TEAM LIST Trial 2 vs. Dragons

[Tucker]

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.

Why will it be a miracle?
Klemmer, Api, Steph, Bateman, Papa, Twal, Fainu, Olam, Tupou and Bula have all and most still are playing at international level. Our halfback has played over 200 top level games. 8 of our players (Klem, Api, Bateman, Papa, Sezer, Naden, Olam, Staines) have played in NRL grand finals with 5 premierships between them and a heap of finals experience. We also have a guy who has played 60 odd Super Rugby games.
On top of this, we have some highly rated young players coming through.

If Benji doesn’t make the 8 within the next 3 years, he should be thrown out on his arse.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Why will it be a miracle?
Klemmer, Api, Steph, Bateman, Papa, Twal, Fainu, Olam, Tupou and Bula have all and most still are playing at international level. Our halfback has played over 200 top level games. 8 of our players (Klem, Api, Bateman, Papa, Sezer, Naden, Olam, Staines) have played in NRL grand finals with 5 premierships between them and a heap of finals experience. We also have a guy who has played 60 odd Super Rugby games.
On top of this, we have some highly rated young players coming through.

If Benji doesn’t make the 8 within the next 3 years, he should be thrown out on his arse.

I can see why someone would say it though for this season with Benji being a rookie coach, mass changes around the club, new spine, volume of kids relying on & our very poor history.

Teams going from Spoon to Finals the next season is under 10% chance based on the games history so it’s not impossible but it’s unlikely.

I do think Benji will get us off the bottom but I have us around 12th this year at best.

Sometimes playing with little outside expectations & pressure - surprised can happen.

 

[Tucker]

I can see why someone would say it though for this season with Benji being a rookie coach, mass changes around the club, new spine, volume of kids relying on & our very poor history.

Teams going from Spoon to Finals the next season is under 10% chance based on the games history so it’s not impossible but it’s unlikely.

I do think Benji will get us off the bottom but I have us around 12th this year at best.

Sometimes playing with little outside expectations & pressure - surprised can happen.

For this year, yes. However he specifically said “next 3 years”. I’m not prepared to give Benji that long, are you?
Remember the figures I provided above don’t include Luai nor anyone else we pick up for 25 & 26.
For mine, I want big improvement this year, be very competitive with finals appearance next year and have a crack at winning it in 2026.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

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.

Sounds like you are already making excuses for him, giving him such a free ride. If we go another 3 years no finals, you realise that will be 15 years since we have played finals. Why is that acceptable?

 

[GNR4LIFE]

For this year, yes. However he specifically said “next 3 years”. I’m not prepared to give Benji that long, are you?
Remember the figures I provided above don’t include Luai nor anyone else we pick up for 25 & 26.
For mine, I want big improvement this year, be very competitive with finals appearance next year and have a crack at winning it in 2026.

This year, im prepared to forgive him. Three years, with the inclusion of Luai is insane. Why shouldn’t there be top 8 expectations come 25?

 

[twentyforty]

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

I see where you’re going with this Ink. I agree, being too heavily focused on the scoreboard is not necessarily a good thing, because it can serve as a distraction. The real goal is the journey, the how. A favourable scoreboard is the reward for a well executed game plan.

 

[twentyforty]

Why will it be a miracle?
Klemmer, Api, Steph, Bateman, Papa, Twal, Fainu, Olam, Tupou and Bula have all and most still are playing at international level. Our halfback has played over 200 top level games. 8 of our players (Klem, Api, Bateman, Papa, Sezer, Naden, Olam, Staines) have played in NRL grand finals with 5 premierships between them and a heap of finals experience. We also have a guy who has played 60 odd Super Rugby games.
On top of this, we have some highly rated young players coming through.

If Benji doesn’t make the 8 within the next 3 years, he should be thrown out on his arse.

Didn’t most of the players you mention win us a spoon or two?

 

[Vicious]

If John Bateman and Jahream Bula play up to the ability most of our supporters believe they have and live up to their pay cheques, we will make the top 8 this season without a problem.
I say this as they both play positions that are vital to our team’s performance, particularly contributing to our attack and scoring points.
I have doubt they are as good as many others think they are, but hope I am wrong and time will tell.

 

[jrtiger]

If John Bateman and Jahream Bula play up to the ability most of our supporters believe they have and live up to their pay cheques, we will make the top 8 this season without a problem.
I say this as they both play positions that are vital to our team’s performance, particularly contributing to our attack and scoring points.
I have doubt they are as good as many others think they are, but hope I am wrong and time will tell.

there's a lot that has to go right, but those two are certainly part of it.

a lot of what ifs in this side but as we saw with the Warriors last year it can turn around in an instant. I do think there's enough talent in this side for us to have a similar rise up the table, but there is a lot that has to go our way, starting with the spine.

 

[TrueTiger]

I see where you’re going with this Ink. I agree, being too heavily focused on the scoreboard is not necessarily a good thing, because it can serve as a distraction. The real goal is the journey, the how. A favourable scoreboard is the reward for a well executed game plan.

I think twentyforty,some people miss the point about trials,Gallen said there is no point to them because of plenty of opposing drills etc...In my opinion he is wrong,we have a team with plenty of youth and inexperience in it,the older more seasoned players look after them at training and teach them the game..
The point of having a trial is seeing how well developed the youth are,how they handle the gameplans,how they handle the pressure of game time and see how they handle the game against players that want to prove themselves...far cry from being looked after at training,as far as injuries go,its a contact sport,they happen....Look what happened to Tedesco at the start of his career with us as an example...

