Tim Lafai

[Minh]

I guess a player that polarises opinion at the moment, perhaps a little down on his dynamic best form of 2014 but I think he's showing a little bit of what he can do when given good early ball to take on the line.
At the moment he doesn't seem like the type of player to break the line and score himself but what I have noticed is that he is often able to get his hands free and the potential is there to set up tries with some good support play off Lafai.

 

[Saints Forever]

X 1

 

[Saints Forever]

Would help if the backs stood deeper and ran on to the ball.

With a bit of space believe he has the footwork to score or set up tries

 

[Minh]

Yes, he looks more of a creator than a finisher in the mould of Aitken who can break tackles and finish himself.

 

[smi962]

Agree, we are not getting the best out of his strengths.

In the first half today, there was a certain try on the offering when he got his hands free but there was no support at all.

Actually, our support player in general is pathetic.

 

[ONPOINT]

Agree as well. Looks to be able to offload every time

 

[Minh]

Lafai was the player to offload whilst being tackled with 2 minutes to play, setting up that late try last year in our final against the dogs that put them back in front. I remember because it was heartbreaking at the time.

 

[ONPOINT]

I feel by mid season he's gonna be in deviating form. Amazing how much better he looks with early ball

 

[KiamaSaint]

Agree, we are not getting the best out of his strengths.

In the first half today, there was a certain try on the offering when he got his hands free but there was no support at all.

Actually, our support player in general is pathetic.

Yep, I noticed that too. Plenty of times we had players standing in tackles and no one to offload to.

 

[Get2dachopper!]

I actually think today our support play was the best I've seen in a long time, epecially through the middle.

Lafai made a few half breaks and had his hands free. I still think that we need to move flo back to the right wing and have a speedster play outside Lafai.

 

[GC Dragon]

Lafai is mentally busted . Last year he broke his hand , had a few bad head knocks , did his knee then came back and did his shoulder . he does not have the speed or step he had before the knee and since his return from the shoulder injury runs soft and mainly sideways and doesn't like to engage in hard defence . Hasler knew this thats why he offloaded him . And as for us beating others for him ...Penrith , Parra and the Titans all pulled out of the race for him ...That along with being a very lazy trainer at the dogs and now i am told probably our worst trainer makes him useless to us . He is just blocking up a left centre spot that one of our gun juniors should have in my opinion

 

[Simon]

Lafai is mentally busted . Last year he broke his hand , had a few bad head knocks , did his knee then came back and did his shoulder . he does not have the speed or step he had before the knee and since his return from the shoulder injury runs soft and mainly sideways and doesn't like to engage in hard defence . Hasler knew this thats why he offloaded him . And as for us beating others for him ...Penrith , Parra and the Titans all pulled out of the race for him ...That along with being a very lazy trainer at the dogs and now i am told probably our worst trainer makes him useless to us . He is just blocking up a left centre spot that one of our gun juniors should have in my opinion

Who's this young centre that should have his spot? I can't think of a left centre in our squad worthy of taking his spot at this point.

Also, can you enlighten us on how you know Hasler's thoughts. iIf you're going to bag a player on being lazy back it up. If you don't like the way he plays fair enough, but I can't see how you or any fan can talk to how a player trains without quoting someone from within the inner sanctum.

Lafai has improved game to game. There is certainly room to improve and he may or may not make his mark with the Dragons, but let's not slam him on things that none of us know about.

 

[j0nesy]

Agree, we are not getting the best out of his strengths.

In the first half today, there was a certain try on the offering when he got his hands free but there was no support at all.

Actually, our support player in general is pathetic.

Yep, and it's been the case for a couple of seasons. The one bloke that used to be good in support was quinlan.

 

[RedVDave]

Really growing on after a relatively quiet game in rounds 1 & 2, is good in defence and looks dangerous every time he has the ball has a damn fine offload in him as well.

Plus he plays on Sunday's ....Ohhh, to soon?

 

[Jubileeboy]

Haha...Sundays
Lafai looks strong and difficult to tackle. Not a bad effort yesterday but not a standout like others.
I'm hoping he keeps improving and plays into form.

 

[Dragonscales]

Lafai hasn't seen enough early ball to make a judgement if he has regained his 2014 form, especially in a poor attacking team. He has looked dangerous and has good evasion, step, offload and he has shown strength when hitting the line. He usually receives the ball when we don't have the numbers and are cramped for space on the wings. He's also a strong defender in one on one situations but he is absolutely clueless in the defensive line and is often caught out.

I personally think he is slowly regaining form.

ROUND 4 STATS

Run Metres: 105
Offloads: 1
Tackles: 12
Missed Tackles: 0
Line Breaks: 0
Tackle Breaks: 6

 

[Coffs dragon]

Still 50/50 for me, but needs more time to settle into our attacking structures. That probably explains why he looks lost! Whilst he seems to have a good offload in him, I am more concerned with his bad reads in defence. He still reminds me of a very older Dragons winger - Stanley Gorton. Always finished the game with a clean jersey and not a hair out of place, Laf has that look covered.

 

[Objective View]

I guess a player that polarises opinion at the moment, perhaps a little down on his dynamic best form of 2014 but I think he's showing a little bit of what he can do when given good early ball to take on the line.
At the moment he doesn't seem like the type of player to break the line and score himself but what I have noticed is that he is often able to get his hands free and the potential is there to set up tries with some good support play off Lafai.

Clayton's compliment.

Straight Shooter

 

[Rob Dragon]

I would like to see us persevere with Lafai. I think he is as much a victim of our ridiculous attack then anything else. We are all bash and barge. What has ever happened to having one of your halves throw the ball to the outside of the defender's shoulder thereby creating space for the runner who can hit a hole. Now there is a novel suggestion. Throw passes that see our runners targeting space rather then the defender!

Of sorry I forgot; we would need a proper halfback to undertake such a radical attacking game plan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[BennyV]

X 1

Just so you know, you aren't actually agreeing with anyone here. You mean either x2 ot +1