Mahe Fonua

[Russell]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1D7oj_59Qi8

Ben, I can see why everyone says he is very ordinary. Yeah right!!!

We have a good one, you don't forget that stuff, 2018 will be his finest year so far, you can see it bubbling.

 

[kingbrooks]

Speed is important. Several times this year we made breaks and were run down, in situations where to be honest, we probably shouldnt of been. Guys with speed also make more opportunities, as they are given a whole on the outside, and can exploit, as opposed to our wingers who have to cut in, or they will be taken into touch etc.

I think its very important. Its not just about having out and out speedsters, we generally have some of the slowest players in their positions (EG - Nofo would definitely be at the slower end of wingers). Brooks is probably one of the only ones who is in the upper end in his position, as was Teddy and Moses.

 

[colmcd]

This thread can be summed up as "Mahe Fonua" will either be fantastic or not have the speed we need at the edge.

So glad we have those two last cap spots ready….

*the dumb idea* Worst comes to worst, move Brooks to the wing.

 

[macca84]

Brooks' speed is underrated.

He is probably the 4th fastest halfback in the entire comp behind Mbye, Johnson and Pearce

I think he will be our fastest player in 2018

He's faster than Pearce for sure. He'd be closer to Mbye and Johnson if he didn't have a dodgy hammy

 

[Tacky]

I don't think we should worry too much about size. It's their ability we need. If they can do the job in its totality its all I want. Remember TNT? No giant in stature but sure as hell was an effective winger for us.

TNT wasn't short or slow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOTW0QNCqIo

 

[sideline_eye]

I don't think we should worry too much about size. It's their ability we need. If they can do the job in its totality its all I want. Remember TNT? No giant in stature but sure as hell was an effective winger for us.

TNT wasn't short or slow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOTW0QNCqIo

What great memories. Last I heard he was a guard at a NT prison and I don't think he was looked after as well as he should have been by the club after he smashed his ankle and could no longer play. Hopefully, Fonua might be our Tuaki MK.2.

 

[sideline_eye]

I don't think we should worry too much about size. It's their ability we need. If they can do the job in its totality its all I want. Remember TNT? No giant in stature but sure as hell was an effective winger for us.

TNT wasn't short or slow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOTW0QNCqIo

What great memories. Last I heard he was a guard at a NT prison and I don't think he was looked after as well as he should have been by the club after he smashed his ankle and could no longer play. Hopefully, Fonua might be our Tuaki MK.2.

 

[newtiger]

I don't think we should worry too much about size. It's their ability we need. If they can do the job in its totality its all I want. Remember TNT? No giant in stature but sure as hell was an effective winger for us.

TNT wasn't short or slow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOTW0QNCqIo

There is a lot of road kill in that video.

 

[NT_Tiger]

I don't think we should worry too much about size. It's their ability we need. If they can do the job in its totality its all I want. Remember TNT? No giant in stature but sure as hell was an effective winger for us.

TNT wasn't short or slow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOTW0QNCqIo

What great memories. Last I heard he was a guard at a NT prison and I don't think he was looked after as well as he should have been by the club after he smashed his ankle and could no longer play. Hopefully, Fonua might be our Tuaki MK.2.

Yeah, Thanks Tacky, Tuiaki was one of my favourites.
I don't know if you're aware 'sideline' but a lady named Carla did a crowd fund back in 2015 and raised about $16,000 for his ankle surgery. He had the surgery in Sept of that year. I don't know how successful it was.
Cheers

 

[Tim Sheens]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1D7oj_59Qi8

Ben, I can see why everyone says he is very ordinary. Yeah right!!!

We have a good one, you don't forget that stuff, 2018 will be his finest year so far, you can see it bubbling.

Not everyone Russ, mostly just 851 and a few loyal disciples that are missing a coach.

 

[240z]

I don't think we should worry too much about size. It's their ability we need. If they can do the job in its totality its all I want. Remember TNT? No giant in stature but sure as hell was an effective winger for us.

TNT wasn't short or slow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOTW0QNCqIo

Geez I forgot how good this guy was, absolutely terrorised the the opposition

 

[Chipofftheoldblock]

TNT was awesome and could of been a great winger barring injury but on a side note how good did Lawrence look playing inside TNT and moving freely.
Also we really have never got over losing Ellis who was one of the most skillful and hard hitting 2nd rowers to play. Love that guy.

