Heamasi Makasini #303

[tigerman80]

The kid is as tough as they come. He gets smashed every game and gets up again . Bula can learn a few things from him when he dogged that run back and passed to him. As much as I hated losing last night and you can put a lot of it on Makasini, I don’t think you can drop him. It would mentally Kill him. His upside is enormous he will be a gun for us . Short term pain for long term gain

 

[ShanghaiCharlie]

I would be happy to persist with growing pains in first grade...however he adds literally nothing.
There are no positive plays or even hints (apart from pre-season) that he is even close to fitting in.
He is literally bringing nothing to the team.
He's way too timid and out of his depth.

 

[HUNT 101]

2 costly mistakes yes

But there were some amazing hit ups where he did some solid grunt work.

Im proud of this 18 yo kid and I will persist with him for as long as it takes.

Fast Forward 20 more games.

He is a gun

Yeah 2 costly mistakes and the 2 points.., Look Skelton had a brain fart passing in goal didn't cost us the game but he's missing this week, I'm not saying get rid of the Bid Mac, but if he has a couple more poor games his confidence could sink, and of course we keep developing him and if means reserve game Benji should make that call for the better of him game long term and yep destine to be a gun.
BUT anyway I think Benji will stick with him on the wing next week.

 

[Tucker]

I don’t think you can drop him. It would mentally Kill him. His upside is enormous he will be a gun for us . Short term pain for long term gain

This is exactly what people on here were saying when I suggested Galvin have a spell in 2024.
Now here we are in 2026 at his second club watching him still struggle.

 

[Demps]

It’s a very arrogant call to say he is too far ahead of reserve grade when he has only played 4 games there, losing 3 and scoring just 1 try.
It’s not true.

That's how it is these days

The dragons forward with 12 games under his belt saying he won't learn anything in NSW cup.

He needs a break.
He will be a star but at the moment, he is struggling. No rush. Let him have a few weeks off and we can roll with Tavana [or Skelton]

 

[tigerman80]

This is exactly what people on here were saying when I suggested Galvin have a spell in 2024.
Now here we are in 2026 at his second club watching him still struggle.

I can also see your side , I think he needs a spell, maybe it’s the way it’s sold to him .

 

[Tucker]

That's how it is these days

The dragons forward with 12 games under his belt saying he won't learn anything in NSW cup.

He needs a break.
He will be a star but at the moment, he is struggling. No rush. Let him have a few weeks off and we can roll with Tavana [or Skelton]

Yeah this silly mentality that others have done it, therefore everyone can is harmful.
Of course you can learn in reserve grade. You are playing against other up and comers or guys who have made it and are in a transition phase in their careers.
Look at Sione Fainu. I remember people on here saying he was deadwood that needed to be cut from our top 30. He persisted in ressies and then it just clicked. We have other players who bounce between the two grades who are getting better as well.
It depends on your mentality. Are you humble enough to work on your own game, practicing what you are learning in NRL against lesser yet still tough opposition, or do you think you are too good because that’s all anyone has ever told you?
This kid isn’t ready. He hasn’t been prepared properly. He is a target and a weakness currently. Use all that, get better and come back in version 2.0, 3.0 or whatever as the player people are predicting you will be.

 

[Halbrowne61]

Nothing gained playing Maka in NSW cup. He’s too far ahead of that level to get anything out of it. His upside is huge Id guess Benji persists unless he’s impacted on a personal level. He’s going to have these games as a kid have to live with it.

Disagree.
He would understand the impact on the team by his mistakes . Last week it was bombing a certain try by not passing to an unmarked winger, this week a crucial dropped ball. Why does it always have to come down to a personal level before action taken ?
I know I’m an old dinosaur but I just don’t get that ??

 

[innsaneink]

Its not dropping.

Its called development

 

[innsaneink]

Nothing gained playing Maka in NSW cup. He’s too far ahead of that level to get anything out of it. His upside is huge Id guess Benji persists unless he’s impacted on a personal level. He’s going to have these games as a kid have to live with it.

