aitken?

[Get2dachopper!]

I'm sure I read that Runciman played well last week for the cutters. In Runciman, we have a specialist left centre, in Aitken a specialist right. What's holding Mary back from picking these two young guys every week? They could be our centre pairing for the next 10 years.

I'd be blooding these two, plus Duffy at the back. Dugan? Maybe right side second rower. Not as silly as it sounds, his defence is solid, and he sure is big enough. What else are we going to do with him? He is costing us 700k and is keeping us from blooding young promising juniors f he pays fb or right centre.

Have a look at how the Tigers are benefiting from blooding all those kids in 2013-2014.

 

[TheRev]

theyre all injured though (runciman, dufty and at some point matautai was too), and thats without play 1st grade, im definitely for blooding juniors, but it really needs to be in the Cutters first for Dufty atleast, Aitken is a lil premature, but were desperate and he looks big enough in 1sts, just hopefully he didnt injure himself last week (whatever that limp was).

Dufty is the most exciting prospect for me, but hes also quite slight and fullback is a bruising position, under the bomb particularly, and you cop it all day long in 1sts, steamrolled the second you hit the ground (or earlier).

 

[Cagey Mac]

I would rather see Runciman on the left and Aitken on the right. Runciman has always played well when given an opportunity.

A good option

 

[getsmarty]

Euan Aitken gets tick after Dragons debut

By MITCH JENNINGS

March 22, 2015, 7:03 p.m.
RUGBY LEAGUE



Dragons rookie Euan Aitken's NRL debut had a bit of everything on Saturday.
Aitken was a late call-up for the match against Canberra at the expense of veteran Dane Nielsen and his debut was shaping as one to forget when his side trailed 18-0 after just 20 minutes.
However, a second-half surge saw the Dragons run in four tries to overcome the deficit and give the 19-year-old a dream start to his NRL career. With confirmation of his debut coming just 24 hours before kick-off Aitken said he didn't have time to dwell on any pre-game nerves.
"Firstly it was excitement straight away," he said.
"There was a few little nerves there but I just tried to complete the same routine I always do before games.
"It was touch and go through the week.
"Mary [coach Paul McGregor] told me I had to be preparing to play and on Friday he announced I was in the team so I came down with the boys and prepared from there."
Brought into the side to bring attacking spark, Aitken spent much of the game carting the ball out of his own end, breaking eight tackles in a game-high 18 carries for 176 metres to underline his value at both ends of the park.
"I just carried the ball strongly as much as I could and provide that for the team," he said.
"There was a bit of adversity in the first half, including a bad defensive read from me which is something I've got to improve on, but it was a great buzz to get that win coming from 18-0 down.
"We had belief in each other and we knew we just needed to fix up our little errors and penalties.
"If we can play like that and complete our sets we've always got that spark in attack.
"We just need to hold the ball and build pressure on their line.
"All credit to the boys we stuck to it and it was a great win."
McGregor was glowing in his praise of Aitken.
"I've never seen someone offer as much on debut as Euan Aitken," McGregor said.
"His involvement from the very start was pure class.
"It was a great debut and he's got a bright future"
McGregor admitted his side's trouble scoring points had prompted the decision to promote the youngster.
"We only had a five-day turnaround so it was a tough one," McGregor said.
"Dane [Nielsen} had a few bumps from last week and obviously when you lose you need to make some changes.
"I thought [Aitken] played really well in reserve grade and he just beats people.
"He did that again today, he's a powerful runner of the football, and we needed some points ... that's why he got the call-up."



http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/2961347/aitken-the-centre-of-attention-in-debut/?cs=302

 

[dino2170]

hey wait a minute everyone is talking about the young blokes being better than what we have in first grade BUT i heard the commentator say that during the canberra game that saints never won a game in any grade in 2015.

 

[2217]

just reading on news dot com hes on the titans wish list

 

[counterpuncher]

Cashed-up Gold Coast Titans on hunt for the NRL’s best young players

Chris Garry and Todd Balym Exclusive The Courier-Mail

March 23, 2015 12:00AM


NRL clubs be warned, the Gold Coast Titans are hunting the scalps of your best young players.

The NRL-backed Titans are going on a recruitment spree and The Courier-Mail can reveal the club’s Daly Cherry-Evans endorsed hit list.

Coach Neil Henry and recruitment chief Jamie Mathiou are targeting players in their early 20’s who are considered future representative stars.

Mathiou is the club’s first full time recruitment manager and he has already helped secure arguably the club’s greatest signing in Cherry-Evans.

The Gold Coast have at least $2 million to spend in their cap even after their $1m a year splurge on Cherry-Evans.

