Justin Olam #281

Halbrowne61 said:
IMHO Finucane has been a poor buy on the field and pray tell, how do you know his leadership and development has worked off it ?
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The Sharks have maintained their position on the roster (ok top 4 to top 6), The Cowboys have slid.
Not saying Finucane is all of it. I am saying that:
1. Finucane did not break the system.
2. Finucane was used during origin to mentor Stefano, they were paired together.

But more, the Sharks with Gallen, Lewis, Prior and Heighington in the ex forward ranks hire Dale Finucane to boost leadership!
The doubled down on leadership... Sure they wanted Finucane to give the same performance he has at Melbourne, but they also wanted someone who could mentor the young guys coming through.
Halbrowne61 said:
I would have thought the new coach would have been more responsible.
And if you expect big things, all they have to do when they make the finals is win. So is that AFBs role or is he too going to be an off field guru helping other guys attitudes.
Pleeeese !
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hahahaha.
AFB is an utter gun. Ofcourse I wanted him here.

Yet Richo and Benji made the decision that our team needed a known Gun Half and then got a Melbourne Center in Olam. We can't just hire good players, we need to look at the team.
 
crazycat said:
The Sharks have maintained their position on the roster (ok top 4 to top 6), The Cowboys have slid.
Not saying Finucane is all of it. I am saying that:
1. Finucane did not break the system.
2. Finucane was used during origin to mentor Stefano, they were paired together.

But more, the Sharks with Gallen, Lewis, Prior and Heighington in the ex forward ranks hire Dale Finucane to boost leadership!
The doubled down on leadership... Sure they wanted Finucane to give the same performance he has at Melbourne, but they also wanted someone who could mentor the young guys coming through.

hahahaha.
AFB is an utter gun. Ofcourse I wanted him here.

Yet Richo and Benji made the decision that our team needed a known Gun Half and then got a Melbourne Center in Olam. We can't just hire good players, we need to look at the team.
Click to expand...
I still think we are on the look out for an AFB type enforcer, just a tier down. We certainly need an experienced head that will come off the bench and play that role like Zane Tetavano did for the Panthers or Martin Tapau for the Broncos.
Who that is I’m not sure. But it’s kinda laughable but Joe Offehengue would of fit the mould.
Let me rephrase that. Joffa could have fitted that role; though he doesn’t seem to want to embrace that.
Prehaps RFM would be a good pick up if we offload Noffa?
 
crazycat said:
The Sharks have maintained their position on the roster (ok top 4 to top 6), The Cowboys have slid.
Not saying Finucane is all of it. I am saying that:
1. Finucane did not break the system.
2. Finucane was used during origin to mentor Stefano, they were paired together.

But more, the Sharks with Gallen, Lewis, Prior and Heighington in the ex forward ranks hire Dale Finucane to boost leadership!
The doubled down on leadership... Sure they wanted Finucane to give the same performance he has at Melbourne, but they also wanted someone who could mentor the young guys coming through.

hahahaha.
AFB is an utter gun. Ofcourse I wanted him here.

Yet Richo and Benji made the decision that our team needed a known Gun Half and then got a Melbourne Center in Olam. We can't just hire good players, we need to look at the team.
Click to expand...
Sorry mate, I fully understand what you’re saying but can’t buy what you’re selling. I personally don’t think Finucane was a good buy.
I see your point about AFB but we needed backs more than forwards. I’m not convinced we’ve gone about it the right way but it’s time for young Stef to become our Hass/AFB , or part thereof.
 
Needaname said:
I still think we are on the look out for an AFB type enforcer, just a tier down. We certainly need an experienced head that will come off the bench and play that role like Zane Tetavano did for the Panthers or Martin Tapau for the Broncos.
Who that is I’m not sure. But it’s kinda laughable but Joe Offehengue would of fit the mould.
Let me rephrase that. Joffa could have fitted that role; though he doesn’t seem to want to embrace that.
Prehaps RFM would be a good pick up if we offload Noffa?
Click to expand...
I don't think RFM is worthy of a top 30 spot currently, someone like Miller probably should have been development this year in which case he may have fit in, but dogs would need to chip in at least 450k of RFM's salary for us to consider it.
 

‘I’ve got something to prove’: Ex-Storm star Olam embracing the challenge at Wests Tigers​

Adrian Proszenko

By Adrian Proszenko​

January 28, 2024 — 5.00am

Justin Olam has arrived at Wests Tigers with a body on the mend and a desire to prove himself all over again.
“Last season was basically not my best,” said the club’s latest recruit. “I’m not going to give any excuses, but my body wasn’t 100 per cent ready to play. I had ongoing injuries that I played with, I didn’t give myself a chance to compete.

“I’m working on that, my health, to get back on track. I want to get back to that [top] form, that’s what I’m focused on. I feel I can do it. I still feel I have something still left to prove.
“Stuff like this is always a challenge, and I’m looking forward to it. I’m ready to compete, I just needed to get my body right – that’s my goal at the moment. I’m taking it one step at a time and that’s to be healthy first. The Tigers have a lot of faith in me because I wasn’t 100 per cent healthy when they talked to me.

“I want to repay them and get better so I can go out there and compete.”
The journey from premiership heavyweights Melbourne to the two-time wooden spooners isn’t as far or as bold as Olam’s trek from Gon, a small village in Papua New Guinea’s mountainous Chimbu province, to chase his NRL dream. It is still, however, a leap of faith for a superstar who has achieved everything in the game, from winning a premiership to earning Dally M centre of the year honours.
New Wests Tigers recruit Justin Olam.

