Oh stop it!
I like you better when have a go at me....

We cant just agree. It will get boring.
Thats why Steve and i have been endless entertainment over afew iterations of BDP....

Now where's that Zef?
He's not still waiting for a US judge to jail Trump is he?

Ha ha the Eels got smashed now we are ahead of them on the table.

Next couple of weeks are big.

If we win the next two games I'll buy a case of that Japanese Dark Larger. 

I can celebrate Dogs wins and Eels losses with almost equal gusto...

I said at the start of the season if we are three from seven I would be happy. Four wins and I’m ecstatic. 

The Japanese Dark Lager is made by a local brewer up here Heads of Noosa.

Ii is a sweet Dark beer that is fairly light.

I tried it, my wife who is a vine drinker takes it and liked it.

My bother in law switched to it and liked it.

New name in the halves mix for the Dogs.

Cassius Tia watch the NSW Cup highlights or the mandatory YouTube highlights.

Threw a nice pass for a Papalli try and scored a try off an O'Niell kick.

Hard to tell from highlights, but I am surprised that we didn't give him a run in the NRL trials.

Plsyef one game of NSW cup for the Roosters last season. 

Stocky islander build looks physically ready for NRL, might not have the fitness or defence, seems to have good running, passing and kicking, at least on the highlights. 

Just saw the highlights.
Looks like he is a shuster type with abit more stepping ability. Throws a good long and short selective pass and he times his passes well although it is against relatively weak opposition compared to NRL. His kicks also look very intentional with a key emphasis on the drop zone rather than kick and hope.

You are right, would be good to see him in trials to guage how he goes against stronger opposition and faster moving defence lines. Would also like to see how he goes defensively as these highlights are always attacking plays.

Looks to me like we are playing the Jersey Flegg spine in reserve grade for a few games.

I doubt that any of them are playing NRL this season and definitely not before round 10, with a few games for Papalli being a possible exception. 

In the long run I can see that Jersey Flegg spine becoming the NRL spine with Woods eventually replacing Tia who might move to backrow.

I think that we intentionally move Hayward and BBO to try this experiment. So I think that they are being now seen as utilities not halves.

I would like to see Mann as the starting lock with a Hutch playing lock off the bench. The start against the Roosters showed the value of a more creative lock.

That way we can give Sexton a shot at 7 and if he doesn't work out Tia might be the next experiment.  If neither works or Tia isn't ready we can revert to Hutch. 

When we are ready to promote O’Neill I think that we should migrate to the Jersey Flegg spine. I would move Burto to left centre and Critter to right centre. But the young guys need to earn their spot by showing that they are the better option. 

If the young spine plays 2 seasons in NSW cup, I also don't mind that, no point in rushing them.

The Panthers brought Cleary and Luai along at the right speed,  many young halves are rushed and sometimes that ruins their career.

Long term plan I would like to see.

Lock - Mann, Hutch, KO all can play other positions.

Second row,  Kiks, Preston, Curran, Hello Kitty,  Salmon, Vale 

Halfback- Sexton,  Tia, Woods
5/8 - O’Neill. (Backup, Tia, Burto)

Fullback- Taffee, Wilson,  Papalli.

Prop - Hughes, Patolo, King , Todd and 3 others

Wing - Fox, Skeleton, Kiraz,  Wilson,  + some young flyers in particular Jordie M.

Centre- Critter, Burto, Xerri,  Kiraz, Clark.

14 - Hayward , BBO or anyone listed as a lock above. 

Hooker- Marhoney back up by Hayward and some young guys. 

So most of the players that we need long term are already here. Some may leave and may need to be replaced. 

Not you too now with the Burton to centre stuff... Looks like BDS is contagious!!!...

I am not suggesting short term, more a few years down the track.

We need to see if Woods, O’Neill and Papalli are the future and how to transition to them.

If a young player will be better in a certain position then they are the priority.

O'Neill, Woods and Papalli look like 3/4  of a premiership winning spine to me. 

For now Burton is the best option because the young guys are 1-2:years away from being ready.

IMO the club eventually has to make a call, I don't want to a repeat of our bungled call on Thurston. 

Yes I think O’Neill and Woods are potentially in the same class as Thurston. I would rather gamble on the young talent than gamble against it. Gamble against talent and get it wrong, you don't know when the next lot is coming.

