I cant even recall what he did.
Jeff Lima
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samtiger
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Lima clutches lifelineArticle from: Font size: Decrease Increase Email article: Email Print article: Print Submit comment: Submit comment By James Hooper
October 04, 2008 11:00pm
RARELY a day goes by when Jeff Lima doesn't say a prayer. For his family. As a thank you. For forgiveness.
Five years ago, Lima was supposed to be spending weekends behind bars. The thought of playing in consecutive grand finals seemed beyond the realms of possibility.
Lima is the cornerstone of a formidable Melbourne Storm pack, but it could have been a different story. In 2004, the 106kg prop was sentenced to 12 months of weekend detention for assault. Thankfully, the judge showed leniency.
Rather than spending 48 hours a week incarcerated, he was granted a suspended jail sentence and placed on a good behaviour bond.
It was the opportunity that Lima, who was born in New Zealand but raised in the western Sydney suburb of Mt Druitt, needed.
"When I was younger I got into a lot of strife hanging around the wrong crowd … and I was very lucky not to go to jail,'' Lima said.
"I regret what happened, but I've done my best to put it all behind me. Thankfully Tim Sheens gave me a chance at the Tigers and helped me turn my life around.''
Lima's journey from the Tigers to Melbourne included a 34,850km round trip via the south of France, where he spent an eight-month sabbatical playing part-time rugby league.
His agent Sam Ayoub offered him to four clubs - free of charge. There were no takers. So Lima headed to France before returning to the Storm on a deal worth $800 a week.
"Jeff's a wonderful story. From where he's come from and what he's been through, it's just a credit to Jeff for making the most of his opportunity,'' Ayoub said.
"A few years back when the Wests Tigers decided to cut him, I offered him to four NRL clubs for nothing but still no one wanted him.
"Fortunately, we were able to secure him an opportunity with the Storm and he's just made every post a winner ever since.''
October 04, 2008 11:00pm
RARELY a day goes by when Jeff Lima doesn't say a prayer. For his family. As a thank you. For forgiveness.
Five years ago, Lima was supposed to be spending weekends behind bars. The thought of playing in consecutive grand finals seemed beyond the realms of possibility.
Lima is the cornerstone of a formidable Melbourne Storm pack, but it could have been a different story. In 2004, the 106kg prop was sentenced to 12 months of weekend detention for assault. Thankfully, the judge showed leniency.
Rather than spending 48 hours a week incarcerated, he was granted a suspended jail sentence and placed on a good behaviour bond.
It was the opportunity that Lima, who was born in New Zealand but raised in the western Sydney suburb of Mt Druitt, needed.
"When I was younger I got into a lot of strife hanging around the wrong crowd … and I was very lucky not to go to jail,'' Lima said.
"I regret what happened, but I've done my best to put it all behind me. Thankfully Tim Sheens gave me a chance at the Tigers and helped me turn my life around.''
Lima's journey from the Tigers to Melbourne included a 34,850km round trip via the south of France, where he spent an eight-month sabbatical playing part-time rugby league.
His agent Sam Ayoub offered him to four clubs - free of charge. There were no takers. So Lima headed to France before returning to the Storm on a deal worth $800 a week.
"Jeff's a wonderful story. From where he's come from and what he's been through, it's just a credit to Jeff for making the most of his opportunity,'' Ayoub said.
"A few years back when the Wests Tigers decided to cut him, I offered him to four NRL clubs for nothing but still no one wanted him.
"Fortunately, we were able to secure him an opportunity with the Storm and he's just made every post a winner ever since.''
G
Guest
Guest
@supercoach said:
At least supercoach had the intellect to post something sensible. Lima was a liability at the time and as the article above states, was heading down a dark path. The club did him a favor and Lima is now a better person for it.
Tiger_Tomato
New member
@Mulga Bill said:
Won't all of the poster's who have said they've already signed look like bafoons if we don't get either of them!!!
I certaintly hope we do!
Why would people who post what they've heard look like buffoons if it turns out not to be true?
Now if people believe everything they read word for word then they could be called a buffoon I suppose but if someone states I've heard this then all they're doing is passing on information.
What people do with & how people interpret that information is up to them.
Anyone looking to get nothing but truth, facts etc. from an internet forum is asking for trouble.
