Thought Vaka did fairly well all considered, missed a tackle on a run away Liam Martin, but so did 3 others.He showed some good line speed in defence and the work ethic is definitly there. I have high hopes that Vaka can make the step up permanently. Well done Vaka.
Vaka Aho
- Thread starter BlackWhiteGold
- Start date
Thought he did well proved he can play First Grade.
Not sold , Tino is a light weight, defence is not great .
Saukuru , will really need to pick up his defence , and by that his reading of the attack got caught out a lot
Aho , haven’t seen enough to say one way or the other , but he does look like a unprover
BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
Tino will be on a Development contract next season. Aho may well go onto a T&T (like Junior Lanyon) reading the tea leaves & if Saukuru is number 29 or 30 on our roster, then that is fine.
Solo might surprise a few people next season.
orange&black
Well-known member
I hope so. I’ll put my hand up to admit he’ll certainly surprise me! I don’t think he has the attributes required to compete with the better centres in the game. Size, speed, skills, footwork, defensive awareness and ability, intent, aggression - all just not quite there.
Tom Shines
Well-known member
His stats look ok for 43 minutes of game time …
I must admit I didn’t notice him much when watching the game live … I’ll have a rewatch later this week and concentrate on his play … I’d be happy next year if he can just do a job half a dozen times a year when they have a few injuries …
I agree he looks to have a bit of size
I must admit I didn’t notice him much when watching the game live … I’ll have a rewatch later this week and concentrate on his play … I’d be happy next year if he can just do a job half a dozen times a year when they have a few injuries …
I agree he looks to have a bit of size
Tom Shines
Well-known member
Saukuru is going to need to improve his defence by leaps and bounds to be of any use …
pawsandclaws1
Well-known member
Also he is going to have to work with a sprint trainer and also work on quick hands through the backline. At least twice he prevented our try scoring opportunities through failure to get the ball to the winger. It's a team game, who cares who scores as it happens through team work.
pawsandclaws1
Well-known member
One pleasing aspect about Aho is that he appears to have a well-rounded game and knows the role he needs to play. At 23 he is mature and hopefully will be the player which prevents the club from going to market for another prop.
There are no decent props on the market for 2027 except for Tyson Frizell.
Frizell could be good for 2027, but would only be holding other players back if we also had him for 2028.
I can’t see him relocating to Sydney for one season, so I think we have to put all our energy and effort into emerging middles we already have such as Vaka Aho, Peter Taateo, Lachlan Broaderlow, Archie Duncombe, Christian Taupau-Moors and maybe Lenny Plati.
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Rock Hopper Steve
Well-known member
I think the Frizell rumour is rubbish myself, his family are settled in Newcastle apparently, more chance of him retiring if he can't stay at the Knights.
I agree.
Another option if we really want that one extra experienced tough middle to help guide our younger NSW Cup forwards and be a depth NRL option if form is warranted would be Liam Knight.
He is currently with North Sydney Bears NSW Cup team and was too strong and aggressive for our NSW Cup team to handle a few weeks back.
He will be 32y.o by the time the 2027 season kicks off, but he keeps himself very fit and is showing no signs of slowing down just yet.
Tiger Stripes
Well-known member
I agree, a lot not shown so far. But I think he was improving with each outing.
Up to him now [mentally] if he wants to knuckle down and make a good living from the NRL or just fade away with memories.
Odessa
Well-known member
He has a house in the Shire so he could for the right $$$$$
