Official Round 9 - Bulldogs vs Dragons Game Day Thread

[Powerslide]

Can't see CC bringing KO into the starting 13 this week. Think that move will be from the bench, JR will start the game, but KO will come on after the initial ~20 minutes. Usually, that is because you need your better defender on for the first period. But I think KO is a much better defender than JR.

 

[kmr07]

Dropped. He has offered nothing the past 2 weeks. On his return from injury he looked understandably completely off the pace, but last week he was just meh. Didnt offer anything useful off the bench. Just made a few tackles and had a few poor runs.
Hughes was pretty dominant in the first half of Cup last week.
Personally id like to see Harrison Edwards at lock and RFM part of our prop rotation. Edwards looked very sharp on the weekend and was a great linkman. RFM just runs one out.
Would have liked to see Skelton named in the side, not just as a reserve. Surely he plays and wont spend 2 weeks in pergatory doing nothing on the bench, he needs game time!

I like this idea of RFM as part of prop rotation. With our limited creativity in the halves, a ball playing lock would do wonders to help the attack. I never rated Edwards last year but from the cup games I have watched this year it seems he has improved his game heaps. He is distributing the ball well and taking the hit up when the pass is not on (obviously not saying he is anywhere near as good but his playing style reminds me of Yeo). RFM just has no ball playing ability

 

[D- voice]

yeah but none that are named on the bench can play halves so I guess either Browne or ko will be on the bench on game day

I just thought of something,
Could CC be seriously considering Averillo at 5/8 if needed ???

 

[Doggone1975]

I got this 'ding doing the witch is dead' ditty going through my hard atm lol

 

[Mitch Connor]

COACHING 'CAUSING RIFT' WITH PLAYERS
Which coach is forcing several of his leading players to take the field every week even though they are carrying injuries?

It's causing a rift with the players, who are being told to take painkilling injections before games and to "suck it up".

Stream the NRL premiership 2023 live and free on9Now

Such is the pressure on teams to win week to week that the coach won't give them a break to recover from their injuries.

But it could come back to bite him - it's a long season and the players aren't happy - and could suffer more serious injuries if they keep playing on with niggling problems.

Is this our team?

Gus said on his podcast today that we had 8 players run out with pain killing injections this weekend…

 

[chemdog]

I just thought of something,
Could CC be seriously considering Averillo at 5/8 if needed ???

averillo 5/8 and skelton at center would make sense

 

[PaxMaxi1980]

Gus said on his podcast today that we had 8 players run out with pain killing injections this weekend…

This deserves its own post. I was quite concerned reading this article. It sounds like us!

 

[speedy2460]

JR will be the 7. Oloapu to be left out.

 

[flamebouyant]

Can see how Davey missed if he it fit. He has been good off the bench

Really? I think he has offered nothing!

 

[flamebouyant]

Glad Morrin is back in the side, he should be starting lock ahead of RFM.

I rate him, but he is not even starting lock in reserve grade. Edwards was lock last week and ran for over 200m. Has a very nice passing game too. He is our future lock imo.

 

[TwinTurbo]

Injuries as at this morning, 8 Versus 7;

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Fa'amanu Brown (elbow, Round 9)
Jacob Kiraz (knee, Round 11-12)
Chris Patolo (knee, Round 12)
Franklin Pele (arm, Round 14)
Josh Addo-Carr (ankle, Round 15)
Luke Thompson (foot, Round 16)
Bailey Biondi-Odo (knee, Round 21)
Viliame Kikau (pectoral, Round 22)

St George Illawarra Dragons
Tautau Moga (shoulder, TBC)
Francis Molo (suspended, Round 10)
Mikaele Ravalawa (hamstring, Round 11)
Alec Tuitavake (knee, Round 11)
Jaydn Su'A (shoulder, Round 12)
Tyrell Fuimaono (hip, indefinite)
Cody Ramsey (illness, season)


Always a Bulldogs

 

[flamebouyant]

Surely Oloapu is brought in off the bench. I doubt that's the 17 that runs out on Sunday. I'd love to see Skelton get a debut too. He offers a lot more than Casey.

