Round 16: St George-Illawarra Dragons vs Gold Coast Titans

[karnage]

There is no use dropping every player that has played under Cartwright because that don't know what lines to run.

Beside Mead..name one payer in the backline that fans didn't want to drop at some stage?

How about dropping the coach so these players can perform.

Exactly...

The worst thing about Searle sorting out our finances is that we are stuck with Cartwright for the foreseeable future. The Dragons were there to be beaten last night and any team with finals aspirations would have got the job done.

We didn't get the job done last night and we won't be playing finals footy this year. Carty failed us again by failing to select a balanced team that could win a winnable game of footy.

I'm all for giving Mead a run at fullback and I thought he went well but why not start him there. Why start Graham there and then switch them around?? It is a complete nonsense.

It is also poor coaching to plan for a worst case scenario. Idris was coming off an injury so obviously Carty brang Peyroux in against the possibility that he could not play the full 80 - consequently we ended up with 15 men after Harrison went down with turf toe.

Don't even get me started on Idris. He is overweight and undisciplined and I fully expect that our 2013 signing Dave Taylor will end up EXACTLY the same way if Cartwright is in charge of our club.

Carty is a bust and we will continue to be a bust so long as Carty is in charge.

[matti]

I thought the boys would have come over 20mtrs to say thank you for watching us play crap in 5 degree temperature but nooooooo, now i have frost bite on my samosa's

[Titanic]

Let's all get real, the coach is not going. He is loved by the wider rugby league community, he is signed to a long-term contract, his team performed admirably in the pre-2011 era in the minds of those who don't follow closely and the major share-holder is his mate = Cartwright stays ... our bleating is next to useless, however, you can fight this battle in another forum where I am regularly abused for being anti-Cartwright by the Penrith clique.

Cartwright fumed: "In the scheme of the game when it happened, I haven't seen penalties given in that instance all year, I really haven't. It is the unwritten law that when the clock winds down they put the whistle in their pocket - and it's a law because it happens every week.

What tripe.

On players getting dropped: that's what debate is all about and you don't have to agree with me or anyone else. From my point of view though, when any player consistently cannot fit the team dynamics then there needs to be something done. I totally agree that the coach should step up (see above paragraph) and if that isn't happening then other measures have to come into play.

In Idris' case his defense is poor ... so bad in fact that he is our lowest rated defending back in the NRL ... what does that say when he defends on the right beside Prince who is our next lowest ranked? Hence my original comment to either move him back to the left side or to the QCup.

Idris is fast becoming a deadset liability, now we've seen him on the right, let's get him back to the left or QCup

[Tamwelg]

Mead showed me enough at fullback last night for me to get on the bandwagon and want to see more of him there. Teke you mention his positioning needing work, I agree, but also thought his position at times was right on the money. We used Mead for 2 second man plays in backline movements going to the left with Sezer feeding him the ball. Those 2 movements is the best I have seen the backline look position wise in a long long time. The first one Mead ran it and should have passed and on the second one he passed and I thought if he pinned his ears back there was a hole big enough between Soward and Stanley for him to score. More time in that position would have him making better decisions in these circumstances. Mead is looking super keen and full of enthusiasm on the field. He looks like he always wants the ball in his hand. I think he is ready to explode and take his game to the next level.

In saying that though, Zillman was just starting to step up as a fullback before missing this game, so I don't see Mead getting another shot unless Zilly is out.

[teke]

In Idris' case his defense is poor ... so bad in fact that he is our lowest rated defending back in the NRL ... what does that say when he defends on the right beside Prince who is our next lowest ranked? Hence my original comment to either move him back to the left side or to the QCup.

This was stated by Fitler during the game.

Fitler "I know where I would be sending the traffic, right at Prince/Idris

I dont wanna see Idris play anymore but unfortunately the team is stuck with him

[DIEHARD]

That was a hard one to watch slip away. But given our injuries, we played well. We really need Bird and I look forward to the return of our best player Luke Bailey.

Savage to lose by two penalty goals in the last 15 or so.

I'm all for Mead to fullback and have been for ages, but it doesnt make sense to me at all to start Graham and then switch with Mead. Put Zillman into the centres! And decide on a new wingman.

