Jahream Bula #269

[innsaneink]

Yeah...give the pigs a break and i think hope for an error

Last I remember it being a reasonably regular thing would have been around the early to mid 70's.

I always put it down to being a rugby Yawnion influence, but here is one that actually dates back to the State of Origin in the 90's. But I am sure there must have been a few since.

like you I could never see the point (probably a chance for the forwards to have a breather) and I'm sure we had better duels at school playing forcings back many years ago.

 

[happy_tiger]

There were kicking duels since then...I remember watching seeing them occasionally in the 70s. I couldnt understand at the time what the point was

I can remember a mini kicking duel in SOO in the 80s...remember Shearer was one of the participants.....can't remember the NSW fullback involved

 

[Vicious]

Considering our halves general play kicking IQ is quite low, it would be helpful to a team like ours if we had a fullback as a kicking option,
If not we will just have to hope the rubbish that was provided in 2025 dramatically improves in 2026.

 

[Demps]

Baseball Furies.

@cochise named himself after this movie
😆

 

[batboy]

@cochise named himself after this movie
😆

Or an Audioslave Song....

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Or an Audioslave Song....

You’ve only gotta look at his avatar.

 

[hank37w]

You mean this one.

 

[tigerballs]

I think he has made significant progress each year, and this season had several pretty damn impressive try assists, as well as finishing off what was the tigers' best try this year (length of the field one).

Also think his defence and positional play is actually very good.

I think there are too many comparisons and expectations being reached for. He's not Walsh, he's not Tedesco or Papenhuyzen.

And he doesn't have to be.

He's a different type of fullback; I'd say more the traditional, support/hole running player than the contemporary 'second 5/8th' everyone wants them to be. The tigers already have Luai, Api, Latu and Doueihi as playmakers....

They had a pretty disruptive '25 that could very likely have hurt their ability to implement movesets that capitalise on the type of player Bula is.

Put him through a gap at top speed; that's the key to unlocking him in attack.

Get the line break assists to him and they could become a pretty high scoring team.

Walsh has AR and Mamm, Paps has Hughes and Munster, Edwards has Cleary and Talagi, Teddy has Walker and Hugo, in the past Cronk and Keary. Top shelf fullbacks run off top shelf halves. When DCE was good, Turbo was great, when DCE is bad Turbo not so good. What does Latrell do for Souths? Ponga for Newcastle? Nothing without good halves.

Bula has had, AD, Bud, Sezer, Galvin, Latu, Jerome, Wakeham? Will Smith...
Who knows how good Bula will be until he gets a settled halves pairing to play with.

 

[Merlot]

G I was mentoring him , Bula is a slow burn , should be paid accordingly

 

[Tim Sheens]

There were kicking duels since then...I remember watching seeing them occasionally in the 70s. I couldnt understand at the time what the point was

Definitely.

 

[Moh]

Like most FB's they all play better and are more involved on the back of a team that is going forward and winning the field position. They are all exposed in D and some of the better ranked ones defence is definitely not a strength. At 23 he is not close to reaching his ceiling.
I swear our fans every time it looks like a player is looking at options look for reasons to convince themselves that they are not worth it or we can get better.

Yup, happens all the time. See Stefano.

 

[Merlot]

Yup, happens all the time. See Stefano.

Stefano talked himself up 4 GF , grape vine said he didn't show up, anyway,
it's the club that needs a kicking not its supporters, and its all on Bulla to be part of a team where there is a salary cap that should be managed, or shoot for the stars elsewhere
Bula seems to humble to be accused of being a mercenary, but the time is ripe
His effort, his life, hope he ends up a star

 

[clontarfkid]

Personally I think Bula was as good as gone the moment he signed with Moses,who almost certainly has him earmarked Dogs
Wed like a 3 year deal at a reasonable $$$(which wld be around $800k max)but that wont satisfy Moses,even though Dogs will publicly sign him for less
We dont have anyone else close to being ready by the start of 2027 at this stage for fullback
Im inclined to trigger the club option for one year $900k to buy us time to identify an outside talent or evaluate Makasini as an option
Expensive,but the least disruptive strategy
..oh,and Moses doesnt get a cent from us!!