Litmus test

[Chip and Chase]

The Dogs win against the Warriors was their first in their last 7 games. Their previous win was against us in golden point Round 23 last year.

They are going as badly as we are. We should win.

 

[madmax]

I've been Bush for a week and still haven't seen the game from Saturday but you'd have to say one win, against a team with a heap of disruptions doesn't make us world beaters!

Will be a great test!!

'A team with a heap of disruptions'?? We had just as many disruptions & management infighting to boot!!

 

[jbb/james]

sure has - takes me back to Year 9 science circa 1979.

Maybe we should get mrs marsh out or retirement as a consultant. Hang on shes liquid and chalk

 

[TagMonster]

I have to agree with what has been previously said about the size of the pack selected by Trent against arguably the biggest pack in the comp. Considering the forecast is for showers all weekend the track is bound to be slippery and boggy. I don't trust our ball handling to try and beat the dogs big pack on the edges and through speed and agility. So why pick a small pack? Honestly, why not go with this as a pack:

8. M. Taupau
9. J. Hastings / A. Korisau (One or the other, not both)
10. D. Lussick / A. Founa-Blake (If Lussick not healthy, AFB in)
11. C. Sironen / L. Brown (One or the other, not both)
12. B. Bainbridge / F. Winterstein (One or the other, not both)
13. J. Trbojevic

14. B. Laurence
15. S. Lane
16. N. Myles
17. A. Founa-Blake / F. Winterstein / B. Bainbridge (If Lussick not health, AFB to start, Winterstein or Bainbridge come in to bench)

I would argue we need to load up on props. We cannot carry a utility on the bench. Brown or Sironen is a good utility. So is Hastings. We should only carry these guys if they are in the starting lineup. I would also argue we shouldn't carry both Sironen and Brown in the second row. We need a bigger running second-rower to complement the utility ball player.

If Lussick is not fit then go for a running second rower off the bench (Winterstein or Bainbridge).

We also cannot carry two hookers. Either Hastings or Api are in the nine. The loser isn't on the bench. We cannot carry one less forward than the dogs.

The team Trent has names may be good against other teams. It's just not good for the dogs with the weather that is forecast. Trent needs to start selecting based on form AND opponent.

 

[bringbackbeaver]

Has anyone got any credible knowledge that Lussick is playing?

 

[TagMonster]

Has anyone got any credible knowledge that Lussick is playing?

Not that I have heard, outside of my own optimism.

If we don't have him we still have the pack to get it done (only if Trent would pick them), so potentially give him a rest for another week??

 

[madmax]

I have to agree with what has been previously said about the size of the pack selected by Trent against arguably the biggest pack in the comp. Considering the forecast is for showers all weekend the track is bound to be slippery and boggy. I don't trust our ball handling to try and beat the dogs big pack on the edges and through speed and agility. So why pick a small pack? Honestly, why not go with this as a pack:

8. M. Taupau
9. J. Hastings / A. Korisau (One or the other, not both)
10. D. Lussick / A. Founa-Blake (If Lussick not healthy, AFB in)
11. C. Sironen / L. Brown (One or the other, not both)
12. B. Bainbridge / F. Winterstein (One or the other, not both)
13. J. Trbojevic

14. B. Laurence
15. S. Lane
16. N. Myles
17. A. Founa-Blake / F. Winterstein / B. Bainbridge (If Lussick not health, AFB to start, Winterstein or Bainbridge come in to bench)

I would argue we need to load up on props. We cannot carry a utility on the bench. Brown or Sironen is a good utility. So is Hastings. We should only carry these guys if they are in the starting lineup. I would also argue we shouldn't carry both Sironen and Brown in the second row. We need a bigger running second-rower to complement the utility ball player.

If Lussick is not fit then go for a running second rower off the bench (Winterstein or Bainbridge).

We also cannot carry two hookers. Either Hastings or Api are in the nine. The loser isn't on the bench. We cannot carry one less forward than the dogs.

The team Trent has names may be good against other teams. It's just not good for the dogs with the weather that is forecast. Trent needs to start selecting based on form AND opponent.

The only change needed is Lane for Brown.........
Lawrence
Api
Taupau
Siro
Winter
Jake T
Res: AFB, Lane, Myles, Hastings......
If Lussick is a surprise addition then Lane to 2nd row Winter out & Lussick to bench. More than a match for the Dogs!

 

[Disco]

Guys, Lussick can't play, he wasn't named in the 21 so he cannot be included unless we got special dispensation

 

[TagMonster]

The only change needed is Lane for Brown.........
Lawrence
Api
Taupau
Siro
Winter
Jake T
Res: AFB, Lane, Myles, Hastings......
If Lussick is a surprise addition then Lane to 2nd row Winter out & Lussick to bench. More than a match for the Dogs!

