Roar Guru
Joined February 2014
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My usual position in a football team whether league, soccer or AFL was left right out, but I did try. I will also take this opportunity to apologise to you in advance because my views are bound to offend someone or everyone sooner or later. For the record I am a long time Dragons fan.
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Long-suffering Dragons fans are yet to be enlightened by the club or the Dragons' coach as to the strategy behind the acquisition program in…
The Dragons need to consider the way forward now that Origin second rower Jack de Belin has been suspended on full pay for the…
Statistically, two or three teams that finished in the top eight in the previous season usually drop out of the top eight in the…
Injuries in trial matches are always a possibility prior to the beginning of the season, and with burnout and fatigue an increasing factor at…
In a period of speculation before the Dragons signed Corey Norman and Gareth Widdop announced his 2020 departure to England, Matt Dufty is reported…
Usually, depth is something that coaches welcome, but for St George Illawarra Dragons coach Paul McGregor managing that playing depth during the season to…
The world of rugby league never stands still, and there'll be several clubs looking for a new coach for 2020 before the 2019 season's…
No, it’s not Luciano Pavarotti singing When the Saints Go Marching In; it's the 22-year-old Dragons second rower Luciano Leilua. The younger brother of…
The Dragons need to finalise their Gareth Widdop exit - i.e. Brexit - strategy now that the St George Illawarra skipper and five-eighth has…
The bookmakers have installed the Roosters as favourites to win the premiership again in 2019, but it's a long season and a lot can…
Jack Bird was Wayne Bennett’s prize signing for 2018, but after a dismal first season in Brisbane – thanks in large part to shoulder…
In 2018 the Dragons led the premiership for much of the year but only just managed to make the NRL finals despite their usual…
Despite denials by Wayne Bennett during the 2018 season, it was clear that his coaching career at the Broncos was over. As far as…
Rumours of discontent at Souths have probably been greatly exaggerated, but questions remain as to whether Wayne Bennett’s coaching style will fit in at…
The St George Illawarra Dragons had a close look at Jarryd Hayne until he faced criminal charges last year. Now they have signed Corey…
Anthony Seibold faces a daunting task taking over from Wayne Bennett at the Broncos. After losing three experienced forwards in Josh McGuire, Sam Thaiday…
Brisbane Broncos coach Wayne Bennett attacked the press last week, which of course is nothing new, but this time the media has struck a…
Well, it was an extraordinary performance by the Broncos after their first-up loss to the Dragons. Whatever coach Wayne Bennett said during the week…
The Broncos face the Cowboys at home on Friday night and although it is too early in the season to suggest this is a…
After playing with the new NRL Fantasy format in Round 1, having only 21 players in each squad is going to make the 2018…
Dolphins have 17 tattooed on judging from their performance in the trial against a reserve grade cowboys side. Warriors are strong this year with 12 home games to boost their year.
NRL ladder prediction: Part 1 - Who takes out the spoon?
I were a betting man, my money would be on the Dragons.
With fullback and 5/8 with no depth in the absence of Amone and Ramsay, and the coach looking unconcerned it is the worst start to the season.that I can remember.
Race to the bottom: The NRL wooden spoon contenders
Statistics are just the debris of previous seasons and not the foundation of a new season.
NRL 2022: What chance does your team have? Here's a dose of cold, hard truth
It is interesting to speculate about team selections, but a lot of guess work is involved this far out from the start of the season.
Dragons have gone on a buying spree, but it is hard to see any featuring in the first grade squad absent injuriesand I hope you are right about Bird playing lock where he can be more involved in the game.
NRL 2022 Round 1 predicted teams for EVERY club
If the Dragons are going to do any better than last year then the coach has to dump under performing players, particularly in the forwards and halves and give the younger players a go.
In this regard the first 2 trial matches will only include players with less than 12 games experience in 2020 so we should be able to see them in action before the charity shield against Souths.
Daniel Alvaro, Jack Bird, Eddie Blacker, Billy Brittain, Kaide Ellis, Poasa Faamausili, Mathew Feagai, Max Feagai, Cody Ramsey, Jayden Sullivan and others will all get a chance to show the coach what they have got and hopefully unlike McGregor the new coach will not be afraid to promote new talent before they leave for greener pastures.
Where can the mighty Dragons expect to finish this NRL season?
Nat ,the depth is there mostly in the front row but apart from Blake Lawie yet to be tested at NRL level.