 

[Needaname]

I see where you’re going with this Ink. I agree, being too heavily focused on the scoreboard is not necessarily a good thing, because it can serve as a distraction. The real goal is the journey, the how. A favourable scoreboard is the reward for a well executed game plan.

Gould made a few points in his 6 tackles podcast.

To change a team that is a perennial bottom dweller you need to add the ability to create points into the roster.
He said improving defence or focusing on completions, resilience is something you focus on once you have made the climb to be a top 8 contender.

It was an interesting take.

He also mentioned that good defence is one thing but he believes the key to having a good defence comes down to what you do with the ball. If you are loose with the ball when in possession then you will have more defending to do regardless of whether you are ahead on the scoreboard or not. (Case in point, the Titans this year).

 

[Tom Shines]

If John Bateman and Jahream Bula play up to the ability most of our supporters believe they have and live up to their pay cheques, we will make the top 8 this season without a problem.
I say this as they both play positions that are vital to our team’s performance, particularly contributing to our attack and scoring points.
I have doubt they are as good as many others think they are, but hope I am wrong and time will tell.

Havent noticed a lot of people here talking up Bateman …

That contract was a Sheens special

 

[BirchgroveTigers]

Aidan Sezer and Jayden Sullivan as your starting halves ain’t making the 8. Next year we should be pushing for it though

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

For this year, yes. However he specifically said “next 3 years”. I’m not prepared to give Benji that long, are you?
Remember the figures I provided above don’t include Luai nor anyone else we pick up for 25 & 26.
For mine, I want big improvement this year, be very competitive with finals appearance next year and have a crack at winning it in 2026.

I agree on above. My expectations are take a step in 24, 25 we edge into finals and 26 we have a real crack.

Injuries to key players will be pivotal as I just doubt we fix some of our depth areas in 12-18mths (this year is written off on that now).

 

[tiger_one]

Gould made a few points in his 6 tackles podcast.

To change a team that is a perennial bottom dweller you need to add the ability to create points into the roster.
He said improving defence or focusing on completions, resilience is something you focus on once you have made the climb to be a top 8 contender.

It was an interesting take.

He also mentioned that good defence is one thing but he believes the key to having a good defence comes down to what you do with the ball. If you are loose with the ball when in possession then you will have more defending to do regardless of whether you are ahead on the scoreboard or not. (Case in point, the Titans this year).

There's a bit of Sheens in this analysis.

 

[twentyforty]

I think twentyforty,some people miss the point about trials,Gallen said there is no point to them because of plenty of opposing drills etc...In my opinion he is wrong,we have a team with plenty of youth and inexperience in it,the older more seasoned players look after them at training and teach them the game..
The point of having a trial is seeing how well developed the youth are,how they handle the gameplans,how they handle the pressure of game time and see how they handle the game against players that want to prove themselves...far cry from being looked after at training,as far as injuries go,its a contact sport,they happen....Look what happened to Tedesco at the start of his career with us as an example...

Injuries can occur at any time. If I’m a coach, I’m looking for players‘ coachability. How well did they follow instructions/training rehearsals? Level of discretionary effort and decision making. Benji’s right to be focussing on this stuff. Sometimes the guy who gets the gig is the one who shows he really needs it.
In 23 we had the same problem with our attack that Dragons had. Our halves weren’t the problem it was the rest of the team expecting them to lay the points on a platter for them.
I like Flanagan’s approach to this issue, a kind of ‘if not me, who? If not now, when?’ attitudinal correction.
Im just asinterested in seeing how Dragons handle the season.

 

[Tiger_Yoshi]

Havent noticed a lot of people here talking up Bateman …

That contract was a Sheens special

Sure was, just like Adam Blair was....we will get dudded...should've been a 2 year contract with CO for a 3rd...

 

[Tucker]

Didn’t most of the players you mention win us a spoon or two?

They’ve had a full year together now including 2 pre seasons.
Sezer and Olam bring definite upgrades to their positions.
We have competition in most positions bar backrow.
Bula has improved out of sight.
Double figure wins this year, finals next year when Luai and whoever else comes and charge for the title in 26.

 

[Jolls]

They’ve had a full year together now including 2 pre seasons.
Sezer and Olam bring definite upgrades to their positions.
We have competition in most positions bar backrow.
Bula has improved out of sight.
Double figure wins this year, finals next year when Luai and whoever else comes and charge for the title in 26.

Some sense there - we are definitely moving off the bottom of the ladder in 2024. I think the improvements started last year but were hampered by our inability to put the pig skin over the lime line. Certainly leadership and coordination around the ruck improved significantly over the year.

Double digit wins will get us to about 12th - which is where I think we are developmentally as well. Some astute buys in the back row and potentially at centre and we should be a force in 25 - in the 8 for sure. Who knows - maybe we jag a couple of the close ones this year and do better than predicted - about time we had the bounce of the ball in the close games.

24 build the culture and develop the juniors
25 refine the execution
26 we should be really performing - and in the window for a shot at the title.

 

[twentyforty]

Gould made a few points in his 6 tackles podcast.

To change a team that is a perennial bottom dweller you need to add the ability to create points into the roster.
He said improving defence or focusing on completions, resilience is something you focus on once you have made the climb to be a top 8 contender.

It was an interesting take.

He also mentioned that good defence is one thing but he believes the key to having a good defence comes down to what you do with the ball. If you are loose with the ball when in possession then you will have more defending to do regardless of whether you are ahead on the scoreboard or not. (Case in point, the Titans this year).

This is something I’m keen to see after a few comp games.
We were very good at limiting opponents offloads and increasing ours. I think that alone helped to keep us in a few games.
The ability to create points can be done in other ways. Not every team can recruit a Crichton 😜