Joe Ofahengaue #240

TigerNeddyK said:
Really? he had a long, successful career at clubs with very strong teams and was always an almost automatic selection for most of that time … hard to see him achieving this if he was as ordinary a player as you 2 feel.. I remember him as a very reliable , switched on team player that did a lot of stuff for the team that often goes unnoticed and unappreciated by the stats but not by the fellow players.
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Heighno was like the Twal of that team.
 
Not sure whether his injury was a curse or blessing. Yeah he's injured but at least he doesn't have to turn out for that pig club and still gets to draw a salary.
 
Feline Carrier said:
Not sure whether his injury was a curse or blessing. Yeah he's injured but at least he doesn't have to turn out for that pig club and still gets to draw a salary.
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My only comment is that he had that injury( I think it was calf) earlier in the year, only been back a few weeks and gone again.
Remind me never to go to the Parra doctor for a check up!
 
Halbrowne61 said:
My only comment is that he had that injury( I think it was calf) earlier in the year, only been back a few weeks and gone again.
Remind me never to go to the Parra doctor for a check up!
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We sold them a lemon 🍋. He looks in good nick, sounds like a well oiled machine, but he’s already on the down hill slide when it comes to injuries and he’s not gunna get any better than he already is.
 
batboy said:
Heighno was past his best and not in the clubs plans moving forward - I remember Halatau saying he changed his DOB on Wikipedia to get contract extensions...
Beau Ryan (Super tight with Heighno) Threw his arse in the corner cause Heighno wasn't getting extended and left because of that alone...
The others were here nor there - I loved Gibbo, But he was hardly Shane Webke...

Fifita was mostly cold before he left, And was blasted by the Sharks fans in his first year there...
Certainly came on after that though.
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I, I couldn't stand watching Bryce Gibbs.
I get it, Bryce was covering for people. Putting in a huge work rate. Yet every3rd touch was a dropped ball, knock on or other stuffup.
Get him off the field now.

Looking back, I suspect he may have been concussed.
 
crazycat said:
I, I couldn't stand watching Bryce Gibbs.
I get it, Bryce was covering for people. Putting in a huge work rate. Yet every3rd touch was a dropped ball, knock on or other stuffup.
Get him off the field now.

Looking back, I suspect he may have been concussed.
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He was one of the best defensive props going around. Possibly a goose off the field but he’s an underestimated part of our “golden era”.
 
pawsandclaws1 said:
I don't see any upside in recruiting Best. Feledy looks to be making good progress in the lower grades and I'd like for him to compete for a centre position in our NRL team next year.
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I do. Now sure I don't want to recruit Hunt, unless he is fairly cheap and we think he can offer Brooks something. I will trust Sheens Judgement call on that.

Since were all mentioning old players. Terry Hill was in the centers 2003/2004. Before that we had some other veterans there. I feel it's an extremely under-rated position and we need some experience there to help it grow. Look Terry Hill was crap for us, I reckon maybe he did teach the people below him a little.

Best would fit in nicely at Center. I would rather us think of recruiting matching wing and center pairs since our defense is so bad, we should offload someone and get 2x players who can defend together.
 
crazycat said:
I do. Now sure I don't want to recruit Hunt, unless he is fairly cheap and we think he can offer Brooks something. I will trust Sheens Judgement call on that.

Since were all mentioning old players. Terry Hill was in the centers 2003/2004. Before that we had some other veterans there. I feel it's an extremely under-rated position and we need some experience there to help it grow. Look Terry Hill was crap for us, I reckon maybe he did teach the people below him a little.

Best would fit in nicely at Center. I would rather us think of recruiting matching wing and center pairs since our defense is so bad, we should offload someone and get 2x players who can defend together.
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I understand some supporters will want Best. If he is moving on, it must be salary cap related. We don't know figures but he must be on a healthy contract at the Knights. For a player who hasn't really achieved that much in the NRL, imo recruiting him would upset relativities in terms of contracts in our dressing room. We have some great young talent right now with more emerging. I'd like our young players to be promoted and grow as a group and know they will be rewarded - performance based. Feledy imo is a super talent and is in our system now.
 
