Patience is the key

[hybrid_tiger]

IMO if we are patient on Saturday this will go a long way towards winning this match.

The Dragons are excellent defensively, so we are going to find it pretty tough to score points.

My fear is that if, for example, we get a couple of sets on their line and don't score, that we will start becoming impatient, and this will only lead to dumb football filled with errors.

Based on our performances this season, I definitely think we are capable of playing patient football and waiting for our opportunities to come, without forcing our hand or chancing our arm too early. The Dragons will be happy to defend multiple sets and will try and grind us out of the game, then as soon as we make an error they will attempt to pounce.

 

[izotope]

I agree 100%

a bit of safe second phase play helps open the dragons a bit as well as BODIES IN MOTION. Every millisecond they watch a decoy runner can open the hole just that tiny bit to squeeze through

 

[prattenpark]

Not sure I agree wholeheartedly. I can see what you are saying, but being patient can also play into their hands a little. The Dragons defence can hold firm pretty much all game - if you're simply patient, you may only get a couple of chances all game and go down 20-12.
To beat the Dragons, you also have to create chances and make every one of them count, and win 28-20.

 

[magpie_mania]

i agree 100%

a bit of safe second phase play helps open the dragons a bit as well as bodies in motion. Every millisecond they watch a decoy runner can open the hole just that tiny bit to squeeze through

correct you only need to watch the saints parra semi last year to see the best way how to beat the saints when moi mois runs and offloads destroyed the saints with the quick men running off him we need galloway to have 5 offloads gibbs and dwyer to have 3 each and to control the ruck with robbie darting and ruck defence also another thing is lui and lawrence to tighten upthere defence so ellis can make more attacking inroads.if lui or lawrence slip up in defence creagh will tear us to ribbons.also watch for brown runing off players with short inside balls to do some damage this week.

 

[farahfan]

while i agree with the sentiment, i suspect benji is gonna deploy everything in his arsenal and not go down wondering because at this stage i think he is close to his peak, and lets face it, 'conservative' and 'in-form benji' do not belong in the same sentence

 

[KingOvKingz09]

i agree 100%

a bit of safe second phase play helps open the dragons a bit as well as bodies in motion. Every millisecond they watch a decoy runner can open the hole just that tiny bit to squeeze through

correct you only need to watch the saints parra semi last year to see the best way how to beat the saints when moi mois runs and offloads destroyed the saints with the quick men running off him we need galloway to have 5 offloads gibbs and dwyer to have 3 each and to control the ruck with robbie darting and ruck defence also another thing is lui and lawrence to tighten upthere defence so ellis can make more attacking inroads.if lui or lawrence slip up in defence creagh will tear us to ribbons.also watch for brown runing off players with short inside balls to do some damage this week.

I think beau scott will be marking them up. not creagh… but i do agree, we need offloads galore !... our team loves broken down play,.. i am expecting brown to be running off players alot more + benji doing the trademark pass back inside for him around the tired ruck defense (like he did with moltz)

 

[Centaur]

I tend to disagree - I think it is imperative that we shake up the Dragons by scoring early points.

When we met last, it was 0-0 after 20 minutes, we were not unable to contain them for the next 60 minutes and they were able to contain us easily enough. We don't want another one of those battles.

 

[Snowy]

We have to come out and give it everything in the first 20 mins, IMO they will be expecting us to change our game plan and play a bit more restrained early on and complete our sets and settle in for an early grind. But I say let em have it and all guns loaded and ready to fire from the word go!

 

[norm]

I agree I think its important we get off to a good start against them.

 

[cunno]

I tend to disagree - I think it is imperative that we shake up the Dragons by scoring early points.

When we met last, it was 0-0 after 20 minutes, we were not unable to contain them for the next 60 minutes and they were able to contain us easily enough. We don't want another one of those battles.

Agreed, one of the most effective ways to unsettle the dragons defence is to upset their defensive pattern by scoring points and putting pressure on them. If they start to think their defence isn't coping then panic could set in it. This will be new to them and they will have to try and cope by varying their play which they haven't really had to do. If WTs take the same blockbusting approach as they did against the chooks in our last contest (and this time the ball is grounded over the try line) it would put us in a good position. I'm not sure playing them at their own game will bother them too much. Then again, who knows what Sheens has up his sleeve!!

One thing is for sure, WTs will have to remain solid in defence for the whole game, not get in front then let saints get back into the game through sloppy defence.

 

[bbobb]

I think this is going to be a bit of an ironic game. The Dragons normally want to get into an arm wrestle and use their defence to grind teams out however with their lead-up (resting players Rd26, easy game against depleted manly side and a week off) we may able to spring a surpise

 

[cunno]

I think this is going to be a bit of an ironic game. The Dragons normally want to get into an arm wrestle and use their defence to grind teams out however with their lead-up (resting players Rd26, easy game against depleted manly side and a week off) we may able to spring a surpise

Good points the week off may not necessarily work in their favour, with their style of play momentum is important.