Watching last night, I don't believe Dylan is anywhere the level he was attaining.
Whether it is the ACL tear (definitely lost pace) but his body language showed to me in pre and post game interviews he doesn't want to go anywhere. I think he sees Parra is home and whilst no one can complain for him taking the 13m, I wonder if he will ever be happy in the Knights wilderness.
I have always been a DB fan, but I also think we burn't him out in the last 2 seasons and confused his role in the process.
I now see DB as a 600pa player and if he maintained his original potential say 800k. i.e my implication is he has lost 25% as a player.
WE have most probably won the jackpot as I think we have seen the best of him whereas I question his future now. I would be surprised if he retains his NZ Test status when you look at the Warriors and their young half.
Watching his current game he is missing tackles, whereas previously he hardly missed a thing. He has also lost confidence in the line, doesn't know or understand his role by the rules that made him recognised in the first place.
We are very lucky and whilst it has been said repeatedly, I cannot believe how dumb the Knights are as he will never be the play maker they have signed for. O'Sullivan has a lot to answer for!
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I was meant to watch the game but saw Hayden Bell was the only eels in the team so I decided to watch the JF game instead.
My sister said it was a boring game won 44-0
City will always smash country in these games. The blokes in the city team are from the country but the eligibility rules are just stupid.
I bet you're dirty on yourself now EA. Watching those errors we made was unbelievable. Still knowing you, your devotion to describing the game for us was paramount. As you say Twidle was outstanding.
Lorenzo at 9 is very interesting, should get him a few reps at lock could be our Walker replacement at 14
Good read, Pops.
Agree that DB doesn't look overly settled in his decision.
Also agree 100% with you that he is not, and likely wont be, a halfback. He is laid back, off the cuff, and that is fine, if you have Moses there to execute the game plan? We are seeing with Jahrome Luai in 2025 why genuine 5/8ths aren't automatic halfbacks.
DB as a player for us? 6 weeks ago, I would've agreed, but not so much in the past month, where I feel he's been one of our best with Mitch Moses back.
That has to be a massive concern for Newcastle, right? He relies heavily on his halfback, like Munster, like Luai, like Cody Walker.
Against the Fins, DB was literally involved in every attacking play - every line break, try etc. The way he created space by attacking the line & used his outside men, plus his support play was excellent, and that the player I am concerned we lose?
But no player is bigger than the club, and with the Eels defence improving & less reliance on our one cover defender of the past, im less worried defensively.
1.3m is crazy, we all agree on that, and next year he wont be able to just 'walk to the beat of his own drum', that coin brings expectation & pressure most players don't have to deal with?
Even us DB fans stood by the club in standing firm on the offer, and that hasn't changed, but who replaes him is still vital to becoming a contender again, or middle of the road, just opinion though.
Good stuff, Pops. Another good edition & merely mentioning DB on this site should increase the hits by 1million percent.
Thanks NOS, your comments are always valuable.
It's a tired worn out discussion what DB is and isn't NoS.
All I'll say is this Mitchell Moses has taken a good 5-6 seasons to become the player he is today.
MM was the classic all of nothing big play guy.Run first was his call sign this imo is exactly where DB is to an extent.
What kicks in for these guys is maturity and experience the game slows down for them and they develop into that halfback many mention DB isn't but has the tools to become and that's the key DB has the tools in his bag he just needs to 1 develop and 2 be consistently put in that situation where he has the keys.
Just like any great 7 even the greats the moving parts around them have to function correctly for these guys to succeed.What I suspect is most are judged by just the flashy highlight stuff.Does DB have work to do to be that guy of course he does and I think that's why the Knights struck now .They've got nothing coming through there best move was to make a move to try and convince KP to stay.The next 12 months for Newcastle are huge they've just blown there load and if they don't show improvement KP is out of there.
Coryn, agree with all.
All halfbacks are at the mercy of their pack & teammates, 100%. DB has had zero consistentcy around him.
Its that study & learning to become a genuinely elite halfback, I doubt with DB? Which is not an attack, he just has personality differences compared to the Cleary's, Moses', DCE's, Cronk's etc?
Of course, could be very wrong, and as you know, I rate him very highly as a 5/8th as you do.
Yep he has time Coryn, and maybe a change of scenery could be good for him? He is elite in many of the fundementals that plenty of Eels fans seem disinterested in, but the jury is definitely still out on him becoming a game managing halfback.
Newcastle have put all their eggs in to two enigmatic baskets in KP & DB, and could be a masterstroke or could ruin them for years to come?
Its an intereting watch. But, its hard to argue with the Eels on this one, do feel they got the offer & standing firm correct?
That's the maturity and experience part alot think what there seeing of DB is it.The growth is what you mention around those mentioned players.
Thats what Newcastles job is now over the next 3-4 seasons to actually develop him into a 7.They have that issue now.I dislike him going purely because our pathways in the last decade or so haven't proven we can develop these soughts of players and that's our challenge going foward.
DB Talagi Sanders all halves gone in the last 12 months.
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