Latu Fainu #282

[Telltails]

I wouldnt play Latu behind our current pack and expect him to be the answer to our current poor form. He has bearly completed 80 minutes in any position and you want to put him behind a very weakened pack as a key play maker while dropping the one bloke in the team that has achieved any level of success.

 

[Tiger Stripes]

I get the hate when u compare salary to performance, however i am not dropping Luai. If its purely performance based I would give jock the flick, his last 5 games have been very ordinary. I would probably give luai the 7 and play latu at 6.

I think Madden's ordinary performance is partly to blame on our poor speed to chase down the bombs.
They are don't get contested anymore! Tavana was great a couple of times but now MIA. And Sam Fainu out injured. The centres just trundle down for the tackle as part of a straight-line D.
And bugger-all help from Luai.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

Theres been a lot of heat on him in the media this week, I know it shouldnt come down to this but maybe hopefully its something of a wake up call that makes him pull his finger out
That said Im not sure its something he can just decide to do...he doesnt seem able.
Id love $5 for every time ive heard or read "he needs a big one this week"...but here we are again

If his name was Luke Brooks we'd be screaming to shoot him into the sun.

 

[Telltails]

If his name was Luke Brooks we'd be screaming to shoot him into the sun.

We did that and he moved to a stronger team and played finals in his first year - not because of him but what was around him.

 

[tiges69]

I would love to see a match where Latu plays 5/8 (on his preferred left side) and AD halfback on the right. I think this is the combo but unfortunately we have an immovable object in the way!

Totally agree BWG. I am not one of the doubters when it comes to Latu. Injury hasn't been kind to him so i can see where the doubt comes from but i am not letting this boy go anywhere he is a real talent. As for his kicking game i watched him play KOE probably about 6 Weeks or so back and he put in about 4 big kicks from general play which shows me he does have a reasonable kicking game. even if Adam isn't back i'm like you i would like to see him at 5/8 and Luai at Half. Latu has the ability to be a good half back or running 5/8 but they have to pick which one and stop mucking him around.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Totally agree BWG. I am not one of the doubters when it comes to Latu. Injury hasn't been kind to him so i can see where the doubt comes from but i am not letting this boy go anywhere he is a real talent. As for his kicking game i watched him play KOE probably about 6 Weeks or so back and he put in about 4 big kicks from general play which shows me he does have a reasonable kicking game. even if Adam isn't back i'm like you i would like to see him at 5/8 and Luai at Half. Latu has the ability to be a good half back or running 5/8 but they have to pick which one and stop mucking him around.

I get the sense that Benji wanted this year to be about his body and gradually increasing his minutes in that lock / hooker utility role. I have noticed it takes a lot to change Benji from where players did their reps in the pre-season. We just don't know what the long-term plan is for Latu, only that Benji rates him very highly.

Like you, I'd love to see Latu get an extended stint in the halves and personally I'd love that to be on the left side. But I don't think we'll get to see him in the halves on an extended basis until at least next season.

HOWEVER if he plays halfback on Sunday and absolutely carves up, that may force a re-think from Benji.

 

[hammertime]

So not only are we signing the brother, he’s straight into the team. After not having played so much as a park game in 6-7 years? Good god.

I think you completely missed the phrases "if he's able to recapture his form" and "backup to api". He'd be on a train and trial.

So no, not straight into the team.

He'd be the cheap option, but if not, we need to look at other ones out there. Hope is not working.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Capt'n Obvious to the Rescue!

Why Latu Fainu, after getting 500k per year to essentally be in reserve grade, heal while injured and play an occasional first grade game gets a sweet deal. Capt'n Obvious says Latu should then Stick by the club that stuck by him, showering us with NRL Glory that hasn't been seen since Andrew Johns won a premiereship for Newcastle.

Millenials are loyal employees right?

He owes us zero loyalty. Injuries happen.

Most of his injuries are because he was played out of his halves position and with next to no reserve grade / development time in the forwards.

We made him the $$ offer for a kid yet to have played a NRL game. That’s on us not Latu.

