Lote Tuqiri

no idea why but i think he will be offered a 1 year contract with another in our favour.. then the board will think WT have got the better of the deals.
 
I can't see him commanding a big salary next year, so with a decent pay cut I think he can still be a valuable member of the playing squad. Even in his injury absence he has been playing a big coaching and mentoring role with our young / less experienced players (like Marika and Beau Ryan). If he is on a reduced salary I still think he is ideal to get a job done.

He is a big name in sport and a great ambassador for the team, I would sign him up without doubt.

Next year our team will have a great list of leaders (Lote, Robbie, Benji, Braith, Blair, Fults)
 
I'd have him on in a mentoring role, especially for the younger outside backs in Tedesco, Nofoaluma and particularly Koroibete.
 
Their comes a time when when you have to make smart calls and this is a no brainer. Offer him a job in marketing plus as a backs mentor but as a player no way. We only have room for one slowish wing man and that will be a battle between Ryan and Utai.
 
@supercoach said:
Their comes a time when when you have to make smart calls and this is a no brainer. Offer him a job in marketing plus as a backs mentor but as a player no way. We only have room for one slowish wing man and that will be a battle between Ryan and Utai.
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Couldn't agree more.
Would hate to see him go out so far below his best if he continues as a player.
The guy is a beacon at any corporate event and would still be able to help secure marketing dollars .
Plus you can tell from his teammates how highly he is regarded in the players eyes.
In the end he will make up his mind if he thinks he still has something to prove.
Next year I think (hope) we will see Utai off the bench where he can prove to be a real weapon.
 
Lote would have a decent level of personal sponsorship, which makes me think that he would need to remain on the field as long as possible.

If he disappears into the front office and development, he might be sacrificing bigger $$'s than we all realise.

Plus we don't know if he is mentally done yet. His body might be struggling but if he still has the desire he will probably push forward with or without us.
 
@LaT said:
Lote would have a decent level of personal sponsorship, which makes me think that he would need to remain on the field as long as possible.

If he disappears into the front office and development, he might be sacrificing bigger $$'s than we all realise.

Plus we don't know if he is mentally done yet. His body might be struggling but if he still has the desire he will probably push forward with or without us.
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Iam sure your right, he will chase the dollars till the very end and I dont blame him one minute. The question remains is their a NRL team that needs Lote and his profile. I cant see to many teams that need a slowish experienced winger. He could get a fat pay cheque in Rugby over seas but I dont think he wants to go down that path
 
To be honest, I believe we have reaped the best of Lote's profile and return to the game. His status has not been maintained due to his injuries/form over the last two seasons.

So in the cold hard light of day I would prefer to see the likes of Koro being given more opportunity now.
 
hope this isn't too controversial and believe me ryan has improved immensely this season, but imo he has been good this year and nothing more. most people think he is playing better than he is simply because the rest of the backline (and the team) has failed to fire making him look better due to his improvement.

ryan should not play in the centres or at fullback. play him on the RIGHT wing and keep him there.
 
@tigersrule4life said:
Why not keep him for 1 more year on a very cheap contract and then next year make a big signing.
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Because we have a gutless coach who will never drop players. Tuquiri and Ryan will be the wingers in 2012\. If Sheens tries to find a spot for Koroibete (Who is clearly the future of our outside backs), it will mean he wont make a tough call on one of the wingers, he will end up moving Ryan to the centres (Where he is clearly just a stop gap option at best).

We can not re-sign Tuquiri, there is no benefit. And if we are being fair, Utai has well and truely out performed Tuquiri on the field this year. But I wouldnt keep either. Why? We already have Koro and Ryan as our frontline wingers next year. And if one of them drops in form and injury we have Grant and Nofolomu, and if absolutely noone else I guess we have Reddy to as hes here for another year or 2\. Thats 5\. You dont need 6-7 wingers in an nrl squad, 3 is adequate, 4 is safe, anything more is ludicrous.
 
@ctownboy said:
Next year our team will have a great list of leaders (Lote, Robbie, Benji, Braith, Blair, Fults)
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Its no different to this year accept you swap Ellis for Braith. Unfortunately for us our leaders at times are the ones who are making the big mistakes (Benji, Robbie, Lote).
 
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