Junior Tupou #254

[pawsandclaws1]

Tupou is still with us next year,
Don’t know why people think that when someone sign’s 2 years in advance that player will be released early.
Luai will be at Penrith next year
and Tupou will be with us.

If the Dolphins want him for next season, they can send us Jack Bostock!

 

[coivtny]

Tupou is still with us next year,
Don’t know why people think that when someone sign’s 2 years in advance that player will be released early.
Luai will be at Penrith next year
and Tupou will be with us.

Normally I'd agree but in this case not so much. I think Tupou is really average and I don't think he's a loss at all. If Dolphins want him in 2024 I'd let him go. It frees up some cash and a spot in the 30. I reckon we could replace him with someone of at least equal ability now but with a lot of future upside.

 

[Tom Shines]

Normally I'd agree but in this case not so much. I think Tupou is really average and I don't think he's a loss at all. If Dolphins want him in 2024 I'd let him go. It frees up some cash and a spot in the 30. I reckon we could replace him with someone of at least equal ability now but with a lot of future upside.

Well .. apparently the WT want to replace him in 24 with Olam …

 

[Needaname]

I have a hunch a deal could be worked out to bring Ewen Aitken down in a swap. Better defensive centre than Olam, played with Benji whom he rated as the best prospect in the club at the time. If we are thinking terrible deal, well we are all talking about Tupou being a centre but so far I’ve seen him defend only marginally better than Talau so you would want him there for his tackle breaking ability. But adding a raw centre wing combo onto the flanks for 23 is just going to work against Benji. IMO Benji’s number one goal this season would be defence;

 

[pawsandclaws1]

I have a hunch a deal could be worked out to bring Ewen Aitken down in a swap. Better defensive centre than Olam, played with Benji whom he rated as the best prospect in the club at the time. If we are thinking terrible deal, well we are all talking about Tupou being a centre but so far I’ve seen him defend only marginally better than Talau so you would want him there for his tackle breaking ability. But adding a raw centre wing combo onto the flanks for 23 is just going to work against Benji. IMO Benji’s number one goal this season would be defence;

Aitken was well-known at the Dragons for his inability to defend out wide in the centres. Jack Bostock is the player from the Dolphins we need - young, tall, quick ex Aust Schoolboy winger/centre and from the Wollongong area.

 

[Roar_Power]

I will back Benji on this Olam swap deal. Obviously sees something that us armchair warriors don't.

 

[TonyTiger]

Normally I'd agree but in this case not so much. I think Tupou is really average and I don't think he's a loss at all. If Dolphins want him in 2024 I'd let him go. It frees up some cash and a spot in the 30. I reckon we could replace him with someone of at least equal ability now but with a lot of future upside.

Tupou is over-hyped.

 

[Needaname]

I will back Benji on this Olam swap deal. Obviously sees something that us armchair warriors don't.

I’ll admit. All I see is Olam being sucked in tight by the panthers attack in their Prelim final. But that side did put it on a lot of teams and players so Olam isn’t an isolated case I guess.

 

[Needaname]

Aitken was well-known at the Dragons for his inability to defend out wide in the centres. Jack Bostock is the player from the Dolphins we need - young, tall, quick ex Aust Schoolboy winger/centre and from the Wollongong area.

Not sure, he was originally building a reputation as a good defensive centre. Moved to back row because he didn’t have the speed needed. Would be just as quick as Tupou so I guess no loss there.
Bostock won’t be going anywhere, we have to be realistic though there are a few backs in the Dolphins reserves that might warrant a deal.

 

[TonyTiger]

I will back Benji on this Olam swap deal. Obviously sees something that us armchair warriors don't.

Olam is a pocket destroyer … nobody runs with more intent, we’ve had a boat anchor in Tommy Talau filling that spot over recent years so will be great to have a point-and-shoot weapon in our attack

 

[tigermate]

I feel like Olam is a BJ leilua all over again

Passed his prime

Everyone is hopeful and wishing under “fresh start” he’ll be a wrecking ball

Is a bad defender / has attitude problem with current team who has high standards

And we’re taking him instead of holding onto tupou as a center

 

[AdelaideTiger]

Herbie has gone there to play fb i think mate ,maybe hammer in centres

Tupou's not better than either of those guys, but he may be better than Averillo in the not too distant future

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Not sure, he was originally building a reputation as a good defensive centre. Moved to back row because he didn’t have the speed needed. Would be just as quick as Tupou so I guess no loss there.
Bostock won’t be going anywhere, we have to be realistic though there are a few backs in the Dolphins reserves that might warrant a deal.

