OFFICIAL | PRE-GAME Bulldogs vs Dragons @ jubilee stadium - 8th March 5.30pm

Bullfrog2 said:
Do you reckon if Critta moved to the wing he would turn into a beast like Lomax?
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Critta's defence in the centres is one of the reasons we conceded so few point last year. We need him to play in his best position for us.
 
KiwiDog7 said:
Addressing the FB situation and I’d like to preface this by saying I’m a big Connor Tracey fan, but those school boy drops in the trial have carried over from 2024 (the one that hurt us was the Manly try in the qualifying final). The other aspect of his play I want to see better improvement on is his defensive work as too often his last line of defence has let us down to the point where I just concede a try before they score it ….again the lead up to manly match winning try was not his fault but if he makes the tackle on Koula we get the ball back and most probably win the game.

Taffe isn’t the long term answer but he doesn’t make me hold my breath when the ball goes up to him, he no world beater but playing 80mins in a GF is probably underrated on here ….

I am hopeful Connor can fix his errors in his game and have a great season but if we are 4 weeks in and he’s still making the same mistakes we will need to put him on the wing.
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You’re right Connor has dropped the ball (literally) in recent times, but Taafe is waaaay worse under the high ball
 
Bullfrog2 said:
With unforeseen injuries and departures over the off-season this is my best team for round 1.
REPEAT Round 1 only!
This team is designed to strengthen the outside backs, picked on form and availability.
REPEAT to strengthen the outside backs!
This team would hurt the egos of 3 players, I don’t need to say who.
1. Blake Taaffe - best fullback from the trials.
2. Connor Tracey
3. Bronson Xerri
4. Matt Burton
5. Stephen Crichton
6. Cassius Tia - on debut against Kyle Flanagan
7. Toby Sexton
8. Max King
9. Reed Mahoney
10. Samuel Hughes
11. Viliame Kikau
12. Jacob Preston
13. Kurt Mann
14. Jack Todd - best trial form and foolish not to select him.
15. Jaeman Salmon
16. Bailey Hayward
17. Kurtis Morrin
I dare say CC will not roll with this team as he does not want to upset team morale, Shane Flanagan would but look what happened to him last year.
No right or wrong.
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Whilst there are couple of left field selections in this lineup. I don’t mind some of the suggestions. Montoya worries me a lot defensively. I think he has the ability to single handed make Critta a poor defender inside him. Having to defend next to Montoya.

I would actually go with Taafe as the utility ahead of Hayward on the bench. With Tracey at fullback. If anything goes wrong with Montoya switch Tracey to the wing and bring Taffee on. I also think Taffee can come off the bench on a roving role just to add a bit of life in attack.
 
Bullfrog2 said:
It’s about keeping the team together, suspect it’s going to be a tough year. You are correct we need to support CC and Gus. Don’t expect too much in 2025.
The back-line won’t be anywhere near this lineup, but it is strong!
Do you really think Crichton is that far in front of Burton in defence?
Salmon for DSF or Zyon is OK.
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Personally, I do think Critta is superior to Burton defensively, but as a centre pairing, I think they’d be strong. I still feel Burton hasn’t quite nailed down 5/8 consistently and so that has to be his goal for 2025. His kicking game is such a huge territorial advantage to us, we could have an average set and we’re still a chance of defending from the 20yard line
 
GoTheDoggies said:
Gutho will be safe as a bank in this game.

All Dargons have to do is pepper our backline and we are in trouble.
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Losing Kiraz is a big loss ahead of the game, but I hope we get Warriors Montoya and not Original Bulldogs Montoya for this game. When he goes beast mode, he’s actually alright.

The future, however, is clearly Sua and Rinakama - these guys will be a handful and aerial targets when fully developed physically.
 
CMP said:
Whilst there are couple of left field selections in this lineup. I don’t mind some of the suggestions. Montoya worries me a lot defensively. I think he has the ability to single handed make Critta a poor defender inside him. Having to defend next to Montoya.

