Solomona Faataape #276

[balmain boy]

Despite not having the ideal stature or elite speed for an NRL centre, Faatape does genuinely rip in and give his best.
If he is to fit in our top 30 moving forward we would ideally need to see a break out game where he dominates the opposition real soon, hopefully this Friday night against the Sharks.
Also going off King Sirro’s theory, would it be possible for Faatape to become more versatile to make himself an option as a valuable bench utility who can cover the backs as well as dummy half or back row ?

'Trying hard' is not sufficient for a top 30 spot. It should be a given for all players. Sol is not up to NRL standard. Simple as that.
If he's happy to stay on a train and trial for next season ok. But even then he doesn't get in the way of Makasini or Large etc as they're coming through

 

[Buttface]

'Trying hard' is not sufficient for a top 30 spot. It should be a given for all players. Sol is not up to NRL standard. Simple as that.
If he's happy to stay on a train and trial for next season ok. But even then he didn't get in the way of Makasini or Large etc as they're coming through

Yep. He has a go and for this year we have to make do with what we have. But I can’t see him getting that much better than a solid fill in for an NRL player, we need better. I would love it if he proved me wrong.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Is Faataape in the Top 30? He is a low cost option with plenty of upside. I doubt he would be at the club without Richardson's knowledge. Richardson would know a good footballer, better than most of us on this forum. Faataape is not the issue; the issue is we have players on much larger contracts with inconsistent performances.

 

[Buttface]

Is Faataape in the Top 30? He is a low cost option with plenty of upside. I doubt he would be at the club without Richardson's knowledge. Richardson would know a good footballer, better than most of us on this forum. Faataape is not the issue; the issue is we have players on much larger contracts with inconsistent performances.

Yeah I’d be happy to keep him on min or T and T but we need the spots too.
I’m sure the Tigers know how to build a roster though.

 

[Tom Shines]

Is Faataape in the Top 30?

No

 

[Buttface]

Is Faataape in the Top 30? He is a low cost option with plenty of upside. I doubt he would be at the club without Richardson's knowledge. Richardson would know a good footballer, better than most of us on this forum. Faataape is not the issue; the issue is we have players on much larger contracts with inconsistent performances.

He’s got a few covered when it comes to value for money. I would prefer to move on others.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Yeah I’d be happy to keep him on min or T and T but we need the spots too.
I’m sure the Tigers know how to build a roster though.

There are other players in the backline (I don't include Staines in this comment) that have difficulty with consistency and ideally should be moved on. I am sure the club is working hard to rectify the issue.

 

[king_sirro]

'Trying hard' is not sufficient for a top 30 spot. It should be a given for all players. Sol is not up to NRL standard. Simple as that.
If he's happy to stay on a train and trial for next season ok. But even then he didn't get in the way of Makasini or Large etc as they're coming through

There isn't a club in the NRL who have 30 players that are proven NRL standard. Your expectations in filling out the squad are too high. The key is making sure someone like Faataape doesn't use a spot best utilised elsewhere. I guess thats the balancing act they are going through ATM by trying to offload Naden.

 

[balmain boy]

He’s got a few covered when it comes to value for money. I would prefer to move on others.

Value for money isn't our issue. We have money to burn. We need quality first graders, players with pace as a minimum, and preferably with decent size and power too.

 

[balmain boy]

There isn't a club in the NRL who have 30 players that are proven NRL standard. Your expectations in filling out the squad are too high. The key is making sure someone like Faataape doesn't use a spot best utilised elsewhere. I guess thats the balancing act they are going through ATM by trying to offload Naden.

Of course not. But we already have taken gambles on a heap of young players in our top 30, that means that we consequently do not have any space left to take a gamble on Sol. If we had game breaking Origin players in our backline then sure a solid cup player being a backup would be fine. But we have no game breakers, no X factor. And therefore simply do not have room for plodders.

 

[balmain boy]

Is Faataape in the Top 30? He is a low cost option with plenty of upside. I doubt he would be at the club without Richardson's knowledge. Richardson would know a good footballer, better than most of us on this forum. Faataape is not the issue; the issue is we have players on much larger contracts with inconsistent performances.

What upside? Other than being dirt cheap?
He's small, slow, not overly evasive, has poor defence and struggles to make any metres.

Sure if we replaced Toa, Naden and Staines with game-breaking elite players, and then had Feledy and Laulilii as a young prospects then maybe, and only then, might there be a spot for him at 30. But even then given his limited potential his spot would still likely go to someone like Makasini or Willet

 

[pawsandclaws1]

What upside? Other than being dirt cheap?
He's small, slow, not overly evasive, has poor defence and struggles to make any metres.

