EUAN AITKEN

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

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

That isn’t a nightmare, the Dragons making the GF and Aitken moving on are probably greater than anything that actually will happen this season if we are to be truthful.

 

[muzby]

That isn’t a nightmare, the Dragons making the GF and Aitken moving on are probably greater than anything that actually will happen this season if we are to be truthful.

I’ll take those odds.

 

[j0nesy]

I’m one of Aitken’s harshest critics. IMO possibly the worst centre in the game.

On the other hand I pity the guy. I truly believe that under the right tutelage he would be a fantastic player. Whether centre, second row, whatever, he has the strength and physicality to be a threat. Unfortunately for Euan (or Gitano, whatever his name is) he has lost the development side of his career due to McGregor.

The centre 3/4 boat has sailed. His position is edge back rower now.

I totally agree with this. As a kid he had potential. Unfortunately he has never improved his ball playing and defensive reading of the game.

 

[getsmarty]

I totally agree with this. As a kid he had potential. Unfortunately he has never improved his ball playing and defensive reading of the game.

That's why he would be better off going to another side...get a real coach...he may teach him a thing or 2...it's probably to late at this stage of his career but " Better late than Never ".

 

[Richard Norton]

That's why he would be better off going to another side...get a real coach...he may teach him a thing or 2...it's probably to late at this stage of his career but " Better late than Never ".

He is still kinda young. He is a devastating, powerfull runner.
He needs to learn to pass and learn to read the play in defence.
The irony is, we have a "Coach" (term used very, VERY, lightly) that was a representative centre in his day, yet cant seem to grasp whats needed for his current centre to excel.
Aitken has reached his ceiling of potential with us unfortunately, and that ceiling of potential isnt good enough for us.
We have Wiliame who is an upgrade on Lafai imo, we need someone ready to go to replace Aitken, and i believe that should be Lomax.
Give Sailor a run at Fullback.
A backline of 1. Sailor 2. Rava/Jennings 3. Lomax 4. Williame 5. Pereira/Saab has excitement written all over it.
Still all young, thats a backline you can have for many years to come.
With the Feagi bros and Ramsey progressing, we have no meed to keep the current dead wood any longer.
Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

He is still kinda young. He is a devastating, powerfull runner.
He needs to learn to pass and learn to read the play in defence.
The irony is, we have a "Coach" (term used very, VERY, lightly) that was a representative centre in his day, yet cant seem to grasp whats needed for his current centre to excel.
Aitken has reached his ceiling of potential with us unfortunately, and that ceiling of potential isnt good enough for us.
We have Wiliame who is an upgrade on Lafai imo, we need someone ready to go to replace Aitken, and i believe that should be Lomax.
Give Sailor a run at Fullback.
A backline of 1. Sailor 2. Rava/Jennings 3. Lomax 4. Williame 5. Pereira/Saab has excitement written all over it.
Still all young, thats a backline you can have for many years to come.
With the Feagi bros and Ramsey progressing, we have no meed to keep the current dead wood any longer.
Just my 2 cents worth.

This is why I hope we give Saab every opportunity to excel this season. Next year we very well could have a new coach and quite a war chest. With a few ageing forwards we can put our coin there for the most part and try to snag one gun winger. It is not beyond the realms of possibility that next season our back 5 could be.
1.Ramsey
2.Gun winger or a Feagai
3.Wiliame
4.Lomax
5.Saab
That to me is a pretty exciting backline if playing behind a decent pack. Ford is only going to develop further, Ivan should be ready, Kerr is getting better every year and Sims, Vaughan and Friz hopefully still around we can spend our money on quality. I actually believe Ramsey will debut this season at some stage after June 30 to get a taste.

 

[Richard Norton]

This is why I hope we give Saab every opportunity to excel this season. Next year we very well could have a new coach and quite a war chest. With a few ageing forwards we can put our coin there for the most part and try to snag one gun winger. It is not beyond the realms of possibility that next season our back 5 could be.
1.Ramsey
2.Gun winger or a Feagai
3.Wiliame
4.Lomax
5.Saab
That to me is a pretty exciting backline if playing behind a decent pack. Ford is only going to develop further, Ivan should be ready, Kerr is getting better every year and Sims, Vaughan and Friz hopefully still around we can spend our money on quality. I actually believe Ramsey will debut this season at some stage after June 30 to get a taste.

Ramsey, when given a shot at Fullback, will make the spot his own.
The guy is a gun. I know many say 1st grade is different to CC and juniors, but this kid is ready, believe me when i tell you this, his style is similar to Peachey/Mullins, only with 5 times there speed.
Even though i dont mind Saab, i favour Rava more.
With a little work i see him as the next Radradra.
Watch him all game, his one on one defence is phenomenal, he gets blamed for his centre misreading the play.
His hands are his only issue. Other then that he runs and hits like a bulldozer.
Once we fix our centres, watch our backline excel.
Let the season begin

 

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

Ramsey, when given a shot at Fullback, will make the spot his own.
The guy is a gun. I know many say 1st grade is different to CC and juniors, but this kid is ready, believe me when i tell you this, his style is similar to Peachey/Mullins, only with 5 times there speed.
Even though i dont mind Saab, i favour Rava more.
With a little work i see him as the next Radradra.
Watch him all game, his one on one defence is phenomenal, he gets blamed for his centre misreading the play.
His hands are his only issue. Other then that he runs and hits like a bulldozer.
Once we fix our centres, watch our backline excel.
Let the season begin

Yeah I do think he will be a surprise packet. Seems much improved from last season. Looks to have had a good off season. I would love him at centre but I know it’s not happening.

