OFFICIAL Latu Fainu #282

[happy_tiger]

I honestly rate his as a player like I think the majority do.

I fear the spread of injuries. Thumb and shoulder fit with his aggressive but loose defensive style.

The pec strain definitely hit a nerve with me as it felt like more evidence of a body or conditioning issue. I get pecs can be freak, but we all know some people have the body for NRL and some people don’t.

His hamstrings have been the long term reoccurring issue. He desperately needs an injury free offseason to get his hammy flexibility and strength back. Three years in a row with hammy issues is pretty serious.

Straining his hammy late this year (round he was due to return from suspension) is a red flag for me.

It would be the 3rd pec injury for the club in a year
Very unusual

 

[innsaneink]

Hungry Ink ??

Quite the opposite now

Someone here blamed his injurys on a diet of junk food

 

[Spartan117]

kid is a talent ,but what ever we /club where offering him last week - halve it
And don't stop there,

Respectfully Disagree

Latu is second only to Isaya Katoa according to some smart NRL guys

Latu will come good,

He will have a great 2027

 

[Lestronge]

What crap
No one here wants him injured

I honestly don’t believe that . There a few on here , who I’m convinced live for the negativity. They’re addicted to it , whether consciously or unconsciously. There’s an old saying “misery loves company” . And there’s plenty on here who perpetuate that misery . And a small group who do it deliberately . Borderline sadism .

 

[tig_prmz]

 

[happy_tiger]

Quite the opposite now

Someone here blamed his injurys on a diet of junk food

Think I have eaten Maccas 3 times in my life
50c cones ....different matter 😆

 

[batboy]

Or Benji and his shoulders. Was still playing in his mid 30s

I've seen this comparison on injuries plenty of times over the years.

What everyone seems to forget, Is that Benji was barely playing Rugby League for a year before he played NRL.
By his own admission, His body just wasn't ready for it.

The guys he often gets compared to, Have played League their whole life.
So 1st, Their body is more accustomed to the environment
and 2nd, They've already got many more miles on them than Benji did.
And 3rd, The game is a lot more damaging than it was in 2004
(You could argue there the players are also built better for it though)

Considering the above,
How any one can look to draw parallel positives is hoping at best.
It's not the same.

 

[batboy]

What crap
No one here wants him injured

Mentioning his injury history is like speaking out against religion here for some.
There's a whole mob that don't even acknowledge he gets injured every other top flight game,
and then blames the coaches that he's not being played?

Does my head in...

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

I've seen this comparison on injuries plenty of times over the years.

What everyone seems to forget, Is that Benji was barely playing Rugby League for a year before he played NRL.
By his own admission, His body just wasn't ready for it.

The guys he often gets compared to, Have played League their whole life.
So 1st, Their body is more accustomed to the environment
and 2nd, They've already got many more miles on them than Benji did.
And 3rd, The game is a lot more damaging than it was in 2004
(You could argue there the players are also built better for it though)

Considering the above,
How any one can look to draw parallel positives is hoping at best.
It's not the same.

True, it can't be the same, everyone is an individual not a clone.

The only thing that keeps the faith is Latu's still young and has a chance to grow out of his brittleness, it's the unknown going forward with any extension that makes it tricky especially a lengthy one.

With every injury, or even a scare like yesterday, it's giving me Starford Toa vibes.

 

[Juice]

Unless he was injured consistently as a junior, for mine its just bad luck and coincidence.

When I look at the lad, I don't see anything brittle about him, he's a highly trained athlete.

So I think some of the talk is a little over the top.

I wouldn’t say constantly injured as a junior but his hamstring issues were a problem even back then.

 

[Tucker]

It means you obviously didn’t watch him. He didn’t miss any tackles. Was very strong in defence. Only got 17 minutes but they targeted him early & they couldn’t get passed him.

Well that’s not true. They got passed him but that not my point as he isn’t in the team primarily for defence. He is a strong runner and ball carrier and has good vision to setup outside men. By the 17th minute mark he hadn’t really got into the game in this aspect and that’s what I was commenting on.
It’s amazing how many of you are so one eyed. You don’t watch the game as footy fans…only Wests Tigers fans. It’s impressive and sad at the same time.

 

[Buttface]

anyone else getting Maccas ads in this thread now?

Run don’t walk…. away as fast as you can.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

I've seen this comparison on injuries plenty of times over the years.

What everyone seems to forget, Is that Benji was barely playing Rugby League for a year before he played NRL.
By his own admission, His body just wasn't ready for it.

The guys he often gets compared to, Have played League their whole life.
So 1st, Their body is more accustomed to the environment
and 2nd, They've already got many more miles on them than Benji did.
And 3rd, The game is a lot more damaging than it was in 2004
(You could argue there the players are also built better for it though)

Considering the above,
How any one can look to draw parallel positives is hoping at best.
It's not the same.

He was also a baby when he debuted. He was only 18. Latu is a few years older now and been playing League his whole life.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

Couldn’t agree more.
This shifts the balance of power our way. Might be able to get Sam cheaper as well by doing them a favour and re-signing Latu, albeit on a reduced contract.

He's a talented kid but he's made of tissue and spit. I'd be reluctant to throw the kitchen sink at him even though he's come out of it OK.