Latu Fainu #282

[hank37w]

I remember Yeo answering a question, sittting next to Coach Cleary in a post match interview, following a Panthers win over us, where he went out of his way to compliment the Wests Tigers players.
Top shelf attitude.

The guy is all class and I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed to see the Pamfers lose in his landmark 250th game.

Shame they got the detail on the jersey wrong as well, I thought it was only us that stuffed up things like that. 🤣

 

[hank37w]

Played well and suprisingly good in defence. Went off with head knock. Don’t know if he can play next week. For mine, he needs to be our 13

Just a shame that first kick of his that resulted in a 7 tackle set and a dodgy put down and the awarding of a try.

 

[Halbrowne61]

Played well and suprisingly good in defence. Went off with head knock. Don’t know if he can play next week. For mine, he needs to be our 13

Can’t play next week with automatic stand down rule for Category One.

 

[gallagher]

Can’t play next week with automatic stand down rule for Category One.

Hopefully Jerome is back.

 

[orange&black]

Latu at this point in his career does not look like a natural kicker of the ball. He also seems a 5/8 more than a half to me. He has some great qualities however physical resilience (injuries) doesn’t seem to be one and his technique in D needs some refinement. Plenty of courage though. Some of his other skills also need a polish however he is so young so there’s plenty of time.
I have been a fan of playing him off the bench as a 13 or first or second receiver - i don’t see why you can’t play the game with multiple ball players. Also his darting runs in and around the middle could create havoc.

Sukkar needs to keep developing and growing physically. As he gets older he needs to learn to play with more aggression as well. He surprised me last night.

As for Luke L…. He has heaps of courage however much to learn and for a guy his size he needs more footy smarts in order to make it. I am not sure he has the speed he needs to be an NRL threat, or the D technique to be an option for us at this stage considering his current size. When I look at some of the wingers in the better sides he just doesn’t compare at the moment. Not writing him off yet as he sill has plenty of years to get there perhaps and do love his ticker.

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

I guess we all need something. Great post.

 

[orange&black]

Hopefully Jerome is back.

On that, we have heard nothing about any shoulder injury which makes me worried. The halves back ups in Latu, AD even Bird have been valuable already.

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

Yeh. I guess we'll just have to hear from the media. But I thought members get inside info. Privelage. Maybe they can inform us before Buzz. On his shoulder injury. I'd be worried too. Members first.

 

[hsvjones]

On that, we have heard nothing about any shoulder injury which makes me worried. The halves back ups in Latu, AD even Bird have been valuable already.

Benji said in his PC Laui is fine and will be right for next week.

 

[Vicious]

Latu at this point in his career does not look like a natural kicker of the ball. He also seems a 5/8 more than a half to me. He has some great qualities however physical resilience (injuries) doesn’t seem to be one and his technique in D needs some refinement. Plenty of courage though. Some of his other skills also need a polish however he is so young so there’s plenty of time.
I have been a fan of playing him off the bench as a 13 or first or second receiver - i don’t see why you can’t play the game with multiple ball players. Also his darting runs in and around the middle could create havoc.

Sukkar needs to keep developing and growing physically. As he gets older he needs to learn to play with more aggression as well. He surprised me last night.

As for Luke L…. He has heaps of courage however much to learn and for a guy his size he needs more footy smarts in order to make it. I am not sure he has the speed he needs to be an NRL threat, or the D technique to be an option for us at this stage considering his current size. When I look at some of the wingers in the better sides he just doesn’t compare at the moment. Not writing him off yet as he sill has plenty of years to get there perhaps and do love his ticker.

Great post 👍

 

[crazycat]

As for Luke L…. He has heaps of courage however much to learn and for a guy his size he needs more footy smarts in order to make it. I am not sure he has the speed he needs to be an NRL threat, or the D technique to be an option for us at this stage considering his current size. When I look at some of the wingers in the better sides he just doesn’t compare at the moment. Not writing him off yet as he sill has plenty of years to get there perhaps and do love his ticker.

Something I kept thinking about.

Turuva, Skelton.

Both have trained outside of our system, our defense should be crap with 2x wingers coming in and not learning how we do defense.

Yet both have been totally awesome. our attack has massively improved, Turuva lives on the tryline.
But more then that our defense has improved so much.
It isn't Toa/AD as the center pairing. We know what thye were like 2024.
It isn't our forward pack, We lost Bateman/Klemmer who did a stack of work in defense.

Unless it's Luai actually organising people into the right spots, it's these two ensuring we actually have a hard edge.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Latu now sidelined with a fractured thumb (DT). Kid can’t take a trick.

Anyone know approx recovery timeframe?

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Latu now sidelined with a fractured thumb (DT). Kid can’t take a trick.

Anyone know approx recovery timeframe?

NRL physio recently said 6-8 weeks for Joey Lussick’s thumb surgery.

 

[hank37w]

His mother wasn't kidding when she said that he is always injured.

 

[orange&black]

I suppose now we are going to have to wait to get Latu on the field at the same time as Luai and Galvin. As i have said before - there is nothing wrong with looking at the game a little differently. Bellamy has been doing it for years. If you watch the way the Storm attack over the last few seasons - they don’t just set up for a left or right shift after a few tackles like most teams. They come in waves with multiple ball players stepping up first one way then the next with multiple support players pushing up together, wave after wave in the same set. It can be Hughes, Munster, Paps, Grant, Wishart etc. It’s very difficult to defend.
We are one dimensional in attack, they are multidimensional - the advantage of having the same core players for years along with inventive coaching.

 

[Jolls]

I suppose now we are going to have to wait to get Latu on the field at the same time as Luai and Galvin. As i have said before - there is nothing wrong with looking at the game a little differently. Bellamy has been doing it for years. If you watch the way the Storm attack over the last few seasons - they don’t just set up for a left or right shift after a few tackles like most teams. They come in waves with multiple ball players stepping up first one way then the next with multiple support players pushing up together, wave after wave in the same set. It can be Hughes, Munster, Paps, Grant, Wishart etc. It’s very difficult to defend.
We are one dimensional in attack, they are multidimensional - the advantage of having the same core players for years along with inventive coaching.

I think, from the way we are playing, that we are heading in a similar direction. The key difference is that they play ad lib within a structure, we tend to play ad lib at the moment. Once Galvin makes a decision and we settle on a long term spine that chaos amid structure will come. Players then simply run their lines waiting to be hit and adjusting as soon as a half break/break is made. Classic running footy - Taruva's try off Bula is a hint of what can happen when you throw convention out the window and play some expansive footy. If we can get the structure in around that we will be a much better team - we are still too clunky at the moment and missing key opportunities.

 

[Year_of_the_Tiger]

Didn't see an amazing kicking game in the short time. His first one was a shocker but someone stuffed up the dummy half pass to him for it.

I rewatched the first half, he is a very slick player, just class on every touch. First kick was a clanger for sure. My guess a mixture service and nerves.

 

[BrissieTiger67]

I rewatched the first half, he is a very slick player, just class on every touch. First kick was a clanger for sure. My guess a mixture service and nerves

He was doing some really nice double pumps and fakes , quite a bit of bagz about him

 

[Wiz]

I rewatched the first half, he is a very slick player, just class on every touch. First kick was a clanger for sure. My guess a mixture service and nerves.

Class is the right word for his play. As he also has great acceleration he is dangerous for the defensive line.

 

[Muffstar]

Class is the right word for his play. As he also has great acceleration he is dangerous for the defensive line.

And he runs straight.