Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[AdelaideTiger]

there's a 13 jersey with his name on it if he can have a massive preseason.

being fitter and faster should help with his carries and his linespeed, which are his two biggest deficiencies. he's far more skilful than any of the other lock prospects we have in and around first grade currently. huge year ahead for him given he's off contract.

I dont recall if I saw it here on elsewhere, but there was a suggestion that Latu Fainu was pencilled in to wear the 13 and him being part of the fat 5 prior to Christmas meant that everything was wide open again, will be very interesting to see who can jag it. Matmua might be a good suggestion. Reckon Benji wants a ball player at 13 this year, not another prop

 

[Canadian Club]

there's a 13 jersey with his name on it if he can have a massive preseason.

being fitter and faster should help with his carries and his linespeed, which are his two biggest deficiencies. he's far more skilful than any of the other lock prospects we have in and around first grade currently. huge year ahead for him given he's off contract.

I still have faith in Matamua. He's definitely got the skill and is easily the best ball playing forward on our roster. He's still only 21.

His issue over the last two years has been his conditioning, especially defensively in the middle which has really stalled his development. We often forget he debuted at 19 and was u19 NSW representative.

Even though he was a standout in the juniors, I always thought he would take a bit longer to develop due to the fact that he was often moved between the halves and lock as a junior. Unlike other junior stars, he was constantly moved between the middle and the edge, which is why I believe he really struggled defensively in the middle early as he never got a full season of playing just lock and getting used to the position defensively. He definitely showed a big improvement in a struggling Cup team last season.

 

[cqtiger]

I’d like matamua to hit his straps this year but I’m not confident. Of all the hype around our juniors these last couple of years only Galvin has shone. Tallyn D possibly, who else actually stepped up big time?

 

[GNR4LIFE]

I’d like matamua to hit his straps this year but I’m not confident. Of all the hype around our juniors these last couple of years only Galvin has shone. Tallyn D possibly, who else actually stepped up big time?

Pole

 

[gregjm87]

I still have faith in Matamua. He's definitely got the skill and is easily the best ball playing forward on our roster. He's still only 21.

His issue over the last two years has been his conditioning, especially defensively in the middle which has really stalled his development. We often forget he debuted at 19 and was u19 NSW representative.

Even though he was a standout in the juniors, I always thought he would take a bit longer to develop due to the fact that he was often moved between the halves and lock as a junior. Unlike other junior stars, he was constantly moved between the middle and the edge, which is why I believe he really struggled defensively in the middle early as he never got a full season of playing just lock and getting used to the position defensively. He definitely showed a big improvement in a struggling Cup team last season.

I wouldn't say I've faith in him but he is certainly one that I am still hopeful can become a very good lock.
Also not surprised it has taken time to transition to being full-time in the forwards due to the same reasonings as you. Furthermore I think Lock is the hardest position for a young bloke to come in and make his own. I can't think of to many players that have done that without several years adapting to the rigours of first grade on an edge or as a bench middle.

 

[hank37w]

Surely this is his make or break year being his 3rd I think in the top 30.

 

[Wiz]

We promoted Matamua into the top 30 too early, simply to keep him given the club was so weak.

21 is still too young for most middle forwards to make an impact in the NRL.

If he makes a big leap and starts delivering on the potential that would be a good result.

 

[hammertime]

I have an inkling that papa had a handshake with previous management to keep his contract to 2 years when he was agitating before joining us.

He went from wanting to get out to being onboard overnight back then.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

there's a 13 jersey with his name on it if he can have a massive preseason.

I’l give you 500/1 odds that he’s 13 come round 1 regardless of his pre season

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

I have an inkling that papa had a handshake with previous management to keep his contract to 2 years when he was agitating before joining us.

He went from wanting to get out to being onboard overnight back then.

It was hard to get past all the negative vibes he was giving out before he finally got on board.

 

[innsaneink]

Yes u can say Richo has done a good job, but what puzzles me is why we have left ourselves so light on in the backrow , getting rid of papa without having a ready made signing is dum , then pushing Bateman out and again no replacement, SO for all the great work Richo has done , leaving us with no depth in the backrow and lock , will come back to bit us as the season goes on . A couple of injuries and we have to play kids from the NSW cup , WELL we seen how they preformed last year .
I hope Iam proved wrong but I hope I don’t have to pull this post out half way throw the season and SAY I told u so .

Mate.... There is about 20 you could 'pull out' on the same topic.
We got you the first time

 

[SeanT]

We promoted Matamua into the top 30 too early, simply to keep him given the club was so weak.

21 is still too young for most middle forwards to make an impact in the NRL.

If he makes a big leap and starts delivering on the potential that would be a good result.

Hope he stops with the ball playing every 3/4 runs. Just tuck it under and go hard. Do the ball playing after you can do 20-30 minutes in the middle.

 

[Tom Shines]

No not when you need a car Ice for mine backend of last season looked like his best position was lock I think he might of been wanting more money to stay hence we let him go plus Kobe Hetherington sounded like he was all but signed this would of thrown a spanner in the works.

they let Ice go long before Hetherington was even a twinkle in Richo’s eye

 

[innsaneink]

I’l give you 500/1 odds that he’s 13 come round 1 regardless of his pre season

You're on.

$2500/$5

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

they let Ice go long before Hetherington was even a twinkle in Richo’s eye

Why do you think they let him go for top 30 spots.

 

[Tom Shines]

Why do you think they let him go for top 30 spots.

they let him go because he is a good player and other teams wanted him… unlike others here

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

they let him go because he is a good player and other teams wanted him… unlike others here

Well, he's at a good team now soon see if he can find his parra form.

 

[Tom Shines]

Well, he's at a good team now soon see if he can find his parra form.

yes …we will be watching closely … even at the form be showed here ,,. He would be walking into our Top 13 ( again) this year ..

 

[liltiger]

I’d like matamua to hit his straps this year but I’m not confident. Of all the hype around our juniors these last couple of years only Galvin has shone. Tallyn D possibly, who else actually stepped up big time?

Pole has stepped up imo he's still very raw no doubt but it's obvious the guy can handle the weekly grind of first grade while improving to another level aswell.

 

[liltiger]

Yes u can say Richo has done a good job, but what puzzles me is why we have left ourselves so light on in the backrow , getting rid of papa without having a ready made signing is dum , then pushing Bateman out and again no replacement, SO for all the great work Richo has done , leaving us with no depth in the backrow and lock , will come back to bit us as the season goes on . A couple of injuries and we have to play kids from the NSW cup , WELL we seen how they preformed last year .
I hope Iam proved wrong but I hope I don’t have to pull this post out half way throw the season and SAY I told u so .

True BP we are light atm, Richo has said its the long game at the club, we are short in 25, iv no doubt that'll be sorted for 26. Ipap was let go as we wernt going to offer him a new spot and it freed up a top 30 spot, he also wasn't performing to the price tag for various reasons. Bateman was shown the door because of issues around him and the coach. It's better to let them both go now even being short in 25, then fixing the issue in 26 you lose one season.
If we keep particularly Bateman on cause ipap was going anyway, what damage could Batemans attitude cause in the sheds and in regard to influencing the younger guys in our squad, you could damage multiple seasons. Like yanking a tooth, once it gets pulled in a few days the toothach is gone. Or keep it and have less pain with the tooth but the pain never disappears.