Anthony Tupou

[Nelson]

Anthony Tupou has been granted a release from Wakefield and is looking to return to the NRL.

The Sharks showed last season how valuable experience in the forward pack is and Tupou has well over 200 games worth of NRL experience. While he's not the flashiest in attack he's a very solid defender.

He'll be 34 before next season starts but he's just come off a Super League season where he played 25 games and the only games he missed for the Sharks in 2015 were as a result of his broken jaw at the knee of Konrad Hurrell.

I've got no idea if we have any cap space available for 2017 (or any capacity to make cap space available) but I think he'd be a handy addition for a season in a position where we're very weak in terms of experience.

Thoughts?

The only gossip I've heard is that there are 3 NRL clubs "interested". No idea who they are or whether we are one of them. We're definitely one of the weakest in terms of 2nd row so it's a possibility…

 

[GNR4LIFE]

He was finished 5 years ago.

 

[happy_tiger]

Possibly worth a thought

 

[king_sirro]

He was finished 5 years ago.

He was.finished 3 years ago but then somehow regained some form. I was very surprised at how well he was playing. At 34 its a risk, but an enquiry into how much he wants wouldnt hurt.

 

[innsaneink]

Yeah he did seem to get a bit of a 2nd wind last time I saw him
Doesn't he have a lawsuit against the Sharks going?
Might be preoccupied

 

[happy_tiger]

Yeah he did seem to get a bit of a 2nd wind last time I saw him
Doesn't he have a lawsuit against the Sharks going?
Might be preoccupied

Yes he has added his list to the players suing the Sharks from 2011 in the last few days

 

[TCL]

Could turn out to be a Cayless type purchase, but he would have been great to have had him in his hay day.

 

[vlad]

wasnt the same player after he head butted Hurrell's knee

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPo7cQky6iU

 

[pHyR3]

please oh please, no!

well past it, i dont think he's going to have the longevity of someone like big willie. he's done

 

[balmain boy]

we don't need any more forwards, unless some leave. we need backs.

 

[supercoach]

This in the past would be a type of signing we would have targeted, a player on his last legs who we think might be able to squeeze one more season out of at a budget price. Hopefully we have moved on from this negative type of signing. If they are not a standout, invest in what you have and keep pathways open for kids on the rise

 

[Guest]

Pass on this one please.

 

[batboy]

Sad thing is - if we do sign him, He'd probably be our best back rower…

 

[andrew 474]

Tupou , Dave Taylor , Sandow , Carney
Out of this lot if we were looking at any of them , value for money would be Todd Carney ,
Can cover for Mosses and Brooks
Kicks goals at around 79 percent
On his last change with out a doubt , and would be on a stricked contract
He would be a good back up

 

[happy_tiger]

Sad thing is - if we do sign him, He'd probably be our best back rower…

Yep the club must seriously look at trading Brooks for a quality back rower if he can't live up to the hype in 2017

 

[tsjonathan]

how old is he?

 

[Geo]

how old is he?

\

He'll be 34 before next season starts …

While we are at it perhaps we could talk Jeremy Smith out of retirement…

Seriously would rather give a young bloke already in our system a go in 2017 ...

 

[jirskyr]

I'd rather have Dave Taylor at halfback than Anthony Tupou anywhere in the side.

 

[Nelson]

Sad thing is - if we do sign him, He'd probably be our best back rower…

Sadly I agree with this. On his 2015 form he would be a better option than Lawrence or Aloiai, or even Sue as a 2nd rower. None of those guys are actually experienced in the position and we don't even have an experienced 2nd rower at the club to help guide and develop them. If we want success in the short term we can't constantly be "developing" large sections of our squad, we need to bring in some experience in areas where we are lacking. For this year I think Tupou would be a better option and it wouldn't hurt the development of Aloiai to park him in State Cup for part of the year to play longer minutes and improve his work rate.

He was finished 5 years ago.

He was.finished 3 years ago but then somehow regained some form. I was very surprised at how well he was playing. At 34 its a risk, but an enquiry into how much he wants wouldnt hurt.

Yeah that was how I saw him. He was on the scrap heap and the Sharks should have given up on him but somehow he came through it and was back to being a valuable member of their pack.

Sure he's 34 but the Sharks last year had:
Heighington (34)
Gallen (34)
Lewis (33)

Corey Parker was running around at 34\. Jeremy Smith put in good seasons aged 34 and 35\. Some of those guys are obviously a class above someone like Tupou but honestly I think form is a better guide than age these days. Over the next decade we'll see more and more players kicking on into the mid-30's due to advancements in training methodologies/rehab techniques etc.

I know we're a bit light on in the backs but I still think strengthening our second row with experience should sit pretty high on our list of roster priorities.

Anyways thanks for the discussion and views everybody.

 

[Newtown]

we don't need any more forwards, unless some leave. we need backs.

We need quality.