Stefano Utoikamanu and Thomas Mikaele

[coivtny]

Mikaele reportedly is being chased by two other clubs for good reason. This needs to get sorted.

I have a very strong feeling we will lose him. That seems to be our recruitment / retention scorecard at the moment. We:
a) can't sign the players we want if other clubs want them (e.g Latrell)
b) don't retain the players we want to keep (e.g Tedesco)
c) can't get rid of the players we don't want (e.g Mbye).
Our junior recruitment seems OK but we don't really know if it's any better than other clubs. We only know it's better than it was.

 

[AnonTiger]

Mikaele reportedly is being chased by two other clubs for good reason. This needs to get sorted.

I have a very strong feeling we will lose him. That seems to be our recruitment / retention scorecard at the moment. We:
a) can't sign the players we want if other clubs want them (e.g Latrell)
b) don't retain the players we want to keep (e.g Tedesco)
c) can't get rid of the players we don't want (e.g Mbye).
Our junior recruitment seems OK but we don't really know if it's any better than other clubs. We only know it's better than it was.

We are undefeated in the Flegg (21s), of course we know our junior recruitment has been excellent and is better then other clubs.

 

[Telltails]

Mikaele reportedly is being chased by two other clubs for good reason. This needs to get sorted.

I have a very strong feeling we will lose him. That seems to be our recruitment / retention scorecard at the moment. We:
a) can't sign the players we want if other clubs want them (e.g Latrell)
b) don't retain the players we want to keep (e.g Tedesco)
c) can't get rid of the players we don't want (e.g Mbye).
Our junior recruitment seems OK but we don't really know if it's any better than other clubs. We only know it's better than it was.

Just hoping he sees a future with Stef. Not being able to attract players is one thing but if you can't retain the ones you want that is a much bigger issue especially when there is a clear lack of talent right across the competition.

 

[rihannafan1]

But will we keep half of those Flegg boys? Word is that a few of them have signed elsewhere and the club communication with them has been poor.

And now we've missed out on every player in Australia our only path is truly to keep our own like Mikaele, Luciano and Seyfarth who are all off contract.

 

[hodgo]

Hmm interesting how one good game turns our views on some forwards. Stefano will be something but it depends how much people are willing to pay in regards to mikaele. I think this has been toms best year, however he literally lasts 15 minutes then he is gassed, at that time he becomes a fair liability in regards to defense. I think he probably flourishes in a dominant forward pack. Here's hoping he keeps improving fitness-wise with more starts.

 

[AnonTiger]

But will we keep half of those Flegg boys? Word is that a few of them have signed elsewhere and the club communication with them has been poor.

And now we've missed out on every player in Australia our only path is truly to keep our own like Mikaele, Luciano and Seyfarth who are all off contract.

Be extremely disappointing if we lose the top players in the side. With the club unable to recruit any1, clearly they can see the opportunity they are going to get in 1st grade with us compared to other clubs, at least in the early stages of their careers.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

But will we keep half of those Flegg boys? Word is that a few of them have signed elsewhere and the club communication with them has been poor.

And now we've missed out on every player in Australia our only path is truly to keep our own like Mikaele, Luciano and Seyfarth who are all off contract.

Do you know who has signed elsewhere?

I'll be extremely disappointed if it's any of Ogden, Dillon, Scolari, Fautimau, Jordan Hill (wing), Sykes, Mavoni, Pole, O'Kane, Anjoul, Kautoga, Tumeth, Guyan, Matamua, Thomas.

 

[Telltails]

Hmm interesting how one good game turns our views on some forwards. Stefano will be something but it depends how much people are willing to pay in regards to mikaele. I think this has been toms best year, however he literally lasts 15 minutes then he is gassed, at that time he becomes a fair liability in regards to defense. I think he probably flourishes in a dominant forward pack. Here's hoping he keeps improving fitness-wise with more starts.

Plenty of room for growth but you don't let him go for that to happen elsewhere. You want the best out of players long term you have to back them or some other club will.

 

[hodgo]

Hmm interesting how one good game turns our views on some forwards. Stefano will be something but it depends how much people are willing to pay in regards to mikaele. I think this has been toms best year, however he literally lasts 15 minutes then he is gassed, at that time he becomes a fair liability in regards to defense. I think he probably flourishes in a dominant forward pack. Here's hoping he keeps improving fitness-wise with more starts.

Plenty of room for growth but you don't let him go for that to happen elsewhere. You want the best out of players long term you have to back them or some other club will.

Do you back him for a significant price though. Hypothetically let's say someone offers 400k do you match?

If you jag him cheap then sure

 

[earl]

The future of our front row pairing. I've always thought Mikaele had it in him to perform, whilst inconsistent, I've thought he has been very good when starting. The emergence of Stefano is something that I didn't think would come so quickly but he is our best front row prospect I have seen.

Well done young men!

