hank37w
Well-known member
Mind you, this is the second time we have done that with him.
Just plain stupid, like he was in big demand after 3 ACL's.
Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion
- Thread starter MacDougall
- Start date
Just plain stupid, like he was in big demand after 3 ACL's.
hank37w
Well-known member
Also takes up a top 30 spot that we desperately need.
The Chad
Well-known member
Twal actually has good leg drive when in the tackle and is rarely stopped at the point of contact- I think he's better than people suspect, while not being elite. But not all the pack need to be elite, and not all the pack need to be starting quality. If Twal starts & you get 3 really decent impact guys off the bench, that's still a good pack. I think 2 x damaging runners & 1 x damaging defender on the bench, plus that versatile guy, gives you the flexibility needed in the modern NRL.
You need to absorb & endure the initial onslaught, while still having impact (particularly out wide). Twal, Klemmer & Horsburgh in the middle, with Sam Fainu & Seyfarth out wide- then Pole, Sione Fainu & Hetherington along with a versatile guy...that's an effective forward pack.
You just need to have 3-4 guys in KOE pushing to get those bench spots for themselves- then you have the depth to cover injury & form slumps.
pawsandclaws1
Well-known member
Twal is a very good player and you know the performance you will receive when he is on-field. He is very underrated but not by me and many who supports WTs.
Good point. Need to think outside the rigid positions and numbers - you can have more ball players on the field as long as they can defend. We can definitely play Galvin, Luai and Latu at the same time. The game is evolving - it started years ago with hookers/dummy halves, then fullbacks, then “edge” players (second rowers), more recently Locks. These positions have changed and require different athleticism and abilities. We need to take advantage of the options we have and develop a style of playing incorporating more ball players and attack coupled with hard working scrambling defense. The latter will come from fitness and attitude coupled with intent and leadership.
The Chad
Well-known member
As a I love a good stat..
2024-
Utoikamanu - 23 Appearances, 96 tackle breaks, 970 post contact metres, 9.9 avg hit-ups
Oregon Kaufusi- 21 Appearances, 29 tackle breaks, 698 post contact metres, 7 avg hit-ups
NAS- 15 Appearances, 33 tackle breaks, 562.3 post contact metres, 9.1 avg hit-ups
Alex Twal- 17 Appearances, 28 tackle breaks, 549.1 post contact metres, 8.5 avg hit-ups
Daniel Saifiti- 19 Appearances, 27 tackle breaks, 820.5 post contact metres, 8.7 avg hit-ups
Royce Hunt- 13 Appearances, 20 tackle breaks, 392.8 post contact metres, 5.1 avg hit-ups
David Klemmer- 19 Appearances, 15 tackle breaks, 824.9 post contact metres, 9.6 avg hit-ups
Fonua Pole- 22 Appearances, 43 tackle breaks, 961.3 post contact metres, 9 avg hit-ups
Sione Fainu- 11 Appearances, 9 tackle breaks, 338.7 post contact metres, 6 avg hit-ups
Yeah, I know- stats lie, blah, blah.
However- over the course of the season- stats DO tell a story.
We will lose one of, if not the most destructive tackle breaking props next season. Interestingly, Pole has very similar post-contact metres, however. And Klemmer is right in line with Daniel Saifiti for post-contact as well. NAS has significantly less appearances than Pole & Utoikamanu & it could be argued his tackle busts might rival at least Pole if he played more. What I find interesting though is just how close NAS, Oregon Kaufusi & our very own Alex Twal are on overall impact.
There are posters that would jump all over Kaufusi as a signing, but how much better does he perform to Alex Twal?
Also, how far behind in performance is Royce Hunt to a number of our guys already? He's marginally more effective than Sione Fainu over the course of the season.
2024-
Utoikamanu - 23 Appearances, 96 tackle breaks, 970 post contact metres, 9.9 avg hit-ups
Oregon Kaufusi- 21 Appearances, 29 tackle breaks, 698 post contact metres, 7 avg hit-ups
NAS- 15 Appearances, 33 tackle breaks, 562.3 post contact metres, 9.1 avg hit-ups
Alex Twal- 17 Appearances, 28 tackle breaks, 549.1 post contact metres, 8.5 avg hit-ups
Daniel Saifiti- 19 Appearances, 27 tackle breaks, 820.5 post contact metres, 8.7 avg hit-ups
Royce Hunt- 13 Appearances, 20 tackle breaks, 392.8 post contact metres, 5.1 avg hit-ups
David Klemmer- 19 Appearances, 15 tackle breaks, 824.9 post contact metres, 9.6 avg hit-ups
Fonua Pole- 22 Appearances, 43 tackle breaks, 961.3 post contact metres, 9 avg hit-ups
Sione Fainu- 11 Appearances, 9 tackle breaks, 338.7 post contact metres, 6 avg hit-ups
Yeah, I know- stats lie, blah, blah.
