Bring on Latu Fainu

Jolls said:
Latu is capable of doing that, no worries. But ideally we want both grades playing the same style of.footy. Latu behind Romey. Matamua behing Bird. Johannssen behind May and so on down the line.

For the first time in I don't know how long we have good depth almost across the park. We are little shallow in known talent at second row and with consistent talent.at centre but we certainly have enough depth to cater for short term setbacks in FG. Long term injuries in key positions will test is.

Reserve grade should be a developmental side with a mix of experience thrown in with young guns on the rise. We have a reasonable mix for.2025. This should be the time and place for Latu to develop his craft and resilience and step in for Romey/Galvin as required.

If Galvin signs elsewhere later in the year, as several predict, Latu moves into his spot as.soon as that is announced and Galvin becomes a centre/lock or whatever for the remainder of his contract.

If Latu is absolutely kicking the door down in Reggie's, and remains fit, the coaching staff can then figure out a way to have him playing FG, but that is definitely a future problem and not a now issue. His development should be our current focus and he won't get that playing 20 minutes as a utility on the bench.

If he is as good as many believe he will rise to the top and be playing regular FG by the end of the season and Galvin will be probably be playing 13 with Bird on the pine.

Latu as 6/7 in Reggie's is where he should be for the short to medium term. TDS is ready now to share the duties with Api. That will be a great addition to our FG side on both sides of the ball.

That to me is the right club decision. Benji is a little.less averse to risk than me. Given his focus on rewarding off field performance we may be in for an early surprise. I think the trials will give us an insight to his thinking.

14 and a wakey: bring it on!
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Yes, I see things panning out similarly.
A starter and a named backup. Starter goes down, backup comes in.
Latu plays in the halves and is not currently a starter there.
He runs KOE Cup and bides his time.
 
Buttface said:
I reckon Benji knows he needs to win games asap, and he’ll sacrifice the long term for the short term wins.
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I’m afraid this will be true.
He has had a very poor start to his coaching career…a career he begged for instead of being vetted correctly and appointed on merit.
He needs results immediately.
 
Its gonna be tough to carry both small players in Latu and TDS on the bench. Its a pickle. Both need 1st grade game experience and both can play the 14 role. Api is ever increasingly showing he cant play 80 anymore and will need the next generation to start to play more minutes. Latu too needs time on the park with the big boys but at the sacrifice of 10 mins 1st grade time and losing a full playing game in reggies where he should dominate and grow confidence. Benji has a lot to consider and I hope he doesnt rush anything for both of the kids future sakes. Tough call.
 
Winston Churchill said:
Its gonna be tough to carry both small players in Latu and TDS on the bench. Its a pickle. Both need 1st grade game experience and both can play the 14 role. Api is ever increasingly showing he cant play 80 anymore and will need the next generation to start to play more minutes. Latu too needs time on the park with the big boys but at the sacrifice of 10 mins 1st grade time and losing a full playing game in reggies where he should dominate and grow confidence. Benji has a lot to consider and I hope he doesnt rush anything for both of the kids future sakes. Tough call.
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Think TDS is more ready, think Latu needs more time in reserves to get more Ks in his legs.
 
Tucker said:
I’m afraid this will be true.
He has had a very poor start to his coaching career…a career he begged for instead of being vetted correctly and appointed on merit.
He needs results immediately.
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I don’t know about begged for? But he needs results.
 
Tucker said:
I’m afraid this will be true.
He has had a very poor start to his coaching career…a career he begged for instead of being vetted correctly and appointed on merit.
He needs results immediately.
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Agree T but most seem to think that Benji has some intelligence let's hope his team selection is sensible and well balanced.
 
Winston Churchill said:
Its gonna be tough to carry both small players in Latu and TDS on the bench. Its a pickle. Both need 1st grade game experience and both can play the 14 role. Api is ever increasingly showing he cant play 80 anymore and will need the next generation to start to play more minutes. Latu too needs time on the park with the big boys but at the sacrifice of 10 mins 1st grade time and losing a full playing game in reggies where he should dominate and grow confidence. Benji has a lot to consider and I hope he doesnt rush anything for both of the kids future sakes. Tough call.
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I don’t agree with your political views but your 100% right on this one. You can’t play them both on the bench so without injuries or suspensions one’s going to miss out. How Benji handles this one without one of them getting the Edgar britts will be interesting. I guess injuries will probably give them both a fair chance to showcase their talents
 
supercoach said:
I don’t agree with your political views but your 100% right on this one. You can’t play them both on the bench so without injuries or suspensions one’s going to miss out. How Benji handles this one without one of them getting the Edgar britts will be interesting. I guess injuries will probably give them both a fair chance to showcase their talents
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And gameplans for the opposition a possibility
 
The Chad said:
The weakest spots on the starting team are 2nd Row & Centre.

We have 2 quality players playing for 1 bench spot.

If only 1 of them could play 2nd Row or Centre & get them on the field.........
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Not for long. The Big Mak will dominate once available and I’m backing Seyfarth to come good. He’s very Hetheringtonesque. Like he’s easy to hate because he has red hair, but his anger - mmmmmm.🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤
 
supercoach said:
I don’t agree with your political views but your 100% right on this one. You can’t play them both on the bench so without injuries or suspensions one’s going to miss out. How Benji handles this one without one of them getting the Edgar britts will be interesting. I guess injuries will probably give them both a fair chance to showcase their talents
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I'd think Tallyn would be slightly higher in the pecking order of the two but it seem Latu has the more versatility
TDS no doubt will start round.1 touch wood with Fainu 14?
The dilemma begins round 2 when Apis back and depending on what happens during the 80 v the Knights
 
supercoach said:
I don’t agree with your political views but your 100% right on this one. You can’t play them both on the bench so without injuries or suspensions one’s going to miss out. How Benji handles this one without one of them getting the Edgar britts will be interesting. I guess injuries will probably give them both a fair chance to showcase their talents
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Its ok for you to be wrong half of the time.
 
supercoach said:
I don’t agree with your political views but your 100% right on this one. You can’t play them both on the bench so without injuries or suspensions one’s going to miss out. How Benji handles this one without one of them getting the Edgar britts will be interesting. I guess injuries will probably give them both a fair chance to showcase their talents
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Honestly, with the Tigers luck I can already feel either Galvin or Jerry going down for half a season, so Latu will get plenty of time. Probably should have kept Sezer for when Latu also goes down.

Mindset of a shellshocked tigers fan.
 
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