Sure if we replaced Toa, Naden and Staines with game-breaking elite players, and then had Feledy and Laulilii as a young prospects then maybe, and only then, might there be a spot for him at 30. But even then given his limited potential his spot would still likely go to someone like Makasini or Willet

I must have been watching a different game against the Raiders. Towards the end of the game he demonstrated good evasion in traffic with stepping, strength to hold off defenders and it looks as though he is one of those players who gathers pace in this manner. Ideally his position is centre with a faster winger outside of him.

Staines to me is an NRL player - fullback or wing. Turuva can cover centre, wing and fullback

 

[The Chad]

I think the 3/4er's are pretty much set for next season

Staines
Doueihi
Olam
Turuva

Lualili'i
Faataape
To'a
Lobb
Feledy
Mason
Saukuru


Coming through:
Makasini
Willett

You move on Naden & Alaimalo.

If Faataape is the 6th or 7th man off the production line to fill in in 1st grade, he's a good value player.

 

[BAGNF05]

Yep. He has a go and for this year we have to make do with what we have. But I can’t see him getting that much better than a solid fill in for an NRL player, we need better. I would love it if he proved me wrong.

He threw a great flick pass in a trial game and haven’t seen any x-factor from him since. We have too many backs who offer not much.

 

[batboy]

There isn't a club in the NRL who have 30 players that are proven NRL standard. Your expectations in filling out the squad are too high. The key is making sure someone like Faataape doesn't use a spot best utilised elsewhere. I guess thats the balancing act they are going through ATM by trying to offload Naden.

There's no other club that would consider Faatape over Naden....
- As bad as Naden can be, He's still a better Player than Faatape.

 

[king_sirro]

There's no other club that would consider Faatape over Naden....
- As bad as Naden can be, He's still a better Player than Faatape.

I completely disagree. A young solid player with minimum errors, will improve and at minimum cost, verse an old player on the decline who has continuous brain snaps with both discipline and simply stupid play at twice the cost. Any club with half a brain picks Faataape.

 

[Winston Churchill]

Offers nothing but a back up to Toa who is a back up for Olam or Doohey. 2nd or 3rd string replacement for centre is where he sits. Bit of first grade experience with a lot of reggie experience is all you can ask for. Tigers need a better 2nd tier playing group which has lead to a culture of zero accountability for the weekly starters. Positive move. Solid fill in for a week here and there is his best position.

 

[batboy]

I completely disagree. A young solid player with minimum errors, will improve and at minimum cost, verse an old player on the decline who has continuous brain snaps with both discipline and simply stupid play at twice the cost. Any club with half a brain picks Faataape.

You didn't really respond to what I actually said, More replied with your opinion.

24 in a few months isn't young for an NRL outside back.

There's plenty of Clubs with 'half a brain' and the only one to field Faatape is the one that's
come last 2 years running - Looking solid for 3.
Faatape doesn't even stand out in 2nds....
As bad as Naden is, He's single handedly won games out of position at that level.
I don't see any real upside to Faatape outside the 'hope' displayed here...
Not Dynamic, Quick or Big... No X-factor... Can make a few dirty meters, Could maybe hide him in a class team - But WT's isn't a class team.

At this point, We're not looking to carry either next year, And if recent history is anything to go on - I think any spare spots in the OB's will be going to the likes of Willett and the young centre.

 

[Vicious]

I think the 3/4er's are pretty much set for next season

Staines
Doueihi
Olam
Turuva

Lualili'i
Faataape
To'a
Lobb
Feledy
Mason
Saukuru


Coming through:
Makasini
Willett

You move on Naden & Alaimalo.

If Faataape is the 6th or 7th man off the production line to fill in in 1st grade, he's a good value player.

I’m not even confident of winning a NSW Cup game with those players, we need at least 1 or 2 better quality outside backs.

 

[king_sirro]

You didn't really respond to what I actually said, More replied with your opinion.

24 in a few months isn't young for an NRL outside back.

There's plenty of Clubs with 'half a brain' and the only one to field Faatape is the one that's
come last 2 years running - Looking solid for 3.
Faatape doesn't even stand out in 2nds....
As bad as Naden is, He's single handedly won games out of position at that level.
I don't see any real upside to Faatape outside the 'hope' displayed here...
Not Dynamic, Quick or Big... No X-factor... Can make a few dirty meters, Could maybe hide him in a class team - But WT's isn't a class team.

At this point, We're not looking to carry either next year, And if recent history is anything to go on - I think any spare spots in the OB's will be going to the likes of Willett and the young centre.

How didn't I reply to what you said?

We will disagree on this one mate. Agree Naden can do good things that Faataape can't yet, but that doesn't mean he is a better player overall as a back up. IMO, I like knowing what I'm going to get from my backup. Solid, reliable and good attitude. So for that reason I'd take Faataape any day over that imbecile Naden.