Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

jrtiger said:
it's a toughie. Olam brings experience and an attitude to training and playing you can't coach. that will rub off on the playing group and help with the rebuild. Niu is a better buy in terms of age and upside.

personally I'd love both, but if Olam comes and finds form then I think we won't be worrying too much.
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Both would be the best play
Both walk into our backline

Olam, experience and class.
Niu, at his best... very flashy and explosive.

improve our backline so dramatically.

Staines and Lobb on the wings.
I really like that.
 
king_sirro said:
I agree with your post and totally disagree with those who can't see the upside in Toa.

So many on here throw out "he had one good game" which simply isn't true. He has had many good Centre games and has had many more good moments where you see what he "could" bring on a regular basis if he snaps out of his laziness. His Cowboys game was so unbelievably good that when he just has a normal decent game for a centre it's considered below average.

Considering how badly we have lacked genuine tackle busters and players with the ability to make a break out of nothing, I'm baffled at how many can't see what this guy could bring.

He frustrated me enormously the back end of the year, but im not that closed minded that i forget just how easily he beats his man one on one. He needs to be worked with in a few areas, mainly keeping his head in the game and his effort, but if he sorts that out we have a genuine game breaker.
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I've got Naden and him in the same category
- enough natural ability but no head for the demands of game.The depth over the whole competition is skinny for quality outside backs and one or two good performances a season would for most clubs not be reason for persisting with them in the top grade.
May get some benefit of the doubt with a new halves combo, but improving a players mental aptitude to competition can be far more challenging than anything physical.
 
Demps said:
Both would be the best play
Both walk into our backline

Olam, experience and class.
Niu, at his best... very flashy and explosive.

improve our backline so dramatically.

Staines and Lobb on the wings.
I really like that.
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I certainly wouldn't hate that.

obviously we're hearing great things about Lobb but patience is key. really need to see how he fares in the trials. Alaimalo is another that could come from nowhere, but similar to Lobb in that we don't really know just yet.

I wouldn't be surprised either if Benji moved To'a to the wing and Naden to the centres if he didn't see the need to play Tupou now he's leaving. there are some options, but there is still some strengthening to be done.
 
Telltails said:
I've got Naden and him in the same category
- enough natural ability but no head for the demands of game.The depth over the whole competition is skinny for quality outside backs and one or two good performances a season would for most clubs not be reason for persisting with them in the top grade.
May get some benefit of the doubt with a new halves combo, but improving a players mental aptitude to competition can be far more challenging than anything physical.
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I think we will see a very different attitude from Naden in 2024. He had a train wreck of a season last year and badly let the team down. Benji and co won't stand for any ill discipline. IMO he is destined for a good solid year. He owes his teammates and fans that much at least.
 
Roar_Power said:
I think we will see a very different attitude from Naden in 2024. He had a train wreck of a season last year and badly let the team down. Benji and co won't stand for any ill discipline. IMO he is destined for a good solid year. He owes his teammates and fans that much at least.
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I agree, he will be a mainstay for us at centre if he can stay on the field
 
426Tlgerland said:
So who do we go after to replace Fulton , any ideas , whispers ,
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Just my opinion, but it makes more sense that the core coaching staff in Benji, Morris and Farah should be in control of our recruitment and retention with assistance from Shane Richardson when required,
We only really need someone with their hands on the pulse to do the recruitment and retention for our pathways up until and including Jersey Flegg.
 
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king_sirro said:
I agree with your post and totally disagree with those who can't see the upside in Toa.

So many on here throw out "he had one good game" which simply isn't true. He has had many good Centre games and has had many more good moments where you see what he "could" bring on a regular basis if he snaps out of his laziness. His Cowboys game was so unbelievably good that when he just has a normal decent game for a centre it's considered below average.

Considering how badly we have lacked genuine tackle busters and players with the ability to make a break out of nothing, I'm baffled at how many can't see what this guy could bring.

He frustrated me enormously the back end of the year, but im not that closed minded that i forget just how easily he beats his man one on one. He needs to be worked with in a few areas, mainly keeping his head in the game and his effort, but if he sorts that out we have a genuine game breaker.
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I don't think he had as many laziness problems as Tupou who rarely chases to rectify his errors

Toa seems to give a stuff, I recall him hitting the ground with his fist after missing a tackle for a try. Sure he has a missed tackle in him but he does come again

I still think he's got big upside for us at centre and at worst is probably one of our best wingers, think he played wing for Tonga v the Poms and he can get the ball across in tight situations but not the tallest obviously if we are committed to bigger bodies on the edges
 
Curly_Tiger said:
I don't think he had as many laziness problems as Tupou who rarely chases to rectify his errors

Toa seems to give a stuff, I recall him hitting the ground with his fist after missing a tackle for a try. Sure he has a missed tackle in him but he does come again

I still think he's got big upside for us at centre and at worst is probably one of our best wingers, think he played wing for Tonga v the Poms and he can get the ball across in tight situations but not the tallest obviously if we are committed to bigger bodies on the edges
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Believe it or not,

Coming through the juniours - Toa was considered a better prospect than Bradman Best.

He made first grade and in my opinion, has remained under the radar... other than the Valentine Holmes domination.

2024, needs to be break out year for him.
I believe he's up to the task.
 
Demps said:
Believe it or not,

Coming through the juniours - Toa was considered a better prospect than Bradman Best.
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Sorry .. cant believe it… that’s just too wild… Toa has played 1 decent game in his NRL career … he may not be in First Grade if/when Olam gets here
 
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Curly_Tiger said:
Given Tupou is leaving I’d think it makes sense exploring what the Dolphins might be open to giving up to get him now
They have a ridiculously strong set of outside backs
Isaako, Farnworth, Averillo, Niu, Aitken, Hammer, TeWhare
Even Niu or Aitken might be improvements for us
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Niu I'd take. Definitely no for Aitken
 
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