Former Wests Tigers forward Joe Ofahengaue has opened up on his departure from the club, revealing he never wanted to leave but was forced out just months into a three-year deal.
The Tongan international has settled in nicely at the Eels but it’s foreign territory for a man who just last year won the Kelly-Barnes Medal as the best player at the Tigers.
He collected the award hours after he inked a new deal to stay at the club because he could see a bright future despite the Tigers claiming the wooden spoon in 2022.

Joe Ofahengaue won the Kelly-Barnes Medal in 2022 but was then moved on by the Wests Tigers months into a new deal. Supplied Credit: Supplied
“I don’t want to go too far into details, but everyone knows I didn’t want to leave that club. Sometimes you’ve just got to read the room. I just put my best foot forward and backed myself to come here,” Ofahengaue said.
“I don’t think it was that hard when it wasn’t really my choice.
“Everyone knows how passionate I was about that club. I signed three years for a reason because I wanted to stay there to be a part of the changes that were going to come. Things changed, and what happened was out of my control.
“It was a no-brainer for me to come to a club that really wanted me. I’m so grateful that I get to experience this locker room.”
The decision to release Ofahengaue was a strange one given he provided invaluable experience to a forward pack full of emerging stars who looked up to him.
It’s why there were emotional scenes at Leichhardt Oval when he crashed over for a try in his final game for the club before making the move to Parramatta.
“I felt for my mates because they didn’t deserve for me to leave halfway through the year. I didn’t think I deserved that either, but sometimes you can’t control things,” he said.

“I’m just glad that the club wanted me here and that allowed me to bring a positive out of it.”
It’s been a hectic few weeks for Ofahengaue, who was rushed into the Eels starting side to take on the Cowboys just days after he’d played against them as a Tiger but lasted just 10 minutes in his Eels debut before he injured his calf.
He’s back to full fitness now and punched out 30 minutes off the bench in the big win over Manly, although he admits he still needs to learn the team song.
“I’m just glad I got to play more than 10 minutes,” he said, paying tribute to Eels coach Brad Arthur for believing in him.
“My first game was disappointing because I came off early with an injury.
“I’ve been around long enough to know that things just happen and you can’t control everything, but I promised Brad that I’d do everything I could to get back as quickly as possible.
“I was happy to get through a good chunk of the second half because I wanted to get through some work and test out the calf.”
 
batboy said:
Former Wests Tigers forward Joe Ofahengaue has opened up on his departure from the club, revealing he never wanted to leave but was forced out just months into a three-year deal.
The Tongan international has settled in nicely at the Eels but it’s foreign territory for a man who just last year won the Kelly-Barnes Medal as the best player at the Tigers.
He collected the award hours after he inked a new deal to stay at the club because he could see a bright future despite the Tigers claiming the wooden spoon in 2022.

Joe Ofahengaue won the Kelly-Barnes Medal in 2022 but was then moved on by the Wests Tigers months into a new deal. Supplied Credit: Supplied
“I don’t want to go too far into details, but everyone knows I didn’t want to leave that club. Sometimes you’ve just got to read the room. I just put my best foot forward and backed myself to come here,” Ofahengaue said.
“I don’t think it was that hard when it wasn’t really my choice.
“Everyone knows how passionate I was about that club. I signed three years for a reason because I wanted to stay there to be a part of the changes that were going to come. Things changed, and what happened was out of my control.
“It was a no-brainer for me to come to a club that really wanted me. I’m so grateful that I get to experience this locker room.”
The decision to release Ofahengaue was a strange one given he provided invaluable experience to a forward pack full of emerging stars who looked up to him.
It’s why there were emotional scenes at Leichhardt Oval when he crashed over for a try in his final game for the club before making the move to Parramatta.
“I felt for my mates because they didn’t deserve for me to leave halfway through the year. I didn’t think I deserved that either, but sometimes you can’t control things,” he said.

“I’m just glad that the club wanted me here and that allowed me to bring a positive out of it.”
It’s been a hectic few weeks for Ofahengaue, who was rushed into the Eels starting side to take on the Cowboys just days after he’d played against them as a Tiger but lasted just 10 minutes in his Eels debut before he injured his calf.
He’s back to full fitness now and punched out 30 minutes off the bench in the big win over Manly, although he admits he still needs to learn the team song.
“I’m just glad I got to play more than 10 minutes,” he said, paying tribute to Eels coach Brad Arthur for believing in him.
“My first game was disappointing because I came off early with an injury.
“I’ve been around long enough to know that things just happen and you can’t control everything, but I promised Brad that I’d do everything I could to get back as quickly as possible.
“I was happy to get through a good chunk of the second half because I wanted to get through some work and test out the calf.”
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This club is ridiculous.
 
