If JDB is out who comes in?

[Slippery Morris]

If JDB loses his case who is available? Merrin is the one linked and Stimson at the Storm but nobody else stands out really? Any other options out there? Looking at how the poms are going in the NRL I would be sending scouts over there to see if they can snag a pommie.

 

[possm]

Put Aitken there, he can tackle one on one when they are in front of him and he can make good metres and does not have to pass the ball. Start him in the bench and gradually give him more minutes.

 

[dragon thomo]

Spot on Possm

 

[WepnutV]

Put Aitken there, he can tackle one on one when they are in front of him and he can make good metres and does not have to pass the ball. Start him in the bench and gradually give him more minutes.

won't happen. Aitken struggles in the forwards.

 

[blacksafake]

There were earlier rumours of us looking at Esee Esee from the Knights. That appears to have gone quiet though.

 

[WepnutV]

Put Aitken there, he can tackle one on one when they are in front of him and he can make good metres and does not have to pass the ball. Start him in the bench and gradually give him more minutes.

Haha Aitken is on the bench.. I guess you and Mary think alike

 

[hazzbeen]

Put Aitken there, he can tackle one on one when they are in front of him and he can make good metres and does not have to pass the ball. Start him in the bench and gradually give him more minutes.

Said the same at start of season , he could turn out OK ....

 

[hazzbeen]

won't happen. Aitken struggles in the forwards.

Don't be surprised if he does come on in the forwards . For me I would have dropped him all together and gave a young forward a change .... Anyway its all back to Super coach to work that out , he has had long enough to work it out .. ..

 

[Glenn012]

Aitken will do well as an interchange utility even when JDB is back. It's probably a position where he can excel.

 

[SaintPauli]

I'd JDB looses which I highly doubt,

Kirbin Sims
Blake Laurie on the upper
Jacob Host on the upper
We dont need a forward replacement.
Put JDB the funds into a world class winger who can catch, create tackle breaks , line breaks and run like the wind.

 

[Slippery Morris]

Saints need forwards. The backs are fine. Just because the coach does not pick the best available does not mean the Saints have no backs. I am sure Lomax and Pearson are better than others out there available, not their fault they are not getting a run.

Funny how when Saints had no depth in the backs (e.g when they had Gaz and Coops in the centres), they copped heaps of injuries and long term ones as well. Now that Saints have a heap of good options in the backs, nobody gets injured. Aitken and Lafai will probably have an injury free season.

 

[Dragons 09]

Now that Saints have a heap of good options in the backs, nobody gets injured. Aitken and Lafai will probably have an injury free season.

I certainly hope Lafai stays injury free, he has been one of our best backs so far this season.

 

[Old Timer]

So in the 1st grade squad thus far we have had Frizz, Lawrie, Host and maybe K Sims as well all start in the 13 jumper and it still remains a quandry as we continue to juggle that position around.
In normal circumstances at a good club the 13 from the lower grade would be considered potentially as the replacement but no true of us as we move players out of position trying to accommodate it and of course we have let Hame Sele go.
it should be noted that Allgood is going to play 13 in CC this week so IMO the coaching staff have NFI whatsoever how to cover the position.
So even if we were to look external for a replacement I would bank on us buying a utility rather than a specialist as we obviously have little idea what specialist means.

 

[redV06]

Bring Jackson Ford into the top squad

 

[Saint_JimmyG]

Saints need forwards. The backs are fine. Just because the coach does not pick the best available does not mean the Saints have no backs. I am sure Lomax and Pearson are better than others out there available, not their fault they are not getting a run.

Funny how when Saints had no depth in the backs (e.g when they had Gaz and Coops in the centres), they copped heaps of injuries and long term ones as well. Now that Saints have a heap of good options in the backs, nobody gets injured. Aitken and Lafai will probably have an injury free season.

No, the backs (particularly the wingers) are what separates SGI from being fair dinkum premiership contenders and those making up the numbers.

 

[This Year?]

I think Pereira has been ok without being spectacular, but Ravalawa needs lots more development. The top 4 sides each have at least 1 game changing winger.

 

[Dennis Papaioannou]

Don't be surprised if he does come on in the forwards . For me I would have dropped him all together and gave a young forward a change .... Anyway its all back to Super coach to work that out , he has had long enough to work it out .. ..

You make a good point.
Why try and manufacture a forward out of Aitkin and not just drop him?
There are kids who have been playing that position for years and have been building their bodies and skill set to be forwards.
I am a big believer in specialists for specialists positions.
I would drop Aitkin if he is not performing in the centres and give a young forward from the lower grade a go.
Timms, Ford immediately come to mind.
Instead we have this blind support of McGregor's favourites come hell or high water.
In my view, it actually weakens our bench which looks ragged right now.
Latimore, Aitkin, Leilua, and Host.
Big wraps on Leilua for a long time. Not a lot happens when he comes on.
Latimore puts all our intensity and go forward in reverse when he enters the fray.
Aitkin will be a lottery playing in an unfamiliar position.
All the theory about how he may work out is a waste of time until he has had a couple of games (preferably in reserve grade) under his belt.
Why are we experimenting in FG?
Host is the only one that I would say can guarantee to provide intensity required.

 

[Frank Facer]

You make a good point.
Why try and manufacture a forward out of Aitkin and not just drop him?
There are kids who have been playing that position for years and have been building their bodies and skill set to be forwards.
I am a big believer in specialists for specialists positions.
I would drop Aitkin if he is not performing in the centres and give a young forward from the lower grade a go.
Timms, Ford immediately come to mind.
Instead we have this blind support of McGregor's favourites come hell or high water.
In my view, it actually weakens our bench which looks ragged right now.
Latimore, Aitkin, Leilua, and Host.
Big wraps on Leilua for a long time. Not a lot happens when he comes on.
Latimore puts all our intensity and go forward in reverse when he enters the fray.
Aitkin will be a lottery playing in an unfamiliar position.
All the theory about how he may work out is a waste of time until he has had a couple of games (preferably in reserve grade) under his belt.
Why are we experimenting in FG?
Host is the only one that I would say can guarantee to provide intensity required.

Mary would view carrying Aitken on the bench as his compulsory reserve back.

 

[Dragonslayer]

Mary would view carrying Aitken on the bench as his compulsory reserve back.

and bring him on as such and of course move Lomax to the forwards...……….McGregor's grand plan.

 

[possm]

Maybe Saab and Lomax on the right and Lafai and Pearson on the left would give us the speed and strike power we need to compete. Pereira is good but not a speedster.