 

[Richard Norton]

Yeah I do think he will be a surprise packet. Seems much improved from last season. Looks to have had a good off season. I would love him at centre but I know it’s not happening.

No chance lol he is a Fullback through and through.
I really cant wait to see him get a run, cause i know he wont let us down and he wont be giving up his spot.
He will be our taller billy slater for the next 10 years.

 

[getsmarty]

He is still kinda young. He is a devastating, powerfull runner.
He needs to learn to pass and learn to read the play in defence.
The irony is, we have a "Coach" (term used very, VERY, lightly) that was a representative centre in his day, yet cant seem to grasp whats needed for his current centre to excel.
Aitken has reached his ceiling of potential with us unfortunately, and that ceiling of potential isnt good enough for us.
We have Wiliame who is an upgrade on Lafai imo, we need someone ready to go to replace Aitken, and i believe that should be Lomax.
Give Sailor a run at Fullback.
A backline of 1. Sailor 2. Rava/Jennings 3. Lomax 4. Williame 5. Pereira/Saab has excitement written all over it.
Still all young, thats a backline you can have for many years to come.
With the Feagi bros and Ramsey progressing, we have no meed to keep the current dead wood any longer.
Just my 2 cents worth.

Agree. 100%...although Aitken will be 25 this year....this year will be his 6th year in the top grade...( Debute in 2015 )....If you can't draw and pass and read defence in that time, then it will be hard for someone to re -educate him.

I'd be playing lomax at right centre and sailor or Ramsey eventually at fullback...essentially what you have stated.

 

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

No chance lol he is a Fullback through and through.
I really cant wait to see him get a run, cause i know he wont let us down and he wont be giving up his spot.
He will be our taller billy slater for the next 10 years.

I’m talking about Ravalawa

 

[Richard Norton]

I’m talking about Ravalawa

Ohhh snap, my bad, lol, i would LOVE to see Rava have a run at centre.
He showed last year i think it was, against the bulldogs maybe? Where he made a break and passed the most crisp pass back infield...
I think he would kill it at centre...
So 100% agree with you there lol

 

[Richard Norton]

Agree. 100%...although Aitken will be 25 this year....this year will be his 6th year in the top grade...( Debute in 2015 )....If you can't draw and pass and read defence in that time, then it will be hard for someone to re -educate him.

I'd be playing lomax at right centre and sailor or Ramsey eventually at fullback...essentially what you have stated.

2 players, thats all it takes.
Aitken and Lafai, drop them 2, and our entire backline becomes more lethal.
Sailor showed he can handle First grade fullback.
Williame and Lomax are here and ready, we have wingers, how hard is it for the armchair expert to see this?
Its beyond mind boggling.

 

[emu62]

Re - continued selection of Lafai & Aitkin. Maybe McWrecker isn't as stupid as we all think. His legacy at this club will never be as a coach, Surely he even sees that.It can only be as one of our best ever centres and by continually playing Lafai & Aitkin this legacy will never be in jeopardy

Then again more likely he just has N.F.I.

 

[possm]

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

It would never happen!

 

[possm]

Re - continued selection of Lafai & Aitkin. Maybe McWrecker isn't as stupid as we all think. His legacy at this club will never be as a coach, Surely he even sees that.It can only be as one of our best ever centres and by continually playing Lafai & Aitkin this legacy will never be in jeopardy

Then again more likely he just has N.F.I.

I would rate both Gasnier and Cooper ahead of Mary.

 

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

I would rate both Gasnier and Cooper ahead of Mary.

Probably right but Mary was a bloody good player. Almost as brilliant as Gaz but as strong as an ox.

 

[redandwhite4evr]

I have always thought that Ford would be a great centre who - like some great players before him - would eventually move to the backrow in first grade. Given we have a real problem in the centres, I do not understand why a Ford/Williame centre combination was not tested during the trials. Other potential combinations coud also have been tested.

Instead, Mary had Aitken and Lafai on the field during most of the trial, a situation that showed us nothing new and only underlined the need to drop or off-load both of them.

Yes- as I've posted before, Ford has the potential to be that invaluable Beau Scott type of player who can cover the loss of an outside back and allow a half/ dummy half (like Clune or Sailor) to be on the bench and give us some extra zip in the last 20 minute or so ( yeah- I know- Mary only gives his impact players 5 minutes)

 

[Como Connection]

Yes- as I've posted before, Ford has the potential to be that invaluable Beau Scott type of player who can cover the loss of an outside back and allow a half/ dummy half (like Clune or Sailor) to be on the bench and give us some extra zip in the last 20 minute or so ( yeah- I know- Mary only gives his impact players 5 minutes)

I prefer Tyrell over Ford at present.
CC

 

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

I prefer Tyrell over Ford at present.
CC

I just want one shock selection just one Mary. A Wiliame at LC a Fuimaono at RC, BB starting, Clune picked over Norman. Just something a bit ballsy.