Arana Taumata heading to North Queensland
- Thread starter Balmain_Tiger
- Start date
weststigerman
Well-known member
Good. If he was playing first grade it would be disastrous. He's a player with a good running game and about 5 dumb plays a game, makes Benji look faultless. And from all reports he has a terrible attitude.
Don't need him.
Don't need him.
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system
Guest
I thought it was a done deal.
The reality is that if we needed a 5/8 he would be playing NRL. He is a fine ball runner and a very instinctive player.
Would love to have kept him but the club is letting him do what is best for his career and there is no animosity there. Speaking to him yesterday and several times previous he has been nothing but grateful of the chance WT gave him and being able to get his life back on track.
On form Darren Nicholls should be the backup half to cover injury anyway
The reality is that if we needed a 5/8 he would be playing NRL. He is a fine ball runner and a very instinctive player.
Would love to have kept him but the club is letting him do what is best for his career and there is no animosity there. Speaking to him yesterday and several times previous he has been nothing but grateful of the chance WT gave him and being able to get his life back on track.
On form Darren Nicholls should be the backup half to cover injury anyway
@smeghead said:
Good to know there's no animosity.
However, we're not saving any salary cap from this as he wasn't in the top 25 (pretty sure that's right?) and maybe we don;t need him next season when Moltzens back & Lazarus is a year older but this season we don;t have the depth in the halves we thought we had and now we're throwing away part of that depth.
Where's the benefit to the Tigers?
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Guest
I can see your point but I think it will not hurt the Tigers too much this season. If injuries surface again we will have to deal with it but even if Arana were still with the club he could not play halfback as it does not suit his game style and this would mean shifting Benji to halfback.
If we are going to do that anyway it opens up a raft of new options
If we are going to do that anyway it opens up a raft of new options
@softlaw said:
Exactly softy, I dont understand it…depth is insurance
God forbid we now see an injury to the 5/8
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Guest
There is also the issue that if a player on a second tier contract is offered more by another club it is standard practice to grant a release
851
Well-known member
@southerntiger said:
Playing Bronson at prop,therefore forcing him out,he is now a regular starter in the national team,Ryan Tandy,wouldn't give him a go,would rather use Bronson,Payne and Danny Galea at prop,he is now a well respected premiership winner,who the Dogs just picked up.
Head was a class above anything we had,it showed on the few occasions he was given a go,Sheens will not drop any regulars no matter how bad they perform,and guys like Davis,Pritchard,Corby,Carr,Gower and many more are continually overlooked for out of form players.
Gallant was one of the Cowboys best last night,whilst I would rather McKinnon(will wait and see if he gets a go with Tim),Shannon had far to few opportunities like a heap of other lower grade players.
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Guest
Head was/maybe still is a drunk.
That was his problem,that is why he had the poorest fitness of anyone at the club and went backwards during the season and that is why he was released. On talent he was far superior to Hornby at the Dragons but could not crack it there because his problems still remained
That was his problem,that is why he had the poorest fitness of anyone at the club and went backwards during the season and that is why he was released. On talent he was far superior to Hornby at the Dragons but could not crack it there because his problems still remained
Tigersmurf
Well-known member
It is a shame - I was really looking forward to seeing what he had to offer!
cnx_tigers
New member
It's not just a matter of "we could use Tamatau"…......it's a matter also of a young bloke trying to turn his life around and a better opportunity coming up. I.e. he's screwed up his career. He should be a NRL player / Kiwi test regular by now.
Instead, he's on tiny $$ playing for Balmain Ryde.
If the Cowboys have said "we like the way you're maturing, he's an $80 000 a year plus incentives contract to come up here" (note: i don't know how much $$ is involved)...........then the club can't really say "you can't go" unless we really see him in the NRL side with us. (Which doesn't appear to be the case)
In summary, you can't really deny ANY state cup player a chance if an NRL team comes in. If a team came in tomorrow and wanted David Gower, we'd have to let him go also as blokes are completely wasted down there if they have ANY ambition at all to play NRL.
Instead, he's on tiny $$ playing for Balmain Ryde.
If the Cowboys have said "we like the way you're maturing, he's an $80 000 a year plus incentives contract to come up here" (note: i don't know how much $$ is involved)...........then the club can't really say "you can't go" unless we really see him in the NRL side with us. (Which doesn't appear to be the case)
In summary, you can't really deny ANY state cup player a chance if an NRL team comes in. If a team came in tomorrow and wanted David Gower, we'd have to let him go also as blokes are completely wasted down there if they have ANY ambition at all to play NRL.
weststigerman
Well-known member
@cnx_tigers said:
I'm sure it was mentioned initially when the Tigers signed him that Taumata was on 200k over 2 years. Not exactly peanuts.
Unless Taumata is dogging it for Balmain then I don't see what all the fuss is about….he doesn't have the passing or kicking skills to be a 5/8th in State Cup let alone the NRL....He's fast and good on his feet but no better than Daniela or Lawrence....
If Benji went down....God forbid ....I'd have Nichols over Taumata ...
If Benji went down....God forbid ....I'd have Nichols over Taumata ...
Bazzinator
New member
nichols would get the run IMO if benji goes down simply due to his combo with lui
Tiger_Watto
New member
I think if we lost Benji, I'd say there is a few ahead of Darren.
I think Sheens would use Fulton/Ayshford at 6 first. And god forgive, maybe Fitzy…
I think Sheens would use Fulton/Ayshford at 6 first. And god forgive, maybe Fitzy…
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Guest
Guest
@Geo. said:
Yeah, good call mate. I was optimistic Taumata could prove to be a handy half/five eighth as the club originally intended, but his passing game is poor and his kicking game is more erratic than Benji's. I can see why Balmain had moved him to the centres in recent weeks because his pace and footwork is exceptional. If he gets a start for the Cowboys, good on him, although his defence is a problem he needs to work on too.
Nichols is playing good football for Balmain, and FG isn't beyond him if he was given the chance.
@Tiger Watto said:
Another Sheens disciple…..manufactured players... :brick:
Ayshford maybe but haven't seen him pass it to much lately....
Nichols is going great for Balamin team leading the comp...then as bazz pointed out there is his Combo with Lui who's a much better 5/8th than all the options if Benji.....God forbid....went down....
We do like 5/8th don't we...depth...we have 8 of them....
Tiger_Watto
New member
@Geo. said:
I like Darren as a footballer. I've watch plenty of games this year of the BRET boys on Fox and he is playing great. Whether he is up to NRL Level, I'm not sure. He reminds me of Blake Green, Scott Porter, Daniel Holdsworth and Ben Rodgers style of player. Good footballers, but just missing something to be successful at NRL level. Maybe a few more years will see him develop more of an X factor to change this?
Aladinsane
New member
@willow said:
I agree on both what you said guys regarding Arana & Dazza.I wish Arana all the best up in NQ , and he could well be a good foil for JT in the years to come….if he applies himself to that task.
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One of the main reasons for Balmain's good run of late is the combination of Nichols & Lazarus in the halves . They genuinely enjoy playing together , and work very hard at training, trying to always improve.
McDonnell made a mistake giving Darren's spot promised to him by Sheens before he went to England , to Corby.
Nichols is becoming the a very good super sub, who can quite easily fill in at hooker , 5/8 & halfback for first grade over the next year or so.
IMO , there are 6 players in the Tigers reserve grade team that deserved a start in first grade over the next season or so before Arana .....Meaney , Farlow , Gower, Matty Ryan , Nichols & Lazarus, and I am hoping that we can keep them long enough that Sheens gives them a go in our WT team