But even worse another club is using our talented young player to win comps.

It was however a perfect storm, we let Thurston go, then trashed our scouting and development, ensuring in the process that the next Thurston wasn't coming for 20 years.

Can we win a comp with the current team?

Maybe, a team doesn't need to be perfect to win 1 comp, to have an era and win multiple comps the team needs to be very good in all key positions.

Injuries are a factor, we might have the talent but we don't know how many Injuries they will get. That is another reason not to rush them.

I think our 2012 team showed the limitations of trying to win with a less talented side, you are lucky to get one shot at it. Next season the other teams know how you play.

I don’t think we have the talent in our current team to win the comp. I also doubt we can win the comp without signing some more experienced players. 

Yep I think we are at best a long shot.

It isn't necessarily a lack of talent more a lack of time.

When I compare Burton to Thurston there are obvious differences.  A 5/8 like Burton could win a comp with a half like Sherwin.

I don't know how good Burton can become, but I doubt that the type of player he is will change much.

I do rate O'Neill very highly based on personal observation , Woods I am rating highly because Gus rates him.

We need a few more weeks to see if that 26-0 against the Chooks was us or them, probably a bit of both. With a few key players out that will be hard to repeat against the Storm.

If we do manage to beat the Storm with their highly rated spine that is a good sign. 

We more or less need to thread the needle on defence, completions and execution.

It is our defence that takes the other team out of their comfort zone.

The first try against the Chooks was an example of that.

Games we have lost this season have been due to patches of bad play often just for a small part of the game.

Teams that win the comp don't have patches of bad play in a game.or when they do they don't concede many points.

Winning the comp with Burton then O'Neill is the most likely half, probably with Woods coming off the bench or playing some of the games. We are not going to be able to sign a half that is better than O'Neill. We might be able to get a more experienced halfback a few years more advanced in leadership. 

For props, Hughes and Todd have real potential Issac M-Booth is a very big lad unfortunately impacted by injury. If we are going home grown it takes longer.

Gus will take the opportunity to sign a good prop or half should it exist and that might bring success a year or 2 earlier. 

For most clubs sustained success comes from  home grown talent. 

Make the eight... 17-20 blokes play the best 3 or 4 games of their lives... Yeah why not!!!! Premiers '24 baby!!!...

Thats the thing, you need a couple of spine players (ideally your FB and HB) to have break away seasons.

We did it in 2012 with Barba and JR. Raiders did it in 2019 with CNK and Wighton. Broncos did it with Walsh and Mam. 

Not saying you dont need other players having good seasons and taking their game up a notch, but if you can get your FB and one if the halves to have standout years, you can make semis, prelims and GFs.

We dont unfortunately have standout players in these spine positions, so we are no hope with this team. Sorry but the truth hurts.

What were you saying about sparring with me? It could have something to do with your unrelenting downplaying of the team. A true supporter doesn't necessarily think his team can win the comp but they rise above the desire to downplay the team, even after we beat the mortal enemy in the Rorters. An ounce of positivism is something that any true supporter has. Was it Alan who decided a few years ago now that it was time to change his allegiances to the Tigers? You are Alan but still pretending you support (look that word up) the Bulldogs

IMO we are currently a 2% chance of winning the comp.
Beat the Storm and it increases to 4%.
Beat the Knights and it increases to 5% a bad loss to the Knights back to 3%.
Lose both we stay at 2% and are in danger of dropping to 1%.
Broncos and Panthers 20%. Roosters and Storm 15%.Cows and Warriors 12%, etc..

There is a reason why the comp is more intense this time of year.  You can't win a comp, but you can lose it. All of the stronger teams need a buffer to get through SOO.

For us few wins, fewer players in SOO, more wins, more players in.

I can see Burton, Crichton and Fox possibly being in the SOO squad. Marhoney is an outside chance. So even if we win a lot of games, the exposure is minimal.

Needing to play without Burton would be the biggest challenge. 

Surely the glimmer of hope that we might win the comp is worth clinging to.

I have a lot more hope this year than last and the chances of an interesting and rewarding season are high.

That first half against the Chooks is something I would be more than happy to see most weeks.

Perhaps i was misunderstood abit.
Im not saying it is impossible to win or make a GF without standout form by your FB and at least one of the halves, just look at 2014. 

