Justin Olam #281

The Chad said:
A few have complained about signing guys at the back end of their careers, and to a degree- fair enough.

But guys like Olam are competing. Not just coming here to edge toward retirement. He's not the player he was- AND THAT IS OK.

In Moneyball- he's David Justice. We aren't paying Olam to be peak Olam. We are paying him to be the guy he is now- smart, aggressive & good effort. He might not be the superstar you think of in his prime, but he knows how to find the line & his defence still causes the opposition some doubt & concern running his way.

I think he's been a great signing, and if we can get another 2 years out of him- I think he is the perfect transitional player for this club. Paul Whatuira Mark 2.
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The problem is we are paying peak Olam contract.
 
Tom Shines said:
Watching a replay of the Storm game now …

Olam brings some much needed physicality..but his knee is shot and it is hampering his play …

someone posted an article recently that apparently there is an option of surgery to fix this problem … given where they are at present …surely they should explore this option …let him then have a full offseason after the surgery recovery to prepare for next season..

Of course it doesn’t help that the centre depth is so bare
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Mate unfortunately injuries control his game now. Shame.
 
If I were Richo and/or Benji, I would be resting Olam for the remainder of the season and getting him straight into surgery/rehab, with the hope that he will be fit for the first half of the 2025 season. We really need to start '25 strong, and he needs to be fit if we are any chance of that.

We need to accept that Olam will not play a full season. Play him when we need him and rest him when we don't. Otherwise we will burn him out. I can't see any other way we can get good value from his current contract.
 
TheGreenWookie said:
If I were Richo and/or Benji, I would be resting Olam for the remainder of the season and getting him straight into surgery/rehab, with the hope that he will be fit for the first half of the 2025 season. We really need to start '25 strong, and he needs to be fit if we are any chance of that.

We need to accept that Olam will not play a full season. Play him when we need him and rest him when we don't. Otherwise we will burn him out. I can't see any other way we can get good value from his current contract.
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I believe i read somewhere years back thats he refuses to have surgery and rather goes down the natural path.
 
Garrry said:
If Olam needs surgery I reckon get it done now so he'll be ready for a full pre season training, he struggled against storm just a passenger, prefer a fit player on the field
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It depends on the recovery time if it’s a long one yes pull him now if it’s only 6-8 weeks maybe play him for 4-5 more weeks
 
Has any one noticed the centre who plays for the donkeys , he gets a run when there 1st choice boys are out , I think his name is karapani , he looks every good good speed and a big body and decent defender .
 
Hard to believe we bought another injured player. But there he is. Desperation signing.
If there is a chance of surgery get it done now, bcoz when fully fit he’s a gun.
Otherwise med retire, boxing, or suck eggs.
 
bptiger 0 said:
It depends on the recovery time if it’s a long one yes pull him now if it’s only 6-8 weeks maybe play him for 4-5 more weeks
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seems like his management of the injury now is one week in, one week out …. I could maybe agree to keep playing him given how his absence exposes a lack of centre depth ..but if he is hampered as he showed yesterday …don’t see a lot of point,,
 
If he needs surgery , get it done now , rehab balance season come back strong for 25 , this should be for any player who has an issue m fix it now ,
fully fit Olam , Lauai , Turuva , Pole , Big Sam , Latu , Bula , Bateman , Stef if he stays and has his shit sorted , along with a few more Recruites we will be much better , we need to fix injured players and go get 3 players on the brink of first grade from top clubs in position we need .
Prop , Backrow / Lock , Hard speedy Centre , Big Winger , Luke L. I would also look at for lock next year , runs hard , hits hard , that’s a good start and has speed to play wing you would think
 
I have serious doubt Olam will get over his injury concerns.
Benji stated last night it was calf tightness, not a serious injury but he was hobbling around like someone shot him.
It appears Bellamy was right that Olam is using injuries as an excuse.
 
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For all the injury talk, he'll play as many, or more games as last year, and his overall play has not declined to any extent of note. Still churns out good metres, still scores tries etc.

Is he at the back end of his career? Of course. But the Tigers didn't go out & sign "prime" Justin Olam. They got an experienced upgrade over what we had. If, over the last 2 years of his contract, he gets phased out of the top squad by someone like Makasini, isn't that the ideal way of transitioning a new player in?

He doesn't commit a lot of errors. Rarely drops the ball. Isn't heavily penalised. He's pretty much what most fans call out for most weeks.
 
Vicious said:
I have serious doubt Olam will get over his injury concerns.
Benji stated last night it was calf tightness, not a serious injury but he was hobbling around like someone shot him.
It appears Bellamy was right that Olam is using injuries as an excuse.
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Thank you Doctor for your medical opinion and prognosis …as seen through the TV…
 
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