Would like to see skelton replace Casey as well. Definitely has more upside!

 

[speedy2460]

No.	Player	Sponsor
1	Hayze Perham	Waterview
2	Declan Casey	Supporting Disabilities Australia
3	Jake Averillo	AIWC
4	Paul Alamoti	Guardian Venue Management
5	Braidon Burns	Khalil Lawyers
6	Josh Reynolds	Zaffet Lebnen
7	Matt Burton	AM PM Plumbing & Electrical
8	Max King	Dental on Evaline
9	Reed Mahoney	Accolade Wines
10	Tevita Pangai Junior	Sydney City Building Group
11	Corey Waddell	Amer Development Group
12	Jacob Preston	MMX Projects
13	Raymond Faitala-Mariner	Hockingstuart
Interchange		Recovery Partners
14	Kurtis Morrin	Hy-Tec
15	Jayden Okunbor	Penny’s Crispy Pork Crackling
16	Sam Hughes	Intello IT
17	Ryan Sutton	Tender Loving Care Disability Services
Reserves		Recovery Partners
19	Fa'amanu Brown
20	Karl Oloapu
21	Reece Hoffman
22	Jeral Skelton
23	Kyle Flanagan

 

[flamebouyant]

I like this idea of RFM as part of prop rotation. With our limited creativity in the halves, a ball playing lock would do wonders to help the attack. I never rated Edwards last year but from the cup games I have watched this year it seems he has improved his game heaps. He is distributing the ball well and taking the hit up when the pass is not on (obviously not saying he is anywhere near as good but his playing style reminds me of Yeo). RFM just has no ball playing ability

Good comparison tbh. He ran for 205m on the weekend, and we were comprehensively beaten. Great effort.
Sure he has a long way to go, but i think he will be a good option moving forward, and i can see him as our starting lock.

 

[bradyk]

RFM said in his press conference that if you can play 20-30 minutes in the middle you can play 80 minutes anywhere. He also said Reynolds surprisingly is one of the fittest players in the team (hard to believe that but still...)

 

[DogsOfWar1704]

Bring in Oloapu for knockonball. Hughes Morrin and sutton is a decent bench considering our injuries

 

[Bad Billy]

I wouldn't be surprised if the PR stunt plays the first 20 the KO comes on.

Then he can cover Mahoney for a breather.

PS would love to see Skelton this week for KnockOnMor but I have a feeling he will get his shot when Kiraz is back to partner him.

Agree. This is exactly how it’ll play out.
If KO plays, he’s not going to start, especially as the dragons have proven themselves a pretty physical side.
Ren will take the early blows and KO will play a little later in the game.

 

[dogon]

Injuries as at this morning, 8 Versus 7;

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Fa'amanu Brown (elbow, Round 9)
Jacob Kiraz (knee, Round 11-12)
Chris Patolo (knee, Round 12)
Franklin Pele (arm, Round 14)
Josh Addo-Carr (ankle, Round 15)
Luke Thompson (foot, Round 16)
Bailey Biondi-Odo (knee, Round 21)
Viliame Kikau (pectoral, Round 22)

St George Illawarra Dragons
Tautau Moga (shoulder, TBC)
Francis Molo (suspended, Round 10)
Mikaele Ravalawa (hamstring, Round 11)
Alec Tuitavake (knee, Round 11)
Jaydn Su'A (shoulder, Round 12)
Tyrell Fuimaono (hip, indefinite)
Cody Ramsey (illness, season)


Always a Bulldogs

Don't forget Andrew Davey & even though the numbers out injured are similar the Dragons have a halfback general playing, we don't.

 

[justdogs]

bro why the FCUK is everyone complaining holy shit. we wanted flanagan gone and now yous sook wtf is this place bro. who cares who replaced him he’s gone

Thi is TK

 

[dawso047]

Wouldn't be suprised if Okunbor is replaced by Brown or KO by Sunday. It will be Brown if he is deemed fit and ready though.