OFFICIAL Jarome Luai - #295

[Lukic]

It has to be one of Latu or Andrews. It would be madness to get Luai off our books just to sign another non-elite guy like Nikorima.

 

[Betterdays22]

It has to be one of Latu or Andrews. It would be madness to get Luai off our books just to sign another non-elite guy like Nikorima.

Yeah 300k for the termination then spending another 6-700k for a replacement, plus an upgrade for Latu doesnt leave much change over from the original 1.2.

Kinda pointless if the point is to strengthen the squad

 

[Leck]

Great way to finish the week, and an excellent decision to punt him.

Jarome has proven to be an actor who can't play the lead role or stay true to his word.

He's been more interested in promotional deals than playing good footy.

 

[Vicious]

It has to be one of Latu or Andrews. It would be madness to get Luai off our books just to sign another non-elite guy like Nikorima.

When I first heard this mentioned I instantly thought it is surely someone just plucking something out of thin air and surely there is no substance to even thinking of signing an ageing 33y.o halve when we have a couple of the most promising halves in the NRL already on our books.
Kodi Nikorima is a very good player and one that has improved at around the 30 years of age mark due to him simplifying and being more confident with his game. Kodi is currently to one of the best halves in the NRL at creating genuine try scoring opportunities when his team is in the red zone and as we all know, that is currently our weakness.
But, as good as he is with his red zone attack, look at who he is working with both on the edges and fullback at the Dolphins compared to who we have?
So I think Kodi’s quality red zone attack is inflated by the quality players around him and if he was to play with us there is a big possibility he too would start struggling with his red zone attack based on much lesser attacking players to work with, although you would assume he would work very well with the likes of Samuela Fainu and Taylan May if they were fit and healthy and maybe Benji is thinking he is the type of attack minded halve to really unlock Jahream Bula ?
Who knows it could be a false rumour, but if true it does have some positives.
Could a potential Latu Fainu and Kodi Nikorima halves pairing have a similar playing style and effect to the Isaaya Katoa and Kodi Nikorima halves pairing ?
For the record I would not sign him, o would put trust in Douehi, Latu, Jock Madden and Javon Andrews to get the job done and not discounting that Josh Schuster could make an impact.

 

[Halbrowne61]

He is a kiwi

Then perfect for the Benji Brotherhood !

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

Javon Andrew’s has been going alright .. he’s is my choice to step up as 5/8 next season. The question now is do we bring in Latu or keep going with Doueihi at 7 .. ??

benji gave galvin a debut, hopefully he gives Andrews a debut.
Could see a 7. AD 6 Andrews halves pairing be a real threat.

 

[diedpretty]

Have to laugh at all the HBG haters - they must think some debenture holder is sitting in an office at Wests Ashfield wondering how he can screw over WT again - i know lets tell Luai he can leave - totally laughable. This decision would have been made by the football dept and Shaun M. They whine that the club needs to be run more professionally and more business like and then when the club does just that they whinge and whine again. Luai for the money he is on just hasn't worked and getting him off the books early is a good decision.

 

[Flippedy]

was nikorima at the Bronx when Benji had a stint there?

I think so

 

[innsaneink]

Rumours around is Parra is very interested, makes sense as he combines well with Moses, they do those 1 year deals (pezet) and they are desperate for signings, and at 800/900k they would probs do it

Yeah i hear parra faves.
Risky 900k deal for them imo...hed be looking towards 28 at the end of next year...which id think hed do here also...the noise about PNGs imminent arrival late next season will be huge

 

[Flippedy]

When I first heard this mentioned I instantly thought it is surely someone just plucking something out of thin air and surely there is no substance to even thinking of signing an ageing 33y.o halve when we have a couple of the most promising halves in the NRL already on our books.
Kodi Nikorima is a very good player and one that has improved at around the 30 years of age mark due to him simplifying and being more confident with his game. Kodi is currently to one of the best halves in the NRL at creating genuine try scoring opportunities when his team is in the red zone and as we all know, that is currently our weakness.
But, as good as he is with his red zone attack, look at who he is working with both on the edges and fullback at the Dolphins compared to who we have?
So I think Kodi’s quality red zone attack is inflated by the quality players around him and if he was to play with us there is a big possibility he too would start struggling with his red zone attack based on much lesser attacking players to work with, although you would assume he would work very well with the likes of Samuela Fainu and Taylan May if they were fit and healthy and maybe Benji is thinking he is the type of attack minded halve to really unlock Jahream Bula ?
Who knows it could be a false rumour, but if true it does have some positives.
Could a potential Latu Fainu and Kodi Nikorima halves pairing have a similar playing style and effect to the Isaaya Katoa and Kodi Nikorima halves pairing ?
For the record I would not sign him, o would put trust in Douehi, Latu, Jock Madden and Javon Andrews to get the job done and not discounting that Josh Schuster could make an impact.

The thing about Nikorima, besides being able to create try scoring opportunities in the red zone, is his ability to play hooker as well as in the halves. Right now Api, who is also aging, is doing it alone. You bring on Nikorima to give Api a rest during a game and you lose nothing. At the moment, the young blokes we have in this position that are being talked up are unproven and Hope is just not a good option at all.

I would take him in a heartbeat at a good price and as long as we can still upgrade Latu and Samuela. We need the experience and depth, what have we got to lose by signing him.

 

[innsaneink]

If we get 900k back out of Luai’s money then for me this will be the best negotiation of a player exit in Tigers history.

