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Delta

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With Reimis a mainstay on the wing and Meaney improving to a point where his spot will be secure for the start of next year... where does this leave Jayden Okunbor? I have also heard he plays Centre and Second Row. I feel like he should be somewhere in the team... even if he plays like a utility back/ extra forward from the bench. Gould mentioned on Sunday the necessity of having an utility back because of how prevalent HIA has become in the game.

This would be even more complex if he has a blinder on Thursday night.
 

bradyk

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Back up unless Meaney completely loses his head and can't recover.
 

diddly

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With Reimis a mainstay on the wing and Meaney improving to a point where his spot will be secure for the start of next year... where does this leave Jayden Okunbor? I have also heard he plays Centre and Second Row. I feel like he should be somewhere in the team... even if he plays like a utility back/ extra forward from the bench. Gould mentioned on Sunday the necessity of having an utility back because of how prevalent HIA has become in the game.

This would be even more complex if he has a blinder on Thursday night.
Okunbor has been tried as a back rower and a middle forward and a centre and whilst he can make metres he hasn't learnt how to defend and his handling regularly lets him down. He has been in the system a number of years, two or three years of first grade squad pre seasons but continues to be bewildered when defending.
 

James zac

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Forward pack for him needs to start mastering the ins and outs of defence and forward positioning
 

finchie

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I wouldn’t have re-signed him at all
Cut his hair off and u would’nt even know he played
 

Scoooby

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Meh. Showed nothing really.
 

CMP

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I would like to see him on the wing next to Hoppa with Reimis at left centre.

I guess we will see him next to Hoppa this week.

As far as the bench with HIA I think Holland was a great option there at the back end of last year.
 

belmore_utd

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Okunbor has been tried as a back rower and a middle forward and a centre and whilst he can make metres he hasn't learnt how to defend and his handling regularly lets him down. He has been in the system a number of years, two or three years of first grade squad pre seasons but continues to be bewildered when defending.
He actually has more strike as a second rower. I don't think he would handle the work rate and physicality atm but his reads will get better if he is not stranded by up his inside men. He is actually a smart footballer @2ndrow with a silky cut out pass to his winger. Capable of an offload and a strong runner at the try line.
 

Delta

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He actually has more strike as a second rower. I don't think he would handle the work rate and physicality atm but his reads will get better if he is not stranded by up his inside men. He is actually a smart footballer @2ndrow with a silky cut out pass to his winger. Capable of an offload and a strong runner at the try line.
Problem with second row is that we are already stacked in that department ... CHN, Jackson, Stimson, RFM...

I would say play him off the bench as a utility back... but then we would only have two forwards on the bench with Jack Cogger there as well. I'm starting to really like Jack Cogger and I think he should be in the team but it is very tough to squeeze him in... anyways the cogger discussion is for another time.
 

flamebouyant

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I think people here are almost always, way too critical. No doubt Okunbor made some shocking mistakes in his time in fg, but they were lapses in concentration, and were definitely not talent related, so I'm sure if given some time he could come good, and there's only one way to find out if this is true.

Okunbor is a powerful runner, where as Meaney is fantastic under the high ball, and very quick! They have a very different set of skills.

As far as it goes for Meaney, he also needs time to develop so that we can see where he is at. And let's not forget how terrible his first few games on the wing were!!
 

piggy

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I believe we need to buy a specialist winger and centre for next season.
Honestly I cannot believe we can’t find some decent wingers out there....we need strong and fast wingers in the mould of the broncos wingers....what’s the name of the number 5 winger the broncos have.....not stagg...the other one....meany whilst fast needs to bulk up
 

Bertsgod Neb

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Okunbur is still so young. He is gaining experience and growing under Deano. Like so many other players.

He will get his chance. As Deano said on NRL 360 we are aiming to be a Melbourne like club that has a squad of 30 players that can be trusted to play NRL. His development will be crucial when we recruit SOO quality players
 

Aristidiz

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Okunbor when in first grade was our best attacking weapon only earlier this season.

He has a ways to go in defence
 

Psycho Doggie

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As far as it goes for Meaney, he also needs time to develop so that we can see where he is at. And let's not forget how terrible his first few games on the wing were!!
They have each had about 8 games on the wing this season, which do you think has had the most improvement over their 8 or so games on the wing?
 

GDR

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Okunbor has show in a few games and that he can be a real weapon and trusted...

but then he has a shocker and everyone loses faith.. if he can find some consistency there may be some hope for him yet.
 

flamebouyant

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They have each had about 8 games on the wing this season, which do you think has had the most improvement over their 8 or so games on the wing?
You cant really compare the two, even if they have both played 8 games. Meaney has played 8 straight, where Okunbours games have been spread across the whole season thus far, and have been interrupted by 2 injuries and being in and out of fg.
Yes they have played a similar amount of games, but in two very different scenarios.
 
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