Latu Fainu #282

[Bus 2 Terrigal]

I’m skeptical. How was Latu ever going to be given the opportunity? It was always one or the other with those two. We were never keeping both.

I agree.

Some posters on here seem to forget that if not for a dubious hip drop suspension, Galvin easily wins Rookie of the Year in 2024. Love him or loathe him, the kid can play.

If Galvin had been happy at Wests then Scott Fulton’s little mate would have been heading elsewhere

 

[TheClaws]

So if Latu is our 6 or 7 going forward and Mason is 14 what it means is we may still have cover for Api. Whilst I don't believe Mason can play 9 (a skill he should develop) the plan would be latu to 9 and Mason into the halves. A specialist hooker on the bench is a luxury we cannot afford at the moment.

 

[Kelce68]

So if Latu is our 6 or 7 going forward and Mason is 14 what it means is we may still have cover for Api. Whilst I don't believe Mason can play 9 (a skill he should develop) the plan would be latu to 9 and Mason into the halves. A specialist hooker on the bench is a luxury we cannot afford at the moment.

We've got multiple big-minute props and we're seeing smaller benches have success in the game these days. You only have to look at how Canterbury have run their bench this year as a single example. Much to my surprise, our small bench on the weekend held its own with Canberra's strong pack and that's without even using one of our bench players (which isn't a good thing imo).

I don't think it's out of the realms of possibility for us to 'possibly' look at running both a utility and a specialist hooker on the bench moving forward in 2026.

Something like hooker (TDS/Hope/Haywood), backs (or true) utility (Mason/Bird), middle/edge utility (Seyfarth/Sione) and specialist prop (TBC). This would be in the even of a starting pack of May, Pole, Twal, KPP and Samuela.

In practice, that could only work with the likes of May and Pole continuing to play above 60/65 quality minutes a game - something they have shown the capacity to do.

 

[hank37w]

You didn’t change your name to Heath Mason’s #1 Fan earlier?

Standby for further updates. 🤣

 

[hank37w]

Yeah, where he differs from Katoa. I can see why people want to chuck him in the forwards, cos he has size, but he’s too good not to be in the halves. Already, I can’t wait to see him next week. Hopefully for the full 80.

Have been comparing Latu to Katoa for a while now, has possibly been wishful thinking on my part but if he can stay healthy this kid can turn a game on its head.

Didn't actually see the replay of the game until late last night after being away for a few days to attend a wedding, but even during the replay I heard commentators comparing his skill level and potential to that of Katoa.

Lachlan who?

 

[tig_prmz]

There are plenty of clubs who would have kept both Galvin and Latu, especially in their formative years.

The way you sell the club, the way you keep players happy is very important. The one thing that I feel Benji might be good at is understanding what young players want, what makes them happy.

You can see Galvin's motivation is winning and his own development.
What is TDS' motivation?
What was Klem or Bateman's motivation?

Why were or are these guys unhappy here?

I understand losing is tough, but I always thought we need to buy "winning players" like from Panthers and Storm but I almost feel like we need to now get players who know what losing feels like. Players who know how to go from losing to winning.

Maybe Luai learnt that in 2019 but was he old enough at that time to understand what guys like Tamou, Yeo, Maloney etc did to get them to the stage?

 

[GNR4LIFE]

There are plenty of clubs who would have kept both Galvin and Latu, especially in their formative years.

The way you sell the club, the way you keep players happy is very important. The one thing that I feel Benji might be good at is understanding what young players want, what makes them happy.

You can see Galvin's motivation is winning and his own development.
What is TDS' motivation?
What was Klem or Bateman's motivation?

Why were or are these guys unhappy here?

I understand losing is tough, but I always thought we need to buy "winning players" like from Panthers and Storm but I almost feel like we need to now get players who know what losing feels like. Players who know how to go from losing to winning.

Maybe Luai learnt that in 2019 but was he old enough at that time to understand what guys like Tamou, Yeo, Maloney etc did to get them to the stage?

It’s moot now regarding Galvin and Latu. What we know is the club was all in on Galvin. That really left no place for Latu in the halves where he belongs. And before you suggest Galvin could have moved to lock, I don’t think that was on the cards, and might be a while at the Dogs, if ever. He’s being treated like the second coming in terms of haves in the media.

 

[tig_prmz]

It’s moot now regarding Galvin and Latu. What we know is the club was all in on Galvin. That really left no place for Latu in the halves where he belongs. And before you suggest Galvin could have moved to lock, I don’t think that was on the cards, and might be a while at the Dogs, if ever. He’s being treated like the second coming in terms of haves in the media.

You got Black at the Broncos, Woods at Dogs with plenty of players in front of them, but willing to bide their time.

How are those clubs convincing them to stay and develop?

Why weren't we able to do that with other players?

 

[Ron Brodrick's Spirit]

You got Black at the Broncos, Woods at Dogs with plenty of players in front of them, but willing to bide their time.

How are those clubs convincing them to stay and develop?

Why weren't we able to do that with other players?

I know one of them gives every new signing a kebab shop.

 

[upthetigers]

If anyone goes to training update on Latu cheers legends.

I am confident we can beat Manly.

 

[Odessa]

If anyone goes to training update on Latu cheers legends.

I am confident we can beat Manly.

And we play them twice

 

[upthetigers]

And we play them twice

I was just reading one of your older posts lol we need 9 wins for a "good" season you said that would be 7 wins

 

[Odessa]

I was just reading one of your older posts lol we need 9 wins for a "good" season you said that would be 7 wins

9 is the magic number a 50 percent improvement from last year and that should put us at around 12 and we have to play the Titans twice as well

 

[Dr_Ice]

So if Latu is our 6 or 7 going forward and Mason is 14 what it means is we may still have cover for Api. Whilst I don't believe Mason can play 9 (a skill he should develop) the plan would be latu to 9 and Mason into the halves. A specialist hooker on the bench is a luxury we cannot afford at the moment.

I hope the plan isn’t to move Latu to 9 mid game just to bring Mason on into the halves. Why would you weaken the team like that during a game?

 

[TheClaws]

I hope the plan isn’t to move Latu to 9 mid game just to bring Mason on into the halves. Why would you weaken the team like that during a game?

Only if Api is injured, hia, sin bin etc...

 

[jadtiger]

Yes was thinking the same,
Same body shape as the Dolphins halfback.
They are sure bigger now than in the old days.
Remember
Mark Schulman (Dragons)
Toovey
Alf

Mal Creevy was the smallest halfback i have ever seen,he was seriously jockey sized.

 

[tiger_one]

Mal Creevy was the smallest halfback i have ever seen,he was seriously jockey sized.

My choice for the smallest player is this former Saints half back: Mark Shulman, who passed away in 2022.

Here he is photographed with his Fijian teammate Apisai Toga

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Latu Fainu has played in 4 games for us so far this season. Whilst he been on the field, the points for & against is ...

WT 50 v Opposition 46

18-14 against Warriors
12-26 against Broncos (numerous dubious tries in that broncos score)
8-6 against Panthers
12-0 against Raiders

 

[Oldman]

Mal Creevy was the smallest halfback i have ever seen,he was seriously jockey sized.

Hey Jadtiger
Did he play for the berries or am I thinking of someone else ?

 

[jadtiger]

Hey Jadtiger
Did he play for the berries or am I thinking of someone else ?

Yes he did then he came to Balmain and finally went to Illawarra.I always liked him as a player.