The bloke didn't want to go, we had cap space as it was, and there's nobody we're signing with the available cap space, let alone the added cap space from forcing him out. He might have had a slow start to the season but he has been one of our best and unlike many of the developmentally challenged at this club, actually had a decent head on his shoulders. Farcical.
 
batboy said:
Former Wests Tigers forward Joe Ofahengaue has opened up on his departure from the club, revealing he never wanted to leave but was forced out just months into a three-year deal.
The Tongan international has settled in nicely at the Eels but it’s foreign territory for a man who just last year won the Kelly-Barnes Medal as the best player at the Tigers.
He collected the award hours after he inked a new deal to stay at the club because he could see a bright future despite the Tigers claiming the wooden spoon in 2022.

Joe Ofahengaue won the Kelly-Barnes Medal in 2022 but was then moved on by the Wests Tigers months into a new deal. Supplied Credit: Supplied
“I don’t want to go too far into details, but everyone knows I didn’t want to leave that club. Sometimes you’ve just got to read the room. I just put my best foot forward and backed myself to come here,” Ofahengaue said.
“I don’t think it was that hard when it wasn’t really my choice.
“Everyone knows how passionate I was about that club. I signed three years for a reason because I wanted to stay there to be a part of the changes that were going to come. Things changed, and what happened was out of my control.
“It was a no-brainer for me to come to a club that really wanted me. I’m so grateful that I get to experience this locker room.”
The decision to release Ofahengaue was a strange one given he provided invaluable experience to a forward pack full of emerging stars who looked up to him.
It’s why there were emotional scenes at Leichhardt Oval when he crashed over for a try in his final game for the club before making the move to Parramatta.
“I felt for my mates because they didn’t deserve for me to leave halfway through the year. I didn’t think I deserved that either, but sometimes you can’t control things,” he said.

“I’m just glad that the club wanted me here and that allowed me to bring a positive out of it.”
It’s been a hectic few weeks for Ofahengaue, who was rushed into the Eels starting side to take on the Cowboys just days after he’d played against them as a Tiger but lasted just 10 minutes in his Eels debut before he injured his calf.
He’s back to full fitness now and punched out 30 minutes off the bench in the big win over Manly, although he admits he still needs to learn the team song.
“I’m just glad I got to play more than 10 minutes,” he said, paying tribute to Eels coach Brad Arthur for believing in him.
“My first game was disappointing because I came off early with an injury.
“I’ve been around long enough to know that things just happen and you can’t control everything, but I promised Brad that I’d do everything I could to get back as quickly as possible.
“I was happy to get through a good chunk of the second half because I wanted to get through some work and test out the calf.”
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Whoever made the decision to offload Joe should be similarly offloaded. One of the many things this club lacks is players with passion. Joe seemed to have a passion overload for WT (Lord knows why). It's getting harder and harder to support this club.
 
TillLindemann said:
The bloke didn't want to go, we had cap space as it was, and there's nobody we're signing with the available cap space, let alone the added cap space from forcing him out. He might have had a slow start to the season but he has been one of our best and unlike many of the developmentally challenged at this club, actually had a decent head on his shoulders. Farcical.
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BlackWhiteGold said:
We'll never know the other side to this story, in terms of the club's real reasoning.

Maybe we will if Frizell is announced but if there isn't a decent incoming, it's absolute sobotage.
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coivtny said:
Whoever made the decision to offload Joe should be similarly offloaded. One of the many things this club lacks is players with passion. Joe seemed to have a passion overload for WT (Lord knows why). It's getting harder and harder to support this club.
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I still hold the opinion that Klem took his intended spot in the squad moving forward,
And realistically is offering more atm...

Bula also been upgraded to top 30 around the same time may have had something to do with it,
And I can't see any real argument on that...

Have said it before and I'll say it again....
Twal and Joe are basically the same player (You don't carry 2 in the 17)
I prefer Joes' output - But they stuck with Twal... Is neither here nor there for me.

I also think it's easy to forget we have the likes of Miller, Fa'agutu, Matamua and Nicholas etc. coming through that are going to need squad spots to hold them in the coming years...