We didnt win but we won on grit and the way week 1 of the finals panned out, we got a smooth passage into the GF. Unfortunately, you cant keep playing like that and expect it to be winning football.

We all know we are building the roster. With Gus and CC not targeting superstar FB or HB, its obvious we are hanging our hat on our juniors and treading water in the interim. 

Fingers crossed it works out. I would think that if we nailed 1 of these positions, we can gamble on one of these halves reaching their potential or make an astute purchase to fill the position. 

We should be on a trend where our chances of winning a comp improve each year.

Often we need to go the full journey, but sometimes a surprise early win happens.

It is mostly a matter of time.

According to Mase the most impressive group of players at the club is Harold Mathews, but many Jersey Flegg players played reserve grade and won. Many of those Jersey Flegg players were impressive in the NRL trials.

When it comes to recruitment we didn’t sign an established star, except Critter, but Mann, Curran, Taaffe and Tracey are good signings.

Finally we have the continued progession of players like Morrin, Hughes and Kiraz.

We still don't have the proven size, power and class of the top sides, but we did pretty well against a strong Roosters side.

I think recruitment knows what they are doing and what type of players we need. I am expecting less recruitment from now on quality not quantity.

Rather than just treading water we are trying to scramble a few rungs up the ladder and trying to lay the foundations for the future. At least the team is worth watching now and a chance of winning in most games.

I hope that we never see a repeat of 2015-2023 the least enjoyable stretch of 9 years supporting the Dogs by far IMO.

We also had Pritchard, Kasiano and Graham having standout seasons. That year they did more than our halves and if it wasn’t for them Barba doesn’t have the space to look so good. 

I must say I’m very impressed with Sam Hughes progression. He is going to be very good player for us. Hopefully for a very long time. I’m confident enough to say he will be talked of like Preston by seasons end. 

Team selection has Critter at fullback and Hayward off the bench.

Looks like Tracey and King are playing at this stage.

Very interesting game and a real test / opportunity for us.

Yes its been a tough decade.
In fact i look at my son who is born in 2012 and was 3 in 2015 and obviously couldnt temember the 2 GFs prior.

He supports the Dogs because of me and i feel he deserves to see some success. He can barely remember us playing finals.....

His time will come mate .. we weren't all lucky enough to born around circa '74-76...
The good man MDog and likely a few others have been through tougher stretches...

I reckon your boy will learn a great life lesson or two... Being a good winner, being a good loser, club first, team second, individual 3rd...  Dogs fan no matter what, through good times and bad.... 

Geez... Imagine what old Baz from 'Cuddletowm' went through and never questioned his loyalty or passion  for a minute .. or thought he deserved any more than what he got for the love of club and the game...

When the good times finally come after a long stretch in the wilderness, it us even more enjoyable because everyone has earned it.

I am glad Gus came on board he knows his stuff.

We also seem to now have a good board good management, the juniors in food shape etc.

When it was all working in the 80s who knew breaking it would be easier that fixing it.

Bullfrog was great but our problems started when he died. Having seen how it all went wrong IMO we are determined to stay on track.

Anyway it is great to get back to just enjoying bring a fan and enjoying watching the team play. 

King definitely out,
Kiks and Tracey late fitness tests.

I am strangely optimistic about this game.

1. Knight made 40 tackles at lock past game in reserves. Should be a reasonable replacement for King with a point to prove.
2. Critter will be keen to impress at fullback and should be more involved in attack.
3. The replacement for Tracey is likely to be Skeleton, while he can be suspect in defence, he can make an impact in attack.
4. Hayward will be excited about his NRL debut.
5. If Kiks is out, the replacement is Hayes who is outside the top 30.
6. Last game.
7. Storm reaction to our team sheet.

Kiks in or out makes a big difference, I am more confident if he plays.

Last game is the big factor, a loss or another type of win, and the team sheets ls will decide it.

However, a gutsy brave win is inspirational and our team sheet might cause the Storm to relax.

The big danger is losing touch with the game, we can't afford to get more than 12 points behind at any stage or I think our confidence will drop.

Storm could run down 20 points in the last 20 minutes, especially if we fade.

Bring it on- a miracle win will be big for us. 

A loss is acceptable especially if we go down fighting but I want the  W.

How many Rorters tries this year scored as a result of obvious forward passes???... Either lead up or final play???...