All rumours are equal. But some are more equal than others.
Now if people believe everything they read word for word then they could be called a buffoon I suppose but if someone states I've heard this then all they're doing is passing on information.
What people do with & how people interpret that information is up to them.
Anyone looking to get nothing but truth, facts etc. from an internet forum is asking for trouble.
All rumours are equal. But some are more equal than others.
@tigersnumberone said:
100% yes.
he fails to inject himself anywhere near enough in the centres. at the moment he's a passenger.
if he was around the middle of the ruck his line breaks would increase 300% - if given a season to play at lock i'd offer people money on that.
we'll get the naysayers telling us how stupid it is and how he's a fantastic centre, but if they'd been critically watching his play they'd realise how wrong they are.
you've just earnt some respect from this corner tno. i'll be looking out for your posts a bit more when rummaging through the crap! (no offence to most, there's just alot of jibber jabber bs on herE).
No way do i agree with that.
We look like haveing a surplus of backrowers.
Laurence has turned into a rock defensively and with out injury we will see his attack back to its best. Remember he smoked Slater early in the year.
You do realise he put on most of Tuiaki's trys right??
We look like haveing a surplus of backrowers.
Laurence has turned into a rock defensively and with out injury we will see his attack back to its best. Remember he smoked Slater early in the year.
You do realise he put on most of Tuiaki's trys right??
Tigersmurf
Well-known member
I am with you defiant, why spend 3 years getting a guy up to the level that he can match it with most of the best centres in the league, to then move him to lock.
Then there are those who want to move Ayshford to lock!
I have a great idea, lets let centres be centres, halfbacks halfbacks, fullbacks play fullback and lock play lock.
Isn't that why we are finally buying props!
Then there are those who want to move Ayshford to lock!
I have a great idea, lets let centres be centres, halfbacks halfbacks, fullbacks play fullback and lock play lock.
Isn't that why we are finally buying props!
tigersnumberone
New member
Hang on a second…
This was just a suggestion. I think that with his size and speed, and now muscle in defense, he has what it takes to be a good lock. Its nice to know that there is some utility value with him there.
He has been playing fantastic football in the centres of late, dont get me wrong. But he would also make a good lock forward. That doesnt mean we have to move him there.
Thanks for your support mtd..
This was just a suggestion. I think that with his size and speed, and now muscle in defense, he has what it takes to be a good lock. Its nice to know that there is some utility value with him there.
He has been playing fantastic football in the centres of late, dont get me wrong. But he would also make a good lock forward. That doesnt mean we have to move him there.
Thanks for your support mtd..
@tigersnumberone said:
I think he's a good defensive centre, I don't think he'd be a good defensive lock and when he was played at lock he had a number of problems in defence. I also think you'd take away his best assets playing him in the forwards.
tigersnumberone
New member
Good point Yossarian.
I would love to see him develop a big fend. He has massive upper body strength and could swat most defenders away.
I wish he could play with a bit more animosity. But he was one of our better players towards the end of the year.
I love seeing him down the blind when a scrum forms on his side of the field, and benji races over to feed it..
I would love to see him develop a big fend. He has massive upper body strength and could swat most defenders away.
I wish he could play with a bit more animosity. But he was one of our better players towards the end of the year.
I love seeing him down the blind when a scrum forms on his side of the field, and benji races over to feed it..
tigersnumberone
New member
Yeah that was my fault.. Sorry guys…
tigersnumberone
New member
Soooo… I would like to think Lima was our number one priority over Tuqiri...
Whilst Tuqiri would be a gread addition, and attract sponsors and fans, so would winning matches. Lima will help us do that just as much as Lote..
Who honestly believes that we will recruit both weapons, Lima and Tuqiri.
I think we will only get one. Especially if Dallas Johnson is to leave Melbourne.
Whilst Tuqiri would be a gread addition, and attract sponsors and fans, so would winning matches. Lima will help us do that just as much as Lote..
Who honestly believes that we will recruit both weapons, Lima and Tuqiri.
I think we will only get one. Especially if Dallas Johnson is to leave Melbourne.
Tigersmurf
Well-known member
I am worried about Lima. If we couldn't get the best out of him 4 years ago then why would we expect that he will play well for us now. I am concerned about Sheens and Simmons' ability to keep the forwards motivated and playing well, something Bellamy appears to be very good at in Melbourne.
