Mann Vs Aitken, who deserves the starting centre role?

[KiamaSaint]

Also.. Mann has a great footy brain... Aitken.. well he dislocates his shoulder doing swan dives.

Yes, yes, yes.

Mann's only downside is that he can drop his head when he makes a mistake. Someone like Bennett would turn him into a world beater.

 

[gitano]

Also.. Mann has a great footy brain... Aitken.. well he dislocates his shoulder doing swan dives.

Cherry Evans ankle tapped him. But hey, whatever you need to suit the agenda.

 

[RufusRex]

What is his KPI for rushing out of the line and creating an overlap for the opposition to score? I think he has met that one.

 

[giboz71]

Also.. Mann has a great footy brain... Aitken.. well he dislocates his shoulder doing swan dives.

Gotta agree here. I like how tough and competitive Aitken is but there is not much between the ears there, sorry to say.

That's been a problem with a few of our players. It's amazing anything got done when Aitken, Rein and Dugan were in the same side. No mensa candidates there.

 

[Coppo_ForeverYOUNG]

Just a thought if big Luchiano locks in a starting spot, keep Sims in the front row rotation and play Aitken off the stench

 

[Noraa]

Mann 100%

 

[Old Timer]

Just a thought if big Luchiano locks in a starting spot, keep Sims in the front row rotation and play Aitken off the stench

If that happens we will be in all sorts of bother and it would have a bad smell about it especially the bit about Aitken.

 

[getsmarty]

Mann 100%

Agree....although its guaranteed Mary will Start with Aitken and Mann on the Bench....

 

[Objective View]

Sack Lafai.

Straight Shooter

 

[mickeylane]

Lomax!
-Mann runs crabwise never runs through holes not a centre
- Aitken not match fit
Note: Mann is the best winger in the club..

 

[getsmarty]

Lomax!
-Mann runs crabwise never runs through holes not a centre
- Aitken not match fit
Note: Mann is the best winger in the club..

Just like he did last week against Hull..lol

 

[Mark D]

because of three things

1. He is not a local junior
2. He makes mistakes
3. He had a poor 1st season due to injury

People made up their minds then

Forget the fact that last year in terms of tries
Aitken:
12 games - 6 tries, 1 assist, 11 tries caused by his mistakes defence ... net negative 4 in 12 games
Lafai
24 games - 7 tries, 11 assists, 13 tries cased by his mistakes in defence ... net positive 5 in 24 games

so immeditately it is obvious that
1. Lafai defends better at centre
2. Lafai is a lot better at setting up players around him
3. Aitken has a higher strike rate at scoring himself .. Mind you those 6 tries came from 3 line breaks ... So a few from kicks there and not so much his own ability to cross the line ball in hand. Lafai had 9 line breaks in his 24 games.

So pretty much everything there points to Lafai being the better centre.

The other thing is the explosion over Aitkens ability to break tackles ... 41 to 75 last season ... So in twice the games lafai made almost twice the tackle breaks meaning he is not that far behind Aitken in that department either.

So really ... what does Aitken have in his game that makes him a superior option to Lafai ..
The only thing that he has is his junior postcode and that is not a basis for selection.

For the centre who has Nene outside of him defensively it doesn’t help either

 

[RufusRex]

For the centre who has Nene outside of him defensively it doesn’t help either

Cause and effect

 

[possm]

Mann 100%

Aitken to reserve grade where he belongs.

 

[Weipa Dragon]

Aitken will start, make some serious stuff ups, get hooked and Mann will own the spot from then onwards. Not sure how people can say he can't play centre. He is a hell of a defender, can throw a good , pass inside and outside, and has a great step on him. Mann is the man in my books.

 

[mickeylane]

Just like he did last week against Hull..lol

MANN can never develop into one of the top 10 centres in the NRL.. Lomax given the early opportunity in 2018 will be a top 10 centre within 18 mnths. He's a Gasnier clone gone through all the junior rep teams as a standout in the centre position and is a natural right centre.
MANN is a product of his versatility which means he will never master the position of centre. He is a solid player and that's it.. So why choose him now over Lomax and hold back what we all now Is coming thru.
See Raiders w 18yo Cotric
See Roosters w Latrell Mitchell
both players are guns and given their opportunities befire their 19th birthdays.. Lomax IMO is their equal on a minimum

 

[Dragons22]

MANN can never develop into one of the top 10 centres in the NRL.. Lomax given the early opportunity in 2018 will be a top 10 centre within 18 mnths. He's a Gasnier clone gone through all the junior rep teams as a standout in the centre position and is a natural right centre.
MANN is a product of his versatility which means he will never master the position of centre. He is a solid player and that's it.. So why choose him now over Lomax and hold back what we all now Is coming thru.
See Raiders w 18yo Cotric
See Roosters w Latrell Mitchell
both players are guns and given their opportunities befire their 19th birthdays.. Lomax IMO is their equal on a minimum

I’m sure Lomax will go on to be a great player, but at this stage, I don’t think he will be a regular in the starting side for 2018. Therefore, the battle in this thread is whether Mann is better than Aitken, which is quite an easy question. Sure Aitken tries hard and will do good things in attack, but Mann is overall, a far superior player.

 

[RufusRex]

Lol ... Aitken still can't defend

 

[Frank Facer]

Aitken still can't attack either. Aitken is not a centre. He never was a centre and never will be a centre.

 

[Dragons22]

Those 4 people still have the opportunity to change their vote!