Just how it goes for ole joe I'm affraid...
Top Bloke, Decent Player - I'll keep watching him for sure.
 
batboy said:
Former Wests Tigers forward Joe Ofahengaue has opened up on his departure from the club, revealing he never wanted to leave but was forced out just months into a three-year deal.
The Tongan international has settled in nicely at the Eels but it’s foreign territory for a man who just last year won the Kelly-Barnes Medal as the best player at the Tigers.
He collected the award hours after he inked a new deal to stay at the club because he could see a bright future despite the Tigers claiming the wooden spoon in 2022.

Joe Ofahengaue won the Kelly-Barnes Medal in 2022 but was then moved on by the Wests Tigers months into a new deal. Supplied Credit: Supplied
“I don’t want to go too far into details, but everyone knows I didn’t want to leave that club. Sometimes you’ve just got to read the room. I just put my best foot forward and backed myself to come here,” Ofahengaue said.
“I don’t think it was that hard when it wasn’t really my choice.
“Everyone knows how passionate I was about that club. I signed three years for a reason because I wanted to stay there to be a part of the changes that were going to come. Things changed, and what happened was out of my control.
“It was a no-brainer for me to come to a club that really wanted me. I’m so grateful that I get to experience this locker room.”
The decision to release Ofahengaue was a strange one given he provided invaluable experience to a forward pack full of emerging stars who looked up to him.
It’s why there were emotional scenes at Leichhardt Oval when he crashed over for a try in his final game for the club before making the move to Parramatta.
“I felt for my mates because they didn’t deserve for me to leave halfway through the year. I didn’t think I deserved that either, but sometimes you can’t control things,” he said.

“I’m just glad that the club wanted me here and that allowed me to bring a positive out of it.”
It’s been a hectic few weeks for Ofahengaue, who was rushed into the Eels starting side to take on the Cowboys just days after he’d played against them as a Tiger but lasted just 10 minutes in his Eels debut before he injured his calf.
He’s back to full fitness now and punched out 30 minutes off the bench in the big win over Manly, although he admits he still needs to learn the team song.
“I’m just glad I got to play more than 10 minutes,” he said, paying tribute to Eels coach Brad Arthur for believing in him.
“My first game was disappointing because I came off early with an injury.
“I’ve been around long enough to know that things just happen and you can’t control everything, but I promised Brad that I’d do everything I could to get back as quickly as possible.
“I was happy to get through a good chunk of the second half because I wanted to get through some work and test out the calf.”
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Our so called leaders are creating a horrible culture at this club shafting a guy who won our player of the year three months into a three year deal & leaving a sour taste in his mouth. How many guys have left WT in recent years with anything good to say? You could probably count the amount on one hand that's how small it is. This guy was clearly loved by the playing group, excellent for the culture at the club & was someone who genuinely wanted to help the club succeed & wanted to play his part in doing that. https://www.weststigers.com.au/news...-as-hard-work-fails-to-translate-to-game-day/
Listen to this interview & see the accountability that Joffa takes, this guy was a genuine leader & someone who put in every week & we let him go for nothing.
 
TillLindemann said:
The bloke didn't want to go, we had cap space as it was, and there's nobody we're signing with the available cap space, let alone the added cap space from forcing him out. He might have had a slow start to the season but he has been one of our best and unlike many of the developmentally challenged at this club, actually had a decent head on his shoulders. Farcical.
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Very average what’s been done , and yes they need to bring In a player of high quality to cover their asses , Joe was very well liked by the playing group ,
 
batboy said:
Former Wests Tigers forward Joe Ofahengaue has opened up on his departure from the club, revealing he never wanted to leave but was forced out just months into a three-year deal.
The Tongan international has settled in nicely at the Eels but it’s foreign territory for a man who just last year won the Kelly-Barnes Medal as the best player at the Tigers.
He collected the award hours after he inked a new deal to stay at the club because he could see a bright future despite the Tigers claiming the wooden spoon in 2022.

