Dragons Season Thread 2017/18 - New Beginnings

[munkian]

Their backs. Wow.

Jackman really can't settle on a hooker mind.

Just saw Simon Thomas tweet Leon Brown has suffered a second concussion. If that's so, I wonder if that means the first wasn't really dealt with properly?

Are you sure ? I've read it that he suffered a concussion so he hasn't been picked INCASE he suffers another.

[RiscaGame]

Was Leon Brown ever in the frame?

He wasn’t, no. Given that this is his second concussion, we made a call on a Saturday night to bring in Rhodri. I spoke to the medics earlier in the week and we felt that given his age, this is his second knock then it’s not worth taking the risk. He’ll need a bit of time to recover and recuperate.

Bit of a worry. So he might be out for a while then, even including the derbies.

Can't say a lot for our tighthead depth, seeing as we technically have a hooker covering it this weekend for Dragons.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

That's not great, is it? If he'd had a concussion, why was he in a position to get a second?

[RiscaGame]

Really enjoyable night last night. Griffiths is something else. That break was fantastic and he would’ve done Piatau too, if the cover hadn’t have got back. 27 tackles too. Ten more than Warren and Dixon. On Adam Warren, glad Bernard is getting to see that he is a handy player.

Really pleased for Dan Babos too. Brilliant service. Good to see Henson gliding in open space again too.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Babos didn't throw a bad pass all night. Really impressive.

[LordDowlais]

You will have a gem of a player coming back from team Wales. I have never really noticed him, but for me he has been outstanding this Autumn. Cory Hill.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

He's not flash - he never will be - but I think he's won over a few people this autumn. He just gets on with the job. By all accounts he's a real student of the game too.

[LordDowlais]

Cory Hill and Seb Davies have to be the future for Wales in the boiler house going forward.

[VinceWLB]

Cory Hill and Seb Davies have to be the future for Wales in the boiler house going forward.

Jake Ball and Seb Davies rather. Cory Hill isn't really the enforcer needed alongside an athletic lock like Davies.

[Stone Motif]

He's not flash - he never will be - but I think he's won over a few people this autumn. He just gets on with the job. By all accounts he's a real student of the game too.

He's a good regional standard player who hasn't put many feet wrong defensively this autumn but he is an old school lock. Sides are not going to be competitive in the future with second rows who can't shift. Read Ian McGeechan's article in why Wales can't implement an attacking game whilst England can - he is 100% on the money that it comes down to having locks who can carry. Cory Hill will never be a dynamic carrier any more than AWJ will. See Davies has the goods other than that we'we going Beard can come through. Cupboard is bare. It's one of those positions (no 1, 3 and 8 the other obvious ones) where we should be hoovering up project players like a muh'fuh.

[Cardiff Dave]

A blue & black Craig Quinnell with ball in hand, on the hoof.
Majestic. Arousing even.

[Stone Motif]

A blue & black Craig Quinnell with ball in hand, on the hoof.
Majestic. Arousing even.

Would give Gatland a priapism alright

[Cardiff Dave]

A blue & black Craig Quinnell with ball in hand, on the hoof.
Majestic. Arousing even.

Would give Gatland a priapism alright

Got 1000's of pics on my laptop. He can have a lend if he likes.

[Stone Motif]

A blue & black Craig Quinnell with ball in hand, on the hoof.
Majestic. Arousing even.

Would give Gatland a priapism alright

Got 1000's of pics on my laptop. He can have a lend if he likes.

Pervert

[RiscaGame]

Been away all week, so just catching up on our news. Looks like I won’t be back for tonight either, which is a shame as I was looking forward to watching Babos and Robson.

Bit irritating that they’ve decided Tyler does need surgery now. Also a possibility of Brok needing it too.

Fantastic news that Ollie Griffiths has re-signed.

[munkian]

Jordan Williams signing now official.

[munkian]

We are linked to Cooper ?

[Luckless Pedestrian]

I reckon someone's having a laugh with that Quade Cooper thing. First of all, he's bound to be asking for more than we can offer - more than any of the regions can offer - and secondly, we need to spend the money we have elsewhere.

The latest I've heard is that it's the St George Illawarra Dragons in league that are after him.

[XR]

He's still got a contract with the ARU, it's just the reds don't want him. His contract is worth $1.2 million or something.

[No9]

I reckon someone's having a laugh with that Quade Cooper thing. First of all, he's bound to be asking for more than we can offer - more than any of the regions can offer - and secondly, we need to spend the money we have elsewhere.

The latest I've heard is that it's the St George Illawarra Dragons in league that are after him.

