Buying players for the sake of it?

I was listening to ray warren on the rush hour, and he spoke about us and the dragons losing quality players for whatever reasons, and buying players for the sake of it. He clearly stated that these players are yes ok first graders but nothing special.I don't tend to listen to the media but I know deep down that rabs has a soft spot for us. So it got me thinking, yes we will have a lot if depth, but I think we will really struggle next year.He also drew comparisons of the spines of each the dragons and us. Obviously they have Dugan, widdop, Marshall and rein. They are tipped to finish around the bottom, so I really believe both sandow and hoppa need to step up should we have any chance of finishing anywhere near the 8.

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  • BA has already stated that the majority of our new signings are for depth purposes. I respect Rabs heaps but he doesn't really understand our situation if he thinks that we've signed players for the hell of it. Our depth next year is excellent and there will be intense competition for spots. All our players will need to consistently perform. That said, I agree that we'll struggle a fair bit next year. Our season will hinge on Sandow and Norman and their ability to create enough points for us. They'll be under huge pressure. I can't help but think that next year will be a repeat of 2011 in that we'll be able to get into the grind well enough but ultimately fail to finish teams off with the killer blow.

    • I agree EWRA, depth is a healthy position to have. And yes our entire squad will have to perform as a unit, but our biggest obstacle will be scoring points!
    • The reason there are a lot of competition for spots is because ALL our players are average to run of the mill.
      We don't have the Origin standard or representative players who would be in any side.
      We have plodders or honest toilers at best with the exception of one or two.

      Now if you look at the Roosters or Rabbits there is less competition for spots because they have highly credentialed players. The toilers and plodders have no chance.
      Depth is a luxury only if your first team is hot shit. If it's not it doesn't mean shit having all this depth.
  • I think the dragons are doing a bit of a kearny circa us with carl webb etc. I dont think we are heading there again. Players are depth. Our team is only really hayne less. The boys need to punch above their weight in 2015 and we'll go ok. We didnt panic with the hayne cash so see how we go.
  • One of the things that most impressed me with BA was he built his game around the players he had at his disposal. We d idn't have big boppers to dominate the middle of the park, so we played a very expansive game, which got the ball to our couple of strike weapons as much as possible.

    This year I reckon we're going to play very direct, very physical - try and pull as much of the defence into the centre and then base our try scoring on making use of numbers, with a big emphasis on forcing the 3rd defender in to make a decision between taking one of our powerful fringe runners or holding to prevent numbers. Pretty much playing a lot like Souths.

    The problems with the Dragons is they suck up front. And doesn't matter how good your backs are if your forwards don't do their job.

    BA strikes me as very much the sum is greater than their parts kind of coach but its probably fair to say our roster will test that philosophy!

    • But we lack speed in the centres to take advantage of the overlap. You refer to Souths as an example, yet they have lightning quick centres. We have great thrust and punch on both sides of the ruck with our edge forwards, but I fear that our lack of speed out wide, save for Radradra, will cost us a fair bit.

    • I agree with you 1eyed in regards to the way we will play next year, and hopefully with a double rotation out of dummy half we can open teams up. Whether or not sandow and Norman can capitalise on that only time will tell.
  • The other aspect I'm worried about with our centres is neither Morgan or Champion are natural passers of the ball. Taikarangi can shift the ball quickly but Champion prefers to throw a dummy and Morgs is the pin back your ears and run variety of centre so you won't be expecting too many quick hands from those guys. If there is a bolter in our side this year, I reckon it could be Nathan Davis. I just don't think our backline is suited to traditional hole-running centres and is better suited to a guy with size and who can pass, and if Davis manages to develop his physique this off-season he could come from the clouds.

    • Yeah I have a rap on Davis too and I was very impressed watching his ball playing at fullback, but I question whether he has the speed to make it in the centres. Question for Ham or Forty/20: when could Levi Li realistically be ready for NRL? He is freakishly fast and was one of the big improvers in the U20s this year. How much more development does he need?

    • Agree Phil I think Davis is very under-rated but he sparked the attack many times when the team appeared to be going nowhere. Good reader of the game, can pass both sides, elusive & when fills out will be hard to contain. Also good goal kicker & long punter of the ball.

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