Adam Doueihi is an experienced running half with a strong long kicking game. We then have an upcoming running half in Javon. That is balance. Keeping Luai doesn’t make us more balanced - we have ball running halves.

The ball playing half remains the question. We have a solid back up in Madden. Everyone of us wants Latu to show he is the answer and then show it over time.

Either way, we have dealt with a constraint (too much money in 5/8s) now we need to deal with lack of depth and figure out the ball playing half thing.

If we can save almost $1m that is so very unlike WTs....sounds too good to be true which we know what that usually means.
Im suss on this figure...PR?

 

[Marella Jube]

I can't agree with folk slating on the club.Coming off 3 wooden spoons we were going to overpay to attract decent players.

None of this week's hoo-haa happens if Luai doesn't jump to PNG barely mid contract.

It's all on Luai. Following the announcement of his move to PNG, we were belted by Cronulla, Melbourne, Penrith, season over, so how is the club at fault?

 

[Curly_Tiger]

Does he play tonight?
What about the rest of the season?
Seems risky to play him before a deal is done, no one will take him for one season if he sustained a major injury

 

[Lestronge]

If we get 900k back out of Luai’s money then for me this will be the best negotiation of a player exit in Tigers history.

Adam Doueihi is an experienced running half with a strong long kicking game. We then have an upcoming running half in Javon. That is balance. Keeping Luai doesn’t make us more balanced - we have ball running halves.

The ball playing half remains the question. We have a solid back up in Madden. Everyone of us wants Latu to show he is the answer and then show it over time.

Either way, we have dealt with a constraint (too much money in 5/8s) now we need to deal with lack of depth and figure out the ball playing half thing.

My guess is it would be AD/Latu with Madden and Javon splitting time as 19th man / injury replacement in the bench , allowing Javon to ease his way into first grade . And then depending on his performance level will determine how long that transition is . Latu has due to injuries taken. Lot longer than originally thought .

 

[Lestronge]

Have to laugh at all the HBG haters - they must think some debenture holder is sitting in an office at Wests Ashfield wondering how he can screw over WT again - i know lets tell Luai he can leave - totally laughable. This decision would have been made by the football dept and Shaun M. They whine that the club needs to be run more professionally and more business like and then when the club does just that they whinge and whine again. Luai for the money he is on just hasn't worked and getting him off the books early is a good decision.

Why are you even talking about HBG …

 

[Furious1]

By tigers and luai is what they reported . So don’t need anyone to take him.

Is that how it works? I thought it was more we will chip in 300k, which Luai has agreed to, so it gives him a negotiating figure i.e he needs to get 900k to make his 1.2 million. It also means if he can't get that he can stay and get his full amount.

 

[Tom Shines]

I can't agree with folk slating on the club.Coming off 3 wooden spoons we were going to overpay to attract decent players.

None of this week's hoo-haa happens if Luai doesn't jump to PNG barely mid contract.

It's all on Luai. Following the announcement of his move to PNG, we were belted by Cronulla, Melbourne, Penrith, season over, so how is the club at fault?

You know .. I really hate this narrative implying Luai leaving was the reason they collapsed this year …particularly on the back of the same thing supposedly happening with Galvin .., if it’s true that a player moving on in 18 months is the reason for the crap effort they have put on display the past few months… then they need to flush all these mental weaklings and start again for the 18th time …

Fortunately I think other factors are to blame … most notably major injuries to their best half a dozen players … and having reserve graders taking their place

 

[Lestronge]

Yeah i hear parra faves.
Risky 900k deal for them imo...hed be looking towards 28 at the end of next year...which id think hed do here also...the noise about PNGs imminent arrival late next season will be huge

Yea .. your last point is just noise we should be doing our best to get away from . They will be the new golden boys of the nrl , and as such I’m guessing much like no one criticising Klein for being a degenerate gambler , the nrl media will be given a similar status quo on talking up png and whoever has luai , will be answering endless questions about it .

 

[Telltails]

No risk for Parra - Moses / Luai combo for one year looks good to me.

I can't agree with folk slating on the club.Coming off 3 wooden spoons we were going to overpay to attract decent players.

None of this week's hoo-haa happens if Luai doesn't jump to PNG barely mid contract.

It's all on Luai. Following the announcement of his move to PNG, we were belted by Cronulla, Melbourne, Penrith, season over, so how is the club at fault?

We were smashed with injuries - lost Douehi and Sam in the Cronulla game and Api for three matches. Taylan May also out all happened at the same time and every week since then we have been battling with patch up jobs without sufficient to replace.
Scapegoating Luai for our weaknesses is just as inane as expecting him to be the answer

 

[Lestronge]

You know .. I really hate this narrative implying Luai leaving was the reason they collapsed this year …particularly on the back of the same thing supposedly happening with Galvin .., if it’s true that a player moving on in 18 months is the reason for the crap effort they have put on display the past few months… then they need to flush all these mental weaklings and start again for the 18th time …

Fortunately I think other factors are to blame … most notably major injuries to their best half a dozen players … and having reserve graders taking their place

The reason we have lost 7/9 is because both edges have collapsed due to injury , which has caused guys like Masi who are young to lose confidence , which in turn has caused even more loss of performance .
At one point we literally down the right had no AD, no KPP, no Toa(who was supposed to be right centre -wtf happened to him) , and rookie winger . You can’t win nrl games with a complete edge not being there .
Especially when at the same time we had half the left edge out as well , and our best middle forward .
It was brutal . You never know though . There’s still weeks left . It’s not over until it’s over . We jag tonight , however unlikely and we can make a run .