Rua Ngatikaura

TCL said:
Good luck to him. He looked good in the trial, it’s the only time I’ve seen him play.

hope he turns out to be as good as the Cheese. Babybel that’s a crack up!
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Hope he turns out to be a chip off the old block of cheese on field and infinitely smarter off it.

Really like what I have seen of him but I really hope that people don't have too many unreasonable expectations of him.
 
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pawsandclaws1 said:
He has Liddle and Simpkin in front of him and what has been posted is they are contracted until 2023 and 2024 respectively. I have also read that Simpkin is actually younger than him so that is a good indication of Simpkin's ability.
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It depends on the future outlook for him.
I will be very surprised if we carry Api, Liddle and Simpkin into next year, if all are fit no chance one becomes a NSW Cup bench warmer. Simpkins is very highly rated at the club.
Pending injuries I can see Rua will play more at lock for the rest of the year, start getting moulded into a playing mould like how Sheens used Halatau.
 
Mighty_Tiger said:
This is my biggest worry. I actually think he is struggling this year with NSW Cup atm.

He absolutely has potential but my observation is his body is struggling with endurance & body contact of NSW Cup. NRL level it's miles faster and tougher.

I think alot of people are desperate for some positive this year and are banking his 10mins of trial form as cool lets go.
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A lot to work on hey, But looks promising.

There is a lot of talent that is coming through, if developed and invested in correctly can really pay off for us.

We will see.
 
Mighty_Tiger said:
This is my biggest worry. I actually think he is struggling this year with NSW Cup atm.

He absolutely has potential but my observation is his body is struggling with endurance & body contact of NSW Cup. NRL level it's miles faster and tougher.

I think alot of people are desperate for some positive this year and are banking his 10mins of trial form as cool lets go.
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Don't know what affect this signing will have on our current two hookers, especially knowing Api arrives in 2024. I have a feeling that they may have already factored this into their future.
 
Another raw talent. It's nice that we're giving our youth opportunities, but as we have seen from this year, it leaves our first grade squad looking thin in the case of injuries. E.g. this year we have Simpkins, Kei, and Tupou who all offer nothing to first grade at this point in time.
 
cqtiger said:
You want 4 hookers?
If you actually read my post I said it looks like Liddle is gone next year
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As @GNR4LIFE said, he is contracted for next year.

So is Jake Simpkin.

Definitely feels like some movement will be on the cards.
Hopefully we come out on top though, $$$
 
Demps said:
As @GNR4LIFE said, he is contracted for next year.

So is Jake Simpkin.

Definitely feels like some movement will be on the cards.
Hopefully we come out on top though, $$$
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Contracts mean nothing mate , would you blame Simpkin for wanting out when last year he couldn’t get a run cause Madge wanted Moses and now this year it’s Peachy and too top it of we have API next year , as well as the Rua signing what a shit show
 
barnzee said:
Contracts mean nothing mate , would you blame Simpkin for wanting out when last year he couldn’t get a run cause Madge wanted Moses and now this year it’s Peachy and too top it of we have API next year , as well as the Rua signing what a shit show
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I hear you.

Good luck to Jake and Jacob.
 
Looking at our former players I'd say Rua is part Senter, part Halatau. Not a bad combo.

It's just a shame he's missed 30 odd games over the past few years. But he's not alone there. All talented kids are behind where they should be. Just the world we live, going from a schoolboy and missing the week in week out grind of training and matches makes a big difference.

He was one of the best players in Flegg over recent years. Opposing fans were asking who he was. He's not an unknown, he's been earmarked for first grade for years, and congrats to him for making the squad
 
barnzee said:
Contracts mean nothing mate , would you blame Simpkin for wanting out when last year he couldn’t get a run cause Madge wanted Moses and now this year it’s Peachy and too top it of we have API next year , as well as the Rua signing what a shit show
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Simpkin has barely proven he’s up to first grade so he doesn’t much bargaining power.
 
sly said:
100% demps, we didn’t want him, he was told by us he wouldn’t make it because he was too small. Balmain boy is correct though, not many little guys make to the top.
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That's incorrect.

We did want him, parra made the too small comment and everyone thinks it's us because we were the last club to have him before Melbourne.

When he was a junior We offered him more money then Melbourne but decided Melbourne to develop his game.

Melbourne developed him from there. Slater retired and They had a decision to make who the next fullback would be out of Hughes, drinkwater and papz.

Hughes ended up being a good 7, drinkwater can't defend and papz got the job.
 
Think he got injured yesterday. He came off about 10 minutes into the second half and not sure if he came back on. Played okay in first half.
 
GNR4LIFE said:
If Simpkin and Liddle are still here you can see us becoming a punchline. More hookers than Canterbury Road.
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Everyone who's anyone will tell you that you need 3 Hookers in a squad
- At least 2 specialist and 1 utility....
Just look at how no back up Hooker went for Parra last year...
First up in the off-season, they bought a back up hooker.

We're not that overstocked, especially considering Simpkins age...
Saying that, I can see one dropping out before next year.
Hopefully we get a good deal for whoever that is....
 
What's everyone's gut feeling though ?

Obviously Api is first choice.
Rua is locked in may be a bench option but that's probably all for now.

What do you think will happen with Jacob Liddle and Jake Simpkin?

Peachy and Hastings can play the utility / hooker role if needed.

Thoughts?
 
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