I think (I hope) this is just a journo trying to make a story from nothing. If its not, then this is a disgrace, that the Dragons (now WRU owned) would pay a great deal of money for a has-been Ausie instead of a Welsh qualified player, especially when they (the WRU) are enforcing rules where players having less than 60 Caps must play in Wales to get selected for the national side. How are the developing players expected to qualify for selection when the isn't available places in Wales because we are filling them with non qualifying players. Also, its not as if you need another big name at 10, when you have Henson there. I bet he's not impressed that he'll be second place to Cooper, I'm sure he wouldn't mind and would probably help if it was a developing Welsh talent.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

The salary cap is the same for the Dragons as it is for the other three regions, so the only way he'll be coming to Wales is if he's prepared to take a huge pay cut, which he won't have to do because a French or English club will easily be able to pay him more.

I think someone's said something to Robin Davey just to see if he'd fall for it, and it's snowballed from there.

[Cardiff Dave]

Looking forward to ChumV Watch, live from the Gold Coast with Ross, Michaela and Sniffy.

[Cardiff Dave]

We are linked to Cooper ?

Tommy or Enry?

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Gareth. Coming out of retirement.

[TightHEAD]

Cooper is overrated.

[Kingshu]

North, Moriarty, Falteau and now Cooper.

While only Moriarty has signed its a great signal of intent.
I bet all the ones giving out about the WRU take over a very quiet now and Dragons fans delighted.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

I won't be delighted if we sign Cooper because that's not where we need to spend. But what a change for the Dragons even to be linked to players like that.

The signing of Moriarty was huge because of the influence it could have on other players who might be in two minds about coming to the Dragons. But what's really heartening is seeing young local players like Griffiths, Dee and Brown signing new contracts. In years gone by, they would have been picked up by other regions, or gone to England. And they've grown up watching and supporting the Dragons, even though we've spent years being dreadful, and if you listen to them, they're so enthusiastic about where the Dragons might be heading. You truly can't buy that passion.

[LordDowlais]

North, Moriarty, Falteau and now Cooper.

While only Moriarty has signed its a great signal of intent.
I bet all the ones giving out about the WRU take over a very quiet now and Dragons fans delighted.

Yep. It does really make you larf on here doesn't it ?

Some of the most vociferous anti WRU brigade on this very forum that I have argued with are the Dragons faithful on here, now the very organisation that they were always lambasting, have not only saved their region, but are now trying to turn them into Toulon.

Were are all the haters now ?

[international198]

If the Dragons get Taulupe Faletau back for next season then they'll have real strength in depth in the back row next season, IMO - Taulupe Faletau, Nic Cudd, Ross Moriarty and Ollie Griffiths.

[Stone Motif]

North, Moriarty, Falteau and now Cooper.

While only Moriarty has signed its a great signal of intent.
I bet all the ones giving out about the WRU take over a very quiet now and Dragons fans delighted.

Yep. It does really make you larf on here doesn't it ?

Some of the most vociferous anti WRU brigade on this very forum that I have argued with are the Dragons faithful on here, now the very organisation that they were always lambasting, have not only saved their region, but are now trying to turn them into Toulon.

Were are all the haters now ?

You haven't a clue

[mikey_dragon]

Why wouldn't we lambast them, we were 50% owned since the second year of regionalism and they allowed us to get into that state. You're clueless and embarrassing as per Dowlais. Shouldn't you be out in amazing Merthyr celebrating Ospreys win?

[mikey_dragon]

I reckon someone's having a laugh with that Quade Cooper thing. First of all, he's bound to be asking for more than we can offer - more than any of the regions can offer - and secondly, we need to spend the money we have elsewhere.

The latest I've heard is that it's the St George Illawarra Dragons in league that are after him.

I think (I hope) this is just a journo trying to make a story from nothing. If its not, then this is a disgrace, that the Dragons (now WRU owned) would pay a great deal of money for a has-been Ausie instead of a Welsh qualified player, especially when they (the WRU) are enforcing rules where players having less than 60 Caps must play in Wales to get selected for the national side. How are the developing players expected to qualify for selection when the isn't available places in Wales because we are filling them with non qualifying players. Also, its not as if you need another big name at 10, when you have Henson there. I bet he's not impressed that he'll be second place to Cooper, I'm sure he wouldn't mind and would probably help if it was a developing Welsh talent.

We need an experienced back up for Henson. McLeod is injured and just as old as Gav whilst AOB is crap. I would welcome the Cooper signing as he would slot into our backline pretty well, but I think Buttress said it's him or North and not both. I think the link is quite tenuous too.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

North, Moriarty, Falteau and now Cooper.

While only Moriarty has signed its a great signal of intent.
I bet all the ones giving out about the WRU take over a very quiet now and Dragons fans delighted.