It just seems like we couldn't improve him so we sent him off somewhere else where he managed to make a go of it. Now we want him back at significantly higher $$$ after we have let someone else do the hard work for us.
I would love for us to get him and would love him to be successful for us. Just don't understand why we cannot bring through our own props. The Broncos manage to find Monsters whilst we purchase Galloway and Todd Payten (who have been great for us). The only ones that are own own were Skando and Gibbs.
I hope the Fifita boys and Woods come on well and really improve so that the coaching staff can prove me wrong!
It just seems like we couldn't improve him so we sent him off somewhere else where he managed to make a go of it. Now we want him back at significantly higher $$$ after we have let someone else do the hard work for us.
I would love for us to get him and would love him to be successful for us. Just don't understand why we cannot bring through our own props. The Broncos manage to find Monsters whilst we purchase Galloway and Todd Payten (who have been great for us). The only ones that are own own were Skando and Gibbs.
I hope the Fifita boys and Woods come on well and really improve so that the coaching staff can prove me wrong!
@Tigersmurf said:
I think the role of our coaching staff in Galloway's development is underrated. He came to us as a 19yr old, but took 2 good years to really come out. He seemed scared to bring out his agression previously, but the last 2 years under Sheens and Simmons have seen him blosssom as a prop, and with Gibbs, I really think we have one of the most underrated front rows in the comp.
Add Lima, who when he left us had 2/3 FG games under his belt and was struggling to adapt, and Cayless to that and we could have an awesome pack. Lima went to France after us for a little while, and was really plucked out of there by Bellamy, but I honestly think it was only a matter of discipline for him to grow as a player.
cnx_tigers
New member
Ummmm, fellas, what part of Lima is NOT coming needs to be explained?
There's no "If we don't get Lote, we will get Lima" going to happen.
We were after Lima weeks ago. If was contingent on the Storm paying 3/4 OF HIS SALARY.
They were desperate to get under the cap, so they were shopping him to a host of teams.
But they found another option, Dallas Johnson is being released to play in France. He's already said his goodbyes to some teammates. Lima isn't leaving.
If we miss out on Lote (and the longer that drags on…..............................)
It doesn't mean we get Lima.
There's no "If we don't get Lote, we will get Lima" going to happen.
We were after Lima weeks ago. If was contingent on the Storm paying 3/4 OF HIS SALARY.
They were desperate to get under the cap, so they were shopping him to a host of teams.
But they found another option, Dallas Johnson is being released to play in France. He's already said his goodbyes to some teammates. Lima isn't leaving.
If we miss out on Lote (and the longer that drags on…..............................)
It doesn't mean we get Lima.
Tigersmurf
Well-known member
Matty,
I agree with you completely regarding Galloway. He is playing some good tough footy and now has the aggression we need.
Can't agree regarding Gibbs though. Am happy to give you a dollar every time he gets over the advantage line next season! Don't think it will be breaking the bank.
I am excited to have a pack with Cayless, Elliss. Farah, Galloway, Payten, Heighnington and throw in Dwyer and Shirnack (possibly Lima) and the pack looks fairly intimidating. If the coaches can make them hungry.
I cringe at the thought of making no ground against a pack like Penrith or Parra - the problem we have every year - but suspect we may be able to hold our own next year.
I agree with you completely regarding Galloway. He is playing some good tough footy and now has the aggression we need.
Can't agree regarding Gibbs though. Am happy to give you a dollar every time he gets over the advantage line next season! Don't think it will be breaking the bank.
I am excited to have a pack with Cayless, Elliss. Farah, Galloway, Payten, Heighnington and throw in Dwyer and Shirnack (possibly Lima) and the pack looks fairly intimidating. If the coaches can make them hungry.
I cringe at the thought of making no ground against a pack like Penrith or Parra - the problem we have every year - but suspect we may be able to hold our own next year.
MacDougall
New member
Bryce Gibbs is going to make a fool of you next year. I reckon he's gonna go huge for us and I would not be shocked to see him AND KG playing for the Blues next year.
Tigersmurf
Well-known member
Yes, I would be very shocked! Is Gibbs going to the Waratahs because it is the only sky blue jersey I expect to see him in.
