Tim Lafai

[mickeylane]

I was listening to the Fox Sports Fantasy podcast today. Nathan Ryan said that he has good mail that Lafai is going to have first crack at left centre position over Taane Milne. Apparently Lafai's shed a bunch of kilos, got his leg injury fixed up and got voted players player after that boot camp they went on a couple of weeks ago.

Opinions? As far as I'm concerned, Milne should get first crack based on last year's form but if Lafai can get back to where he was in 2014, I'd happily have him inside MacDonald.

This is exactly what I heard - he's looking mean at training and has fi ally settled in after the shock of being let go by the Bulldogs - he's a specialise left centre and agree w the first chance to him - he would have 4 weeks to cement the spot or lose it for ever to the incumbents who are lining up

 

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

Happy to give Lafai a go for one or two games to see how he goes. Last year he was ordinary but he did seem to get a bit of a combination with Mann going. A centre needs to work with his wing man, and I don't see Aitken, Milne or Dugan being better than Lafai in that respect. If his speed and footwork is returning, I'd have no qualms about giving him first crack.

 

[st.phil]

For all the training the house down stories we get...surely playing the house down in the trials is where it counts most. Lets wait and see (but thanks for passing on the oil)

 

[MattoDragon]

It will all come down to form in the trial games. IMO you would have to see a huge improvement from Lafai and a reversal in form from Milne for there to be a change. Milne is the future.

So, the f**k, is Aitken!
Forget Lafai, unless super coach moves Duges to RC, then it's Milne LC and Aitken RC
Don't know what you guys have against Aitken???

 

[MattoDragon]

Aitken has been great however, for me it's Milne over Aitken at left centre.

I'd Like to see Milne and Aitken rotate LC and LW. Imo, they both deserve to be there

 

[hewi]

So, the f**k, is Aitken!
Forget Lafai, unless super coach moves Duges to RC, then it's Milne LC and Aitken RC
Don't know what you guys have against Aitken???

True

 

[hazzbeen]

Does anyone really believe Mary would not go this way? McCrone will be halfback as well.

YEP .....

 

[BennyV]

Benny V
Nice try but not a fair representation of my point.

Lafai was not superior to what we already had and it proved to be so.

IMO neither is Mc Donald.

I know you believe Mann should play closer to the ball and I agree but if that is not the case then who would you have Mc Donald replace on the wing Mann or Nightingale?

With Hunt it is a vastly different matter altogether.
He is a recognised rep quality footballer and a cut above anything else we have in that position and is a walk up start.

I know, obvious joke. Although there is a strange attitude amongst this whole forum that what we've got is always better than whats coming in - people suggesting we shouldnt chase Jack Bird because he'd get in the way of Jai Field shows that!

Anywho, as you said I wouldnt 'drop' either of them as I'd have Mann elsewhere in the team where he's better utilised. Nene was bought to play firsy grade - he wouldnt have left a team on the up to come to our rabble otherwise. And he has the potential to be better than both of them, TBH (not that he'll get there under Mary). Gun to my head and being completely ruthless, it would probably be Nighty, and it would break my heart.

So unless it was a friendly gee up try and be a little objective in your assessment of what I am implying

Its like you dont know me at all...

 

[BennyV]

Duges will play 1 centre and Aitken the other. McDonald and Nighty will be wingers.

Would rather take the punt on Dufty starting at FB and Duges at centre than Milne, Mann or Lafai as Milne,Dufty will have a bigger impact in the attack then the other 3. Mann and Lafai will get their chance as I am sure the backs won't have an injury free season.

Saints sure have great depth in the backs.

No he wont, and to expect as much in 2017 is setting yourself up for disappointment.

 

[Qdf]

I don't know! Does anyone in our Club look at these things before they sign players?

We all know Dugan wants to play right centre and probably play there from round 1. So then we have Aitken, Milne and Lafai all fighting for one first grade centre spot. The two players who miss out will surely have their nose out of joint.

I have no doubt our two best centres are Dugan and Milne.

Yes on last year's form.The trials, if managed correctly, should work out who plays first's or Cutters.

 

[Old Timer]

Benny V
Touche on your quick reply on Hunt
Apologies I was little fragile earlier today, I actually understood the essence of your reply and certainly did have a wry grin when I saw it.
So many options again this year, it will indeed be interesting as to which way it actually does unfold.
I agree re Nighty but unfortunately there has to be some movement in the ranks to ensure we get the best out of 2017 with an eye to 2018 of which Nighty will not be apart of.
There is always that wish that you want to see your favourites go out on top rather than getting tapped but never the less if they do hang on a bit too long then they run that risk and it shouldn't be avoided.
Chang, Smithy, Chook, all superstars that should have taken Sticks lead but alas we saw the slide and ultimate demise although that 1 last test from Changa was a rare and precious moment.

 

[TomRedVRiver]

I was all but willing to see Lafai cut loose, the only thing that kept him hanging by a thread was his past form at left centre (2014 in particular). If he can capture that form again, i'm totally happy for him to have first crack, but his chances are wearing thin, especially with Milne, Aitken and Herbert breathing down his neck.
I'm chuffed to see him ripping in and losing all that weight in pre-season, but his footy has to do the talking.

