Our Spine for 2019

[True_Believer]

I agree 100%
The biggest questions for me that need to be answered.

1. Right centre should be Lomax without question (I actually think both centres are an issue but either way we will get Lafai or Aitken in the LC position)
2. Wingers this is enormous with ramifications for the FB position as well.
3. Where does Norman actually play (bench for mine)
4. If JDB is gone who goes to 13.
5. Will Mc Fookknuckle dispense with Lats and finally get the bench right.

It's not only that, it's the "then at the 20 minute mark bring this player on and move this player here, and this player here and then push such and such out wider and then have this player attack here but defend here". It's like you are rejigging the whole team every game multiple times just to fit one player in. I don't understand doing that at all but particularly in the halves when you want your halves to almost be 1 player - you need them working closely together for the entire game. Once you bring in variables, you start messing with that and creating instability in the spine. To me it makes zero sense to be shuffling players within a game and from game to game if you don't have to.

 

[stevedragon]

Agree OT
Its really square pegs in round holes, trying to fit players in just for the sake of it.
Widdop to fullback is one
Hunt to hooker is another
Both of these examples just have zero weight when you analyze the player and the positional requirements, but hey lets slot them in for a whole season because they played a game or 2 there several years ago.
The biggest conjecture facing selection for me is not the wingers but who gets the right centre spot. This decision has an impact on both defense and attack. Get it wrong and it wouldnt matter if we had JAC on the wing or Tedesco at fullback, it would look very ugly. Get it right and it wouldnt matter who was pkaying winger or fullback, they would have a much easier time both defensively and in attack.
Something like we saw in the us v Broncos finals game.

Imo that one spot will have such a profound impact on our season.
I just hope the "coaching" staff gets it right.

 

[stevedragon]

Just a wild thought, how about Widdop to partner Lomax in the centre

 

[muzby]

Just a wild thought, how about Widdop to partner Lomax in the centre

 

[Old Timer]

Just a wild thought, how about Widdop to partner Lomax in the centre

Not entirely without merit but far too much for our brain dead coach to consider.
Widdop IMO does a lot of the Lafai's defensive work thus the high missed tackle rate so if he was the centre and providing Norman can tackle it would in fact be worth trying.

 

[possm]

Been thinking of this as I’m about to buy my season pass today (yay!!) . I think McGregor is quite loyal and won’t disrupt the 2018 spine for round 1.
Dufty
Widdop
Hunt
Mciness
What I think will happen though is less minutes for Mciness and maybe Hunt as Norman starts at 14 and comes on around 30 min mark in the 7 role w Hunt to Hooker .. what happens in the 2nd half of a game will depend but I honestly see Norman coming in nice and fresh when the game has settled and making an impact - in fact the dragons could step up a gear w Hunt at hooker and Norman at 7 when that change happens as the creativity options are mind boggling!

Basically as a team we have swapped out Mann for Norman which already makes this team a step above last years team.. all in all happy days ahead .
#Duftywillstartatfullback

Madness, putting our best game manager on the bench purely out of loyalty to a player that has more work to do to be a top fullback. Dufty just needs more development and this development needs to be monitored and managed. Apart trom that the spine speaks for itself; the only change is for Norman to be added and Dufty to be substracted. In 2019 I also expect Robson to be our 14 in the hooker rotation with McInnes. It just makes common sense.

 

[possm]

Dufty is surplus to requirements now. Could still get a chance through injury what someone leaving, obviously.

Widdop could play fullback every so often but I don't think he could do it week to week any more. Don't know if he could handle the extra running and getting smashed on the kick returns amongst other things. Norman to me is better suited. I think we could see something where Norman and Widdop swap between halves and fullback, maybe even in the middle of games at times. It wouldn't really matter that much in attack anyway, because we'd expect them (Hunt, Widdop, Norman) all to be moving around and swapping.

1. Norman
6. Widdop
7. Hunt
9. McInnes
14. Robson

Norman's greatest asset is his game management so why put him at fullback? Widdop is said to be on his way at season's end and can play fullback at international level. So I say Woddop at 1 and Norman at 6.

 

[watatank]

Norman's greatest asset is his game management so why put him at fullback? Widdop is said to be on his way at season's end and can play fullback at international level. So I say Woddop at 1 and Norman at 6.

Our halves are established. Not sure why we would mess with that. Not sure why we move widdop tp fullback with his injury issues and all the other stuff. Norman can always move to the halves later if theres an injury or widdop leaves.

 

[possm]

Our halves are established. Not sure why we would mess with that. Not sure why we move widdop tp fullback with his injury issues and all the other stuff. Norman can always move to the halves later if theres an injury or widdop leaves.