Yep. It does really make you larf on here doesn't it ?

Some of the most vociferous anti WRU brigade on this very forum that I have argued with are the Dragons faithful on here, now the very organisation that they were always lambasting, have not only saved their region, but are now trying to turn them into Toulon.

The Dragons can't spend a penny over the salary cap, which is the same for them as it is for the other three regions.

[LordDowlais]

Why do you always do this ?

You only take a part of the post, and try and belittle it. It's bad enough that we have fellow Welsh members like stone motif and mikey_dragon stinking up the place, you are better than them.

No wonder myself, and plenty of other Welsh rugby fans are giving this place a wide birth. Just for the record, I used that phrase as a play on words, as in they are signing some serious star names. But do not let that spoil your agenda.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

I don't have an agenda, Dowlais. All I'm saying is the WRU can't turn the Dragons into London Irish, never mind Toulon.

[LordDowlais]

They have signed some good players and are being linked with a couple as well, I think they will end up being a bit better than London Irish.

I've asked this of you before, but why do you always turn my comments into the biggest negative you can ? Are you deliberately trying to get a bite from me ?

The comment I made was tongue in cheek, you know this, but would rather be a bitch about it.

No wonder this forum is dying on it's feet.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

You seem overly sensitive today, if you don't mind me saying!

Toulon are famous for being the big spenders of European rugby, so it seems daft to say the WRU are making the Dragons the Welsh Toulon when none of the regions even compare with them in terms of spending power. They also don't come close to having the spending power of London Irish (or Sale, or Worcester, or Bristol).

That's all!

[Cardiff Dave]

I don't have an agenda, Dowlais. All I'm saying is the WRU can't turn the Dragons into London Irish, never mind Toulon.

Could turn 'em into a Celtic Warriors though, I spose. And they were star studded in a kinda way.

[LordDowlais]

You seem overly sensitive today, if you don't mind me saying!

Toulon are famous for being the big spenders of European rugby, so it seems daft to say the WRU are making the Dragons the Welsh Toulon when none of the regions even compare with them in terms of spending power. They also don't come close to having the spending power of London Irish (or Sale, or Worcester, or Bristol).

That's all!

[LordDowlais]

I don't have an agenda, Dowlais. All I'm saying is the WRU can't turn the Dragons into London Irish, never mind Toulon.

Could turn 'em into a Celtic Warriors though, I spose. And they were star studded in a kinda way.

What are you saying ? They are going to scrap them ?

[mikey_dragon]

I don't have an agenda, Dowlais. All I'm saying is the WRU can't turn the Dragons into London Irish, never mind Toulon.

Could turn 'em into a Celtic Warriors though, I spose. And they were star studded in a kinda way.

What are you saying ? They are going to scrap them ?

Guy posts Poopie wum's trying to make out it's 'banter', fawns over the WOL, and then accuses people of being gangs trying to hound him out when they take issue with the frequent BS.

[Cardiff Dave]

I don't have an agenda, Dowlais. All I'm saying is the WRU can't turn the Dragons into London Irish, never mind Toulon.

Could turn 'em into a Celtic Warriors though, I spose. And they were star studded in a kinda way.

What are you saying ? They are going to scrap them ?

The thought never crossed my mind, mun.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Nicky Thomas on a short-term loan:

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/dragons/15769032.Dragons_sign_Scarlets_prop_Thomas_on_loan/

[ScarletSpiderman]

Nicky Thomas on a short-term loan:

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/dragons/15769032.Dragons_sign_Scarlets_prop_Thomas_on_loan/

Its nice to see a bit of sense in the loaning out of players. Hopefully he will get some game time with you guys, and also help you pick up two important wins over the xmas period.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Well you had Luke Garrett for a bit, so it's only fair.

[RiscaGame]

Definitely makes sense for him to be with us, rather than Brizzle. Not sure how much he will play though, unless Brown doesn't make it for the Blouse game.

[ScarletSpiderman]

Luckless, I was thinking similar to be honest. There is no point in one region struggling when another has a player they can 'short term' loan to them. It makes more sense to me this way than the season long loans. And as Risca says, it makes far mroe sense to be with you than with Bistol too.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Jackman does have to be careful - it's not going to do much for Lloyd Fairbrother's confidence if Thomas is on the bench ahead of him, especially when he's improved so much. On the other hand, the priority is winning.

[RiscaGame]

Barrel has always been a fan favourite and is now seeming like he has Jackman’s favour now too. I get why we have loaned cover, but Brown is clear first choice and Fairbrother is now pushing him very closely.

[mikey_dragon]

Rhodri Williams and Rhodri Davies, two 9's that I rate are set to join us, which can only mean that Knoyle and Charlie are on their way out.

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