Dragons face De Belin dilemma
I like Blake Lawrie as well but I prefer the option of playing Frizell at lock defensively and he can always wander to the edge I attack.
In an interview after I had written this article McGregor also mentioned Frizzell at lock and Leilua in the second row as something he was considering.
Dragons face De Belin dilemma
You could have just pulled a name out of a hat.
Dragons have been a team hampered by poor coaching since Bennett’s departure but McGregor has been slowly learning and the team is ready De Belin or no De Belin.
Predicting the 2019 NRL premiers before a ball is kicked
Trial may not even start until next season.
Matt Dufty re-signs with Dragons until 2021
Innocent until proven guilty is one thing but this case could drag on for a long time maybe a year or more with the details coming out slowly and painfully.
Is De Belin going to be picked for SOO, tests etc. because he has not been proven guilty?
Dragons need to be more proactive to consider his evidence in defence and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Even if De Belin gets off on the basis it was consentual a consential gang bang with pregnant wife at home is not a good look for the Dragons or the NRL.
NRL says de Belin free to play despite ongoing trial
Strong on paper or Fantasy does not necessarily translate to on field performances nor does youthful confidence convert to results.
Young forwards need to survive the whole season not just 10 games. Haas is spectacular but how many games did he pay last year?
Whether the Broncos fans like it or not the Broncos are rebuilding in 2019.
Which NRL teams will drop out of the top eight in 2019?
The Dragons are really desperate to keep Dufty but do not want to play him in 2019.
If this was soccer, then the Dragons could lend Dufty to Cowboys for the year and he would be another year more experienced when they got him back.
Dufty on the outer at Dragons?
The Bench in any NRL team mostly has only one or maybe two players who match the quality of the starting side, and ISP players are necessarily mostly young and inexperienced or old and past it.
Moreover the salay cap makes your definition of superior depth impossible, depth is primarialy how many players you have that can fill a gap without a significant diminution in performance or major problem emerging.
Korbin Sims has already reached his peak performance in my view, but he is 5 years more experienced and hardened than the 22 year old Dragons such as Kerr, so he has his merits.
Dragons depth a problem for coach McGregor?
If the NRL’s real concern was domestic violence then they would have suspended him and insisted on mandatory counselling during the suspension.
This is like throwing the baby out with the bath water, as the end of his career will likely have dire impact on the wife and children.
The real issue which the NRL is ignoring because of sponsorship concerns is alcohol .
Todd Greenberg announces end of Ben Barba's NRL career
So the dedicated players are going to train for 49 weeks and play 3 weeks?
How and when and on what performances are you to select dedicated players?
Why not give up the whole concept of origin and let a Lebanese team play?
Could Origin eventually use a dedicated set of players and not share them with the NRL?
Widdop is still signed for 3 years so there must be space.
Dragons silent on Widdop 'Brexit' strategy
All is silent from the Dragons, maybe McGregor has no idea, but you do not buy players for ISP.
Dragons silent on Widdop 'Brexit' strategy
I think Aitken was carrying injuries. Basically if Aitken is not going forward he is injured.
Lafai worries me defensively but you could be right about Dufty’s impact off the bench.
Dragons silent on Widdop 'Brexit' strategy
True, but at least there is a depth of talent in the Dragons squad.
Dragons look for NRL premiership in 2019
Dufty, will presumably be back to fullback when Widdop is gone and needs good game time to improve, which is why I prefer him on the wing which is less challenging defensively than fullback. I also would not discount his ability to break the line bring the ball back from a kick.
Interesting to see also what the 20=40 rule change makes for wingers, Dufty may cope better with it than bigger wingers.
Dragons silent on Widdop 'Brexit' strategy
There are not a lot of Corey Norman fans out there.
Dragons look for NRL premiership in 2019
The Dragons showed nothing in the pre-season and have zero team spirit after a long series of dud coaches after Bennett’s departure.
The coach must go sooner than latter but that will not solve the problem which is that total mismanagement, over many years, has destroyed the team spirit.
The Dragons are now left with a dis-functional team and many good ex-dragon players playing top grade in other NRL teams.
At least the Dolphins are trying to avoid the wooden spoon which is something you cannot say for the Dragon’s management.
Dud points system, injuries galore and a two-horse race for wooden spoon: Key takeaways from pre-season trials