Updated Poll for Mary - Has he changed our minds?

[possm]

It would be no surprise to members on here that I have proudly voted no.

 

[Sheridan Stand]

I am also a no.

That said, I respect waiting until the end of the season to announce the change in coach.

 

[hazzbeen]

I am also a no.

That said, I respect waiting until the end of the season to announce the change in coach.

With you here . We have had more bad times under Mary than good , so a few wins have not convinced me yet .

 

[ALSGI]

Maybe the Yes votes thought it read resign !!!!

 

[Michaeldragonslife25]

Once again Mary's decisions very questionable with still playing Aiken in the centres can we try some of the backs that show a lot of promise .....?

 

[Como Connection]

Once again Mary's decisions very questionable with still playing Aiken in the centres can we try some of the backs that show a lot of promise .....?

Mary playes favourites!
Don't now why!
CC

 

[ALSGI]

Once again Mary's decisions very questionable with still playing Aiken in the centres can we try some of the backs that show a lot of promise .....?

Aitken put on 2 tries against the Shonks in round 3, beat 4 defenders cold and ran nearly 40. Apart from the lucky try Shonks got when Widdop fumbled, their other try was on the Aitken/Mcdonald side.
Lets hope the Aitken defence has been drilled by coaching staff because he's quiet good in attack.

 

[BennyV]

Aitken put on 2 tries against the Shonks in round 3, beat 4 defenders cold and ran nearly 40. Apart from the lucky try Shonks got when Widdop fumbled, their other try was on the Aitken/Mcdonald side.
Lets hope the Aitken defence has been drilled by coaching staff because he's quiet good in attack.

Aitken's didnt beat anyone in his tries against Sharks. His first was a McInnes grubber that he got to, and the second was scooping up a loose ball and running 40m untouched. Most centres in the comp score those tries.

His tries against Manly were more impressive. One was hitting a solid gap by running the correct line, the other he wrong footed his opposite (Kelly?) and ran over the top of him. The latter there is his style of attack, but it relies on him getting the ball at speed with space in front of him. He's super strong, but given his lack of ball skills I think his attack is overstated compared with our other centre options.

Not to say he will never get to the level required of him, but he's got a lot of learning to do in both attack and defense and as long as there are other very good centre options, he should be doing that learning in NSW Cup (when Dugan/Widdop get back).

 

[ALSGI]

Aitken's didnt beat anyone in his tries against Sharks. His first was a McInnes grubber that he got to, and the second was scooping up a loose ball and running 40m untouched. Most centres in the comp score those tries.

His tries against Manly were more impressive. One was hitting a solid gap by running the correct line, the other he wrong footed his opposite (Kelly?) and ran over the top of him. The latter there is his style of attack, but it relies on him getting the ball at speed with space in front of him. He's super strong, but given his lack of ball skills I think his attack is overstated compared with our other centre options.

Not to say he will never get to the level required of him, but he's got a lot of learning to do in both attack and defense and as long as there are other very good centre options, he should be doing that learning in NSW Cup (when Dugan/Widdop get back).

BennyV,
Agree regarding Aitkens second try against Manly when he stepped Kelly that was nice.
But have a look at his second against the Sharks. How can you say 'untouched' ? He falls on a loose ball near halfway, gets up from a flat footed start beats one with a step, fends off another straight afterwards and smashes through and over the top of a third before sprinting away. Most Centres in the comp do not score those mate, let alone our Centre options. Game changer, when Sharks were building.

I don't get the lack of credit this kid is getting on here for his attack, as you say strong and he lacks ball skills but he is deceptively quick.

I agree with most though regarding his defence and imo this alone should have him hooked until he fixes it (along with McDonald). But that's what our coaches are for and they obviously see something we don't. I don't think he's far off being a top notch Centre if his defence improves.