However- over the course of the season- stats DO tell a story.
We will lose one of, if not the most destructive tackle breaking props next season. Interestingly, Pole has very similar post-contact metres, however. And Klemmer is right in line with Daniel Saifiti for post-contact as well. NAS has significantly less appearances than Pole & Utoikamanu & it could be argued his tackle busts might rival at least Pole if he played more. What I find interesting though is just how close NAS, Oregon Kaufusi & our very own Alex Twal are on overall impact.
There are posters that would jump all over Kaufusi as a signing, but how much better does he perform to Alex Twal?
Also, how far behind in performance is Royce Hunt to a number of our guys already? He's marginally more effective than Sione Fainu over the course of the season.
KCTiger2
Well-known member
I agree however Twal starting does his job and does it well and it allows us to bring Klemmer off the bench where the game is slower for him and he can do Twals job
Buttface
Well-known member
I think everyone is well aware what mighty boy can do and that is why we get a little annoyed when he gets dominated so easily and now signs elsewhere. His best and worst are way too far apart, it’s obvious if he pulls his finger out he will be one of the best props in the game.
Every team needs one Twally.
At the moment Pole seems to look better coming off the bench rather than starting. We need an aggressive hard running starting prop to work with either Klemmer or Twal in the rotation. We need to find a scary edge runner who can play decent minutes and defend well. We can manufacture a lock from within. Buy a proper NRL centre - that makes 3 new guys for 2025. That’s all we need next season and build further on that in 2026. Shore up coaching staff with experience.
I believe the right guys for us are out there on the market and also believe we can make this happen.
I believe the right guys for us are out there on the market and also believe we can make this happen.
Very interesting.
However when watching them all play on a weekly basis, I believe Daniel Saifiti has had an under rated season and would be the pick of the props available to recruit for a number of reasons, however it’s rumoured he’s already agreed to sign with the Dolphins.
I hope not and think he’d be a great signing for us to fill the void left by Stefano.
Tom Shines
Well-known member
Bit average of late …
They are looking thin in the middle though for next year …I suspect that’s behind it …
And where has that pack taken us , also lose 2 others , I think ur been very nice to a poor pack
hammertime
Well-known member
We also have to spend the cap. The forwards is our obvious weak spot with the 2025 additions to the backline
The Chad
Well-known member
Pole's attack has been great. He's a different type of middle to Utoikamanu, but his subtle footwork combined with his leg speed is very effective.
Unfortunately, he misses on the little 1% plays too often. As such, he's probably a step below being an obvious replacement for Utoikamanu.
The Chad
Well-known member
Either upgrading the second row spot over Seyfarth, or an big upgrade at #13 is smart business. There is an opportunity to spend money on a centre upgrade too, while adding 1-2 bench options.
A combination of Isiaih Tass, Jack Bird, Kleese Haas, Corey Horsburgh, Jack Hetherington, Mat Croker & Dylan Walker for starting spots.
Then if you can add a Joe Stimson, Liam Knight type of player to sit behind the top 17 (both would be possible) so that if injuries strike, form drops etc- you have 1st grade tested depth to compete.
All these players are available & I believe all would upgrade our overall squad quality.
Kaito
Well-known member
Australian born 16 yo Sudanese kid gout gout
ran a 10.2 benji get him on the phone haha
www.thesouthafrican.com
ran a 10.2 benji get him on the phone haha
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The Chad
Well-known member
You could upgrade a few current players, add Horsburgh & Jack Bird & that cap space starts to dwindle quickly.
Curly_Tiger
Well-known member
I think we’ve got plenty of up and comers so while they all come with some risk, NAS, Horsborough and Bird would add to our squad I reckon
The Chad
Well-known member
I think there's a genuine argument that NAS could provide similar results to Utoikamanu. But, in the same breath, Pole & Klemmer combined provide significant post contact numbers. Utoikamanu might break tackles, but that is all well & good if he does nothing with that. I'd rather the post contact metres & then strong defence.
