Tim Lafai v Taane Milne

[glenndragon]

The fact is that Duges is injury prone, fullback or right centre either way, he'll miss games giving opportunities to others during a long season. When his current contract expires at the time when salary caps to the clubs will be increased, games missed through injury could be a factor with his want to stay at the club....the same for widdop with his reason being consistency. For a creative flair, Milne needs to be in the side.
Aitken, though impressive and strong seems to "hog the ball" stifling attackiing movements at times....he could be be a good bench player....As stated before sell Lafai and keep whatever monies made to upgrade Thompson, Herbert etc

 

[BrissyRedV]

Milne is our best centre and should be a priority. As for the other centre, we are flushed for options with Herbert, Aitken, Thompson, Dodds, Mann and Macdonald at a pinch and if Dufty can make the jump to first grade, Dugan as well. Lafai has no place in the team and should not see first grade next year.

 

[giboz71]

It seems that the commentary gravitates to Josh Dugan regularly. In this thread it is said that Josh 'won't take a pay cut'. Does anyone really believe that any other club will fork up anything over $450k a season for Josh?

I'm not anti Duges. He is a good player now but was a prodigious talent when at Canberra. He was never 'fast' but quick enough and had an agility that was quite unique. He played best for us in his 1st half season.Since then he has settled into a pattern of strong running, good tackling and occasionally pulling through a number of tackles to make good ground, also getting shown the sideline and pushed out from time to time.

I agree 5 to 7 kg lighter may be what gets him back to near best.

I don’t think Duges can expect max FB money in his next contract (not the 750-800k we’re paying him anyway). Which teams would change their current FB and pay that sort of coin?

Sharks – no, they have Holmes and Bird (and Barba still around)
Storm – no, they have Slater and Munster
Raiders – no, been sacked there before and they have Wighton
Cows – no, they have Coote who JT loves playing with
Broncos – no, they have Boyd, nuff said
Panthers – no, Moylan is their club captain
Titans – no, they now have Hayne
Warriors – no, they have RTS
Tigers – no, they have Tedesco
Manly – no, they have Tommy Turbo
Roosters – no, Mitchell will be their next big thing (and Fergo can play FB)
Souths – possibly, but they still have GI
Knights – no, just paid big money for Ponga
Parra – no, they are in a cap mess and they have French

That only really leaves the Dogs, but they would have to shed Bmoz and/or Hopoate. He’d probably fit in nicely at the Dogs, their attack was as shite as ours.

As a centre on around $450 - $500k, Duges becomes pretty attractive to most teams however.

 

[Crush]

I remember first reading this thread thinking it was madness, as if Lafai would get the nod over Milne!!!?? And here we are round 5 and Milne hasn't played a minute of first grade and Lafai hasn't missed a minute.
I cannot see Milne seeing any first grade unless there is an injury. Lafai and Aitken are clearly the coaches best two centres.

 

[Blood Shot Eyes]

I remember first reading this thread thinking it was madness, as if Lafai would get the nod over Milne!!!?? And here we are round 5 and Milne hasn't played a minute of first grade and Lafai hasn't missed a minute.
I cannot see Milne seeing any first grade unless there is an injury. Lafai and Aitken are clearly the coaches best two centres.

Doesnt say a lot for our coach then......look I think Lafai has improved from being awful last year to half acceptable this year but imo he will never win us games, where on the other hand I think if McGregor had of stuck with Milne this year and shown some confidence in him he would be even better than the way he finished last year.......even more so if not just for the fact we are winning a few......imo when he was given the opportunity he stood out in a losing outfit last year

 

[saint06]

Doesnt say a lot for our coach then

In all fairness, Lafai hasn't done much wrong in the first four games...

 

[coast_dragons]

Milne has done sfa to warrant selection and lafai has been going alright so i don't see why Mary should change anything at this stage.

 

[Blood Shot Eyes]

Milne has done sfa to warrant selection and lafai has been going alright so i don't see why Mary should change anything at this stage.

You could say the same at the start of this season couldnt you......Lafai had done sfa but Mary chose to replace Milne with him.....anyway you have your opinion and I have mine

 

[Blood Shot Eyes]

In all fairness, Lafai hasn't done much wrong in the first four games...

So far I agree...but I still think Milne would add more starch outwide......we will just have to wait and see I guess

 

[BennyV]

I remember first reading this thread thinking it was madness, as if Lafai would get the nod over Milne!!!?? And here we are round 5 and Milne hasn't played a minute of first grade and Lafai hasn't missed a minute.
I cannot see Milne seeing any first grade unless there is an injury. Lafai and Aitken are clearly the coaches best two centres.

*favourite

 

[BennyV]

I'm genuinely astonished by the '<insert random player> has done nothing wrong' point of view. If a player is in firs grade, and there is a better player sitting in reserve grade, who gives a f**k if the former has done anything wrong. You play the best player, full stop!

Not saying that applied to Lafai vs Milne, but it's a ridiculous argument regardless.

 

[mickeylane]

Lafai is a fixture at left centre (not moving) but I do like Milne for Aitken - the partnership
Mcdonald / Milne will come alive ( size and speed)

 

[slippery5]

I'm genuinely astonished by the '<insert random player> has done nothing wrong' point of view. If a player is in firs grade, and there is a better player sitting in reserve grade, who gives a f**k if the former has done anything wrong. You play the best player, full stop!

Not saying that applied to Lafai vs Milne, but it's a ridiculous argument regardless.

Thank F there are people out there that don't believe in "you don't change a winning team"

 

[Crush]

*favourite

I didn't say that I thought lafai and aitken were the two best centres just that is what marys thinking clearly is.
I have always said that Milne has to be there but I am surprised to hear that he is not performing all that well in reserve grade. I suspect that he may be a bit lazy or something? Dunno....

 

[BrissyRedV]

Has anyone actually seen how Milne has been going in reserve grade or is it just heresay that he has not been performing?

 

[BennyV]

I didn't say that I thought lafai and aitken were the two best centres just that is what marys thinking clearly is.
I have always said that Milne has to be there but I am surprised to hear that he is not performing all that well in reserve grade. I suspect that he may be a bit lazy or something? Dunno....

I know what you said man, was just poking!
If he's not performing in reggies, I'd suspect he's injured or sooking (neither of which is good TBH) because it's not for lack of talent.

 

[Crush]

Has anyone actually seen how Milne has been going in reserve grade or is it just heresay that he has not been performing?

Hey Brissy, page 19 in the tedesco thread there are some posters that have watched or listened to the reserve grade games this season. Sounds like Milne hasn't been great unfortunately

 

[Como Connection]

Lafai is a fixture at left centre (not moving) but I do like Milne for Aitken - the partnership
Mcdonald / Milne will come alive ( size and speed)

Left side for me Lafai, going fine and Nene, don't understand why the wingers changed sides.
Right side, Mann and Flo.
CC

 

[2010]

Laffai has shown what he is capable off, see how he goes next few weeks.

 

[Blood Shot Eyes]

I didn't say that I thought lafai and aitken were the two best centres just that is what marys thinking clearly is.
I have always said that Milne has to be there but I am surprised to hear that he is not performing all that well in reserve grade. I suspect that he may be a bit lazy or something? Dunno....

Maybe not so much lazy but more deflated......probably not sure why he was dropped based on his few opportunities last year...still I guess if he wants in then he has to put in even harder...his time will come hopefully sooner rather than later