Poor crowd down on the Gong. I know it was cold so much thanks to the Titans fans who travelled to cheer on our team.

There was more than a few shake of the head moments with Idris. Especially that bloody flick pass.

[bigjim]

I haven't commented for a while but I'm a little shocked at the general opinion in the comments.
I thought the team performed very well against a very good team who had home advantage and were also very desperate to get a win and get their season going.
The difference between these two good teams in a hard fought contest was a silly penalty by one of our most experienced players at the worst possible time on the worst possible place on the field.
We had there measure all game just couldn't finish. Better luck next week.

[Bayside Titan]

I haven't commented for a while but I'm a little shocked at the general opinion in the comments.
I thought the team performed very well against a very good team who had home advantage and were also very desperate to get a win and get their season going.
The difference between these two good teams in a hard fought contest was a silly penalty by one of our most experienced players at the worst possible time on the worst possible place on the field.
We had there measure all game just couldn't finish. Better luck next week.

Agree. To me Myles and Harrison look tired which would be expected given that they have played 2 Origins in between. So I would expect a mistakes from both given they are expected to do alot at Origin level. Both including Bird come back to club and put in really well. Just a shame we don't have diecent depth to allow those boys a rest through this time or a coach with the balls to play other players beside Goat Boy ie Page or Falloon.

[teke]

Never thought I would ever say this but we missed Whites punch last night.

Myles still played his heart out last night, big big mtrs and 40 tackles.

[DavidBouveng]

did anyone else think that while the wide and high replay showed sezer and a few guys offside on the no try at the end, but the close in shot showed it a frame earlier when it was on princes boot and Sezer was in line with him, and really couldnt have been disallowed if they had have watched that view before making a decision. BOD at least.

i could be wrong, and its gone unmentioned so far.

Meady looked pretty good, as well as myles. Give mean a bit more time to get the feel and he would have sliced through a couple of time. definitely seemed busier than ive ever seen Zillman. shame is though, Meads defensive read is very valuable now on his side. His decision making is pretty darn good and would be missed if he was at the back.

[DavidBouveng]

also sucks as we would have basically banked 4 points with the bye next week.

sat on 18 points and waiting to see what manly and tigers do. Darn it all!!

[Jamal's Hamstring]

I look forward to the return of our best player Luke Bailey.

I like Bailey. He's all heart and plays with a passion for the jumper I wish every bloke pulled it on had. However he isn't our best player anymore... I'd argue there are a few blokes ahead of him on that front now.

We missed White last night. I almost think BJ should have slotted straight in as a replacement for him rather than shuffling Myles into that prop role.

So close and yet so far. Hopefully that won't be the tale of the season as a whole.

[TitansFan2020]

At this point in time, Bird is our best player. it isnt a coincidence that we win when he plays and we lose when he doesnt. No player bar myles and and bailey has his heart and no one has his mix of skill and size.

On another note mead was fantastic on the wing and at fullback expecially his defence in the first half. I was loving the inside ball from sezer to him and it reminded me alot of cronk and slaters connection.

Hopefull when we face warriors we move zillman to wing, keep mead at fullback, switch champion and idris and get bird, harrison, bailey, white and jame back to full health. If that does happen i cant see us losing.... but thats a big ask

[Supergoose]

Play Idris on the wing and just tell him to run straight and hard! Mead fullback Champion right centre and Zillman inside Gordon on the left. Idris would handle the bombs and it's be great to see him brin it back at speed from kicks down field. Good luck stopping him once he gets a full head of steam up.

[C-Whiz]

Play Idris on the wing and just tell him to run straight and hard! Mead fullback Champion right centre and Zillman inside Gordon on the left. Idris would handle the bombs and it's be great to see him brin it back at speed from kicks down field. Good luck stopping him once he gets a full head of steam up.

I used to think that was a good idea too, play him like Vatuvei in the Warriors, but I can't see Jamal having the fitness to keep running it back, nor the enthusiasm to go looking for dummy half runs to take some load off, getting into good defensive position for kick returns etc.

hink about the work Mead does, and Peyroux when he was out there. Idris would be ragged after 15mins.

And then Carty would be putting an extra winger on the bench.