a lot more to a wingers game than scoring tries.
JOHNY BULLDOG
Roar Rookie
How's the injury to Masoe going?
Paul
Guest
Yeah, Widdop is a ball runner..... He has shown his scintillating running game again and again. His cross field running, and slipping over again and again is the stuff of legends.
Adam
Guest
Mann was our leading try scorer last year. He accomplished this feat depsite only playing 18/19 games all season...
Jim
Guest
With the joke of a coach my dragons have, we won't be improving any time soon.
Paul
Guest
Mann should be in the halves or not in the team at all. If he doesn't cut it in the halves, at Widdop's expense or not, he is in the NSW Cup. And Field is definitely not a halfback. He is a running 5/8 or a centre or a fullback.
Paul
Guest
Widdop is the main problem for the Dragons. He is worse than useless. The team would be better off playing without him and with only 12 players. Field will be good but probably should be given another year to bulk up a little more. He will have no trouble bulking up that frame but will need time. Of the 3, Field is the most likely to make it. Leilua is lazy in defence. Very lazy! At this point Jacob Host is ahead of Leilua. Dufty will have trouble bulking up and retaining his speed and evasiveness so we will see. Herbert, Garrick and Thompson will probably end u in first grade at some point this year.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Aitken is too good a player not to have in the side but I do think he needs to work on his skills especially passing if they are to be more successful in attack this year. I think out of all those outside backs he would be the least skilled.
Jacko
Guest
I get nervous when I see the word " injection" in a headline
Jeff dustby
Guest
They won't drop nightingale
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Widdops off contract in 2018.
andrew
Guest
And Jai Field is a ball runner, so the Widdop/ Field combo doesn't work. All credit to you for trying to write something positive about the Dragons hopes. But to me this is like asking someone to write a positive article about a pile of mud - all you can really write is - "at least it's not sh1t"..
Adam
Guest
1. Dugan (co-captain) 2. Mann 3. Aitken 4. Milne 5. MacDonald 6. Widdop 7. Field 8. Ah Mau 9. McInnes 10. Vaughan 11. Frizzell (co-captain) 12. Thompson 13. JDB 14. Sims 15. Masoe 16. Packer 17. Leilua/Host