What's new
The Front Row Forums

Register a free account today to become a member of the world's largest Rugby League discussion forum! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Team List Tuesday

itsme

Juniors
Messages
139
yep, well said.
He is frickin strong, quite quick over a short distance, but lacks footy nous. Period.

We dropped Mann after 2 blunderous games when he signed with us.
This guy has played over 80 1st grade games, and gets free passage.

Every one can see Lomax, with the few chances he has been offered , is already ahead of Aitken.

Bench ( maybe ), reggies or ESL for Aitken IMHO.
I think there is some merit in having him on the bench and using him as a middle forward at 13.

We have slowish middle men like Latimore and Lawrie that we are currently using. So a guy like Aitken coming on with good leg speed in 20 min stints will really liven up our forwards. A bit like friz when he plays in the middle.

Aitken carries the ball strong and is fast. Plays the ball quick and his decision making then becomes a non issue. Decision making aside he is a strong defender in traffic.

This then allows Lomax to play right centre.

Food for thought....
 

gitano

Juniors
Messages
2,364
yep, well said.
He is frickin strong, quite quick over a short distance, but lacks footy nous. Period.

We dropped Mann after 2 blunderous games when he signed with us.
This guy has played over 80 1st grade games, and gets free passage.

Every one can see Lomax, with the few chances he has been offered , is already ahead of Aitken.

Bench ( maybe ), reggies or ESL for Aitken IMHO.
Refer to my post below for a synopsis of your situation. You aren't alone in the lack of footy IQ stakes.

Simply because most on here don't understand what actually makes a good footballer. Not through any fault of their own.

Unfortunately, whilst other sports are broadcast and commented on in a very technical way, NRL remains 'dumbed down' for the most part. As a result, there exists a large gulf between what the media/fans and the inner sanctum of coaches/players recognise as quality.

If Aitken is getting players player, yet being bagged relentlessly on a forum, it only serves to highlight this.

Personally I'd like an option to change commentary during the game. Have the entertainment focused, simplified version but provide a more technical and tactical option for people too. Gasnier in particular tries to add this detail, but it's out of place and doesn't fit the rest of the broadcast.

If you can ever brIng yourself to watch a game of AFL (I can't), or even NFL have a listen to the difference in product. It's truly a university v primary school difference. But I understand the whole 'grow the game thing', and it's easier to just hype up the 2 games Pangai Jr turns up for or how good RTS footwork is. Giving fans some credit would narrow the gap in my opinion.
 

Dragonsteve2

Juniors
Messages
550
I think there is some merit in having him on the bench and using him as a middle forward at 13.

We have slowish middle men like Latimore and Lawrie that we are currently using. So a guy like Aitken coming on with good leg speed in 20 min stints will really liven up our forwards. A bit like friz when he plays in the middle.

Aitken carries the ball strong and is fast. Plays the ball quick and his decision making then becomes a non issue. Decision making aside he is a strong defender in traffic.

This then allows Lomax to play right centre.

Food for thought....

I agree with you, itsme, but would be happy enough giving Aitken the first 20-25 minutes in the centres if Mary can't bring himself to put him straight on the bench. Euan could then fill the role you have indictated including Mary's insistence on covering for a back getting injured. Lomax for 50 or so minutes would be better than 7 mins.He could then takeover the goalkicking fro Lafai.

Mary has praised Dufty for taking the team first attitude. Time for Euan and Mary to do likewise.
 

gitano

Juniors
Messages
2,364
I agree with you, itsme, but would be happy enough giving Aitken the first 20-25 minutes in the centres if Mary can't bring himself to put him straight on the bench. Euan could then fill the role you have indictated including Mary's insistence on covering for a back getting injured. Lomax for 50 or so minutes would be better than 7 mins.He could then takeover the goalkicking fro Lafai.

Mary has praised Dufty for taking the team first attitude. Time for Euan and Mary to do likewise.
Consider for a brief moment that how you see things may not be correct. There's more at play with selections and team structure than most on here's narrow perspective allows
 

possm

Coach
Messages
15,835
No, not that either, Possum.
I wish no harm or issues to any of our players nor our coach.

No, l'm happy to bag a poor performing player or subscribe to the 'Sack McGregor ' thread on a permanent basis but nothing more. Whether we like them or not, it wouldn't be right to wish ill on them.

Anyway, just my two bobs worth.

Your reply only tells me that you have a much higher level of ethics than Mary. He should have resigned or not asked for an extension or refused the offer of extension long ago. He is out of his depth and cares for nothing but his own self.

I one held similar ethical thoughts as yourself but I am so frustrated with SGI management on and off the field that I believe there needs to be extreme circumstances before change for the good will occur.
 

possm

Coach
Messages
15,835
I agree with you, itsme, but would be happy enough giving Aitken the first 20-25 minutes in the centres if Mary can't bring himself to put him straight on the bench. Euan could then fill the role you have indictated including Mary's insistence on covering for a back getting injured. Lomax for 50 or so minutes would be better than 7 mins.He could then takeover the goalkicking fro Lafai.

Mary has praised Dufty for taking the team first attitude. Time for Euan and Mary to do likewise.

