Joe Ofahengaue #240

[JRDee]

I actually have a soft spot for our ranga Seyfarth, but I agree with what you are saying and there is nothing surer than us having our pack decimated with injury and suspensions if we let Joe go.

Do you think the Parrasites would release a forward to us if we are in the same situation they are in at the moment?

DON'T THINK SO.

No they wouldn’t they didn’t let Stef come early to us they got Matterson early out of us and the maggot Moses and tried every trick in the book to get Ipap to backflip it’s beyond me why we are helping them out now

 

[tigertuff]

I'm not so sure, in view of events like Fulton being appointed with out the knowledge of Sheens, who knows where this decision to release Joe really does come from.

There were rumours of him being shopped around recently and he certainly didn't look like a guy that wanted out last night.

In any case, it was still a risky move appointing Jahream to a top 30 spot before he had even played an NRL game, especially when he was just coming off a lay off with injury and not absolutely killing it in KOE prior to that.

We got lucky with that decision and who is to say we will be that lucky if we promote someone else without trying them out in the top grade first, especially dumb now that we are able to play them since round 10 to see if they can step up a grade, basically a try before you buy situation.

The big difference is that young guns like Junior and Starford were already in the top 30, look at some of the players that were prematurely promoted to the top 30 and have failed to perform even in the lower grade.

Sheens gets to see these guys day in day out. We get to see them for up to 80 mins a week at best. I would suggest they have identified younger kids in the club that will offer more than Offa (pardon the pun). It is not good business to have a $650000 player in your reserve grade and that is where i think he will be next year and the year after. He has been solid for us without being a dominant first grade prop and in my opinion we wont be winning a comp with him in the team. I appreciate his commitment to the club and wish him well.

 

[Wiz]

If Joffa played like last night every week we wouldn’t even be having the conversation.

 

[hank37w]

Sheens gets to see these guys day in day out. We get to see them for up to 80 mins a week at best. I would suggest they have identified younger kids in the club that will offer more than Offa (pardon the pun). It is not good business to have a $650000 player in your reserve grade and that is where i think he will be next year and the year after. He has been solid for us without being a dominant first grade prop and in my opinion we wont be winning a comp with him in the team. I appreciate his commitment to the club and wish him well.

So if this talent has been identified and if the rumours of Joe's release being delayed a week so he could play last night are true, why wasn't one of these talents utilised instead if they are so desperate to show Joe the door, afterall, nothing stopping them from being selected since round 10.

Popular opinion is that Joe is on 450k this year and 600k for 2025/2025.

I can understand where you are coming from but you have to be skeptical after all the signings that have fallen through, especially the ones that have had the finger prints of Gadget all over them, only to be followed by a dud lower grade signing that has been made to make up the numbers and satisfy cap requirements.

Still looking to see players like Tuki and Rua make an impact in the lower grades let alone in NRL.

Hope to be proved wrong and that something positive comes out of all this.

 

[tigertuff]

So if this talent has been identified and if the rumours of Joe's release being delayed a week so he could play last night are true, why wasn't one of these talents utilised instead if they are so desperate to show Joe the door, afterall, nothing stopping them from being selected since round 10.

Popular opinion is that Joe is on 450k this year and 600k for 2025/2025.

I can understand where you are coming from but you have to be skeptical after all the signings that have fallen through, especially the ones that have had the finger prints of Gadget all over them, only to be followed by a dud lower grade signing that has been made to make up the numbers and satisfy cap requirements.

Still looking to see players like Tuki and Rua make an impact in the lower grades let alone in NRL.

Hope to be proved wrong and that something positive comes out of all this.

I get what your saying but I dont think it was about last night, its about next year and the year after. Sheens has said from day one its about setting this club up for Benji to take over in 2 years. I suggest this is just another decision that has been made to hopefully better our club moving forward. Who knows, maybe Gadget (as you call him) has something up his sleeve. Let's hope so.

 

[Telltails]

If Joffa played like last night every week we wouldn’t even be having the conversation.

That could be said about all of our well paid players that we have been critical of for average/ poor performances when the team was not turning up. Joe stood up when most didn't last season that's the sort of character that all good teams need.

 

[426Tlgerland]

So if this talent has been identified and if the rumours of Joe's release being delayed a week so he could play last night are true, why wasn't one of these talents utilised instead if they are so desperate to show Joe the door, afterall, nothing stopping them from being selected since round 10.

Popular opinion is that Joe is on 450k this year and 600k for 2025/2025.

I can understand where you are coming from but you have to be skeptical after all the signings that have fallen through, especially the ones that have had the finger prints of Gadget all over them, only to be followed by a dud lower grade signing that has been made to make up the numbers and satisfy cap requirements.

Still looking to see players like Tuki and Rua make an impact in the lower grades let alone in NRL.

Hope to be proved wrong and that something positive comes out of all this.

Exactly , where are these super subs , I watched our last 3 reserve grade games and gee bar 3 players they are rubbish , Joffa is better than all , Blore a close second but is not a prop , poor decision coming up , Stef looked injured and so did Klemmer , good luck next game

 

[hank37w]

That wasn’t my point it’s Pole they want to play prop off the bench. Frizell looks like the recruit they are bringing in to play 13. May squeeze a few more years out of him in the middle. Has speed and can use the ball.

Not sure that’s the player I’d sign for that but looks like that’s the plan. From what I can see they seem to be pulling the right strings at the moment.

If Friz is the target I'm not sure how much petrol he has left in the tank, don't think he is markedly better or cheaper than Joe.

