Tino Tavana #305

Great news on the signing, Tino is a gun and he's only going to better with more game time in the NRL squad.

I reckon Tino would be a great back up for Bula as fullback. He has all the skills and that AFL airial antics under the high ball.

If Bula does go, Tino would certainly be a better option at fullback than Heath Mason.
 
Lestronge said:
Why do you have to have a reserve hooker because the other team does . The reason the other team is , because neither are up to 80 mins. We have rested api already this year , he’s had a bye week and played 2 full games . He would be nowhere near maxing out . By the middle of the year if we don’t give him periodic rests sure . But the club would have all the data on where he’s at , and if his fitness performance has dropped . I think I read that he has achieved PBs all summer in fitness , so fitness I don’t think will be an issue
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Just the injury toil on his body.
Yes he can take the tackles. But seriously hooker is a blender and to keep pumping him like we do is risking it.

It's one of the most physically tough positions and we are really working him.
 
Dr_Ice said:
Tino’s stengths are Luke’s weaknesses and vice versa. A combined player would be unstoppable
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Can we coach Luke L's strengths into Tino?

I am 100% sure we cannot coach Tino's Height into Laulili. nor can Mal.


it's a shame to leave Skelton hanging. Superleague may not be the worst place to be as a 28 year old NRL level winger.
 
crazycat said:
Can we coach Luke L's strengths into Tino?

I am 100% sure we cannot coach Tino's Height into Laulili. nor can Mal.


it's a shame to leave Skelton hanging. Superleague may not be the worst place to be as a 28 year old NRL level winger.
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He’s got rocks in his head at times . You want him to take chances sure , but at 28 his feel for the game should be better and his timing should be on point . It just simply isn’t . We are talking purely defence here .
There’s nothing worse than working your are off in the middle of the field , for your winger to be making such really bad decisions out wide . Everyone makes mistakes , sure , but some of them are the non negotiables . Which is why he keeps getting dropped .
 
pawsandclaws1 said:
Skelton with his size and relatively modest contract is valuable depth. With the expansion teams he is going to be a target unfortunately.
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I’m not going to lose sleep either way if he extends a year on $280k or they cut him loose ..I’ve got him as fourth choice winger next year behind the two playing this weekend …and Tavana…so I don’t really expect we will be seeing a lot of him..hopefully the others in front of him remain injury free
 
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Tom Shines said:
I’m not going to lose sleep either way if he extends a year on $280k or they cut him loose ..I’ve got him as fourth choice winger next year behind the two playing this weekend …and Tavana…so I don’t really expect we will be seeing a lot of him..hopefully the others in front of him remain injury free
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Considering Skelton looks bigger every season he could be the kind of back that transitions to the 2nd row, not lightning fast for a winger either.
 
Rock Hopper Steve said:
Considering Skelton looks bigger every season he could be the kind of back that transitions to the 2nd row, not lightning fast for a winger either.
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Unfortunately Skelton does not have the cardio tank & effort areas required by today's backrowers. Maybe as an impact backrower but most bench impact forwards in today's game have to be versatile enough to play middle & backrow.
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
Unfortunately Skelton does not have the cardio tank & effort areas required by today's backrowers. Maybe as an impact backrower but most bench impact forwards in today's game have to be versatile enough to play middle & backrow.
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pawsandclaws1 said:
Players such as Skelton will be playing NRL for one of the expansion teams.
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Well B, it looks like Paws could be right a move out of the state could be his go, if he keeps getting bigger and slower there is better options and that's not including what youngsters spring out of the juniors, not fussed if he moves on.
 
Rock Hopper Steve said:
Well B, it looks like Paws could be right a move out of the state could be his go, if he keeps getting bigger and slower there is better options and that's not including what youngsters spring out of the juniors, not fussed if he moves on.
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Could see Storm or Dolphins (his family is in Brisbane) going for him.
 
Lestronge said:
He’s got rocks in his head at times . You want him to take chances sure , but at 28 his feel for the game should be better and his timing should be on point . It just simply isn’t . We are talking purely defence here .
There’s nothing worse than working your are off in the middle of the field , for your winger to be making such really bad decisions out wide . Everyone makes mistakes , sure , but some of them are the non negotiables . Which is why he keeps getting dropped .
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Yea, look I agree...

But lets be honest:
Nofo
Tupou
A bunch of no names.
Starford Toa (when he has been on the wing)

All were COMPLETELY HOPELESS in defense on the wing.
Completely Hopeless. Yes we can fault Skelton, but our Center/wing defense has improved out of sight in 2025/2026. Skelton is better then all of the above on wing defense, including To'a.

I can't express how much Turuva and Skelton have upgraded our backline. Had we had a real forward pack in 2025 and not just Terrell May we would have made the 8. I can't express how much upgrading our defense, and particularly our backline defense has helped our team and Skelton is a part of that.

That said, maybe Skelton isn't good enough.. But he is a 7/10 when we have had so many 2/10 defensive wingers.
 
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