All of this to avoid dropping Aitken who has had falty defensive and passing skills for years. For Mary it is pride before the good of the team. Shame, shame, and the Board sits there trying to work out a great deal for a long serving coach.
 

Walpole

Juniors
Messages
2,455
I think there is some merit in having him on the bench and using him as a middle forward at 13.

We have slowish middle men like Latimore and Lawrie that we are currently using. So a guy like Aitken coming on with good leg speed in 20 min stints will really liven up our forwards. A bit like friz when he plays in the middle.

Aitken carries the ball strong and is fast. Plays the ball quick and his decision making then becomes a non issue. Decision making aside he is a strong defender in traffic.

This then allows Lomax to play right centre.

Food for thought....
Interestingly, Aitken is the same size as some of the "smaller" locks like Cameron Murray and Victor Radley (6 ft, 92 kilos), both pretty good players. He may very well be better suited to a role in the middle, especially while we have a few out.
 

j0nesy

Bench
Messages
3,747
Truth. Up to you what you do with it. I've experienced how the game actually works
I agree with most of your views on the players and tactics, Aitken in particular. However, rather than putting others down due to their “lack of footy IQ” perhaps it would be more effective to explain your reasoning rather than denigrate others. Let’s start with Latimore. Many on here are not huge fans, however, my view is that he fits the team quite well and plays a good bench role. He rarely makes a mistake, is a big body capable of a bit of go forward. He draws in a lot of defenders which opens things up a bit for the next play or two. Yet he’s a bit of a plodder in that he’s slow and is a no frills footballer. So therefore he doesn’t win a lot of fans. But I suspect coaches love him. What are your thoughts on Lats? I’m also keen to hear your technical view in Mary’s use of the bench. That’s something I can’t quite grasp. I find it conservative at best. By playing one less forward week in week out and not using the entire bench I feel he’s adding to player fatigue and also missing an opportunity to give more fringe players first grade experience. Thoughts?
 
Last edited:

st.phil

Bench
Messages
4,538
Nah, Ravalawa makes Eto Nabuli look like Johnny King.

My red pen has put a mark through his name.

True.

So far, my scepticism has been justified.

nah mate - strong carries, a couple good finishes and solid in defence. Couple errors in positioning but that happens all the time on the wing - Nighty was caught up for years for eg. Matter of time till he busts through and runs the length
 

Saint_JimmyG

First Grade
Messages
5,067
nah mate - strong carries, a couple good finishes and solid in defence. Couple errors in positioning but that happens all the time on the wing - Nighty was caught up for years for eg. Matter of time till he busts through and runs the length

Feet for bands, I’m not holding my breath.
 

Saint_JimmyG

First Grade
Messages
5,067
Apparently 6 times in 84 games, but apparently our resident footy analyst Gitmo believes he is the best centre we have. Hardly stellar stats.

As for defensive reads, Hunt must bare part of the blame.

Is Hunt really to blame though? Is he as bad a defender as say, Jamie Soward was considered during his career?

At least Hunt has a crack.

Things aren’t helped by a trio of Hunt, Aitken and Ravalawa combined with the absence of a Beau Scott type.

This also comes down to a lack of foresight by the coach
 

muzby

Village Idiot
Staff member
Messages
45,947
Feet for bands, I’m not holding my breath.
You can exhale now..

images
 

Old Kogarah Boy 1

First Grade
Messages
5,415
Your reply only tells me that you have a much higher level of ethics than Mary. He should have resigned or not asked for an extension or refused the offer of extension long ago. He is out of his depth and cares for nothing but his own self.

I one held similar ethical thoughts as yourself but I am so frustrated with SGI management on and off the field that I believe there needs to be extreme circumstances before change for the good will occur.

Sorry ole mate ................ I didn't mean to come across all high and mighty.
I'm just as frustrated as you and everyone else.
I was just alluding to the point that even though we can't stand a player or coach and we might bagged them to the hilt but there should be nothing more to it. We don't need to go to the next level.

Harmless and continual bad mouthing is far we need to go.
Anyway, as l said, just my two bobs worth.
 

Old Kogarah Boy 1

First Grade
Messages
5,415
I agree with most of your views on the players and tactics, Aitken in particular. However, rather than putting others down due to their “lack of footy IQ” perhaps it would be more effective to explain your reasoning rather than denigrate others. Let’s start with Latimore. Many on here are not huge fans, however, my view is that he fits the team quite well and plays a good bench role. He rarely makes a mistake, is a big body capable of a bit of go forward. He draws in a lot of defenders which opens things up a bit for the next play or two. Yet he’s a bit of a plodder in that he’s slow and is a no frills footballer. So therefore he doesn’t win a lot of fans. But I suspect coaches love him. What are your thoughts on Lats? I’m also keen to hear your technical view in Mary’s use of the bench. That’s something I can’t quite grasp. I find it conservative at best. By playing one less forward week in week out and not using the entire bench I feel he’s adding to player fatigue and also missing an opportunity to give more fringe players first grade experience. Thoughts?

I like Lats.
He's a plodder and pretty much reliable as they come.
We all know what we are going to get from him.
Whether that'll be hit ups or defending, he fits the role as a 'backup' perfectly.
Never going to star, never going to let you down ......... so to speak.
Every team needs one.
 

Latest posts

Top