 

[BennyV]

BennyV,
Agree regarding Aitkens second try against Manly when he stepped Kelly that was nice.
But have a look at his second against the Sharks. How can you say 'untouched' ? He falls on a loose ball near halfway, gets up from a flat footed start beats one with a step, fends off another straight afterwards and smashes through and over the top of a third before sprinting away. Most Centres in the comp do not score those mate, let alone our Centre options. Game changer, when Sharks were building.

I don't get the lack of credit this kid is getting on here for his attack, as you say strong and he lacks ball skills but he is deceptively quick.

I agree with most though regarding his defence and imo this alone should have him hooked until he fixes it (along with McDonald). But that's what our coaches are for and they obviously see something we don't. I don't think he's far off being a top notch Centre if his defence improves.

Will have to rewatch the second Sharks try, my memory must deceive me.

The reason his attack doesn't get credit is because his attacking strengths aren't suited for his position, and the strengths required of a centre (within our structure) aren't there. His strength/power is almost nullified by the fact that he is easily picked off due to our poor right side structure and his lack of ball skills - its obvious when he's going to get the ball and most defence can just swamp him because the ball will die with him (we don't have that problem on the left thanks to Widdops ball playing and Lafai's skills). He is useful for hit ups and metres after contact, but that's more suited to a forward. That's as far as his 'attacking' strengths go.

The biggest issue, however, is that he is still developing and has much to learn, particularly in defence, yet he gets the privilege of a guaranteed first grade spot to learn his trade while guys like Milne and Mann, arguably further along in their development, have to bide their time in reserve grade or on the bench. It's a classic Mitch Rein scenario - guaranteed a free ride to hopefully learn and develop while we lose other, arguably better, options. He may end up being a gun, but he's not there yet and he may go the way of Mitch and never learn those core skills.

 

[ALSGI]

Will have to rewatch the second Sharks try, my memory must deceive me.

The reason his attack doesn't get credit is because his attacking strengths aren't suited for his position, and the strengths required of a centre (within our structure) aren't there. His strength/power is almost nullified by the fact that he is easily picked off due to our poor right side structure and his lack of ball skills - its obvious when he's going to get the ball and most defence can just swamp him because the ball will die with him (we don't have that problem on the left thanks to Widdops ball playing and Lafai's skills). He is useful for hit ups and metres after contact, but that's more suited to a forward. That's as far as his 'attacking' strengths go.

The biggest issue, however, is that he is still developing and has much to learn, particularly in defence, yet he gets the privilege of a guaranteed first grade spot to learn his trade while guys like Milne and Mann, arguably further along in their development, have to bide their time in reserve grade or on the bench. It's a classic Mitch Rein scenario - guaranteed a free ride to hopefully learn and develop while we lose other, arguably better, options. He may end up being a gun, but he's not there yet and he may go the way of Mitch and never learn those core skills.

Yes you should watch the try again and perhaps give the kid some credit for some skill, "didn't beat anyone and untouched". Like I said, it was a game changer.
Let's all hope he develops some ball skills and some defencive reads.

 

[Hawkins]

Where does Widdop rate in the decision?

He appears to be a key player in the Dragons

 

[BennyV]

Yes you should watch the try again and perhaps give the kid some credit for some skill, "didn't beat anyone and untouched". Like I said, it was a game changer.
Let's all hope he develops some ball skills and some defencive reads.

Just rewatched it, and while the tackle bust on Holmes was decent (even considering the fact that Holmes has barely reacted to the dropped ball), the step on Maloney was merely expected from any first grade centre.

Wouldn't consider that anything super special in attack, definitely not enough to balance his defense the week before. Both tries against Manly are the only ones worth talking about IMO.

 

[ALSGI]

Yep, thought you'd say that.
Never mind the game changing event when Shonks were on a roll.
I rate his attacking skills, hopefully he can develop the rest and fast.

 

[possm]

Aitken's attack has never been an issue for me, it's his defence and his refusal to set up his winger once he has drawn a player and made the overlap.

Aitken's defence would not be tolerated by other coaches. He runs in and many times grabs nothing but thin air. Can't do that in first grade.