Post Match Dragons v Warriors - [Round 7, 2024]

[RiceOwl]

I was on the banana skin game early. We had to come unstuck eventually and in hindsight with our injury toll and our big game last week it was likely to be this one.

Still very disappointing due to the nature of the loss though. I’d say it’s the worst in Webbys era. As already mentioned the bench was odd and the game plan very predictable. I think we have the potential to be top 4 but more likely 6/7/8 at this rate. I really think those early losses and not bagging the points is going to cost us dearly at the back end of the year. Teams like the storm find a way to win but we haven’t got that killer instinct.

Some other thoughts:

• Both Capewell and Ford picked up knocks early so were largely write offs.
• Assuming that was the case, then why not bring on Laban early? Again, strange use of bench.
• The short flat ball has been very effective for us previously but I have to wonder how ineffective it has been too. I appreciate it’s a hard ball to take, but we seem to spill it a lot. I wonder if it would be better to build pressure early with other options before going to that.
• Agree with posters that TMM should be utilised as an option more.
• AFB and Mitch. Fantastic.
• There was just some dumb shit tonight which was frustrating.
• Contesting kicks. I get the tactic, kick to the corner, make the tackle as soon as they get to ground, pin them in etc etc. But contesting once in awhile is important as well. The Dragons nailed this with Lomax try and it was the nail in the coffin.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

I love my team, my coach, fans, but let’s get the rose coloured glasses off, back row and wings are NRL standard, nothing more, nothing less.

Tonight could argue they were NSW Cup standard, this loss was coming. Errors and clunky attack has been on display since round 1.

We don’t throw much when in the opposition 20. Prove me wrong, we beat a poor Souths and got ahead of ourselves.

I love Marcelo but we won’t win a comp with him in our side. Love to be proved be wrong.

I agree! I felt this last week. Everyone was loving and praising the comeback, I just thought we were poor in a few areas amd had massive doubts about last night.

If I can be critical of webby, that bench was awful last night. AFB and Barney played thier guts out, but had no backup. I've been with Ale all season and thought he started very slow but got a little better as the game went on (needs to take this opportunity).

Zyon Maiu’u should of debut last night, we didn't really need pompey on the bench.

Love Montoya but Hugely dissapointed in his game last night, he needs to go back to cup for this. Has webby dropped anyone since he's been here?

He can't be too pig headed about RTS at centre, but if he won't change that at least give kosi a go or even pompey on the wing.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Webby can't honestly review that game and keep Montoya this week. He's got better standards than that.

 

[MM51]

Most of you would disagree with me, but I'd drop Berry. Imo he offers nothing.

He offers us dumb mistakes and gives away penalties

 

[Rick O’Shay]

Disappointed for sure after that and not much to add that hasn't already been said.

Thought we looked flat and gassed, mentally and physically. Drags had a good night and were well deserved winners.

One thing though, we talk on here a lot about our emerging depth. IMO all our depth at the moment is sitting on the injury list.

 

[snake77]

Can we also end our obsession with these ridiculously risky short balls close to the line????

We fucking drop the ball every time. What’s happened to our shape out wide??

Some of them weren't on last night and some may have been but bad execution. It probably depends on who is doing it and who the runners are. Also probably making them quite rare so it is less expensive. The ball player also needs to take the hit if it isn't on.

Harris can put someone away he was doing it before Webster arrived and we moved to our current style of play. He got some nice balls even far out from the try line. But that was the rare unexpected play.

Walker when he is back I'm ok doing it. Last year he was taking the hit when it wasn't on.

Last night I was thinking we looked a runner short on some of the plays and also the Dragons line speed that it looked like we were susceptible to an intercept. We gave a few away last night either a traditional one or from a dropped ball.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

At times, I thought that we were getting too cute.

How many times did we try those little short passes between forwards, or that inside ballyo Charnz?

To be honest I felt incredibly cringy watching that play fall to peices so many times. It worked once brilliantly against Souths, we must have tried it 8+ times.

We didn't earn the right to use that play, as I think we need a big rumble on through the middle yet we kept going to it, hoping something would happen.

Our worst game under Webby imo. We looked bottom 4 imo

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

At times, I thought that we were getting too cute.

How many times did we try those little short passes between forwards, or that inside ballyo Charnz?

