TEAM LIST Trial 2 vs. Dragons

[Mighty_Tiger]

Just watched a replay of the warriors game keeping a particular eye on Kepaoa.
I was impressed with his overall speed and work rate from the 2nd row. Doesn't have to catch the high balls anymore [same as Papali'i], made some good runs up the middle, tackled well.
I can see why Benji likes him.
However I think he has become the new whipping boy [mainly from the centre/wing experiment] but deserves a closer look of what his current overall contributions are as a 2nd rower and a little less of follow the leader of his past flaws and judge him on his now minimal flaws as a 2nd rower.

I’m ok to keep him in the backrow but he needs to stop rushing up out of the defensive line.

His PCM were great, he actually made most of his meters in post contact meters & think he runs a good line also. I expect him to do a few offloads and with Olam on his outside expect him to be a decoy or hole runner creating chances.

 

[Tiger Stripes]

Do you have any option on Morgan Smithies the guy from the UK he is a cheapie

I was all for trying to get him here. However the Raiders signed him. haven't heard how he's going

 

[innsaneink]

Odd question. Winners are grinners, every coach and player turns up to win.

Not really odd... Benji himself said the processes are more important for him than the result

 

[tig_prmz]

2 games in a row we have been favourites - can't imagine that has happened too often in the last few years

I can't believe you can bet on trials.

It can be the most rigged thing in the world.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

I can't believe you can bet on trials.

It can be the most rigged thing in the world.

How is if any different to a regular season game?

 

[tig_prmz]

Not really odd... Benji himself said the processes are more important for him than the result

Benji I feel has surprised me with his professionalism thus far. However, I hate this seeing.

How can winning not be a part of the process. All focus should be on winning Round 2. I understand not taking short cuts but in no universe in a professional sports competition is process more important than winning.

 

[innsaneink]

The correct processes usually lead to the desired result
The result is the final step...you cant start there

 

[king_sirro]

Benji I feel has surprised me with his professionalism thus far. However, I hate this seeing.

How can winning not be a part of the process. All focus should be on winning Round 2. I understand not taking short cuts but in no universe in a professional sports competition is process more important than winning.

My guess is that winning is very much on Benji's mind, it's just that this team is in a losing habit, so he is trying to take that focus away from them. Simplifying the mindset to achieve each process individually. He believes that will naturally lead to wins. That's just my assumption.

 

[Tigerwould]

Trials aren’t all about winning. If they were you’d just keep your top 17 on the field for 80mins

 

[hank37w]

2 games in a row we have been favourites - can't imagine that has happened too often in the last few years

Nor has winning 2 in a row. 🤣 🤣 🤣

 

[BAGNF05]

Odd question. Winners are grinners, every coach and player turns up to win.

Sean McVay, oft called boy wonder and gone to two super bowls as a 37 yo head coach. Never plays starters in pre-season games. Good enough tactics for me. You get 24 rds to qualify for the tournament.

 

[Leck]

Sean McVay, oft called boy wonder and gone to two super bowls as a 37 yo head coach. Never plays starters in pre-season games. Good enough tactics for me. You get 24 rds to qualify for the tournament.

Sean McVay and Zac Taylor are two great examples of young coaches with alternative coaching ideas and styles. While you can't compare the NFL with the NRL, I believe Benji will connect with our squad and start to get the best out of the young guns this year.

 

[BAGNF05]

Sean McVay and Zac Taylor are two great examples of young coaches with alternative coaching ideas and styles. While you can't compare the NFL with the NRL, I believe Benji will connect with our squad and start to get the best out of the young guns this year.

I love comparing the two and I think V’Landys is starting to see how successful the NFL is as a business, lots of ideas to be pilfered.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Sean McVay and Zac Taylor are two great examples of young coaches with alternative coaching ideas and styles. While you can't compare the NFL with the NRL, I believe Benji will connect with our squad and start to get the best out of the young guns this year.

He’s not that young. Coaches are getting younger these days. He’s almost a pensioner compared to Nathan Brown who was 29 when he took over the Dragons in 2003. He was coaching players that were older than him.

 

[Todd Packer]

Sean McVay, oft called boy wonder and gone to two super bowls as a 37 yo head coach. Never plays starters in pre-season games. Good enough tactics for me. You get 24 rds to qualify for the tournament.

I have to agree with that.
I also agree with Paul Gallen who's opposed to trials as they're just an opportunity for players to get injured playing for nothing.
He made the point that there's enough opposed sessions at training and trials are unnecessary.
I think he's right.

 

[Leck]

He’s not that young. Coaches are getting younger these days. He’s almost a pensioner compared to Nathan Brown who was 29 when he took over the Dragons in 2003. He was coaching players that were older than him.

I'm saying Benji is young. Brownie was very lucky to inherit an excellent team in his first few years as a coach at the Drags.

How's he doing now, though? Benji will be a much better coach in the long run. It might not happen today, but it will happen.

 

[BAGNF05]

I have to agree with that.
I also agree with Paul Gallen who's opposed to trials as they're just an opportunity for players to get injured playing for nothing.
He made the point that there's enough opposed sessions at training and trials are unnecessary.
I think he's right.

And you could argue the lower grade players are on trial every week. Our club probably needs a game or two this year but I think playing our elite guys is ludicrous.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

How's he doing now, though?

That’s pretty dismissive of a guy whose coached nearly 350 NRL games. And talking up Benji who has coached, what, 2?

 

[Leck]

That’s pretty dismissive of a guy whose coached nearly 350 NRL games. And talking up Benji who has coached, what, 2?

Brown had a great squad when he started at the Drags, and that extended through to SL. Not so much when he came back to the Knights and Warriors.

Benji however is starting from absolute scratch. We're double spooners, we've sacked our board and CEO and our team is very green.

If Benji can get us into the 8 in the next 3 years, it will be a miracle. But I think he will do it.

 

[tig_prmz]

The correct processes usually lead to the desired result
The result is the final step...you cant start there

The issue isn't the focus on process, my issue is him saying "process is more important than result" both are important. Every team is going through these processes and at the end when it comes down to the last 20 minutes, it comes down to the fittest and hungriest team. You can work on fitness through your process but the hunger to win has to be a big part of it.