Round 22: Dolphins vs St George Illawarra Dragons, July 31st.

[Red]

he started red hot then a few handling errors and his bubble burst

Maybe he won't be such a big loss but I'm really interested to see of Williams can play 5/8. Because his game looks like that of an out and out halfback to me. So does Katoa's.

 

[Blockade]

Not overly convincing, but a victory nonetheless. Not for a lack of chances. I thought StG aimed up really well defensively and some of their last gasp efforts were outstanding. The Dolphins were a bit loose in that regard. Something to work on in training this week. A win in their next outing will clinch a playoff spot, whereas it might mathematically distinguish the Broncos. It's a big game.

3 Donga
2 Plath
1 Cobbo.

 

[Josh]

Not overly convincing, but a victory nonetheless. Not for a lack of chances. I thought StG aimed up really well defensively and some of their last gasp efforts were outstanding. The Dolphins were a bit loose in that regard. Something to work on in training this week. A win in their next outing will clinch a playoff spot, whereas it might mathematically distinguish the Broncos. It's a big game.

3 Donga
2 Plath
1 Cobbo.

Take the win but we need to improve.

 

[257Matt]

Take the win but we need to improve.

Yep. Without Donoghoe I don’t think Dolphins win as he changed the intensity and effort levels when he was on especially with his defence and tough carries.

50 games for the Dolphins and has developed into one of the most important players at the club. Of all the players with 20 games or more Donga has the best win percentage.

 

[Liverbird with Phins up]

I cant award points for that. Might seem harsh. But we weren't good at all.

I would have thought a player like Kodi would have been up for that, being against his new club and all.

 

[midlands hobo]

I cant award points for that. Might seem harsh. But we weren't good at all.

I would have thought a player like Kodi would have been up for that, being against his new club and all.

Odds on him finishing the contract? I think he'll realise it was a mistake that the overs are not worth it and get a release.

 

[Liverbird with Phins up]

Odds on him finishing the contract? I think he'll realise it was a mistake that the overs are not worth it and get a release.

Im going to be honest. I like Kodi outside Katoa.

He has come on since they got the combo happening.

Will he be the same outside Metcalf? With slow outside backs at yhe Dragons. Putting Gutho into a hole is very different to our backs.

 

[Red]

Im going to be honest. I like Kodi outside Katoa.

He has come on since they got the combo happening.

Will he be the same outside Metcalf? With slow outside backs at yhe Dragons. Putting Gutho into a hole is very different to our backs.

Dragons have a 17 year-old centre in the lower grades experts are raving about.

Though I'd be more interested in trying to poach either Couchman. Or both. But I think we are done with recruiting for next season.

 

[midlands hobo]

Dragons have a 17 year-old centre in the lower grades experts are raving about.

Though I'd be more interested in trying to poach either Couchman. Or both. But I think we are done with recruiting for next season.

I believe one of the couchman bros is a bit injury prone

 

[mr_c]

Both couchans staying

 

[Liverbird with Phins up]

Both couchman have just resigned. Gong boys that supported the Dragons. Were never leaving.

Pasifiki Tonga was there for the taking though. I think he is going to be good. Should of enquired when he was unhappy.

 

[Red]

Both couchman have just resigned. Gong boys that supported the Dragons. Were never leaving.

Pasifiki Tonga was there for the taking though. I think he is going to be good. Should of enquired when he was unhappy.

Oh well. Our pack is pretty settled. It's just the issue of hooker. Not to replace JMK but Plath doesn't cut it as a dummy half. Something which is bothering me about Woolf. How much longer is he going to try and turn Plath into a hooker? He's a gun lock and that should be his position. If it means Knowles has to be moved on, move him on.

 

[Liverbird with Phins up]

I think we need a prop.

Flegler is okay. Molo and the rest are below.

Flegler probably hasnt come back from his injury as expected.

Having a young gun come through would be ideal

 

[yonathonjoung]

I think we need a prop.

Flegler is okay. Molo and the rest are below.

Flegler probably hasnt come back from his injury as expected.

Having a young gun come through would be ideal

I think the issue with our middles is less to do with flegs and molo. Genuinely I think woolfy likes to keep his best forwards on the bench. Gilbert I reckon is our best middle, Stone is up there, then Donga and Plath will lock down and run the ball and even some plays, plus their unshakeable fitness. The improvment would only be if you somehow landed a Haas who does everything right and is fit, so the transition to our bench that always aims up isn't so bad. Molo and flegs do their jobs as big boys taking the initial sting, but if the game gets faster and more draining their initial stints might get shorter so our mean smaller blokes can play longer and drain opposition, or woolfy is saving the likes of Stone and Gilbert and Plath for finals games so they aren't so battered. And all that being said our actual biggest problem is that we just turn up sometimes, which frankly I reckon is a hangover from Jbrom retiring. First two years we weren't winning as much but we didn't get belted into the turf like we have the last two years, and I reckon it's a little understated how much his captaincy mattered to the club, despite my belief that Gilbert and Izzy are a good captain pair, just not elite veteran like old Jbrom was.

 

[midlands hobo]

I think we need a prop.

Flegler is okay. Molo and the rest are below.

Flegler probably hasnt come back from his injury as expected.

Having a young gun come through would be ideal

I said a while back on here that the game has changed in the last few years. I think it was about having Donga, plath stone and Knowles. Or possibly why Cotter works well at SO but is average at club. The future of the game appears to be smaller more mobile middles that can do long mins. Cotter works well at SO as its higher intensity and his smaller size and big motor come to the for. Fleggs i feel is one of the old breed of props who sat out the game for two years and came back from injury just as he was before but that the game has changed.

Every club is on the look out for the next Payne Haas, who doesn't want a 120kg prop that can do 80 mins? in reality i think that by 2030 guys like Cotter, Stone, Knowles will be average sized middles and being able to do 80mins will be standard (not actually doing 80 mind but be able to will give the coach extra flexibility)