To be honest I felt incredibly cringy watching that play fall to peices so many times. It worked once brilliantly against Souths, we must have tried it 8+ times.

We didn't earn the right to use that play, as I think we need a big rumble on through the middle yet we kept going to it, hoping something would happen.

Our worst game under Webby imo. We looked bottom 4 imo

Even Egan was throwing the no look pass into a wall of defenders.

 

[PullingTeets]

After sobering up and seeing I hadnt traded Jack Bostock out of my supercoach team, the Dragons played amazing, it was literally one of those games that every hack team pulls out against the Warriors

 

[Bay39er]

Couldn’t bring myself to read 228 posts of misery.

Did the GP game last week have an effect?

Was TMM on the field?

RTS needs to play for the team.

Montoya needs to be playing for another contract.

Did the lads forget it was a milestone game for Barney?

Well done Dragons but fuck you Flanagan

 

[snake77]

Last week we were all on a high. We got lucky with the escape. It probably masked a few issues.

It would have been good it they picked up after last week. But the golden point time, travel and the injury toll may have caught up with them. The injury toll is what it is you can only play who is available. That leads to the bench use.

I understand some of the interchanges in getting Barnett and AFB back on. Roache was pretty much just cover for either Egan or Johnson. Pompey looked like he was just injury cover. Laban has been given some game time. They probably could have used this as an opportunity to give him more game time.

There are concerns as there is more hype around the side this year so we will be scouted more. But if we want success we need to get used to it.

It was also one of the few times that we haven't seen an improvement from the side after instructions from Webster at halftime.

 

[MM51]

Just watched the pressure, webby doesn’t seemed concerned and I get the vibe it’ll be the same 13 and out for redemption.

One thing that annoyed me when Roger touched the ball off the short drop out. Everyone got shitty with him/eachother and that’s honestly the last thing we need. I get the boys are pissed and frustrated but it doesn’t help us at all

 

[Dantheman]

Hot take and I cannot believe I am saying this but fuck me RTS has been underwhelming.

 

[Damo]

Hot take and I cannot believe I am saying this but fuck me RTS has been underwhelming.

He really hasn't had any good ball.

 

[John Nick]

Was TMM on the field?

Certainly missing the first half especially.Did exactly the same last week.
Having played at 6 I went back & checked the tape for his input.
He only touches the ball in general play 2/3 times.
Dont count DH or scrum feeds or catching kickoffs.
Disappointing to say the least & I hate picking on any particular guy.
Just a fact tho.

 

[Completion Rate]

Hot take and I cannot believe I am saying this but fuck me RTS has been underwhelming.

I was on the fence up until now, but you just gotta play him at wing and out Ali at center now. His kick return meters are too valuable and his opposite number just jams him at center.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Hot take and I cannot believe I am saying this but fuck me RTS has been underwhelming.

It's not a hot take, I was worried about this when we signed him. I know it's hard to be critical of a guy who's given a lot but what has he ever done at centre, we all talk about defense at centre and he's just not a good defender!

I know he made some try savers at fullback but that's different! Tuapiki made some good tackles at fullback.

 

[Noitall]

Certainly missing the first half especially.Did exactly the same last week.
Having played at 6 I went back & checked the tape for his input.
He only touches the ball in general play 2/3 times.
Dont count DH or scrum feeds or catching kickoffs.
Disappointing to say the least & I hate picking on any particular guy.
Just a fact tho.

Is that because everything is going through the right side though? And even SJ popping up on the left? All attack is going through SJ. Even Cronk on the commentary identified early that we were having joy on the left but we persisted to the right after SJ crossed the line fairly easily early on

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Letting Curran go and getting Capewell probably needs closer inspection now.

Obvious tick in the experience department but it's not great seeing Curran tearing around for the Bulldogs and being hailed as one of the buys of the season.

Someone posted tonight that Ford and Capewell had 27 run metres between them - yikes.

Curran was let go for Laban.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Just watched the pressure, webby doesn’t seemed concerned and I get the vibe it’ll be the same 13 and out for redemption.

One thing that annoyed me when Roger touched the ball off the short drop out. Everyone got shitty with him/eachother and that’s honestly the last thing we need. I get the boys are pissed and frustrated but it doesn’t help us at all

Its excatly what we need. RTS is living off glory days. Hes making our team worse with his ball hogging plays. He can fuck off to Cup too for a few weeks to learn how to catch and pass