If there was no concern over Dufty's ability to perform all of the requirements of a first grade fullback, I doubt that Widdop would be staying on for 2019. I imagine we would be given a release and be on his way home to mother England immediately after Norman's contract was signed. By Widdop staying for the 2019 season, he gives the Club and Dufty to sort things out.

Failing to defend well and take the high ball in 2019, would not help Dufty's cause at all. Affording the 2019 season to rectify his problems, Dufty would put himself in a great position to secure a long term contract with SGI for the fullback position.

 

[Crush]

I am predicting a massive meltdown when Mary leaves Lomax out of the starting 17 for round 1.
There is zero chance that he starts in the 3 or 4 Jersey round 1. That will be 3. Euan Aitken
4. Tim Lafai
Accept it as fact and move on.

 

[hewi]

All will boil down to pre season form and attitude IMO. The great unknown is injuries and the biggest ? Will be Widdops shoulder. If that doesn’t last then everything changes.

 

[Frank Facer]

The real problem is depth. With Mann gone, Field very raw, Nicholls very ploddy and JDB likely out, where are our backups in the halves?!

We will have more depth in the halves than probably any other club in the comp. We have Hunt, Norman and Widdop, so if an injury occurs to a half, then we still have a top line pair of halves.

 

[Frank Facer]

Just a wild thought, how about Widdop to partner Lomax in the centre

I hadn't even considered that, but after a bit of thought, I think it could work.

 

[BennyV]

I am predicting a massive meltdown when Mary leaves Lomax out of the starting 17 for round 1.
There is zero chance that he starts in the 3 or 4 Jersey round 1. That will be 3. Euan Aitken
4. Tim Lafai
Accept it as fact and move on.

Absolutely true. And for once, the meltdown will be well justified.

 

[giboz71]

I am predicting a massive meltdown when Mary leaves Lomax out of the starting 17 for round 1.
There is zero chance that he starts in the 3 or 4 Jersey round 1. That will be 3. Euan Aitken
4. Tim Lafai
Accept it as fact and move on.

The problem with Mary is he seems to prefer physical players who are solid but devoid of skills and footy smarts. That’s why guys like Rein, Aitken and Duges got so much game time in key positions during Mary’s time here.

Dean Young was that sort of player too. All heart, not so much skill. Having him Iin the coaching staff doesn’t help either.

That’s why they will persist with Aitken at 3.

 

[Saint_JimmyG]

Has everyone forgotten the Norman/Hunt pairing flunked at the Broncos?

Why anyone would move one of the best five-eighths in the comp in order to accommodate an unpredictable player (and person) is beyond me.

1. Norman
6. Widdop
7. Hunt
9. Robson.

 

[Crush]

Has everyone forgotten the Norman/Hunt pairing flunked at the Broncos?

Why anyone would move one of the best five-eighths in the comp in order to accommodate an unpredictable player (and person) is beyond me.

1. Norman
6. Widdop
7. Hunt
9. Robson.

This is what I think too. Whilst Widdop is with us he should play 6.
We should be looking to win the comp in 2019 and our best chance at that is with Widdop at 6.
1. Norman
6. Widdop
7. Hunt
9. McInnes
14. Robson
Dufty wing (I know he is too small but has to be in the team somewhere for x-factor alone)

 

[Crush]

Absolutely true. And for once, the meltdown will be well justified.

There are some who think we should keep Lafai, there are some who think we should keep Aitken, there are some who think we shouldn't keep either but there isn't a person on this forum that thinks we should keep both.
And that is what's going to happen.
#meltdown

 

[giboz71]

There are some who think we should keep Lafai, there are some who think we should keep Aitken, there are some who think we shouldn't keep either but there isn't a person on this forum that thinks we should keep both.
And that is what's going to happen.
#meltdown

If we had to keep one, it would have to be Lafai for sure.

We have 3 genuine playmakers who can give him the early ball he needs. And if Pearson is as quick as advertised, he will finally have a speedy winger that can take advantage of his offload and footwork.

Aitken belongs in the forwards or reserve grade. No room for players with no footy IQ any more.

 

[Crush]

If we had to keep one, it would have to be Lafai for sure.

We have 3 genuine playmakers who can give him the early ball he needs. And if Pearson is as quick as advertised, he will finally have a speedy winger that can take advantage of his offload and footwork.

Aitken belongs in the forwards or reserve grade. No room for players with no footy IQ any more.

See there you go, you're a Lafai man over Aitken. I'm the opposite.
Lafai is slow. Only way we should be keeping a slow centre in our team is if the rest of his game is flawless. But it isn't, he loves an error and pushes the pass way too often. Also, he seems to lack enthusiasm and goes missing a lot.
Aitken also has deficiencies but at least he has speed and is a damaging ball runner. Thats more than Lafai has.
I would be going with Lomax and Aitken myself.
Aitken out scored Lafai in every facet last season including defensive efficiency.