OFFICIAL Solomone Saukuru #313

[innsaneink]

I hope the new D coach has some miracles in him...
The gulf between his attack and defense is immense
He looks.very difficult to handle with the ball

 

[magpies forever]

What more is there to say? His defensive flaws are well known and obvious. Its up to Saukuru and the club to work extensively on fixing it as quickly as possible if he wants to make a career out of the game. On the offense he is good, its just fixing the bad defense. Easy to say but it requires effort, commitment and training.

 

[tiges69]

Chris Lawrence was also fairly poor early in the centres and he improved with the right coaching (until his devastating injury) and ended up being a decent 2nd row forward.With the right coaching Saukuru could be an asset.
I hate seeing young blokes be discarded because they are not an instant success,we do it as a club far too often.

Difference with Chris Lawrence was mainly his technique he never shyed away but was not making his tackles because he was being bumped off. After that correction he became a very good defender. Solo , on the other hand just doesn't put his body in front.

 

[balmain boy]

Not to this point. It has to from this point forward with a new Pathways Coaching Director & Asst Coach (Defence).

Saukuru’s weakness is glaringly obvious. If he isn’t given specific coaching in this area, I would be a combination of gobsmacked, disappointed & angry.

Who are we going to hire who can help train him? Our coaches are currently D league standard.

 

[balmain boy]

Agree
If Saukuru and Makasini are going to be centre’s for our future they should be working on their defence 💯 and applying their trade in ressies until they are anywhere near NRL level.
Because IMO they are no where near that from what I have seen from both of them.

They're both wingers, not centres

 

[balmain boy]

For the record Marky Mark and Dom young can't tackle either but both still have good careers.

 

[Bellend]

A Sand box and a tackling coach is what Solo and a lot of West Tiger players need.

 

[Spartan117]

Agree
If Saukuru and Makasini are going to be centre’s for our future they should be working on their defence 💯 and applying their trade in ressies until they are anywhere near NRL level.
Because IMO they are no where near that from what I have seen from both of them.

Makasini is 19 Solaukuru is 24.

 

[Telltails]

Makasini is 19 Solaukuru is 24.

Saukura is 22 next week according to West's Tigers player profiles

 

[westtigers]

Who are we going to hire who can help train him? Our coaches are currently D league standard.

greg inglis

 

[orange&black]

Even if he had the necessary characteristics, ability and athleticism, any improvement would have to start with a change in attitude. The best centres WANT to tackle, they WANT to make a statement with their D. They WANT to dominate their opponent. They are very aggressive in defence.
Solo does not look at all like he wants any part of this, more like he avoids it.

 

[Tiger Stripes]

For the record Marky Mark and Dom young can't tackle either but both still have good careers.

Saukuru and Makasini are much slower than those two and that will never change. They will never run 90m for a try.
Not a good comparison.

 

[fjdiehard]

Agree
If Saukuru and Makasini are going to be centre’s for our future they should be working on their defence 💯 and applying their trade in ressies until they are anywhere near NRL level.
Because IMO they are no where near that from what I have seen from both of them.

Great challenge for them

 

[Tiger Stripes]

Even if he had the necessary characteristics, ability and athleticism, any improvement would have to start with a change in attitude. The best centres WANT to tackle, they WANT to make a statement with their D. They WANT to dominate their opponent. They are very aggressive in defence.
Solo does not look at all like he wants any part of this, more like he avoids it.

Saukuru just looks like he is disinterested in D.
His mind seems to be elsewhere. Not alert to any upcoming threats. Slow to react when the penny drops. No communication between his partners? Not sure what's going on in his mind. Wake up!
Hope they can get this out of his game because there is a good centre hiding there somewhere.
Needs one on one coaching and explain to him his future pay packet is depending on it.