Lots to gain imo...he can play pressure free...get back to feeling a bit more comfortable on the field...regain confidence

 

[Odessa]

Nothing gained playing Maka in NSW cup. He’s too far ahead of that level to get anything out of it. His upside is huge Id guess Benji persists unless he’s impacted on a personal level. He’s going to have these games as a kid have to live with it.

Needs needs a week off then a game in NSW then back to NRL just to freshen him up

When Val Holmes came into first he was a few weeks up then a week back down not to burn him out and to get use to the mental side of the game not just the physical side of getting hit by grown men not boys each week

 

[Tomatosoup912]

His biggest problem is that he does not know how to beat a player without physical dominance. He has grown up his whole life being the most impressive athlete on the field and has become reliant on winning initial contact. He has been physically matched or beaten consistently this season and he doesn’t have the other feathers to his bow ie catch/pass, footwork, aerial skills and defensive structure that are at first grade standard right now.

I think he really needs to go to reserve grade and develop these attributes. He is physically ready for first grade, I don’t think his skills are at first grade level. Tavana and Laulilii are better all around players right now.

 

[Telltails]

Young players are consistently inconsistent. They have to ride the wave of disappointment including getting over poor games, if they are going to make it. Whether that means giving them a week off not sure - it may actually make things harder for them. I'll leave that up to the sports psychologists.

 

[bbobb]

Yeah this silly mentality that others have done it, therefore everyone can is harmful.
Of course you can learn in reserve grade. You are playing against other up and comers or guys who have made it and are in a transition phase in their careers.
Look at Sione Fainu. I remember people on here saying he was deadwood that needed to be cut from our top 30. He persisted in ressies and then it just clicked. We have other players who bounce between the two grades who are getting better as well.
It depends on your mentality. Are you humble enough to work on your own game, practicing what you are learning in NRL against lesser yet still tough opposition, or do you think you are too good because that’s all anyone has ever told you?
This kid isn’t ready. He hasn’t been prepared properly. He is a target and a weakness currently. Use all that, get better and come back in version 2.0, 3.0 or whatever as the player people are predicting you will be.

I agree. I think the speed of the game is slower and there is minimal media attention. It allows him to get his confidence. If he can dominate that grade (and I have no doubt he will) he will be so much more ready for the call-up to NRL. It’s about managing his development for the moment.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

The kid is as tough as they come. He gets smashed every game and gets up again . Bula can learn a few things from him when he dogged that run back and passed to him. As much as I hated losing last night and you can put a lot of it on Makasini, I don’t think you can drop him. It would mentally Kill him. His upside is enormous he will be a gun for us . Short term pain for long term gain

If injuries permit, I think it's time to give him a rest from the pressure of 1st grade, we shouldn't forget he's still a boy.

We all seen what Reynolds did when the cracks appeared, he hammered him with high balls, our next 2 opponents aren't blind they will continue the bombardment.

Benji has the depth so for the sake of his development it's time to use smart roster management.

 

[kiwitiger]

Its not dropping.

Its called development for Christ's sake

Exactly. What responsible clubs do.

 

[upthetigers]

He’s getting some awful attacks online. Hope the boys rally around him

Wow didn't think tigers supporters were as bad as dog's supporters

 

[mtd#2]

It blows my mind how anyone is associating bula to makasinis poor game. He threw a pass that makasini should have caught end of story.

 

[HUNT 101]

We might see Bulla rested with a shoulder injury..,Adam D moves to fullback, Jock and Jerome in the half's,Big Mac reserve grade and Tino or Skelton on the wing

 

[poopy_diaper]

Yes he should be spelled. His body is saying no to the grind atm. He needs resting. Not dropping.

And when he does come back NSW cup is fine. There are better players than Masi running around that grade right now. Kayal Iro played like 3 years of NSW cup before he debuted.

And once he shows he is firing and running through contact again he goes into selection concerns.