If he isn’t getting game time in the halves and wants to be a half then why shouldn’t he look outside of us?

I don’t want him to look outside and don’t think he will but he owes us no loyalty.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

We did that and he moved to a stronger team and played finals in his first year - not because of him but what was around him.

Luai had plenty around him earlier in the year. Still didn't make much difference.

At Manly, Brooks was given the six and played like one outside an actual halfback.

 

[mtd#2]

We did that and he moved to a stronger team and played finals in his first year - not because of him but what was around him.

This club loves a good scapegoat. Helps distract from the real issues.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

We did that and he moved to a stronger team and played finals in his first year - not because of him but what was around him.

He’s played some good footy this year. Light years better than Luai.

 

[Telltails]

Luai had plenty around him earlier in the year. Still didn't make much difference.

At Manly, Brooks was given the six and played like one outside an actual halfback.

I would have said I start was the best we have had in years till the injuries took effect.

 

[Telltails]

He’s played some good footy this year. Light years better than Luai.

And he never played a finals game of footy.
I Pap suffered the same criticism and how he is going in a better squad?

 

[GNR4LIFE]

And he never played a finals game of footy.
I Pap suffered the same criticism and how he is going in a better squad?

Ipap also killed it at Parra before he got here. It’s almost like there is a common denominator.

 

[batboy]

If his name was Luke Brooks we'd be screaming to shoot him into the sun.

I love the 'We signed some of our best players because of him'
Maybe,
But I think Benjis' Aura had more to do with it than Luai
I've not heard a recruit mention Luai when coming on board,
It's all been 'After my chat with Benji' - Including Luai.

It's like he gets a free pass from being worth his money,
But Brooks got hammered from the get go,
when he was 18 and played 1 game.

 

[TheEnz]

I am sure Benji and Latu are both aware and have agreed to a plan for him. It may have changed a bit this season due to injuries, however I would expect that Latu understands this and is willing to bide his time. Benji has stated that he is too good to play in reserves so he is likely easing him in to first grade with these cameo appearances at 13 and 9. At this level i don't necessarily think that a player needs reps in reserves in order to get game fit....we see plenty of players out for weeks with injuries or suspension that step right back into first grade. Reserves for first grade players is more about building their confidence if its shot, or working on a specific area of their game if the coach is not happy with them. In terms of the contract renewal, there is no real hurry as they are not able to talk to other clubs till November so maybe its going to hinge on how Latu goes for the remainder of the year and perhaps Benji is going to start giving him more minutes to prove his worth. Both he and Sam look pretty happy at the club, Sam has shown he is worth more than what we have been paying him and that will be reflected in any extension and now its Latu's turn to do the same. There may also be a hold until June 30 to see if anything falls out of the tree, once that date passes things will be clearer.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Ipap also killed it at Parra before he got here. It’s almost like there is a common denominator.

If we had the roster when he was here that we do now without crucial injuries he would show that form, we didn't and he struggled, you're not taking into consideration how good the other teams were/are.

As usual any excuse to lay the boot into the so-called team you support.

 

[crazycat]

You’re right, he should waste away the next 2-3 years of his career playing a few random minutes here and there, out of position while the likes of Marvik Geyer are moved straight into the starting lineup despite not doing a damn thing to earn it and is leaving for Perth.

Anytime Latu had been given opportunity in the halves, he has shone. He’s been healthy for most of this season yet has had to watch while a hobbled Madden is repeatedly selected on the back of a couple of good games earlier in the season.

If you are asking me to explain the Mavrik starting decision I cannot.

There is a certain kind of madness even I struggle to understand/enjoy.

 

[TheEnz]

i believe

If you are asking me to explain the Mavrik starting decision I cannot.

There is a certain kind of madness even I struggle to understand/enjoy.

Tony Sukkar was coming back from injury so played in KOE and had a great game and Roberts has a foot injury....so next player up would be Geyer...maybe Benji thought he would lift against his old club...he did the complete opposite.

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

Footballers don't get sick leave?

in latu's case excessive sick leave