EUAN AITKEN

[avocado]

I was one who voiced an opinion that some of his performances last season were ordinary for a player of his calibre, and in comparison to what we all know what he can do. I do feel there was underlying issues that affected a few of the players last season, Tariq was another I felt under performed. For mine McInnes was one of the few who consistently played with any real conviction.

In the trials I watched Friz closely and it appeared to me that the effort areas of his game had returned somewhat. I sometimes wonder if players like him and Vaughan get disheartened by the inadequacies of our fumbling backs and eventually think what’s the point, although if I was a betting man would say something internally was distracting Friz, anyways hope it’s sorted for this season

He just doesn’t seem to know how to hit a hole.

Tariq is great at it. Creagh was the master.

 

[Belta]

He just doesn’t seem to know how to hit a hole.

Tariq is great at it. Creagh was the master.

I would have to agree, he really hasn’t split line too many times that I can remember, ie like Tariq and like u say Creagh, but the strange thing he does in SOO. His handling is another area where I think he’s had issues. I’m starting to think like a few on the forum he needs to be pushed up front. Maybe it will simplify his game. Either way he’s a great player, he’s capable of being our most damaging ball runner, just need to work out how best to use him.

 

[Dragonslayer]

Lets see if switching sides this year will help Friz. I hope it does, but I wonder if the change was made to strengthen the right defense with Tariq. Mind you I thought Friz was more effective in the trials than Tariq was.

 

[Dragsters]

Yes. I can see him being a very good centre.

Perhaps.

At least he's worth a shot over euan...

 

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

All the best of luck with that.
Mary's record shows it won't happen.
CC

He just doesn’t seem to know how to hit a hole.

Tariq is great at it. Creagh was the master.

In 2018 Hunt had a good season, so did Friz and even Aitken. Hunt was regularly putting both into holes but last year they hardly even went that way. In 2018 Friz won red v player of the year, I think he scored 5 tries and plenty of line breaks. I don't know if he was carrying an injury or if Hunt just had a bad year, and he never got any good ball. I do know that for a large portion of 2019 he played lock. I don't believe he's a lock at this stage of his career. He's a fast powerful runner who if given good short ball late will create plenty of damage. I believe if he stays on the left he will have a good year this year, as I believe most of our attack will go left especially if Wiliame gets picked there. I think Norman, and McInnes will feed him plenty of good ball.

 

[Dragsters]

I think NRL.com may have their left's and rights mixed up but it sounds promising nonetheless...

Casualty Ward + Round 1 selection news: Aitken on Dragons outer; RTS boost
Author
Troy Whittaker
NRL.com Reporter
Timestamp
Mon 9 Mar 2020, 02:38 PM

Paul McGregor's first gamble of a pressure-packed campaign looks set to hand Dragons recruit Brayden Wiliame his first NRL start in three years at the expense of regular centre Euan Aitken.

Wiliame is expected to start at left centre for St George Illawarra against Wests Tigers on Sunday, with Aitken unlikely to win inclusion in the game-day 17.

The move comes as McGregor looks to revitalise a Red V line-up that slumped to 15th last season, with Wiliame fast-tracked into the side for his first NRL outing since leaving Manly for Super League in 2016.

https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/01/23/casualty-ward-all-the-latest-nrl-injury-news/

 

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

I think NRL.com may have their left's and rights mixed up but it sounds promising nonetheless...

Casualty Ward + Round 1 selection news: Aitken on Dragons outer; RTS boost
Author
Troy WhittakerNRL.com Reporter
Timestamp
Mon 9 Mar 2020, 02:38 PM

Paul McGregor's first gamble of a pressure-packed campaign looks set to hand Dragons recruit Brayden Wiliame his first NRL start in three years at the expense of regular centre Euan Aitken.

Wiliame is expected to start at left centre for St George Illawarra against Wests Tigers on Sunday, with Aitken unlikely to win inclusion in the game-day 17.

The move comes as McGregor looks to revitalise a Red V line-up that slumped to 15th last season, with Wiliame fast-tracked into the side for his first NRL outing since leaving Manly for Super League in 2016.

https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/01/23/casualty-ward-all-the-latest-nrl-injury-news/

I hope he does play left centre and kills it there and they move Lafai to the right. If Wiliame plays right he may not look as good which will lead to weeks upon weeks of Aitken.