Joe Ofahengaue won the Kelly-Barnes Medal in 2022 but was then moved on by the Wests Tigers months into a new deal. Supplied Credit: Supplied
“I don’t want to go too far into details, but everyone knows I didn’t want to leave that club. Sometimes you’ve just got to read the room. I just put my best foot forward and backed myself to come here,” Ofahengaue said.
“I don’t think it was that hard when it wasn’t really my choice.
“Everyone knows how passionate I was about that club. I signed three years for a reason because I wanted to stay there to be a part of the changes that were going to come. Things changed, and what happened was out of my control.
“It was a no-brainer for me to come to a club that really wanted me. I’m so grateful that I get to experience this locker room.”
The decision to release Ofahengaue was a strange one given he provided invaluable experience to a forward pack full of emerging stars who looked up to him.
It’s why there were emotional scenes at Leichhardt Oval when he crashed over for a try in his final game for the club before making the move to Parramatta.
“I felt for my mates because they didn’t deserve for me to leave halfway through the year. I didn’t think I deserved that either, but sometimes you can’t control things,” he said.

“I’m just glad that the club wanted me here and that allowed me to bring a positive out of it.”
It’s been a hectic few weeks for Ofahengaue, who was rushed into the Eels starting side to take on the Cowboys just days after he’d played against them as a Tiger but lasted just 10 minutes in his Eels debut before he injured his calf.
He’s back to full fitness now and punched out 30 minutes off the bench in the big win over Manly, although he admits he still needs to learn the team song.
“I’m just glad I got to play more than 10 minutes,” he said, paying tribute to Eels coach Brad Arthur for believing in him.
“My first game was disappointing because I came off early with an injury.
“I’ve been around long enough to know that things just happen and you can’t control everything, but I promised Brad that I’d do everything I could to get back as quickly as possible.
“I was happy to get through a good chunk of the second half because I wanted to get through some work and test out the calf.”
Click to expand...
"Things changed and what happened was out of my control" - Lee and Pascoe getting involved in football matters!!!
 
batboy said:
Former Wests Tigers forward Joe Ofahengaue has opened up on his departure from the club, revealing he never wanted to leave but was forced out just months into a three-year deal.
The Tongan international has settled in nicely at the Eels but it’s foreign territory for a man who just last year won the Kelly-Barnes Medal as the best player at the Tigers.
He collected the award hours after he inked a new deal to stay at the club because he could see a bright future despite the Tigers claiming the wooden spoon in 2022.

Joe Ofahengaue won the Kelly-Barnes Medal in 2022 but was then moved on by the Wests Tigers months into a new deal. Supplied Credit: Supplied
“I don’t want to go too far into details, but everyone knows I didn’t want to leave that club. Sometimes you’ve just got to read the room. I just put my best foot forward and backed myself to come here,” Ofahengaue said.
“I don’t think it was that hard when it wasn’t really my choice.
“Everyone knows how passionate I was about that club. I signed three years for a reason because I wanted to stay there to be a part of the changes that were going to come. Things changed, and what happened was out of my control.
“It was a no-brainer for me to come to a club that really wanted me. I’m so grateful that I get to experience this locker room.”
The decision to release Ofahengaue was a strange one given he provided invaluable experience to a forward pack full of emerging stars who looked up to him.
It’s why there were emotional scenes at Leichhardt Oval when he crashed over for a try in his final game for the club before making the move to Parramatta.
“I felt for my mates because they didn’t deserve for me to leave halfway through the year. I didn’t think I deserved that either, but sometimes you can’t control things,” he said.

“I’m just glad that the club wanted me here and that allowed me to bring a positive out of it.”
It’s been a hectic few weeks for Ofahengaue, who was rushed into the Eels starting side to take on the Cowboys just days after he’d played against them as a Tiger but lasted just 10 minutes in his Eels debut before he injured his calf.
He’s back to full fitness now and punched out 30 minutes off the bench in the big win over Manly, although he admits he still needs to learn the team song.
“I’m just glad I got to play more than 10 minutes,” he said, paying tribute to Eels coach Brad Arthur for believing in him.
“My first game was disappointing because I came off early with an injury.
“I’ve been around long enough to know that things just happen and you can’t control everything, but I promised Brad that I’d do everything I could to get back as quickly as possible.
“I was happy to get through a good chunk of the second half because I wanted to get through some work and test out the calf.”
Click to expand...

Since then we have not won a game or even looked like it.I said at the time it was a disgusting decision and the longer it gets the worse it looks,it reminds me of the part in Animal Farm where the horse is sold to the glue factory/knackery so Napoleon and the other pigs can have a huge banquet.
It is not as if we have that many players in form that we could afford to boot him out of the club but the collection of cretins did.We have self serving muppets running our club.
 
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