I would actually go with Taafe as the utility ahead of Hayward on the bench. With Tracey at fullback. If anything goes wrong with Montoya switch Tracey to the wing and bring Taffee on. I also think Taffee can come off the bench on a roving role just to add a bit of life in attack.
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The team I made up here was to strengthen the outside backs only. Taaffe at fullback was to allow Tracey to move to the wing and also selected off trial form.
The question mark would be on Tia and whether he is ready or not?
No need to panic I see both Blake Wilson and Montoya in the round 1 team, although the team I made up here I believe would be near our strongest for what is available for round 1.
 
Bullfrog2 said:
The team I made up here was to strengthen the outside backs only. Taaffe at fullback was to allow Tracey to move to the wing and also selected off trial form.
The question mark would be on Tia and whether he is ready or not?
No need to panic I see both Blake Wilson and Montoya in the round 1 team, although the team I made up here I believe would be near our strongest for what is available for round 1.
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From my understanding Tia is train and trial deal only. So isn’t available for selection until round 11….

He looks ready to me when he is allowed to play to me.
 
CMP said:
Whilst there are couple of left field selections in this lineup. I don’t mind some of the suggestions. Montoya worries me a lot defensively. I think he has the ability to single handed make Critta a poor defender inside him. Having to defend next to Montoya.

I would actually go with Taafe as the utility ahead of Hayward on the bench. With Tracey at fullback. If anything goes wrong with Montoya switch Tracey to the wing and bring Taffee on. I also think Taffee can come off the bench on a roving role just to add a bit of life in attack.
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There’s definite merit to Taafe on the bench as the guy who can cover multiple backline positions at least until Sitili is back.

Based on last year, Tracey is the much better fullback. But what I will say about Taafe is he actually backs up the ball carrier and creates a 2nd phase threat. This team has a tendency to not take proper advantage when a break is made and Taafe is 1 player that can actually pop up at the right time. Just look at Preston’s try on the weekend, great individual effort but poor bloke probably had no other choice but to back himself to score because the support was slow/non existent.
 
CrittaMagic69 said:
Taaffes is miles worse than Tracey, you just don't remember :tearsofjoy:
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Tracey is fine, just need to get better at legally blocking. Hard when our wingers are Montoya and Wilson though
 
Kempsey Dog said:
Tracey is fine, just need to get better at legally blocking. Hard when our wingers are Montoya and Wilson though
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For the most part he's okay, but if he drops one he usually drops another. He can't tackle to save his life though :tearsofjoy:
 
Dogs 1-12. Dragons will try no doubt but Illias and flanno as halves won't be enough.
 
CMP said:
From my understanding Tia is train and trial deal only. So isn’t available for selection until round 11….

He looks ready to me when he is allowed to play to me.
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Very unfortunate this is a game that is suitable for debut. CC will take the safest options, I reckon once the season is done is when he will make changes.
 
I don't get all the fear of the merge?

They don't seem strong, Gutho is older and slower after a poor year at Parra, Cook the same for Souths. Add in Flannibal Lector and Silly-Ass and their spine is scarily poor.
 
canine said:
I don't get all the fear of the merge?

They don't seem strong, Gutho is older and slower after a poor year at Parra, Cook the same for Souths. Add in Flannibal Lector and Silly-Ass and their spine is scarily poor.
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Gutho always backs up ready to take advantage of an opportunity. As much as I dont like the bloke he is a good footballer. Safe as under the high ball too. He'll be playing in a different squad this year and remains to be seen if he'll be fed. As you say their spine isnt the best but they do have a bit of experience.
Anyways fuck em.
We need to win convincingly to lay the platform for our season.
 
D.O.W. said:
Losing Kiraz is a big loss ahead of the game, but I hope we get Warriors Montoya and not Original Bulldogs Montoya for this game. When he goes beast mode, he’s actually alright.

The future, however, is clearly Sua and Rinakama - these guys will be a handful and aerial targets when fully developed physically.
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Agree ......

I am high on Sua and i think Rinakama may be even better ..... his yardage carries for an 18-year-old are fantastic. Built like a young Loti Tequiri.

Both have always gotten across the stripe as well.
 
canine said:
I don't get all the fear of the merge?

They don't seem strong, Gutho is older and slower after a poor year at Parra, Cook the same for Souths. Add in Flannibal Lector and Silly-Ass and their spine is scarily poor.
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Plus they have lost their 2 best players, Hunt (SOO player & most try assists in the NRL) and Lomax (SOO Player & their 2024 most try scorer).


Team Work
 
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