I would agree with that. Brown did play better last weekend so I could be convinced to swap him with Winterstein. Also, I know I will never win this debate but I really don't understand why we have the need for the utility player on the bench. Siro or Brown is the utility and only one of them should be in the team. Hastings OR Api should be the hooker, the other to Reggies. I know that they both played well last weekend but unfortunately, life isn't fair and their should only be room for one of them.

I can wear (to a point) the utility on the bench whilst Lussick is out, but I honestly think that one of Api, Hastings, Siro or Winterstein must drop off when Lussick returns. For me I'd drop Api, move Hastings to No.9, drop Winterstein to reggies, Lane to starter and Bainbridge to bench. That way Lane is the hard runner in the second row to start and Bainbridge is eased into FG to give Lane a breather.

 

[bringbackbeaver]

Not that I have heard, outside of my own optimism.

If we don't have him we still have the pack to get it done (only if Trent would pick them), so potentially give him a rest for another week??

I think he cant play as has not been named in the initial 21 man side.

 

[HoldenV8]

we won the following 4 matches after the cows game up there last year.

then Lyon got injured

Correct. After the loss in Townsville our next 4 games were:

36-6 win over St Merge (Brookvale)
15-14 win over Warriors (Perth)
20-12 win over Souffs (SFS - Killer got injured)
30-16 win over Newcastle (Brookvale).

Then we went on the losing streak that was stopped last Saturday night.

 

[TagMonster]

I think he cant play as has not been named in the initial 21 man side.

To be honest I'd rather he be 100% ready to fire rather than risking re-injury against a very big pack and being out for 6-8 weeks.

Regardless, we need to make sure our pack has the appropriate size to fight fire with fire this weekend.

 

[Fluffy]

Has anyone got any credible knowledge that Lussick is playing?

No one has, which is why so many are naming him in their team and saying Trent cannot coach because he didn't name someone who is injured and cannot come into the team so must not be even close to a chance.

 

[Fluffy]

Correct. After the loss in Townsville our next 4 games were:

36-6 win over St Merge (Brookvale)
15-14 win over Warriors (Perth)
20-12 win over Souffs (SFS - Killer got injured)
30-16 win over Newcastle (Brookvale).

Then we went on the losing streak that was stopped last Saturday night.

the first 2 losses were very tight as well if I recall, 1 point to parra 10-9? and golden point against the dogs.

 

[HoldenV8]

Correct on both games @Fluffy

Then we got thumped 38-18 by Melbourne and 44-30 by Canberra (both at Brookvale) and then came the 36-6 loss to Penrith in the last game of the season.

 

[Chip and Chase]

Test results are in

We're screwed !!!

 

[Fro]

No one has, which is why so many are naming him in their team and saying Trent cannot coach because he didn't name someone who is injured and cannot come into the team so must not be even close to a chance.

Gav I don't even understand that but i Spit out my coffee laughing anyway 😛

 

[Fluffy]

Probably a good thing - coffee after lunch time isn't good for sleep patterns

 

[Woodsie]

I have to agree with what has been previously said about the size of the pack selected by Trent against arguably the biggest pack in the comp. Considering the forecast is for showers all weekend the track is bound to be slippery and boggy. I don't trust our ball handling to try and beat the dogs big pack on the edges and through speed and agility. So why pick a small pack? Honestly, why not go with this as a pack:

8. M. Taupau
9. J. Hastings / A. Korisau (One or the other, not both)
10. D. Lussick / A. Founa-Blake (If Lussick not healthy, AFB in)
11. C. Sironen / L. Brown (One or the other, not both)
12. B. Bainbridge / F. Winterstein (One or the other, not both)
13. J. Trbojevic

14. B. Laurence
15. S. Lane
16. N. Myles
17. A. Founa-Blake / F. Winterstein / B. Bainbridge (If Lussick not health, AFB to start, Winterstein or Bainbridge come in to bench)

I would argue we need to load up on props. We cannot carry a utility on the bench. Brown or Sironen is a good utility. So is Hastings. We should only carry these guys if they are in the starting lineup. I would also argue we shouldn't carry both Sironen and Brown in the second row. We need a bigger running second-rower to complement the utility ball player.

If Lussick is not fit then go for a running second rower off the bench (Winterstein or Bainbridge).

We also cannot carry two hookers. Either Hastings or Api are in the nine. The loser isn't on the bench. We cannot carry one less forward than the dogs.

The team Trent has names may be good against other teams. It's just not good for the dogs with the weather that is forecast. Trent needs to start selecting based on form AND opponent.

Yeah Baby!!!! Let's completely change the team that won last week.

New hooker, new back row, new bench .... fuch it, just for fun let's change the back line positions around as well.

 

[Woodsie]

If size is all that matters why have Dogs lost 6 of their last 7 games and why are Canberra 1 from 3 this year???