2020 season

[kinghippo]

How did Crichton go when he replaced Mansour? The wingers/outside backs need those inside them to create tries. That is where we lacked

It certainly could be, there was obviously plenty wrong with the attack.

 

[OldPanther]

Certainly that would've had an impact.

I'd have to say it's not all to blame though and you'd be correct to a point since we definitely had some under performing players as well. By his own admission RCG was down on the game and didn't enjoy his time here in 2019 and his stats were very average.

 

[franklin2323]

It certainly could be, there was obviously plenty wrong with the attack.

A ball playing fullback or an edge attack threat on the right should fix most

 

[OldPanther]

Just put Burton at 1. If he fails we have Aekins as the safe option to fall back on AND we still have two trials which don't effect the season.

 

[martielang]

Has Burton ever played 1 though? Not the easiest transition to make I'd imagine.

At least Luai has had experience in that position.

 

[OldPanther]

Has Burton ever played 1 though? Not the easiest transition to make I'd imagine.

At least Luai has had experience in that position.

Someone said he's played wing and with the trials it's very low risk since you can just put a line through it as a failure without losing the 2 points in a regular season game.

 

[martielang]

Someone said he's played wing and with the trials it's very low risk since you can just put a line through it as a failure without losing the 2 points in a regular season game.

Not what I would do, but fair enough little to lose.

 

[OldPanther]

Not what I would do, but fair enough little to lose.

We could always go Crichton. Tall, fast, good instincts and unstoppable under the high ball.

 

[franklin2323]

Just put Burton at 1. If he fails we have Aekins as the safe option to fall back on AND we still have two trials which don't effect the season.

That is how I see it too

 

[franklin2323]

We could always go Crichton. Tall, fast, good instincts and unstoppable under the high ball.

Him or Naden would be my 2nd choice with Aekins the fallback

 

[betcats]

Crichton should be left to develop as a centre IMO. We got potential fullbacks to develop, we need good outside backs.

 

[franklin2323]

Crichton should be left to develop as a centre IMO. We got potential fullbacks to develop, we need good outside backs.

Is it better him to have him in NSW Cup as a centre or Playing FG in another position?

 

[betcats]

Is it better him to have him in NSW Cup as a centre or Playing FG in another position?

He already took Whares spot last year. But if he doesn't make the side I think it is better to have him in cup rather than have him trying to learn to play FB in FG. Why would you pick Cricton over Aekin, Naden, Luai or anyone else who has played there? Even Burton is a better option there imo as he can ball play and kick which suits the position, if we are going to convert someone it may as well be Luai or Burton, or someone like Naden who has played there a lot. Cricton is a high potential centre in a team that lacks good centres, moving him really should be last option.

 

[Dave's mate]

Yeah Burton is unknown unlike Luai who is known not to be a first grade fullback

 

[OldPanther]

He already took Whares spot last year. But if he doesn't make the side I think it is better to have him in cup rather than have him trying to learn to play FB in FG. Why would you pick Cricton over Aekin, Naden, Luai or anyone else who has played there? Even Burton is a better option there imo as he can ball play and kick which suits the position, if we are going to convert someone it may as well be Luai or Burton, or someone like Naden who has played there a lot. Cricton is a high potential centre in a team that lacks good centres, moving him really should be last option.

i'm more than happy for Burton since he can ball play and kick plus has that left foot step. Just offering up potential options really. In a perfect world Crichton starts at centre round 1 over whare or goes to the other side and pushes Naden to the wing.

 

[John Hamblin]

Too slow for FG. If he plays round 1 he will be dropped before Edwards is back

I agree we need someone with genuine speed and x factor neither Edwards or Aekins has that. Try someone else in the trials. Johnson has speed but would probably command $500k a year so he wont be joining us..

 

[Ashfield Panther]

I agree we need someone with genuine speed and x factor neither Edwards or Aekins has that. Try someone else in the trials. Johnson has speed but would probably command $500k a year so he wont be joining us..

Charlie Staines and Diane Laurie
Should eventually be the First grade fullback
Both have speed and can do a bit of ball playing which can be further enhanced with coaching

 

[Panfa]

Naden to fullback chrichton or capewell to centre rd 1 against chooks aekins or Laurie will get found out against premiers.

 

[MugaB]

I reckon with Edwards out, we should stick to our guns play the next guys up in their proper positions, its solves nothing if Edwards comes back and Burton is his replacement, only to have Luai injured etc. Aekins is next up for Fullback, Trials are better suited for testing these guys now, before the season starts proper,
Chrichton is a better option for Centre, so have him back up to take Whares or Nadens postion if they succumb to injury, fitting square pegs in round holes won't help the future roster, nor the sides stability if there is future injury this year, or poor performances, we can't keep forcing Burton into the team every time there is an injury unless its for the Halves, it does nothing for the entire playing group, in regards to sucession.
Of course its a different story if he is the no.14 benchie, or there is a mid game injury that needs a positional change, (Yeo to Centres, Whare to FB)
But as a run on roster need to keep a stable roster and not do the best players on field, every game, it works in State of Origin regarding the Blues, coz its only a 3 match series, and fullbacks can play a centre role when they are superstars at Club level, but we got 24 rounds to get thru every year, and these kids aren't superstars, need to get players playing their positions.
Only exception is if we don't have the depth in that position e.g hooker, but Api, May and Kenny have that covered you'd hope. the rest im pretty sure we're good

 

[OldPanther]

I reckon with Edwards out, we should stick to our guns play the next guys up in their proper positions, its solves nothing if Edwards comes back and Burton is his replacement, only to have Luai injured etc. Aekins is next up for Fullback, Trials are better suited for testing these guys now, before the season starts proper,
Chrichton is a better option for Centre, so have him back up to take Whares or Nadens postion if they succumb to injury, fitting square pegs in round holes won't help the future roster, nor the sides stability if there is future injury this year, or poor performances, we can't keep forcing Burton into the team every time there is an injury unless its for the Halves, it does nothing for the entire playing group, in regards to sucession.
Of course its a different story if he is the no.14 benchie, or there is a mid game injury that needs a positional change, (Yeo to Centres, Whare to FB)
But as a run on roster need to keep a stable roster and not do the best players on field, every game, it works in State of Origin regarding the Blues, coz its only a 3 match series, and fullbacks can play a centre role when they are superstars at Club level, but we got 24 rounds to get thru every year, and these kids aren't superstars, need to get players playing their positions.
Only exception is if we don't have the depth in that position e.g hooker, but Api, May and Kenny have that covered you'd hope. the rest im pretty sure we're good

In that case it'd be Aekins. Someone will have to correct me if I'm wrong but he's our only other genuine fullback in the top 30.