Milne

[BrissyRedV]

Milne: Chasing Nines Redemption
Sat 28th January, 01:00PM
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St George Illawarra Dragons centre Taane Milne is hopeful of a more positive Auckland Nines campaign after being named in the Dragons' 18-man squad.

Milne discussed his Nines debut two years ago and how it unfortunately ended early due to a broken hand.

Milne also spoke of his excitement to be back playing footy after a difficult pre-season conditioning period.

http://www.dragons.com.au/news/2017/01/28/milne_chasing_nines_.html

He is looking massive. Can't wait to see him run around at the nines.

 

[Old Timer]

Does he have enough pace to score an NRL try if he gets put through a hole?
I just hope we are not building massive bodies for bash and barge footy and when required to outrun people they can't.
We were a very slow and ponderous side last year save for Mann who will most likely be in the Cutters.

 

[BrissyRedV]

Does he have enough pace to score an NRL try if he gets put through a hole?
I just hope we are not building massive bodies for bash and barge footy and when required to outrun people they can't.

Hard to say without seeing him up against someone else but he looks bigger than he was last year. Fits with Mary's line of wanting to play a power game.

 

[71saintsimon]

Look, when we won the comp in 2010, we had Gasnier, a big, fast, live wire centre, on one side and Cooper, a big strong defensive centre who could find the line, on the other.

If we accept that that combination works, then anybody with a brain stem can see that Aitken is the second coming of Matt Cooper. That centre is locked up. It's the other one that's the problem. Milne is probably the best we have there. They should be the round one pairing.

I fully agree with you the Milne , aitken centre combination shouldn't be tampered with it's very reminiscent of cooper , gasnier, Lafai & Dugan are not a good recipe for scoring points both dour not very fast and wil get caught out in defence

 

[SBD82]

I'm seeing a lot of opinions on here that I can't understand about Milne.

I rate Milne highly. He was one of our best every time he played first grade last year. Defensively intimidating, and a threat in attack. The guy has the potential to be a great centre. Even with limited opportunities, he was the standout centre for the club last year.

My opinion is that he is a specialist right centre, and the best right centre in the club, so that is where he should play.

If (and only if) Dugan is not our best option at fullback, then by all means try to find another place for him in the team, but not at the expense of a player who will do a better job than him in that position.

Bump.

Maloney and graham will absolutely destroy aitken if he plays next week.

Surely it's time to unleash the beast.

 

[possm]

I'm seeing a lot of opinions on here that I can't understand about Milne.

I rate Milne highly. He was one of our best every time he played first grade last year. Defensively intimidating, and a threat in attack. The guy has the potential to be a great centre. Even with limited opportunities, he was the standout centre for the club last year.

My opinion is that he is a specialist right centre, and the best right centre in the club, so that is where he should play.

If (and only if) Dugan is not our best option at fullback, then by all means try to find another place for him in the team, but not at the expense of a player who will do a better job than him in that position.

Agree, Milne to right centre and Dugan to left centre if he is not playing at fullback. This year we should be developing a combination between Macdonald and Milne on the right.

 

[The Doc]

How did Milne go this weekend? Anyone see or hear how he played?

 

[SBD82]

How did Milne go this weekend? Anyone see or hear how he played?

I didn't see the game.

But Wenty scored 3 tries total, so even if all of them were from Milne letting in tries, he still defended better than aitken...

 

[BringTheNoise]

Lafai supposedly trained the house down over the off season yet it seams to have had little to no transfer onto the footy field.

He remains unimpressive and uninspiring and I'm struggling to comprehend how he justifies a starting position over Milne.

 

[giboz71]

Lafai supposedly trained the house down over the off season yet it seams to have had little to no transfer onto the footy field.

He remains unimpressive and uninspiring and I'm struggling to comprehend how he justifies a starting position over Milne.

The only thing I can think of is their respective contracts. Which really is no excuse.

Guess we can't stomach having a circa 400k player playing reggies.

 

[madcow]

Finally the coach had the knackers to hook Aiken , actually i would of hooked him all the way into the ocean.
He is a dead set liability in defence. Jennings works to get on your outside shoulder so his arms are free for an offload but Aitken just doesn't get it. The longer the game went on , the more concerned Nene seemed to get . It was clear he couldn't trust him anymore .
Just compare what Jennings did yesterday to Aitken . THats an example of why we are consistently missing the Finals.

As for Lafai , did he play yesterday , why did he turn out for the 1st Parra try , like he did in the charity shield ?

Honestly what has Milne done wrong ? The only centre with any thrust , aggression , not to mention an offload. He has grown up playing along side Nene as well , they are the perfect centre winger combination.

As for all the fools calling for Dufty to be in 1st Grade, Wake up . He is too SMALL .....and cannot defend

 

[saintm]

Finally the coach had the knackers to hook Aiken , actually i would of hooked him all the way into the ocean.
He is a dead set liability in defence. Jennings works to get on your outside shoulder so his arms are free for an offload but Aitken just doesn't get it. The longer the game went on , the more concerned Nene seemed to get . It was clear he couldn't trust him anymore .
Just compare what Jennings did yesterday to Aitken . THats an example of why we are consistently missing the Finals.

