I think our only chance of making the top 4 is if Lomax is given first crack at Aikten's centre position and a young winger such as Matherson Johns, Herbert or Garrick given Nightingale's wing spot. Then we would need the likes of Lomax, Dufty and who ever replaces Nightingale to be success stories of 2018.
I don't think it will happen. I expect a backline of
1 Dufty
2 Nightingale
3 Aikten
4 Lafai
5 McDonald
6 Widdop
7 Hunt.
With that backline I still think we should make the top 8, but not the top 4.
Agree Frank
Our 2 & 5 would have to be just about the worst wing combo in the comp now ( sorry Nighty)
I find it hard to think of any team we'd be confident of beating ATM
We need speed like Field & Lomax running off Lafai's inside balls - and we need Dufty to run the ball instead of passing to the Dreamer
I don't know Dufty, but there'd be nothing wrong with a bit of ego in this team that lacks confidence under pressure?
We lost 2 so-called 'big heads' in Bird & Cook, but boy could we do with them now!
I suspect Mary engenders a sycophantic culture of 'toe the line & do as you're told - you play my way' or it's the Princess Hwy ( a Doust credo)
Instead of encouraging flair & allowing players some self-expression
Suckups are rewarded with out of form selection! It took a whole season to axe LOVECHILD, and remember how long it took to drop an out of form Lafai?
I just hope it's not Aitken who fills the void left by LOVECHILD, as we need an Xfactor in the centres & wings
And with time ticking on Jetski's contract he'll be even more conservative in 2018
So I think top 4 is, sadly, pie in the sky
="Saint_JimmyG, post: 12606074, member: 46554"]A Drag Queen clone? No, not even close. If you had bothered to notice, there are a few 'forum-sters' who are also concerned by Dufty's 'Quinlan like' characteristics.
These include his proclivity to pass first, run later when fielding kicks from the opposition. His lack of height/weight and front on defence are other areas of concern.
As for McIness, I simply don't rate him....he was released by Souths so they could acquire a hooker well past his best after all.
Is that ok with you? Please "enlighten" me because I relish justifying my thoughts to folk who don't know me personally.[/QUOTE]