 

[TruSaint]

I think NRL.com may have their left's and rights mixed up but it sounds promising nonetheless...

Casualty Ward + Round 1 selection news: Aitken on Dragons outer; RTS boost
Author
Troy WhittakerNRL.com Reporter
Timestamp
Mon 9 Mar 2020, 02:38 PM

Paul McGregor's first gamble of a pressure-packed campaign looks set to hand Dragons recruit Brayden Wiliame his first NRL start in three years at the expense of regular centre Euan Aitken.

Wiliame is expected to start at left centre for St George Illawarra against Wests Tigers on Sunday, with Aitken unlikely to win inclusion in the game-day 17.

The move comes as McGregor looks to revitalise a Red V line-up that slumped to 15th last season, with Wiliame fast-tracked into the side for his first NRL outing since leaving Manly for Super League in 2016.

https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/01/23/casualty-ward-all-the-latest-nrl-injury-news/

Thx mate.
Thats a tad encouraging, if comes to fruition.

 

[Dragsters]

Thx mate.
Thats a tad encouraging, if comes to fruition.

The fact that a journo (in this case Troy Whittaker) actually put his name on the article gives me faith that he actually got mail and the story wasn't just made up for click bait under the "NRL Staff Writers" moniker which happens quite a bit I reckon...

 

[TruSaint]

The fact that a journo actually put his name on the article gives me faith that he actually got mail and the story wasn't just made up for click bait under the "NRL Staff Writers" moniker which happens quite a bit I reckon...

Also reported apparently in the Illawarra Mercury ?

 

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

The fact that a journo actually put his name on the article gives me faith that he actually got mail and the story wasn't just made up for click bait under the "NRL Staff Writers" moniker which happens quite a bit I reckon...

I wonder if when Mary hinted after the Charity Shield that he got clarity on a few things one of them was Aitken’s 2 bombed tries?

 

[Dragsters]

I wonder if when Mary hinted after the Charity Shield that he got clarity on a few things one of them was Aitken’s 2 bombed tries?

He did mention that Aitken and Lafai cost us opportunities to score points in the second half which was something of a shock to me...

 

[boardlumps62]

i have a nightmare that the roosters sign aitken in round 3 this year an the dragons make the grandfinal an lose to the roosters as aitken is announce as the clive churchill medal winner for scoring 3 tries in the grandfinal. roosters 28 dragons 26. hopefully it wasnt a dream

If we are lucky enough to make the grandfinal and Euan was in their side he would probably score six tries as he would know that our centres and wingers get confused in defence. They either don't trust each other or think it's normal to move to the inside.
If the coach told them to line up out side the opposite number our defence would slide out not in and leave overlaps all day every day.

 

[LINESPEED]

I wonder if when Mary hinted after the Charity Shield that he got clarity on a few things one of them was Aitken’s 2 bombed tries?

Clarity after 6 years of in-your-face crystal clear stats.

FMD how will he go in English fog as a Waterboy?

Hopefully the first card has fallen - and the McLaitkens trio will depart in sync

 

[Crush]

1 centre down 1 to go?
We need lafai gone as well, pronto.

 

[Dragsters]

1 centre down 1 to go?
We need lafai gone as well, pronto.

I for one won't be counting any chickens before TLT...

 

[Como Connection]

He'll drop Lafai before EA for sure I reckon.
CC

 

[redv13]

I’ll believe that at 4pm tomorrow when I see it with my own eyes, but how good would that be if it did happen for round 1!!!
His pass to Ravalawa in the CS was the worst pass thrown by a 1st grade centre in a very long time. Under 12’s stuff Euan.....

 

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

1 centre down 1 to go?
We need lafai gone as well, pronto.

100% but let’s not get too greedy. We need to take any small blessings we can get at this point.

 

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

Clarity after 6 years of in-your-face crystal clear stats.

FMD how will he go in English fog as a Waterboy?

Hopefully the first card has fallen - and the McLaitkens trio will depart in sync

We are shocked it’s taken this long, but I will thoroughly enjoy watching him in CC.