As for Lafai , did he play yesterday , why did he turn out for the 1st Parra try , like he did in the charity shield ?

Honestly what has Milne done wrong ? The only centre with any thrust , aggression , not to mention an offload. He has grown up playing along side Nene as well , they are the perfect centre winger combination.

As for all the fools calling for Dufty to be in 1st Grade, Wake up . He is too SMALL .....and cannot defend

How about you give Dufty a break! He has played a total of 4 games against men. He defend and has done in the years I have watched him... You knockers shit me no end.... he has not even been given a go and in my opinion he deserves a crack!! What have you got against him?

Your other comments I don't disagree with... In my humble opinion you can not judge him until he plays more games against men and then has a crack at firsts. I was at the game yesterday and he played good he fell of one try that was Dodd's man and Dodd was beaten twice by the same player.

 

[Qdf]

Finally the coach had the knackers to hook Aiken , actually i would of hooked him all the way into the ocean.
He is a dead set liability in defence. Jennings works to get on your outside shoulder so his arms are free for an offload but Aitken just doesn't get it. The longer the game went on , the more concerned Nene seemed to get . It was clear he couldn't trust him anymore .
Just compare what Jennings did yesterday to Aitken . THats an example of why we are consistently missing the Finals.

As for Lafai , did he play yesterday , why did he turn out for the 1st Parra try , like he did in the charity shield ?

Honestly what has Milne done wrong ? The only centre with any thrust , aggression , not to mention an offload. He has grown up playing along side Nene as well , they are the perfect centre winger combination.

As for all the fools calling for Dufty to be in 1st Grade, Wake up . He is too SMALL .....and cannot defend

Spot on,
Until Atkin and Lafai are gone forget this season.

 

[Qdf]

How about you give Dufty a break! He has played a total of 4 games against men. He defend and has done in the years I have watched him... You knockers shit me no end.... he has not even been given a go and in my opinion he deserves a crack!! What have you got against him?

Your other comments I don't disagree with... In my humble opinion you can not judge him until he plays more games against men and then has a crack at firsts. I was at the game yesterday and he played good he fell of one try that was Dodd's man and Dodd was beaten twice by the same player.

Yeah that's ok,but he needs time to mature and play against men.At this stage he's just not ready.He may end up being a real top first grade player,but not now.Needs time..

 

[Michaeldragonslife25]

Finally the coach had the knackers to hook Aiken , actually i would of hooked him all the way into the ocean.
He is a dead set liability in defence. Jennings works to get on your outside shoulder so his arms are free for an offload but Aitken just doesn't get it. The longer the game went on , the more concerned Nene seemed to get . It was clear he couldn't trust him anymore .
Just compare what Jennings did yesterday to Aitken . THats an example of why we are consistently missing the Finals.

As for Lafai , did he play yesterday , why did he turn out for the 1st Parra try , like he did in the charity shield ?

Honestly what has Milne done wrong ? The only centre with any thrust , aggression , not to mention an offload. He has grown up playing along side Nene as well , they are the perfect centre winger combination.

As for all the fools calling for Dufty to be in 1st Grade, Wake up . He is too SMALL .....and cannot defend

Can't defend ??? And his too small but lemme guess field is big enough ?

 

[madcow]

needs to play more against men ? Who do you think he trains with ?
Jai should be nowhere near the 1st grade squad yet. Needs time , or they will burn him out . Not his fault the club has not had a halfback for 5 years.
Can you see the Broncos or the Cowboys playing Dufty ???

 

[possm]

needs to play more against men ? Who do you think he trains with ?
Jai should be nowhere near the 1st grade squad yet. Needs time , or they will burn him out . Not his fault the club has not had a halfback for 5 years.
Can you see the Broncos or the Cowboys playing Dufty ???

Lucky for those two sides, they have very good halves and fullback. Though I'm sure there would have been times when they have blooded a young lightweight in first grade.

 

[Michaeldragonslife25]

Yes Cowboys played Ponga and still would be if he didn't sign with Newcastle

 

[Gareth67]

Even at this early stage of the season , it would appear that there is an immediate need , to replace both Atkins and Laifai , with a far more potent centre pairing .

Namely Milne and Mann , with Nene MacDonald on their outside , better in attack and also defence . It is only the third round , however as others have suggested , if Mary can bite the bullet , and drop players who are not performing and replace them with those whom have real ability , it can only be to the betterment of the teams overall performance .

It is not a case of playing favourites , but more so , of stopping the rot from setting in - on a permanent basis , no one wants a repeat of last year . So imo , it would be far better to experiment now while we still have a foothold , in this seasons competition .

 

[emu62]

Guys I really think this may be Dugans last year - Dragons won't rush to resign him until they see Dufty in action in the first 4 rounds - if he's found wanting DUGAN will be re signed before round 6 or so if not Dragons will make an offer to Dugan but knowing they have plenty of centre options.. I truely believe Lafai will be the clubs best centre this year leaving 3 too class centres fighting out one spot..

If as you say Lafai is the clubs best centre, we are in a lot more shit than i thought