charity shield side

[hazzbeen]

Maybe Wallace and Nona in the halves would be an option!

Why not ? This is where we should be trying players bottom line it is a trial game.....give them a chance at this level , you never know ........

 

[dragonsman4eva]

I forgot about pete Matautia lol. It's going to be a interesting who Mary selects and what combinations he goes with

 

[BrissyRedV]

I'm not so confident Marshall will play or should risk aggravating his ankle. So with possibly both halves missing, Mann can play 5/8 very well....and it's only a fill in for this week.
Different story with the full compliment of players available.

Trials aren't actually about winning them. It is about testing players in their likely positions and testing their combinations and plays that they have been training for all off season. If certain players are not going to be ready, players that are likely to fill those positions should be used. Mann will be fullback. Dugan will be centre. In season proper, Hutchison, mccrone and quinlan will likely be back ups for the halves. Dufty I assume will deputise Mann at fullback along with quinlan. All these players should play in their likely positions.

 

[giboz71]

Would like to see Lafai and McCrone get a solid run in a proper game. What we saw from the 9's didn't exactly instill confidence from either.

Like most, I assumed Lafai would be a walk up starter but Aitken showed he's risen to the challenge. He's not going to let his spot go without a fight.

 

[BennyV]

Would like to see Lafai and McCrone get a solid run in a proper game. What we saw from the 9's didn't exactly instill confidence from either.

Like most, I assumed Lafai would be a walk up starter but Aitken showed he's risen to the challenge. He's not going to let his spot go without a fight.

From memory, Lafai is a natural left centre and Aitken is a natural right centre. I know that all players should be able to play both sides but if they are close then it comes into play, considering things like stepping off which feet and naturally carrying the ball in a certain arm.

Either way, I would be very, VERY surprised if Lafai isn't s starting centre come round 1,with Aitken as the first backup.

 

[Dragsters]

From memory, Lafai is a natural left centre and Aitken is a natural right centre. I know that all players should be able to play both sides but if they are close then it comes into play, considering things like stepping off which feet and naturally carrying the ball in a certain arm.

Either way, I would be very, VERY surprised if Lafai isn't s starting centre come round 1,with Aitken as the first backup.

Correct re the specialities of centres playing left or right and in addition the preferred passing side is crucial.

From my experience, as a left hander, right centre was my preferred side as my left to right pass was stronger and more accurate.

That said I see aitken as a back up for duges thru injury and origin and also potentially in the mix for the left wing spot depending on how the specialist wingers fare.

 

[Lethal25]

The fact there is genuine debate on the forum regarding spots in the back line shows there has been squad depth improvement.

Young guys like Kiti Glymin and Dufty could be knocking on the door this year also

 

[Dragsters]

Definitely. This year there are at least 5 genuine back-up specialist outside backs.

Compare that to last season when the options we pretty much back rowers filling full stop!

Massive improvement.

 

[Jubileeboy]

Trials aren't actually about winning them. It is about testing players in their likely positions and testing their combinations and plays that they have been training for all off season. If certain players are not going to be ready, players that are likely to fill those positions should be used. Mann will be fullback. Dugan will be centre. In season proper, Hutchison, mccrone and quinlan will likely be back ups for the halves. Dufty I assume will deputise Mann at fullback along with quinlan. All these players should play in their likely positions.

No need to tell me mate, I get it. The AKL 9's thread posters may need some convincing though
Mann will be a cover option at 5/8...above Quinlan and hopefully McCrone.

 

[BrissyRedV]

No need to tell me mate, I get it. The AKL 9's thread posters may need some convincing though
Mann will be a cover option at 5/8...above Quinlan and hopefully McCrone.

Not if he is 1st choice fullback being the point. Why disjoint the backline further for season proper if Gaz or Benji are injured by movingmoving our FB? If Hutchison, McCrone are available during season proper they will be selected, unless we take Nona or Wallace on a 2nd tier contract. We will benefit more playing Mann at fullback for the trial over selecting him at 5/8 because our other options didn't blitz it 1st outing of the season at the 9s.

 

[Highland Saint]

Not if he is 1st choice fullback being the point. Why disjoint the backline further for season proper if Gaz or Benji are injured by movingmoving our FB? If Hutchison, McCrone are available during season proper they will be selected, unless we take Nona or Wallace on a 2nd tier contract. We will benefit more playing Mann at fullback for the trial over selecting him at 5/8 because our other options didn't blitz it 1st outing of the season at the 9s.

Unless Mann is a potential future half

 

[giboz71]

From memory, Lafai is a natural left centre and Aitken is a natural right centre. I know that all players should be able to play both sides but if they are close then it comes into play, considering things like stepping off which feet and naturally carrying the ball in a certain arm.

Either way, I would be very, VERY surprised if Lafai isn't s starting centre come round 1,with Aitken as the first backup.

I'm sure if it means playing FG, Aitken would learn to adapt to the left.

Like you, I'd prefer Lafai to be our starter, provided he regains his 2014 form and is over all his injuries. Mann looks pretty handy so will most likely get the nod at FB, which means right centre will go to Dugan. So if Lafai fails to fire, would be hard to keep Aitken out, even if it means playing him on his non preferred side.

 

[Mr Red]

Dugan has all of a sudden become the very expensive square peg in a round hole..

Aitken is the best right centre in the club.
Lafai will have first crack at left centre, Peter M the next obvious choice, but Pete should start at left wing initially.
Mann seems to be the ball playing fullback preference from coach Mary...

Seems Dugan is the one the coach will try and manufacture a place for....right centre ahead of Aitken seems the obvious choice, however at the expense of a natural right centre...

 

[BrissyRedV]

Unless Mann is a potential future half

So trial him there next year if he is play half.

 

[Cagey Mac]

I'd really like to see a lot of Blake Wallace in the CS
Has spiders on him.

 

[BrissyRedV]

I'd really like to see a lot of Blake Wallace in the CS
Has spiders on him.

He is not contracted to the Dragons though.

 

[Blood Shot Eyes]

He is not contracted to the Dragons though.

Id like to see Wallace signed up asap if at all possible.

 

[BennyV]

Dugan has all of a sudden become the very expensive square peg in a round hole..

Aitken is the best right centre in the club.
Lafai will have first crack at left centre, Peter M the next obvious choice, but Pete should start at left wing initially.
Mann seems to be the ball playing fullback preference from coach Mary...

Seems Dugan is the one the coach will try and manufacture a place for....right centre ahead of Aitken seems the obvious choice, however at the expense of a natural right centre...

I get that, but don't discount Dugans ability as a right centre. So likely be a very potent weapon there.

 

[nrlnrl]

Why not ? This is where we should be trying players bottom line it is a trial game.....give them a chance at this level , you never know ........

As Rabbits20 mentioned, Souths will have a severely depleted side so it won't really be a test of NRL standard. Also, while it's good that Wallace went well last Saturday, it should be treated with caution as it was a trial against a Qld Cup side. Next thing you know he'll be in that high quality All Stars game.

 

[ChargingPatJarvis]

I'd like to see Hutch and Wallace in the halves.