Stefano Yes - still not convinced about Tom

Tom's hands let him down ..he learn's to hang on to the ball and cuts down the silly stuff .....

I'm still not convinced about Mikaele. He has strong runs at times. So does Talau. They also lose us games.

 

[Telltails]

Hmm interesting how one good game turns our views on some forwards. Stefano will be something but it depends how much people are willing to pay in regards to mikaele. I think this has been toms best year, however he literally lasts 15 minutes then he is gassed, at that time he becomes a fair liability in regards to defense. I think he probably flourishes in a dominant forward pack. Here's hoping he keeps improving fitness-wise with more starts.

Plenty of room for growth but you don't let him go for that to happen elsewhere. You want the best out of players long term you have to back them or some other club will.

Do you back him for a significant price though. Hypothetically let's say someone offers 400k do you match?

If you jag him cheap then sure

There always has to be a limit.

 

[TYGA]

I’m my view should be our starting props every week with Ofehengaue at 13.

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

Stefano needs to be signed up long term he is our Payne Hass will be a mainstay in origin for future years, upgrade him now

 

[rihannafan1]

But will we keep half of those Flegg boys? Word is that a few of them have signed elsewhere and the club communication with them has been poor.

And now we've missed out on every player in Australia our only path is truly to keep our own like Mikaele, Luciano and Seyfarth who are all off contract.

Do you know who has signed elsewhere?

I'll be extremely disappointed if it's any of Ogden, Dillon, Scolari, Fautimau, Jordan Hill (wing), Sykes, Mavoni, Pole, O'Kane, Anjoul, Kautoga, Tumeth, Guyan, Matamua, Thomas.

You'd have to skim through the Flegg lists from about Round 8 -15in the Junior Reps. section of this site but one or two people who go to the games have mentioned a few.

Dillon has been linked with other clubs, yep. I believe they said he was gone but we'll see what happens. The others I'm unsure but I'd be surprised if Ogden, Sykes, Mavoni or Pole were as they've all been featured in our KOE Cup. I think Ogden could be a starting centre in a couple of year for us.

 

[facepalmer]

Ogden would be a bolter for starting centre round 1 next year if he has a good off season.

Do we know who our 2022 development players are yet?

I'd be stunned and extremely annoyed if we lost Dillon. It'll be Papenhuyzen all over again. Anyone can see the kid is a first grader.

The star is Tumeth though.

 

[Madge]

I’m my view should be our starting props every week with Ofehengaue at 13.

8 Stefano
9 Liddle
10 Mikaele
11 Blore
12 luciano
13 Ofahengaue

14 Simpkin
15 Amone
16 Twal
17 Tuilagi

 

[facepalmer]

Stefano needs to be signed up long term he is our Payne Hass will be a mainstay in origin for future years, upgrade him now

Agreed. He is very very good. I think Mikaele is also very close to breaking through too. I am surprised he hasn't already. He just needs belief I think. Which is something Uto has plenty of and is the difference between them at present.

I think Seyfarth is still going to be very good also. We have some good in the pack. Upgrading Garner would be just the ticket imo.

 

[facepalmer]

I’m my view should be our starting props every week with Ofehengaue at 13.

8 Stefano
9 Liddle
10 Mikaele
11 Blore
12 luciano
13 Ofahengaue

14 Simpkin
15 Amone
16 Twal
17 Tuilagi

We need a bit more class. TPJ would have been great. Finucane would be great albeit for a different reason. We need a weapon, and we also need a rock solid 80 minute type like Dale. We actually probably need a Finucane more because we do have some strike forwards with Uto, Mikaele, Leilua.

Don't count out Seyfarth. I'd have him in there over Blore, Ofa, Amone and Tuilagi for sure.

 

[Madge]

I’m my view should be our starting props every week with Ofehengaue at 13.

8 Stefano
9 Liddle
10 Mikaele
11 Blore
12 luciano
13 Ofahengaue

14 Simpkin
15 Amone
16 Twal
17 Tuilagi

We need a bit more class. TPJ would have been great. Finucane would be great albeit for a different reason. We need a weapon, and we also need a rock solid 80 minute type like Dale. We actually probably need a Finucane more because we do have some strike forwards with Uto, Mikaele, Leilua.

Don't count out Seyfarth. I'd have him in there over Blore, Ofa, Amone and Tuilagi for sure.

You're right. The problem is we won't get them, we have to continue getting the best out of what we have. Seyfarth is someone who will probably get there, has shown he can. Just not at the moment I don't think. We need power. It was highlighted in the broncos game compared to the others earlier in the year. The likes of Tamou, Twal, Garner and Seyfarth can't all be on at the same time let alone in the same team. Unfortunately the harsh reality of our situation. You did mention two quality players and reality played itself out.

 

[will1999]

These two are our future.

Other teams would already be sniffing around Stef. My Crystal ball has uncle Nick in the frame.

We got him from a top 4 team?