Their next priorities are Rabbitohs revelation Alex Johnston, St George Illawarra sensation Euan Aitken, young Broncos props Joe Ofahengaue, Francis Molo and George Fai and future Origin centre Dane Gagai.

There will be an overhaul of the Titans roster for 2016 with Cherry-Evans to be joined by at least two more representative-quality players.

The Titans are fighting three other clubs for the signature of Johnston, one of the most exciting talents in the NRL.

The 20-year-old is already among the NRL’s best wingers and was selected in Australia’s Four Nations squad last year.

Souths are nervous that Johnston’s desire to be a permanent fullback will see him leave Redfern as there is no chance of him usurping Greg Inglis.

The Titans have met with Johnston’s manager Clinton Schifcofske regarding his client’s next contract but an offer is yet to be made.

Any offer will depend on whether they secure the services of Gagai and Aitken as centre is the Titans’ major roster hole.

Aitken, 19, was brilliant in his first game for the Dragons in their win over Canberra with coach Paul McGregor rating his 192 metre effort one of the best debuts he’s witnessed.

Benji Marshall rates him the best teenager in the NRL.

Gagai is seriously considering spurning Wayne Bennett and joining the Titans and has been impressed with their negotiations so far.

While coach Henry would not be drawn on individual talents he revealed the club now had a youth policy and confirmed there would be further roster change.

“We’re trying to recruit, with Jamie Mathiou, young players for the future around a nucleus of older guys we’ve got here that have got the experience,” Henry said.

“There’s no doubt there is a changeover in players and that will continue like it does at a lot of clubs.

“We’ve had a little bit of movement this year and there will be a little bit more next year with the nucleus of the players staying.

“That recruitment is an ongoing process and we just get on with our footy in the meantime.”

While Cherry-Evans is being asked for advice on potential recruits he is not making offers to his NRL brethren.

The Knights are furious that Cherry-Evans contacted Gagai about coming to the Gold Coast but Henry said the issue had been blown out of proportion.

“I think Dane Gagai was just something Cherry-Evans makes a call about because they know each other,” Henry said.

“He is not recruiting on behalf of us. Players talk all the time.

“There was a bit of publicity around it and it was motivated that way and I don’t think there is anything in it.”

WISH LIST

Alex Johnston

Age: 20

Club: Rabbitohs

Position: Wing/fullback

Dane Gagai

Age: 24

Club: Knights

Position: Centre

Euan Aitken

Age: 19

Club: Dragons

Position: Centre

Jo Ofahengaue

Age: 19

Club: Broncos

Position: Prop

Francis Molo

Age: 20

Club: Broncos

Position: Prop

George Fai

Age: 18

Club: Broncos

Position: Prop


http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl...st-young-players/story-fn2mcuj6-1227273645244

 

[RedVbloodlines91]

Hey guys while we are talking about our young talent does anyone no what has happened to dufty is I can't find anything on him being injured thanks guys

 

[OurRedV]

Just re-signed.

 

[getsmarty]

Dragons Re-Sign Aitken

Mon 23rd March, 03:30PM A A




The St George Illawarra Dragons on Monday announced the re-signing of centre Euan Aitken until at least the end of the 2017 season.
The Merimbula-Pambula Bulldogs junior is a graduate of the Dragons High Performance Unit who made his debut this past round against the Canberra Raiders at GIO Stadium, Canberra on Saturday.
Aitken, 19, was named the Dragons Paul McGregor NYC ‘Player of the Year’ last season in an impressive campaign which also saw him selected into both the Junior Kangaroos and initial NSW Blues U20 State of Origin squads.
“It’s exciting news and I am happy to have the opportunity to continue being at the Dragons having worked my way up previously from their junior grades,” said Aitken.
“It’s been a tough and challenging pre-season for me following the call-up to train alongside the first-grade squad but it has definitely made me a better player for it.
“It is every player’s dream to play first-grade and having the chance to do just that over the weekend against the Raiders was a great experience.
“My main focus now is to continue my development under the guidance of Head Coach Paul McGregor and play my part in contributing to the team.”
Aitken is now the ninth member of the Dragons National Youth Competition team who reached the 2014 Preliminary Final to have re-signed with the Club.
“Euan is a junior product who has come through our system at an early age having been identified initially by our High Performance Unit staff,” said Dragons Recruitment Manager Ben Haran.
“He was invited to train alongside the first-grade squad during the pre-season and impressed in his debut against the Raiders over the weekend.
“Euan now holds the record for the most ever metres for the most tackle breaks gained by any St George Illawarra Dragons player on debut.
“We look forward to him continuing his development and see him as having a bright future here at the Club.”


http://www.dragons.com.au/news/2015/03/23/dragons_re_sign_aitk.html

 

