OFFICIAL Solomone Saukuru #313

[WestsEffTheRest]

Unfortunately I don't have the confidence that the coaching staff have the ability to recognise his tackling technique or lack of attitude in D. Just look at Latu as a perfect example. He's struggled with going too low which has lead to injuries, suspensions, being on report (perfect example against Lebanon) yet nothing about his tackle technique has changed it all. Benji will be like "It's all good bro just have fun" Lol.

 

[Telltails]

A coach can only do much from the sideline with D it's up to the players to improve or change their technique. Hear it all the time from. Ex players - good D is an attitude - and you can see the blokes are committed in the same squads with the same coaches and those who are suspect. Plenty of the best attacking players are not great defenders.

 

[Tim Sheens]

Fairly poor is a compliment it really is

Lawrence was beyond hopeless early on and I think it had alot to do with debuting at 17 he wanted no contact at all a skinny kid playing against professional men who had worked out for a few years and had muscle on there frames

Somewhat true, but not really comparable to an almost fully developed man who debuts 2/3 months before his 22nd birthday.

 

[Tim Sheens]

This is the feeling I get to.

Hopefully he gets the necessary support around him to work on his deficiencies after the RLWC plus importantly he finds the inner desire, confidence & intent to be a solid player in defence.

For mine, he needs to show that desire by returning to WT off-season training ASAP. Sure, have a break which all WC players deserve, but he needs to make it short and then get his young arse there.

 

[Oscar Martinez]

For mine, he needs to show that desire by returning to WT off-season training ASAP. Sure, have a break which all WC players deserve, but he needs to make it short and then get his young arse there.

I think the RLPA has rules that stop the club from doing that even if the players want to.
The World Cup damages the careers of these fringe first graders that need a complete pre-season. I hate the freakin' thing.

 

[Oldman]

They're both wingers, not centres

IMO
Both are too slow for wingers, and I can’t imagine them being able to jump very far off the ground for kicks.
But
Everyone is entitled to their opinion

 

[TigerNeddyK]

IMO
Both are too slow for wingers, and I can’t imagine them being able to jump very far off the ground for kicks.
But
Everyone is entitled to their opinion

Makasini is plenty fast , and can jump .. he is an athlete .. a lot of you nay sayers are going to be eating humble pie in the next few years on him .. I truly cannot believe the disrespect and lack of patience a lot of you Forum regulars are showing towards our 18 year old centre from this year that played injured most of the season and was obviously a bit low on confidence at times .. kids going to be a superstar , no doubt

 

[king_sirro]

Makasini is plenty fast , and can jump .. he is an athlete .. a lot of you nay sayers are going to be eating humble pie in the next few years on him .. I truly cannot believe the disrespect and lack of patience a lot of you Forum regulars are showing towards our 18 year old centre from this year that played injured most of the season and was obviously a bit low on confidence at times .. kids going to be a superstar , no doubt

Thats right.
From what I understand, Makasini is actually a very good attacking threat under the high ball. Maybe if we play him on the wing and start using that, it will give him confidence to defuse bombs when defending better.

 

[Odessa]

Makasini is plenty fast , and can jump .. he is an athlete .. a lot of you nay sayers are going to be eating humble pie in the next few years on him .. I truly cannot believe the disrespect and lack of patience a lot of you Forum regulars are showing towards our 18 year old centre from this year that played injured most of the season and was obviously a bit low on confidence at times .. kids going to be a superstar , no doubt

The Tigers abused him this year horrible how they brings kids along and playing him injured and down on confidence no words for it

 

[Bellend]

The Tigers abused him this year horrible how they brings kids along and playing him injured and down on confidence no words for it

Maka need more time/experience should have been afforded this before been rushed into First Grade.

 

[Curly_Tiger]

Injuries were unkind to us this season and a lot of players got more time in the top side than was good for anyone plus we had a lot of half busted players starting in many games

Judgement is harsh if you ignore the contributing factors

Just my opinion

 

[Merlot]

This is the feeling I get to.

Hopefully he gets the necessary support around him to work on his deficiencies after the RLWC plus importantly he finds the inner desire, confidence & intent to be a solid player in defence.

is Crawley anything better than we have had ,guiding the youth program - is it just more bs ?

