Solomona Faataape #276

crazycat said:
That's what I am thinking.

Put yourself in Luai's shoes for a moment. You have the Riff, The Dogs and the WT pushing to sign you.

Marshall seems alright. Ciraldo is a bit lukewarm on you... You know Crichton, Kikau, Burton at the dogs and you know Naden, Staines and Api at the Tigers.

Now imagine if we dump Staines/Naden and Api gets into an argument with you? suddenly that decision to join the WT looks really lonely. That kind of thing can really kill motivation...

Just saying.
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We need to get rid of Naden asap. We got another panther in Turuva to replace him. Let’s hope there’s no arguments with Api. But yeah that kind of thing happens often. Did Lomax sign with parra before Authur got the sack? Seems Papalii has never really been his best maybe a year wishing he hadn’t signed with us when he did has effected his mental sub conscious and therefore has not played his best while here. I believe winning may have changed this but loosing has only compounded the issue and I bet a nut he has stood behind the posts wishing he’d had just re-signed with parra. Human nature. Team stability can be under rated. Sometimes you need to have a contract for team harmony.
 
426Tlgerland said:
i like this kid he has a go and is def a centre , I love the fact he is in it 100% and will do what ever to play in our team , this is what we need from the lower grade players , a want to make the top grade and do what ever the coach requests , keeper for me , 2 year deal on about $ 250 k would keep him with us and well worth it , even a clause , play well and earn an upgrade later after first year If all goes well for him , keep him
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Agree with most of what you said except $250k. We gave him a contract from QLD cup with no comp for his Hancock, he should be on min wage and I would not be giving him any more. He is a good cup player and wouldn’t be playing NRL with anyone else. He goes ok and shows some ticka but he needs at least another year at min wage and to get better at both A and D before I’m giving him $250k.
I reckon he gives us better value than Naden.
 
boonboon said:
I think Faatape is one who will also improve next season - we need to remember he missed most of the pre season so it'll be his first nrl pre season coming into next year.

I think we will see plenty of movement in our top 30 between now and next season given we currently have a full squad of 30 for next year if all options are taken up while we also have 3 players not in the top 30 next year currently in the nrl squad - Faatape, Sione Fainu and Porter.
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I think you’ll find he’s had at least one pre season with the Storm…
Fair chance those are tougher to an ours, so I don’t know a WT’s pre season will boost him any….
 
batboy said:
I think you’ll find he’s had at least one pre season with the Storm…
Fair chance those are tougher to an ours, so I don’t know a WT’s pre season will boost him any….
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When was the last time a WT player looked and played like they had a massive offseason.
 
Buttface said:
Agree with most of what you said except $250k. We gave him a contract from QLD cup with no comp for his Hancock, he should be on min wage and I would not be giving him any more. He is a good cup player and wouldn’t be playing NRL with anyone else. He goes ok and shows some ticka but he needs at least another year at min wage and to get better at both A and D before I’m giving him $250k.
I reckon he gives us better value than Naden.
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Well Naden is probably on $ 400 so $:250 is a winner keep him piss Naden off , we are $ 150 k up and not lost any strength
 
crazycat said:
That's what I am thinking.

Put yourself in Luai's shoes for a moment. You have the Riff, The Dogs and the WT pushing to sign you.

Marshall seems alright. Ciraldo is a bit lukewarm on you... You know Crichton, Kikau, Burton at the dogs and you know Naden, Staines and Api at the Tigers.

Now imagine if we dump Staines/Naden and Api gets into an argument with you? suddenly that decision to join the WT looks really lonely. That kind of thing can really kill motivation...

Just saying.
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Jarome has a young family - pretty sure he is not coming to the Tigers to hang out with old mates who left Penrith 2-3 years ago!

Do yourself a favour and stop over-thinking it!
 
There's just no point keeping him or playing him. He doesn't have the physical traits necessary to succeed. Too small, too slow.
Next.
As a backup, on a train and trial who plays maybe 2-4 matches a year due to severe injuries, ok.
But if we went to make the 8 he can't be anywhere near our top 30
 
426Tlgerland said:
i like this kid he has a go and is def a centre , I love the fact he is in it 100% and will do what ever to play in our team , this is what we need from the lower grade players , a want to make the top grade and do what ever the coach requests , keeper for me , 2 year deal on about $ 250 k would keep him with us and well worth it , even a clause , play well and earn an upgrade later after first year If all goes well for him , keep him
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Agree.

I'd have Faataape and Laulilli in the centres for KOE cup next year with Staines and Toa on the wings. That's reasonable back up and all 4 would be competing each week to be the first called up to NRL if injury or bad form strikes a starter which should keep them hungry.
 