The trials will tell us what we need to know.

 

[Old Timer]

I was all but willing to see Lafai cut loose, the only thing that kept him hanging by a thread was his past form at left centre (2014 in particular). If he can capture that form again, i'm totally happy for him to have first crack, but his chances are wearing thin, especially with Milne, Aitken and Herbert breathing down his neck.
I'm chuffed to see him ripping in and losing all that weight in pre-season, but his footy has to do the talking.

The trials will tell us what we need to know.

Who was the last player to go missing for 2 full years and come back better than before?
I really can't think of anyone and if "former greats" can't do it I doubt a "never was great" can do it either.

 

[TomRedVRiver]

Who was the last player to go missing for 2 full years and come back better than before?
I really can't think of anyone and if "former greats" can't do it I doubt a "never was great" can do it either.

I'm with you on this OT. It's looking dire for Lafai which is a shame because he was pretty destructive at his best. His knee injury just took so much out of him, especially his speed. Remember when he made that one line break for us last year? f**k me, he looked like he had a nugget in his undies. He was astronomically slow by an NRL centre's standards.
I'm happy to see how his trial form progresses, but as far as i'm concerned his days are numbered. Milne, Herbert, Aitken and Dugan are our centres moving forward.

 

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

Who was the last player to go missing for 2 full years and come back better than before?
I really can't think of anyone and if "former greats" can't do it I doubt a "never was great" can do it either.

Well lets see, Dennis Tutty, Gordon Tallis, Johnny Wittenberg, off the top of my head. Probably plenty more than that. All depends on the right motivation.

 

[the lame dragon 48]

i was of the opinion that dugan was adamant he wanted to play the 1 and if thats the case mary will probably go along with that thats why i suggested dufty at 6 or 7 better there than cutters

 

[Old Timer]

TRVR
Our club has lost it's ruthless streak and it just becomes more apparent year by year as we continue to flounder around.
We f**k around with so many players who have bad form and / or injuries.
The Stanley bros really nice guys but ultimately a long drawn out disaster.
Glymin will he really recover and why is he not at the 9's?
Masoe almost fits into the same category
Beni never free from injury and out of position.
Gotta love Benny Creagh but the last year of his contract, well a really tough club that is totally result orientated would have ruthlessly ended it.
Nighty read sentence above.
Lafai a basket case last year should be gone but people now saying all's forgiven on the basis of how he trains in the pre season this year lol did he return his paycheque from last year?
This soft attitude permeates through the way we deal with the coaching ranks as well.
In the meantime we have a lot of talent just wanting a chance and we are so reluctant to give it to them.

Well lets see, Dennis Tutty, Gordon Tallis, Johnny Wittenberg, off the top of my head. Probably plenty more than that. All depends on the right motivation.

These players voluntarily sat out a year to be able to transition to another club so in fact didn't play poorly for 2 years then all of a sudden come good again.
They were good before they sat out and instantly good straight after they came back which is a big difference to Lafai who was shit in 2015 and also in 2016.

 

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

TRVR
Our club has lost it's ruthless streak and it just becomes more apparent year by year as we continue to flounder around.
We f**k around with so many players who have bad form and / or injuries.
The Stanley bros really nice guys but ultimately a long drawn out disaster.
Glymin will he really recover and why is he not at the 9's?
Masoe almost fits into the same category
Beni never free from injury and out of position.
Gotta love Benny Creagh but the last year of his contract, well a really tough club that is totally result orientated would have ruthlessly ended it.
Nighty read sentence above.
Lafai a basket case last year should be gone but people now saying all's forgiven on the basis of how he trains in the pre season this year lol did he return his paycheque from last year?
This soft attitude permeates through the way we deal with the coaching ranks as well.
In the meantime we have a lot of talent just wanting a chance and we are so reluctant to give it to them.



These players voluntarily sat out a year to be able to transition to another club so in fact didn't play poorly for 2 years then all of a sudden come good again.
They were good before they sat out and instantly good straight after they came back which is a big difference to Lafai who was shit in 2015 and also in 2016.

Tallis played shit for us the year before he departed.

 

[Old Timer]

Tallis played shit for us the year before he departed.

Yeah he was pretty petulant and didn't want to be here and put in some sub par performances I guess, but was still capable of playing a big game.
Sure did come good though when he went north.
Just can't see Lafai in that vein but I have probably been wrong before although when I thought about it I was probably wrong about that if you know what I mean.

 

[dragonssamy61]

I was listening to the Fox Sports Fantasy podcast today. Nathan Ryan said that he has good mail that Lafai is going to have first crack at left centre position over Taane Milne. Apparently Lafai's shed a bunch of kilos, got his leg injury fixed up and got voted players player after that boot camp they went on a couple of weeks ago.

Opinions? As far as I'm concerned, Milne should get first crack based on last year's form but if Lafai can get back to where he was in 2014, I'd happily have him inside MacDonald.

JDHD
I thi k that Milne should get first crack as he was one of the bright spots from last year.
To me as long as his form stays he should stay there.
Tim Lafai has to wait .
Also we have to look to the future.
Is Lafai the future or Milne the future.
To Milne has to star there.