Preseason Trials

It's average at best & that's being kind.

Green did a decent job under Bennett, although you can only read so much into that he could probably turn me into a decent prop & the rest are nothing but potential to go with some underwhelming first grade performances.

Clubs need to have 6 good first grade standard props imo these days, Brisbane fall short in that department and because of that I wouldn't be calling their depth anywhere near good.

Then there's also the issue imo that the prop rotation is very much the same, it lacks a really strong ball carrier. Someone who can make numerous 10+ metre carries. Mcguire, Hannant & Kennedy are all workers. Lack of noted 2nd phase players is also an issue but not huge given Parker is a frequent offloader.

 

It's actually unsurprising coming from a Roosters fan, even though I rate him higher than the majority of Roosters fans do. If you read most Roosters fans comments on him during his time at the Roosters he doesn't take the hard runs and he's always been considered 'soft', he copped a lot of stick for it. And there is some truth to it, whether it's his injuries in the back of his mind or an attempt to get a quick play the ball he genuinely slows up before the line. GYR or anyone who watched him closely this year will be able to back me up on this. He's not someone who's going to make metres after contact and that's what I'm getting at.

 

I'm not arguing that Kennedy doesn't have the potential to be a good player because I've backed him openly at times on here he's just not what I'd consider a strong ball carrier at all and those stats don't tell the full story.

All I'm saying is I think Brisbane's top 3 props are all very similar and Brisbane need to compliment the likes of Hannnat, Kennedy & Mcguire with a strong ball carrier. A power runner if you will (if that's better wording), someone who can continually bend the line and earn the team fast play the balls & I don't see any one of their options really offering that outside of possibly Hala who's been disappointing so far.

It's a massive bonus for teams to have variety in their prop rotation, whether it's power runners or some 2nd phase footy. Having the likes of Hannant, Kennedy & Mcguire taking the large bulk of your hitups can lead to some pretty predictable footy and easy pickings for the defence because you know what's coming every time.

Hence (back to my original point) I think Brisbane's depth in the front row is average at best because;
1) It offers little to no variety and;
2) None bar Green are proven in First Grade.

And I never claimed to have "mail", just passing on what he said himself. He thought he'd broken his ankle which he obviously hasn't if he's been named to line-up in the trials this week. Always had a soft spot for Marty and was genuinely shattered for him, thought it'd be of interest to Broncos fans. Wasn't trying to big myself up or anything by claiming I have all the inside mail.

 

Steve Price's new halves pairing of Gareth Widdop and Sam Williams were impressive in their first outing in Dragons colours, leading the side to a 60-16 demolition of a combined Illawarra and Mudgee outfit in their first trial game of the season.

The two new recruits were instant standouts in what was an unrecognisable, free-flowing Dragons side that produced 15 tries at WIN Jubilee Oval.

Both Widdop and Williams played 60 minutes each while star fullback Josh Dugan played the first half before being rested. Former Rabbitoh Dylan Farrell bagged two tries, while English import Mike Cooper also got on the scoresheet.

The Dragons led 12-0 after the first quarter, but went on an attacking frenzy in the second, scoring another seven tries - two each to Charly Runciman and Nathan Green - for a 40-0 halftime lead.

The points dried up after the main break with St George Illawarra conceding two tries to one in the third quarter, but order was restored in the final 20 minutes as tries to Williams, Farrell, Kiti Glymin and Green helped the Dragons cross the half-century mark.

Dragons 60 (Green 3, Runciman 2, Farrell 2, Williams 2, Dugan, Ailaomai, Cooper, De Belin, Harrison, Glymin tries) defeated Mudgee/Illawarra 16 (Twist, Brien, Pumipi, Leary tries)

 

Result doesn't mean shit but at least for Dragons fans sake it looks like Williams will get the halfback spot ahead of Stanley which would've been fucking ridiculous had it happened.