What's new
By:
Advanced search…
The Front Row Forums

Register a free account today to become a member of the world's largest Rugby League discussion forum! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Tim Lafai v Taane Milne

B

Belta

Juniors
Messages
1,126
I know it's easy to sit at home and be an armchair expert and even the best players make mistakes but IMO the top tier playmakers get those little things right more often than not, sitting at home and watching a player not pass to an unmarked winger is as you say baffling especially in respect to professional footballers although having said that I feel conflicted criticising Dugan as he has been outstanding for us in our wins as has MacDonald. At the end of the day atleast we have depth which is a good predicament to be in not only for injuries but also for competition, either combinations of Lafai, Mann, Milne effective, many others may also feature ie or can swap around to wingers or fullbacks etc hopefully this depth plays out to our advantage as the season drags on
 
giboz71

giboz71

First Grade
Messages
9,599
Belta said:
Last week was another example of why Dugan should NOT be considered as a CENTRE. Both he and MacDonald killed certain tries. It's only gunna take other coaches so long to workout how to stop our tries from kicks. For this reason I think Mann and Lafai seem to possess the most talent in knowing how to capitalise on scoring opportunities and both seem to be defensively sound ATM
Click to expand...

Having a good passing game is more critical for Fullbacks than centres these days. It's why the best FB's have high try assist stats, some as high the halves.

And it's not only the fact they can set up tries, they can score tries easier too as defences are more likely to give FB's more room if they know they can pass. RTS scored a classic fullback try that way on the weekend. Tedesco gets a lot of room as well.

On the other hand, defenders can more easily contain Duges as he's unlikely to pass or likely to throw a poor pass that won't result in a try.
 
possm

possm

Coach
Messages
15,874
It's not between Milne and Lafai as they are the two inform centres. Our centres should be Milne and Lafai. Aitken's reads in defence are 50/50 and I don't think we can take that risk against Manly.
 
dragondad

dragondad

First Grade
Messages
6,004
St Georgio said:
The triple MMM call with Dan, Tallis, Gallen was very very bad, all they do is talk shit and don't call the game properly, I know deep down they wanted a tigers comeback win, So how did Mann perform?
Click to expand...
Love listening to Maroon. He's a very funny guy. Saturday game with Maroon and Sterlo is a good combination, with Wendell thrown in. That'll be this weekend v Manly.
 
blacksafake

blacksafake

First Grade
Messages
9,555
dragondad said:
Love listening to Maroon. He's a very funny guy. Saturday game with Maroon and Sterlo is a good combination, with Wendell thrown in. That'll be this weekend v Manly.
Click to expand...
I too get a laugh out of him especially when he calls Ah Mau the turtle.
 
dragondad

dragondad

First Grade
Messages
6,004
Maroon runs a weekly pub trivia night. He's a great bloke. What you hear on the radio is exactly how he is.
 
Dragsters

Dragsters

First Grade
Messages
5,715
Milne = clubs best natural right centre

Lafai = clubs best natural left centre.

Plain to see...
 
O

Objective View

Bench
Messages
2,639
possm said:
It's not between Milne and Lafai as they are the two inform centres. Our centres should be Milne and Lafai. Aitken's reads in defence are 50/50 and I don't think we can take that risk against Manly.
Click to expand...

Sorry possm but Lafai is a dud. We're in deep trouble if he's genuinely one of our two best centres.

Straight Shooter
 
gitano

gitano

Juniors
Messages
2,364
Objective View said:
Come end of year everyone will again be screaming to have Mary and Lafai sacked. Very frustrating how people are so easily pleased after a few wins.

Straight Shooter
Click to expand...

Wayyyy too much self-administered rectal pump-action shoom shumming for you, with long broomsticks, no? :cool:
 
possm

possm

Coach
Messages
15,874
Objective View said:
Sorry possm but Lafai is a dud. We're in deep trouble if he's genuinely one of our two best centres.

Straight Shooter
Click to expand...
In the past I've been a harsh critic of Lafai, calling for him to be dropped and laet go etc. But I always like to give credit where credit is due and over the past couple of games, to me Lafai is showing some skill and awareness I haven't seen in him since his glory days at the Dogs. I put this down to him finally getting back to form after injury. It seems the gruelling off-season training may be paying dividends.

Now I'm more disappointed in Aitken being selected at right centre over Milne when Milne is clearly our best option. There is a place for Aitken at the Dragons however, I don't believe it is at right centre. He just makes too many bad reads and is very awkward in defence of a good stepper.

In my opinion Aitken should be slotted to play in as a backrow forward or as a utility on the bench. That's why I believe he should go back to reserve grade to learn the necessary skills to compete for a backrow spot in first grade. Other than this, Aitken should be viewed as a backup centre until he improves his reads in defence.
 
Coffs dragon

Coffs dragon

Bench
Messages
4,386
Hey Possm, I did read yesterday in Lurkers Questions and Answers that he claimed Widdop, Dugan and Packer were all priority re-signings for the Dragons and he expected all 3 to stay. Unfortunately he claimed that both Mann And Milne will not be their in 2018 for some reason.
I know the Lurker is a wanker but it seems to be rumoured they are not in the going forward white board plans joining all the dots in the right places!!
 
possm

possm

Coach
Messages
15,874
Coffs dragon said:
Hey Possm, I did read yesterday in Lurkers Questions and Answers that he claimed Widdop, Dugan and Packer were all priority re-signings for the Dragons and he expected all 3 to stay. Unfortunately he claimed that both Mann And Milne will not be their in 2018 for some reason.
I know the Lurker is a wanker but it seems to be rumoured they are not in the going forward white board plans joining all the dots in the right places!!
Click to expand...
Yes, I suspect you are correct. This is where everything can go wrong. We have one man with a narrow focus on young talent prioritising players who aren't necessarily the best option right now, but may be in the future.

Milne is young and in my opinion the best centre at the Dragons.
Mann is young and a very talented and versatile back.

I say keep these two backs even if it means letting go 'juniors with potential', I say this because Milne and Mann are tested at first grade level and found to be up to the task. Those players who have been promised a first grade slot but not yet tested may not succeed and leave us with a roster sprinkled with deadwood.

The way to solve this problem is to have the two separate positions, a recruitment officer and a pathways officer who both report to the head coach. Only in this way will both the recruitment officer and the pathways officer have to make their case for the retention or recruitment of players suitable for inclusion in the first grade squad now or in the foreseeable future.

Having it all in one person's hands can lead to that person picking winners and losers based on a whim or a guess and not necessarily in line with what the head coach is looking for.

Take Field and Dufty has an example. Both untested at first grade level. Dufty given the cold shoulder and Field slotted in for first grade inclusion in 2018. What if Dufty begins to kill it in reserve grade and Field is not really ready until to be tested until 2019?

If Field and Herbert are the chosen ones and to facilitate their development and progression we need to let go Milne and Mann, where will we be if Field and Herbert don't live up to expectations.

In my mind Aitken is an example of how things can be tilted so we do not select the best available players for first grade each week. Milne and Mann are not in the Club's plans for 2018, so keep Lafai and Aitken as our first grade centres. Problem is we take a chance in losing a game only because we need to progress Aitken. It should be that who ever is in form and can do the job best is selected. We need to win every possible game we can each season.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Top