Kelma Tuilagi Signs With Manly

JC99 said:
Other way around, Papali'i was frustrated and being forced to play in the middle for the warriors before he left
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This is good news. We have 2 good edge backrowers now but they are both leaving. Papali'i holding down one edge is huge for us.

I'm not sold on signing up centres until we see how the current crop goes. To'a, Gildart, Tupou (who looked beyond ordinary), Kepaoa, Talau and potentially Doueihi.

I'm not sure what players we need although I reckon losing Tuilagi is a blow. He wouldn't have been expensive and he can play.
 
Earl said:
This is good news. We have 2 good edge backrowers now but they are both leaving. Papali'i holding down one edge is huge for us.

I'm not sold on signing up centres until we see how the current crop goes. To'a, Gildart, Tupou (who looked beyond ordinary), Kepaoa, Talau and potentially Doueihi.

I'm not sure what players we need although I reckon losing Tuilagi is a blow. He wouldn't have been expensive and he can play.
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Tupou should hopefully improve throughout the year... in cup.
Very disappointing though.

To'a looked great.
Can't wait to see them in the next trial.

Assuming another hard loss.
 
Not sure it’s an issue until we get towards mid season assessment.
With COVID potentially giving clubs flexibility to introduce/use outside the top 30 roster players …. you just never know what may emerge to plug up our roster from our train & trial, development and junior catchments.
Also good to keep few roster spots open as there’s alway some mid season movement between the clubs.
Early days ……
 
Cultured_Bogan said:
Outside of Blore Papalii and Garner it's kids. That's not fine.

And apparently Paps wants to play in the middle.
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Seems like a bit of a problem to me. Lucy and Kelma 2 of our best on field the other night and both gone next year.

Blore has been heralded as the saviour in this area but I don't think he hasn't shown anything consistently enough to get excited about and won't if he keeps getting injured.

If Papalii wants to play in the middle it doesn't solve our second row issues and if we make him play on the edge against his wishes we may end up pissing him off. The guy absolutely killed it last year, let's hope he can do it for us next year.
 
hank37w said:
Seems like a bit of a problem to me. Lucy and Kelma 2 of our best on field the other night and both gone next year.

Blore has been heralded as the saviour in this area but I don't think he hasn't shown anything consistently enough to get excited about and won't if he keeps getting injured.

If Papalii wants to play in the middle it doesn't solve our second row issues and if we make him play on the edge against his wishes we may end up pissing him off. The guy absolutely killed it last year, let's hope he can do it for us next year.
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It’s not really Pap’s decision. If the best thing for the club is him playing on an edge, he’ll play on an edge. Despite a few comments on here, there’s nothing to suggest he wants to play middle. How about we target a centre?
 
hank37w said:
Seems like a bit of a problem to me. Lucy and Kelma 2 of our best on field the other night and both gone next year.

Blore has been heralded as the saviour in this area but I don't think he hasn't shown anything consistently enough to get excited about and won't if he keeps getting injured.

If Papalii wants to play in the middle it doesn't solve our second row issues and if we make him play on the edge against his wishes we may end up pissing him off. The guy absolutely killed it last year, let's hope he can do it for us next year.
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Issue is our middle isn't great aside from Stefano and is also a depth concern for next year.
Having a front row of Stefano, Api and Paps would be one of the best in the comp.

Tamou is gone
Mika is off contract
Twal, Joe, Musgrove don't strike any fear into other teams.

Our backrower has even less with Lucy & Kelma going + Blore we can't bank on with his injury history. Garner is also off contract. The best teams have a depth chart 5-6 in the backrow, we at the moment will have maybe 1 on the books if Paps is in the middle.
 
Cultured_Bogan said:
Ah fair enough thought it was the other way around. He does all his damage in the second row IMO.
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Who knows, as others stating that he wanted the opposite at Parramatta this past season.

I see forwards as the first requirement for success and the second rowers as the primary player on each side of the field and would be disappointed if Papali'i was not on an edge. Another quality signing there or at least a top prospect would be a priority if I was recruiting and particularly so if Isaiah wants to be a middle.

Unless he improves markedly, Tuilagi is a journeyman type player and would much rather have such at centre than on the inside shoulder of halves where dollars are better spent.
 
Geo said:
Where is this Papali’i wants to play in the middle coming from..

One of the most destructive edge forwards currently in the game..madness
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I thought he was tremendous for Eels in the finals match v Penrith. Can't wait to have him in the team.
 
GNR4LIFE said:
I don’t think we do, no. But if you insist, don’t sign someone that’s going to be on crazy money. At least we have Pap in the back row for 2023. Who do we have in the centres?
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We have about five or six players who can play in the centres. Maybe not necessarily well but they are bodies that can play there.

Roberts, Talau, Kepaoa, Gildart, To'a and Pauga.
 
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