Here is Benji's 2015 thoughts on Aitken:

https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/r...big-thing-ng-89c4f708e228dcb526316472e9a56777

Reportedly Dolphins want to move Aitken on early and rumours he wanted to return closer to home a few months ago. We could get him cheap.

If Storm don't come to the table re. absorbing a decent amount of Olam's contract, Aitken on a max 2 year deal for his experience, attitude & utility value would be worth considering.

Then next year if Kepaoa is moved on, Aitken can just be used as our bench backrower/centre utility.

 

[Needaname]

Here is Benji's 2015 thoughts on Aitken:

https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/r...big-thing-ng-89c4f708e228dcb526316472e9a56777

Reportedly Dolphins want to move Aitken on early and rumours he wanted to return closer to home a few months ago. We could get him cheap.

If Storm don't come to the table re. absorbing a decent amount of Olam's contract, Aitken on a max 2 year deal for his experience, attitude & utility value would be worth considering.

Then next year if Kepaoa is moved on, Aitken can just be used as our bench backrower/centre utility.

Yes, all that considered, that’s why I brought it up, Aitken wants to return to Sydney, history with Benji.
Let’s say it’s a possible option in my line of thinking as an alternative to Olam for an experienced centre to help the younger generation.
One thing I can’t recall though as he spent a season at the Wahs playing backrow; what is his preferred position?

 

[Kaito]

Tupou is over-hyped.

People judging him on the having possibly
the worst halves pairing in WT history that
fed/didn't feed him the ball. Sheens was
playing him out of position too on the
wrong side of the field along with chopping
and changing his inside men every other
week. I've known about/saw clips of him
as a schoolboy. He would carve at centre.
his in and outs & foot work is elite. The
issue with him is that he's very quite and
probably didn't air his grievances to WT
management, he's just put up & shut up.
Woolf had time with him in Tongan camp
and probably got in his ear. His 1 on 1
defence is good, runs the ball hard, great
feet etc. Peoples' only gripe with him
Without looking at the bigger picture is
that he's dropped a few balls. So what...
won't even be an issue if he plays were he
should be playing at centre. Just my 2 cents

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Yes, all that considered, that’s why I brought it up, Aitken wants to return to Sydney, history with Benji.
Let’s say it’s a possible option in my line of thinking as an alternative to Olam for an experienced centre to help the younger generation.
One thing I can’t recall though as he spent a season at the Wahs playing backrow; what is his preferred position?

I quite liked him in the backrow at the Wahs, very good defensively & could hit a hole. Whilst he is ok at centre, he does get found out sometimes but for his experience & attitude alone could be a good moneyball signing.

 

[balmain boy]

I wonder how much on here think Tupou is worth?

Dolphins apparently blew our offer out of the water. For a talented but still a project player how much can you pay for potential?

 

[Joelcainenumber1fan]

this is horrible im really starting to dislike this club even more now
tupou got massive potential but we are trying to buy a team cause that worked so well all the other times
Tupou is 21 years old why give up on him at that stage?????

 

[Joelcainenumber1fan]

I wonder how much on here think Tupou is worth?

Dolphins apparently blew our offer out of the water. For a talented but still a project player how much can you pay for potential?

didnt we pay a lot for Bula who played even less games and we had players before who looked great in there debut years and failed to go on with it

 

[pawsandclaws1]

I wonder how much on here think Tupou is worth?

Dolphins apparently blew our offer out of the water. For a talented but still a project player how much can you pay for potential?

I am disappointed he will be going but I don't believe you can consider it in isolation. The issue for me is the opportunity cost of retaining him while entering into a bidding war with the Dolphins. We have some very good talent in the lower grades and I am sure Marshall and Richardson have taken this into account. As someone else posted, I am sure the Dolphins' coach was in his ear while with the Tongan squad.