hilder - can bird play his way back in

[Alan Shore]

Hilder is better at lock IMO. Anyway Aitken or Dallalana deserve to be slotted in at 5/8th sooner or later. Both have quality kicking games which would take the pressure off Kimmorley.

 

[ali]

Reefy, cough up what you've heard about Aitken! If not on here, can you send me a private message. I couldn't imagine him going anywhere else at his current age as the kid is Shire born and bred and looks like he is enjoying his footy. The club know how good he is as can be seen from comments from Peach, Nutley and Theo Burgess over the last year or so.

There's hardly a more natural 5/8 running around in the NRL. I saw him up close last night and he still is quite skinny for a footy player, but I was impressed at how he was throwing himself around in defence during the game. I'd much rather have him defending for my life than Simmo.

 

[blacktip-reefy]

I heard nothing definite thats for sure. Just that there at least 6 clubs searching for potential 5/8's.
Sought of put's the Sharks in a dillimna in my opinion as we have Aitken, Bird, Sully & Hilder all coming off contract over the next 14 months. & all except for Birds stocks have soared.
Someone is going to have to go or get offered a small contract.

On the Bird hilder issue, I just can't believe some still actually think that Bird can be placed before him.
Goes back to this popularity business. Hilder has performed, Bird never has. Hilder makes 44 tackles in a match, drops none. Bird misses 7 drops plenty.
About time some of you "judges" wake up to yourselves.
If it was a battle for potential, then believe me, Emilio is light years ahead of Bird. But he isn't living up to it, therefore incorrect to rate him against a guy who continues to aim up & improve.

Sssheeeeessshhh!

 

[Surely]

Exactly blacktip ... thats why he should play hooker.

Not big enough for a lock, not attacking enough for a 5/8 ... but a good solid player with a tireless work rate.

Bird has always looked more likely to break the line than Hilder. What bird needs is the confidence that someone will be backing up when he does.

This is something that has not happened with sharks for a long time.

 

[blacktip-reefy]

& what Emilio needs is someone there to make up for his missed tackles & to catch his dropped balls & point to where he should run. He should also have his pick of which position he would like to play.
But the guy has huge potential & will one day captain the world 17.

:roll:

 

[Booyah]

we have Aitken, Bird, Sully & Hilder all coming off contract

Didn't Hilder just sign a new contract a few weeks ago?

 

[Marlin]

paper today has an articl sayng that mat roger is being offered the 5\8 role

 

[blacktip-reefy]

Whilst we don't have 5/8, Matt Hilder is doing a great job.
I hope they buy a good 5/8 for next year. ;-)

 

[ali]

Reefy, are you saying the Australian selectors who picked Bird as 5/8 and captain for last years match against PNG all have no idea?

He may have wanker tendancies, but its way too soon to write off Bird as a good footballer. If we let him go I'm sure he'll come back and bite us on the arse.

On your too many 5/8s issue. Sullivan is now a specialist dummy half, and for mine Hilder is a back rower. Bird's first choice positions used to be lock or centre. Rugby league tactics go in cycles, and i'm sure this current fad of playing lock forwards at 5/8 is going to run out soon. Anyway is Aitken definately off contract? If we let him go it could be the blunder of all blunders.

 

[ali]

And anyway, we'll need some good backup for Rogers for every second week when's he's injured.

 

[blacktip-reefy]

depends if it's the same selectors that picked my mate Billy Dunn, years ago

 

[NthCronullaLocal]

I think Aitken is still highly thought of at the club. Steve Rogers said in the paper Russ is a possibility to partner Kimmorely in the halves pushing Matt Rogers into the centers if we did signed Matt.

Aitken is not a little as people think, he is 185cm and 90kg (from the sharks official site) which is by no means little for a half or 5/8.

Raper has stated Aitken is not ready YET in his opinion, which indicates he is in Rapers future plans. If he stays injury free im guessing Russ will get a decent shot at 5/8 within the next year.

What will be done with Bird remains to be seen. Where Hilder will end up in the side is a mystery to me.

 

[beekershark]

AFter watching live Wagon play on Saturdau, and the EEls fans obvious dislike for that hog in a number 6......the resemblance to bird was remarkable.

Potentially a reasonable first grader, but at present hilder would hold the spot all day long.

 

[wittyfan]

In 2004:

Winning percentage with Birdy: 25%

Winning percentage without Birdy: 66% :shock:

 

[millersnose]

other bizarre statistics

bird in 2004 has been banned from 350 % of games than he actually has played

hilder seems to have tightened up defence in this area and doesnt have birds droppsies

 

[DJDL]

2004 winning percentage with Sully, Kimmorley, Peach, Bailey, Hilder:- 43%

What's your point?

 

[wittyfan]

2004 winning percentage with Sully, Kimmorley, Peach, Bailey, Hilder:- 43%

What's your point?

We're doing much better without him.

 

[DJDL]

But are we doing better becuase we're without him? Which is what your original post insinuates.

 

[wittyfan]

But are we doing better becuase we're without him? Which is what your original post insinuates.

It's early days yet, and it will be interesting to see how many games we win without him, but I do think we a stronger team without him.

 

[SirShire]

Yeah guys, really says something after a handful of games :roll: Especially since discipline was an issue before Birdy kneed Martenee, and that was what was losing us games.