Saw him play last round and was pleasantly surprised to see him go quite well, wasn't quite as impressive this round though.

He is a solid old school type of player right down to his choice of black boots in a world full of flouro coloured boots.

 

[ElleryHanley]

Losing Joe will hurt, no one doubts that. Not only is he a solid player, but a hell of a bloke who loves the club.

But moving that contract will help a lot long term.

We have some really top class forwards coming through...and the squad is imbalanced.

Joe moving allows that salary to be spent on backs.

Honestly, what is coming through reminds me a lot of Penrith a few years back.

They had to move Moylan, RCG, multiple origin players on big deals...Cartwright...as they knew what was coming.

In a few years this team will be built around Tayln, Kit, Faagatua, Bula, Tupou, Pole and Stef. We already have high priced vets in Klem and Bateman in the pack...you can't have too many of them when the kids storm through. Joe is the collateral damage... short term pain, for long term benefit.

 

[Tim Sheens]

While I agree, his form dropped off a cliff this year. One can only assume he’s been thinking he’d rather be elsewhere.

Wasn't Joffa in a similar situation to Brooks and Koroisau in the pre-season, in that they all had very restricted preparations right up to the season starting, and even into it for Ofahengaue?

We have seen improvements in all three since not long into the season, staggered by a week or two, with Api first, followed by Luke and then Joe. Even Bula to some extent, who was in a similarly affected back then.

Pros and cons with his supposed departure, so not fussed either way.

 

[Tucker]

Most on here were whinging when we let big Ken go. In comes Toupu, Laurie for Bula etc. We have plenty of talent coming through. I'll put my trust in Sheens.

No they weren’t.
Kenny was done. He had given his best but he was spent.

 

[426Tlgerland]

Losing Joe will hurt, no one doubts that. Not only is he a solid player, but a hell of a bloke who loves the club.

But moving that contract will help a lot long term.

We have some really top class forwards coming through...and the squad is imbalanced.

Joe moving allows that salary to be spent on backs.

Honestly, what is coming through reminds me a lot of Penrith a few years back.

They had to move Moylan, RCG, multiple origin players on big deals...Cartwright...as they knew what was coming.

In a few years this team will be built around Tayln, Kit, Faagatua, Bula, Tupou, Pole and Stef. We already have high priced vets in Klem and Bateman in the pack...you can't have too many of them when the kids storm through. Joe is the collateral damage... short term pain, for long term benefit.

If these players are at the club why did we hold Joe back for the game , simple they aren’t at the club , they are years away , And our reserve grade bar a couple ( Blore , Laurie , maybe Reilly ) are not first graders

 

[Telltails]

While I agree, his form dropped off a cliff this year. One can only assume he’s been thinking he’d rather be elsewhere.

Possibly - any way like all things WTs I don't really know the whole story behind any decision that is made from the outside looking in.

 

[Tiger Woods]

If he really loves the club & the boys then he'll back flip
If he doesn't 👋 & goodluck

 

[Tucker]

No they wouldn’t they didn’t let Stef come early to us they got Matterson early out of us and the maggot Moses and tried every trick in the book to get Ipap to backflip it’s beyond me why we are helping them out now

Those scumbags went public for most of last year imploring Paps to dishonour his contract with us. It wasn’t just the players either. It was coaching and management staff. Everyone thought it was a big joke.

 

[tony soprano]

nobody wants any of those guys though, they want joffa, and joffa is taking up cap space at supposed 600k for 2024 if they want to get frizelle and Schuster etc

They are Off contract next year

 

[Tiger Tarl]

Seeing the tears in Joe's eyes at the end of the game, feels like he is gone but really wants to stay. He's a good bloke. Would love a last-minute backflip, but understand if his salary unbalances our squad.

 

[The Chad]

I'm going to miss Joffa the way I missed Elijah Taylor.

I think both were vastly under rated while with us.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Losing Joe will hurt, no one doubts that. Not only is he a solid player, but a hell of a bloke who loves the club.

But moving that contract will help a lot long term.

We have some really top class forwards coming through...and the squad is imbalanced.

Joe moving allows that salary to be spent on backs.

Honestly, what is coming through reminds me a lot of Penrith a few years back.

They had to move Moylan, RCG, multiple origin players on big deals...Cartwright...as they knew what was coming.

In a few years this team will be built around Tayln, Kit, Faagatua, Bula, Tupou, Pole and Stef. We already have high priced vets in Klem and Bateman in the pack...you can't have too many of them when the kids storm through. Joe is the collateral damage... short term pain, for long term benefit.

I actually have no issues with that especially if he is a bench rotation player but with Joe he would have a suitor in Nov-Jan as much as he has in May this season. My issue is what do we gain by doing it now?

Those kids are a while off we can move fringe players on that get game time for them next season, the year after they might and big might be ready.

Unless a mid season transfer of Frizell or a different top 13 player inbound occurs then what is our real gain moving him this season?

You look at Parra and they fit him in without issues. They have some young forwards but their approach is squad strength and depth. He probably doesn’t start for them at full strength either & they are signing him for a longer deal.

Successful teams are built around quality forward depth, some teams have rep quality running off the bench and often.

For mind this move looks like a very short sighted move given we have loads of cap space & roster spots free for next season & one after.

 

[Wiz]

Moving Joffa is not about this year. The question is, would you be ok with Chris Fa’agutu signing with the Roosters or Parra for 2025 because we couldn’t match the offers because we still had Joffa on $650k? How you answer that question should determine whether you are OK losing Joffa this year.