Latu Fainu #282

bbobb said:
From the limited time I have seen Latu (a couple games in cup and NRL), I believe there are a few differences between himself and Lachie.
1- Latu seems to have more time. He plays the game at his speed and rarely looks rushed. He lets the game to come to him and perhaps is more patient whereas Lachie is full of energy and chases the game.
2 - I think Latu plays more direct and squares his shoulders and straightens the attack where as Lachie is still fairly lateral in his play which sometimes squeezes the centre and wing.
3 - Lachie looks to be more vocal and dominant. Latu is quieter. With Luai arriving, I am interested to see which pairing will be complimentary.
4 - Defensively they are both adequate. Latu seems to be a strong defender for his size especially front on. Lachie can get a little dominated but this is more due to his frame and size which will change.
5 - Haven’t seen Latu in open space enough but my guess he is probably a little quicker than Lachie over 30 meters. Perhaps Latu more threatening with his runnng game (assumption here).

I think they’re both exciting prospects but I cannot see the club retaining both.We as supporters want one of them to play lock but my guess is if they’re not playing in the halves here, it will be somewhere else. My hope is that Latu can have an injury free run next year and we can make an informed choice although with the amount of release requests, my guess is that Lachie is more likely to move.
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Another observation,

They seem so be super close mates.

Hope to see Latu, Lachie and Luia all together fir many years to come
 
clontarfkid said:
If Latu is good enuff.. and havnt quite seen it yet,tho last week showed potential..we will make a space for him in the 13.
Somewhere
And Im talking 2025..not 2026
Its not as though were blessed with top line players in the back line..and if hes qualifies..tick
But at this stage,he is well short of Galvin at same age..with Luai to come in the halves
So we need to manage
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My concern with moving Latu to 13 is the workload and potential for injury. He seems like he’s about to pop a hammy every second run. But I want him in the run on side in a position where he can apply his skills. Hopefully he has a big offseason and gets fit and full health hammys.
 
Luai wants to be on the ball more next year, great defender / runner in traffic. Why not Luai to lock as a game manager in the middle third, Ala how Hastings played his last season with us.
 
king_sirro said:
Is this a gee up?
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How is it any different to what’s been suggested.
A 28 year old with experience of the game at a high level can’t move to lock and make it work but yet two 19 year olds with their bodies and games still growing are expected to?
 
mtd#2 said:
The more I think about it, not much changes if he moves from #6 to #13.

He can run the ball as he is now.
He can sweep around both sides.
If he really wants to kick, he can still kick.

As great as he played last night, I think he's holding onto the ball a bit too long instead of throwing the pass, where as with Latu's build, I think he'd be more inclined to pass a bit more...
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It's that Ability + Judgement which makes a player deadly.

Not just being able to pass, or run, or kick.

That ability to read the play and predict "if I pass, ill get it to the winger and he will likely get tackled because they got numbers"... "If I run it, they are not expecting it but might be ready". .. " ill run a little and kick this time, because their 5/8 looks tired"..

Thurston and DCE have it. C Smith and Cronk understood where their team needed to be and that made things easier for them. Benji had a lot of tricks up his sleeve, but often he would push and repeat a trick a fair bit... Like Brett Kimmorley they lacked that judgement of when to pull the right trick or take the right option.
 
bbobb said:
I am most interested in seeing his second year. Lots of players who have strong debut seasons seem to struggle in year 2. I think it’s mostly because they get worked out by rival clubs and need to develop new aspects to their game.
I believe his development will be a little restricted as he does seem to lack a yard or two of pace so his running game will have a lower ceiling than other parts of his game.
I too see him as potentially an elite 13. Play both sides of the ruck, first receiver, direct play and can run the ball if required. Yeo 2.0 but with a more threatening passing game.
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Everyone says he is not that fast? I think he is fast, but doesn't have the side step of Luai or Fittler had. He gets things moving by speed and smarts. Anticipation, reading the play in front of him.
I can see him fast enough to run through gaps created from Luai's passing game, combination.
In year two the coaches get a plan to shut these players down. 2nd year syndrome.
But with Luai there they have two players to watch out for; so I expect him to still have that X factor threat. IMO.
 
Needaname said:
How is it any different to what’s been suggested.
A 28 year old with experience of the game at a high level can’t move to lock and make it work but yet two 19 year olds with their bodies and games still growing are expected to?
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A $1.2 mil lock? Bit overpriced.
 
Filter won a premiership at the Panthers before going to Roosters right?

I hope the same for Galvin before he goes. I think the life long financial benefits of the Roosters will be too much for the family to ignore.
 
king_sirro said:
Could imagine that conversation? Benji telling Jarome he is gonna play him at lock hahaha. That one is all time
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Mix the 3 of them between 7,6 and 1 Bula to the centres.
No reason why we could not play this formation and still have Bula defending at fullback,
 
king_sirro said:
Could imagine that conversation? Benji telling Jarome he is gonna play him at lock hahaha. That one is all time
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Well let’s hope Jarome comes with a team first mentality cause I’m still questioning his ability to manage a game and get the team in the right positions on the field. He might be destined to a 5/8 , fill in half back.
What ever is best for the team I guess.
 
Bigscreentv said:
I don’t think Galvin at 13 is that bad an idea, I just don’t think he’s stay if that was the case.
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Agree.

The question that Benji is best placed to answer is do they actually think Galvin will stay either way…

Ben Hunt is the only player I can think of that has stayed anywhere long term after requesting a release.
 
Vicious said:
Mix the 3 of them between 7,6 and 1 Bula to the centres.
No reason why we could not play this formation and still have Bula defending at fullback,
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None of them would make a good fullback. The only player pushing Bula out of fullback IMO is Large and that won’t be until 2026 at the earliest.
 
Does anyone on this forum know who is quicker Latu or Galvin ?
As I have read a few on here having concerns about Galvin’s speed.
 
Bigscreentv said:
I don’t think Galvin at 13 is that bad an idea, I just don’t think he’s stay if that was the case.
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Let him think he’s got the 6 till he signs another contract and play him where the team needs him after that. I don’t think it’s gunna be an issue till 26 tbh. I reckon he get the nod to start in the 6 anyway, so win some games, sign him up and fit them all in.
Winning will change everything, especially with a current origin half driving the standards of team first.
Hopefully 🤞
 
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