 

[Merlot]

Do tell

 

[Oldman]

Makasini is plenty fast , and can jump .. he is an athlete .. a lot of you nay sayers are going to be eating humble pie in the next few years on him .. I truly cannot believe the disrespect and lack of patience a lot of you Forum regulars are showing towards our 18 year old centre from this year that played injured most of the season and was obviously a bit low on confidence at times .. kids going to be a superstar , no doubt

RELAX
Just because people have a difference of opinions doesn’t mean they are disrespectful towards any of the players in the discussion, what I said that in my opinion they don’t defend up to NRL standard and need to spend time in ressies until they can.
We all hope that happens and they do become regular NRL players.
Only time will tell.

 

[Merlot]

RELAX
Just because people have a difference of opinions doesn’t mean they are disrespectful towards any of the players in the discussion, what I said that in my opinion they don’t defend up to NRL standard and need to spend time in ressies until they can.
We all hope that happens and they do become regular NRL players.
Only time will tell.

does my head in that they get to 1st grade not knowing how to tackle and its something that needs to be trained into them, wow

 

[tig_prmz]

Every player in the NRL and NSW Cup knows how to tackle. The issue at centre is when there are multiple threats coming at you and you don't know how to position yourself.

When Saukuru has to tackle head on, he seems confused. You can't learn decision making and positional play over a pre-season. Especially here where we don't have a good track record of teaching players how to defend.

Brooks was a great 1-1 defender and tackle good head on, but whenever it came to making decisions, he would make the wrong one a lot of the time..

 

[Oldman]

Every player in the NRL and NSW Cup knows how to tackle. The issue at centre is when there are multiple threats coming at you and you don't know how to position yourself.

When Saukuru has to tackle head on, he seems confused. You can't learn decision making and positional play over a pre-season. Especially here where we don't have a good track record of teaching players how to defend.

Brooks was a great 1-1 defender and tackle good head on, but whenever it came to making decisions, he would make the wrong one a lot of the time..

I would say positioning your self is part of the tackling technique.
Little things like keeping your eyes on your opponent, switching shoulders if they change angles, Depending what style the team is using “up and in” don’t let your opponent get on your outside or “sliding”
Don’t rush in, and use the sideline as a defender.

 

[clontarfkid]

Makasini is plenty fast , and can jump .. he is an athlete .. a lot of you nay sayers are going to be eating humble pie in the next few years on him .. I truly cannot believe the disrespect and lack of patience a lot of you Forum regulars are showing towards our 18 year old centre from this year that played injured most of the season and was obviously a bit low on confidence at times .. kids going to be a superstar , no doubt

Yet to see the speed tbh..did see Nathan Cleary run him down in the trials..and no hints during an injury impacted 2027.Needs a little help in that area from a sprint coach
Hes only 19,and his body is still growing
Am hoping..cld be/shld be special

 

[jadtiger]

Every player in the NRL and NSW Cup knows how to tackle. The issue at centre is when there are multiple threats coming at you and you don't know how to position yourself.

When Saukuru has to tackle head on, he seems confused. You can't learn decision making and positional play over a pre-season. Especially here where we don't have a good track record of teaching players how to defend.

Brooks was a great 1-1 defender and tackle good head on, but whenever it came to making decisions, he would make the wrong one a lot of the time..

I have always believed centre is by far the hardest position in rugby league to defend at (rugby union is much easier imho),which is why a good centre is always hard to find.Why we never seem to prioritise getting or developing one is a complete mystery to me.Much of our problems in defence stems from the fact we have very poor decision makers playing the centre.

 

[Rowdy12]

Saukuru and Makasini are much slower than those two and that will never change. They will never run 90m for a try.
Not a good comparison.

My theory on outside backs is if they get the ball with no one infront of them ANYWHERE on the field they have to score, I dont care if its 10m or 100ms. Makasani picking up a loose ball on our 20m line and getting run down by Ponga who he had a 10m head start on simply isnt good enough. If he scores we win that game. A set or two later Best goes 100ms and scores for Newcastle winning them the game, thats the difference speed makes. On Easter Monday Tavana similary picked up a loose ball 70m out with no on infront and imminently looked for support. We havent had a genuinely quick player since JAC 10 years ago, hell Id say Jacob Liddle is the quickest player we've had since then which is embarrassing.