New Wests Tigers recruit Justin Olam.CREDIT:WESTS TIGERS

Olam is one of the fiercest tacklers and ball runners in the NRL, a reputation he is looking to reestablish after being dropped for the first time last year during an injury-interrupted season with the Storm.
Last year began badly after he broke his forearm in a trial and then a knee injury prevented the 30-year-old from representing his beloved PNG in the Pacific Championships. Tigers coach Benji Marshall looked past those setbacks to secure Olam as part of a player swap with Shawn Blore.

“Benji told me what he wants to do,” Olam said. “It was a bit tough for me last year and a tough decision to make. I guess it’s a business at the end of the day, that’s about it.
“It’s a challenge, and I love challenges. The people here are so welcoming and the boys have made it easy for me to transition. It’s been good so far.
Justin Olam with Storm teammates and the premiership trophy in 2020.

Justin Olam with Storm teammates and the premiership trophy in 2020.CREDIT:GETTY

“The Tigers have got some good young players now and it would be good for me to show the way as a senior player, to guide the young boys. I’m looking forward to it as well.
“My first thing is to get healthy first, play consistent footy week in and week out.

“Benji had faith in me and brought me here. I want to win and I know the boys here want to win as well. I want to get healthy so I can go out there and play with them, earn their trust and compete.”

It took Olam time to adapt to life in Melbourne after growing up in PNG, with the transition to Sydney something he is still getting used to.
“I’m looking forward to getting to know the city,” he said. “I need to know my way around; I’ve got to be careful with the traffic lights.
“The Tigers have a massive fan base and that comes with a massive responsibility for everyone at the club.”
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www.smh.com.au

‘I’ve got something to prove’: Ex-Storm star Olam embracing the challenge at Wests Tigers

It’s not quite as far as his journey from PNG to Melbourne to chase his NRL dream, but Justin Olam has taken another leap of faith in joining Wests Tigers.
www.smh.com.au www.smh.com.au
 
Tucker said:
Yes but he isn’t elite anymore.
We needed a top liner that he could support.
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In the top 30 squad how many players do you think we have that can actually hold there own as a first grade player?

16/17 players?
 
Todd Packer said:
That's a scary interview.
So many mentions of needing to get healthy.
I fear we've traded a Blore for another Blore.
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I have said it for 6mths now, just hope we did due diligence on Olam on/off field.

His body has been hammered & overtime that has a toll normally turns into abit glass like.

It’s rare once the body shows the wear it recovers and lets a player go back to how they use to be.
 
Mighty_Tiger said:
I have said it for 6mths now, just hope we did due diligence on Olam on/off field.

His body has been hammered & overtime that has a toll normally turns into abit glass like.

It’s rare once the body shows the wear it recovers and lets a player go back to how they use to be.
Click to expand...

It's all hypothetical, dont think Olam is banged
up by taking tough carriers. Hasn't really got
a history with injuries besides the broken forearm
(unlucky) & the knee issue last year. He's running
around unabated pretty much, should be aright...
 
bbobb said:
Doesn’t sound like if. Looks like we took a bit of a gamble
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Yeah I took the same out of that article. Hopefully he was just making excuses for last year despite saying he wasn’t going to.

I just hope he’s not throwing out excuses to lean on if he plays poorly this year
 
That Olaku’ato tackle was round 7.
In the succeeding 12 rounds he played.
ran for 1523m
6 line breaks.
46 tackle breaks.
7 offloads.
102 tackles.
29 missed tackles.

Defensively not the best but you can’t put a case together to say he was playing scared since that tackle.
 
Todd Packer said:
That's a scary interview.
So many mentions of needing to get healthy.
I fear we've traded a Blore for another Blore.
Click to expand...
Saying all the right, and usual, things that new recruits usually say.
Just hope he’s not subtly giving himself any excuses to possibly underperform, but I’ll take it on face value that Benji has rolled the dice coz he knows how much we need some solidarity and steel in the backline.
Let’s hope he gets “healthy “ and mentally right and gives us really good value for money.
 
Needaname said:
That Olaku’ato tackle was round 7.
In the succeeding 12 rounds he played.
ran for 1523m
6 line breaks.
46 tackle breaks.
7 offloads.
102 tackles.
29 missed tackles.

Defensively not the best but you can’t put a case together to say he was playing scared since that tackle.
Click to expand...
I think that hit get totally overplayed. It wasn’t even that hard.
 
You have to be realistic in what was bought.

Olam, right now, is probably the #1 centre on the roster. BUT- this will regress over the course of his contract.

He immediately stiffens our edge defence, which was a huge weakness. Ideally, his line running will be utilized with better halves (Sullivan/Sezar). No doubt though- the young centre from Brisbane Easts & Feledy need to be in his pocket every other day, learning nuance about which hole to hit & how to work defensively with your winger.

Olam is a right now upgrade with bigger potential as a long-term mentor to our young squad.

If he is not the Dally M centre of the year- it doesn't make him a bad signing.

I'm interested in who plays outside him at this point, and who the OTHER centre might be? I thing we assume To'a, but I get a sneaky feeling Naden might be the guy with To'a playing outside Olam..
 
Halbrowne61 said:
Saying all the right, and usual, things that new recruits usually say.
Just hope he’s not subtly giving himself any excuses to possibly underperform, but I’ll take it on face value that Benji has rolled the dice coz he knows how much we need some solidarity and steel in the backline.
Let’s hope he gets “healthy “ and mentally right and gives us really good value for money.
Click to expand...
I think all the reference to his health are him having a subtle dig at the Storm for forcing him to played injured… and blaming him for not playing up to his usual standards.
 
Mighty_Tiger said:
I have said it for 6mths now, just hope we did due diligence on Olam on/off field.

His body has been hammered & overtime that has a toll normally turns into abit glass like.

It’s rare once the body shows the wear it recovers and lets a player go back to how they use to be.
Click to expand...
It’s about management and merely judging by the smile on his face, Benji’s the right guy for his headspace.
 
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