Buttface said:
When was the last time a WT player looked and played like they had a massive offseason.
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They Don't - That's my point.....
We aren't as fit as the other teams.

Op I replied to said Fa'atape will be better after a WT's Pre-Season, I beg to differ - He's had preseasons at the Storm, I don't see a WT's pre season turning him into some surprise colossus
 
Eternal Tiger said:
Our back 5 are probably the worst in the NRL for carting the ball out of our end.
We need more size, speed and power. Every other team that play us can reach halfway just by having a Backs Set. We struggle to get to the 30.
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That’s right. There are only 2 ways to get the ball down the other end. We need more options.
 
crazycat said:
That's what I am thinking.

Put yourself in Luai's shoes for a moment. You have the Riff, The Dogs and the WT pushing to sign you.

Marshall seems alright. Ciraldo is a bit lukewarm on you... You know Crichton, Kikau, Burton at the dogs and you know Naden, Staines and Api at the Tigers.

Now imagine if we dump Staines/Naden and Api gets into an argument with you? suddenly that decision to join the WT looks really lonely. That kind of thing can really kill motivation...

Just saying.
Click to expand...
“I’m actually excited about it. I said it before the year started, regardless of how these guys go, I’m going to make sure I’m able to bring something to that team and make sure it’s positive. To be honest, I thought I was going there [Bulldogs]. They had [former Panthers] Critta [Stephen Crichton], Burto [Matt Burton], Ciro [Ciraldo] and Kiks [Viliame Kikau] there.

“But I wanted to go somewhere I was uncomfortable. The real challenge is, ‘Can I do it on my own?’ I was speaking to my dad about it, and we agreed that if I left Penrith, the Bulldogs would be a good fit for me. I would be comfortable there. I didn’t want to be comfortable. I wanted the real challenge.”
 
Despite not having the ideal stature or elite speed for an NRL centre, Faatape does genuinely rip in and give his best.
If he is to fit in our top 30 moving forward we would ideally need to see a break out game where he dominates the opposition real soon, hopefully this Friday night against the Sharks.
Also going off King Sirro’s theory, would it be possible for Faatape to become more versatile to make himself an option as a valuable bench utility who can cover the backs as well as dummy half or back row ?
 
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crazycat said:
That's what I am thinking.

Put yourself in Luai's shoes for a moment. You have the Riff, The Dogs and the WT pushing to sign you.

Marshall seems alright. Ciraldo is a bit lukewarm on you... You know Crichton, Kikau, Burton at the dogs and you know Naden, Staines and Api at the Tigers.

Now imagine if we dump Staines/Naden and Api gets into an argument with you? suddenly that decision to join the WT looks really lonely. That kind of thing can really kill motivation...

Just saying.
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Gee this isn't primary school touch footy , he's getting paid good dollars to set up his family and theres lot of good blokes at tigers and turuva joining. The players seem to talk about a lot of team harmony. He'd have to just get on with work.
 
crazycat said:
That's what I am thinking.

Put yourself in Luai's shoes for a moment. You have the Riff, The Dogs and the WT pushing to sign you.

Marshall seems alright. Ciraldo is a bit lukewarm on you... You know Crichton, Kikau, Burton at the dogs and you know Naden, Staines and Api at the Tigers.

Now imagine if we dump Staines/Naden and Api gets into an argument with you? suddenly that decision to join the WT looks really lonely. That kind of thing can really kill motivation...

Just saying.
Click to expand...

You honestly think he would care if we dump Staines and Naden - probably would be cheering for it. He is leaving his besties to join us. They wouldn’t have even figured in a conversation about why he should join.

As if he and Api never clashed at times at the Panthers or he has with others at the Panthers.

Let’s be serious he knows we are the worst team in the comp and has been open about the challenge interesting him & proving himself. He won’t be here as an understudy to anyone he will be here as an alpha and will stamp his authority on the team early on. And I hope he does.

It won’t be easy but to change our culture we need tough minded players to really help drive a massive culture shift needed and get the kids on the bus quickly.

Plenty in our squad needs some hard truths and have no issue him doing it - not as though we could perform worse than our last 3 seasons….
 
Ideally he is centre #3 or #4 next season. Plays if Olam or Doueihi is out. Compete's beside To'a & maybe Feledy for that role.

It's by having decent, quality depth, that the club gets stronger.

I think Faataape is a perfect squad player & a decent option in 1st grade, after 1/2 a season. I expect he would be better this time next year.
 
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