 

[851]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1D7oj_59Qi8

Ben, I can see why everyone says he is very ordinary. Yeah right!!!

We have a good one, you don't forget that stuff, 2018 will be his finest year so far, you can see it bubbling.

Not everyone Russ, mostly just 851 and a few loyal disciples that are missing a coach.

I am not missing a coach I hated JT, Brooks has massively underachieved, I just want him held accountable, is that so wrong to want my team to succeed, and Brooks is currently holding them back with his sub par showings.
I mean a guy who has played 4 full seasons of NRL in the halves and he can't get a repeat set, give me a break, he has had a rails run getting picked every week regardless of form.
He needs a stint in reserve grade to get his game in order, because it sure as hell is not developing in first grade.

 

[Tigerdon]

851\. You are constantly putting all the WestsTigers failures on one individual. Your hate is blinding you as a Rugby League analyst and a WTs analyst.

 

[yeti]

Surely he finds a spot in first grade next year. Was 1st grade material when he went to the UK and looks to still be. Winger or centre he's there

I remember him having a few games when he stood out a bit, but a lot where he was almost invisible.
He want to have improved since then to hold a first grade spot even here.
I don't go much on SL form
But he may be ok
We won't know until the season starts
I think we need someone actually FAST in the backs,
We've lost the only genuine speed merchant that we had, looks like we won't be scoring many long range tries

The Cowboys are doing ok with a backline devoid of speed. Really, there aren't that many tries scored when it's just speed alone that counts.
Nofa has scored tries from our own 22 on several occasions and he is no out and out speedster, but he's quick enough. With Brooks, Tui and Milne (if he makes the firsts), we have reasonable pace without being electric.

I'd still rather have speed than not , any speed we get . We seem to export it to other teams. Then watch it bite us on the bum.

Well of course, so would I, but it is not the be all and end all. You can still have an effective backline without having blistering speed.

 

[yeti]

Yep, the best winger we have had imo

 

[Russell]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1D7oj_59Qi8

Ben, I can see why everyone says he is very ordinary. Yeah right!!!

We have a good one, you don't forget that stuff, 2018 will be his finest year so far, you can see it bubbling.

Not everyone Russ, mostly just 851 and a few loyal disciples that are missing a coach.

I am not missing a coach I hated JT, Brooks has massively underachieved, I just want him held accountable, is that so wrong to want my team to succeed, and Brooks is currently holding them back with his sub par showings.
I mean a guy who has played 4 full seasons of NRL in the halves and he can't get a repeat set, give me a break, he has had a rails run getting picked every week regardless of form.
He needs a stint in reserve grade to get his game in order, because it sure as hell is not developing in first grade.

You need to lighten up on this guy 851, you are all over him like you were with JT.

I don't care how many seasons he has had in the NRL - what great teams he has been playing with as well. Put the the 4 years worth of teams together and you'd be lucky to make the eight. He is 22 and now finally may be able to play with a half decent team, play with a decent 5/8, play with some forwards going forward and under a decent coach. Most halves only start to come good at his age so I wouldn't be too hard on him.

Cleary (19), Taylor (22), Reynolds (27), Townsend (26) etc. have all been rocks and diamonds over the past few years but they were stuck with. I wouldn't judge him too harshly until the end of this season.

Please tell me 851 what he is going to learn in reserve grade and from whom? He only learns to improve his short kicking game immediately and I would think that he will learn that in spades during the off season.

You are going to say "I have given him a go", I can feel it in my water. That is just like giving a diver a go at 1,000 metres without an oxygen tank. Give him room to breathe, mate Lol.

 

[greatodensraven]

Is Mahe playing HB for us next year?

 

[swag_tiger]

Is Mahe playing HB for us next year?

Wing or center.

 

[Geo]

Is Mahe playing HB for us next year?

I was just thinking maybe Mahe could get us a few.repeat sets. next year….

Brooks did achieve 18 in 2017 as well as 8 Tries off his boot....I guess he needs to ramp that up by X 10...Yep 180 repeat sets and 80 Tries sounds about par....