[Cagey Mac]

Dragons Re-Sign Aitken

Mon 23rd March, 03:30PM A A




The St George Illawarra Dragons on Monday announced the re-signing of centre Euan Aitken until at least the end of the 2017 season.
The Merimbula-Pambula Bulldogs junior is a graduate of the Dragons High Performance Unit who made his debut this past round against the Canberra Raiders at GIO Stadium, Canberra on Saturday.
Aitken, 19, was named the Dragons Paul McGregor NYC ‘Player of the Year’ last season in an impressive campaign which also saw him selected into both the Junior Kangaroos and initial NSW Blues U20 State of Origin squads.
“It’s exciting news and I am happy to have the opportunity to continue being at the Dragons having worked my way up previously from their junior grades,” said Aitken.
“It’s been a tough and challenging pre-season for me following the call-up to train alongside the first-grade squad but it has definitely made me a better player for it.
“It is every player’s dream to play first-grade and having the chance to do just that over the weekend against the Raiders was a great experience.
“My main focus now is to continue my development under the guidance of Head Coach Paul McGregor and play my part in contributing to the team.”
Aitken is now the ninth member of the Dragons National Youth Competition team who reached the 2014 Preliminary Final to have re-signed with the Club.
“Euan is a junior product who has come through our system at an early age having been identified initially by our High Performance Unit staff,” said Dragons Recruitment Manager Ben Haran.
“He was invited to train alongside the first-grade squad during the pre-season and impressed in his debut against the Raiders over the weekend.
“Euan now holds the record for the most ever metres for the most tackle breaks gained by any St George Illawarra Dragons player on debut.
“We look forward to him continuing his development and see him as having a bright future here at the Club.”


http://www.dragons.com.au/news/2015/03/23/dragons_re_sign_aitk.html

Whew!
Now we can safely drop him for Nielsen against the Eagles :sarcasm:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeZJILxYi00

 

[7Seven7]

Dale to start for sure. LOL

 

[gitano]

It's been a while since I've said this, but well done Dragons management!

 

[LOYAL DRAGON]

was very nervous about it, good on ya saints, start with our own Juniors, will be better for it

 

[getsmarty]

It's been a while since I've said this, but well done Dragons management!

Yes agree...Aitken is a talent but this still doesn't even out the ledger though.Recruitment has been poor.

 

[BrissyRedV]

Yes agree...Aitken is a talent but this still doesn't even out the ledger though.Recruitment has been poor.

Great re-signing but this does not even compute as a win for management. This should have always been a formality. The only way they can have a win is they land some big name recruits and post a profit and that is not going to happen unless Doust or one of his cronies wins lotto and puts it straight back into the club.

 

[giboz71]

Great re-signing but this does not even compute as a win for management. This should have always been a formality. The only way they can have a win is they land some big name recruits and post a profit and that is not going to happen unless Doust or one of his cronies wins lotto and puts it straight back into the club.

Agree, but at least its a step in the right direction. We've already lost Hastings and Bird.

And we lost a stack of young centres like Whare, Jmoz and Linnett etc and the stock standard line was that we had Gaz and Coops.

Well guess what, now we have Farrell and Nielsen as starters, so this signing really should be a no-brainer.

 

[hazzbeen]

Just a thought what if Aitken had a bad game....would they had dropped him and left in the lower grades like they have done to many of them after one game ? Aitken needs to be there regardless if he plays well or has a bad game, he needs the experience to become a top line player.He is the future not Nielsen and Farrell....Anyway well done to the person who had the insight to sign this kid.....

 

[TheRev]

Just a thought what if Aitken had a bad game....would they had dropped him and left in the lower grades like they have done to many of them after one game ? Aitken needs to be there regardless if he plays well or has a bad game, he needs the experience to become a top line player.He is the future not Nielsen and Farrell....Anyway well done to the person who had the insight to sign this kid.....

Aitken has bought himself a couple of bad games before the forum population turn on him..

But there are only 5 blokes at the club who are potentially longterm centre options, guys who are genuine threats.. Dugan, Mata'utai, Aitken, Runciman & Thompson..

In 1 game it was clear that Aitken is strong, fast and belongs in the role, he might make defensive errors, he might take a while to get his combination with the men around him, he might play injured and not shine .. but simply 'having a go' already puts him above Neilson & Farrell.. the competition is not that fierce!

Runciman would go ok too but hes not as exciting, Thompson is more exciting than all of them but needs 1-2yrs experience, and Mary is still messing around with Dugan/Mata'utai so I think they will be filling in where they need to.. im happy with both of them at centre also.

 

[mbrako]

Aitken and Runciman long term partnership in the centres I could live with. Hope we see it in the top grade soon.