Utai...one lucky guy!!!

[underdog]

I have been thinking about the selection of Utai for RD1 and the more I think about it the harder I find it to reconcile the decision. How would Mitch Brown or Geoff Daniella feel?..Both these players had outstanding form during 2010 yet they find themselves below Utai in 2011 and playing BRET..they have every right to feel pi**ed off. They must be asking themselves a few questions…It seems Sheens has a belief that when the club recruits an old player to fill a void these players must have a stand up start ahead of guys who have proven themselves....Remember Jason Moodie's comeback?....what a flop, and last year we had Fitzy...who also flopped and took the position of an up and comer...Utai's role should be to play BRET and only get a run in the top grade if there are injuries...Brown, Daniella and Ratu are far better players than Utai yet they find themselves below him in the pecking order....go figure??...at the end of the day it wont matter if we keep winning...but I sure hope these gets get a look in some time down the track!...Yep Utai is one lucky Guy in my opinion!

He's worked for this all off season….nothing lucky about it at all, give yasself an uppercut

Not to mention he did it WITHOUT a contract - effectively he did it for free, and earned the meagre second tier contract he is on….

 

[LukeH]

I'm for giving him a chance. He might surprise us all, and the tigers have all looked at him during the offseason so there would be no fluke in his selection. Let's not crucify him until we've seen him play a game or two in our colours.

 

[Marshall_magic]

I haven't seen the guy play for a few years now, I'd probably have to go back to about 2008 for that. I'd have to go back much further to remember the last time I saw him have a good game. Hope he goes well, but not very confident about it.

 

[Centaur]

Utai will do the dirty work and run the ball up like a truck - if anyone remembers, this is something we expected from Tuiaki.

I don't have a huge issue with his selection at present.

 

[Illek]

Im a little bit more inclined to feel this way about Mckinnon. Whilst in his prime a fantastic player, his body now days doesn't seem to handle it anymore, and brown did a good job deputising in his abscence. Hopefully his injury run ends and he refinds his old form, but I'd have prefered him tested in a few state cup games first, but I'm not the coach.

Utai I haven't seen play in a few years so I wont judge. Good luck buddy

 

[Demps]

All I gotta say is…
Expect changes for round 2

 

[Year_of_the_Tiger]

When your last highlight reel on You Tube is from 2003 you have to worry. Didn't he play in Aus till 2008? Much rather see Brown there

 

[Jux]

When your last highlight reel on You Tube is from 2003 you have to worry. Didn't he play in Aus till 2008? Much rather see Brown there

I think Goodwin (or Turner) might agree with you. 😛ray:

 

[Fraze23]

I'm not prepared to crucify anyone based on trial form or games from 5 years ago.
Its a new season and a clean slate for all.
I agree i am a little concerned about Utai under the highball, but having not seen him play im reserving judgement until 9.00 monday night.
Sheens is no mug and wouldnt of selected a player who isnt capable of playing fg

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

I'm not prepared to crucify anyone based on trial form or games from 5 years ago.
Its a new season and a clean slate for all.
I agree i am a little concerned about Utai under the highball, but having not seen him play im reserving judgement until 9.00 monday night.
**Sheens is no mug and wouldnt of selected a player who isnt capable of playing fg**

You've left yourself wide open there Fraze…

 

[Fraze23]

I'm not prepared to crucify anyone based on trial form or games from 5 years ago.
Its a new season and a clean slate for all.
I agree i am a little concerned about Utai under the highball, but having not seen him play im reserving judgement until 9.00 monday night.
**Sheens is no mug and wouldnt of selected a player who isnt capable of playing fg**

You've left yourself wide open there Fraze…

Yeah i realise that and did think about it bogan, but at the times where below average players were selected we didnt really have anyone of a better quality to replace them.
We've never had this amount of depth. Like when Saleh, Moodie etc were all playing we didnt have players of the quality of Brown, Daniela and Latu in the reserves. IfSheens didnt think Utai was up to it he would of gone with Brown, Latu or Daniela at this stage im prepared to trust his judgement.

 

[Yossarian]

I have been thinking about the selection of Utai for RD1 and the more I think about it the harder I find it to reconcile the decision. How would Mitch Brown or Geoff Daniella feel?..Both these players had outstanding form during 2010 yet they find themselves below Utai in 2011 and playing BRET..they have every right to feel pi**ed off. They must be asking themselves a few questions…It seems Sheens has a belief that when the club recruits an old player to fill a void these players must have a stand up start ahead of guys who have proven themselves....Remember Jason Moodie's comeback?....what a flop, and last year we had Fitzy...who also flopped and took the position of an up and comer...Utai's role should be to play BRET and only get a run in the top grade if there are injuries...Brown, Daniella and Ratu are far better players than Utai yet they find themselves below him in the pecking order....go figure??...at the end of the day it wont matter if we keep winning...but I sure hope these gets get a look in some time down the track!...Yep Utai is one lucky Guy in my opinion!

He's worked for this all off season….nothing lucky about it at all, give yasself an uppercut

Yep. A lot (well probably all) of the people bagging him don't see the work he must be puting in at training to impress Sheens. There were reasons why he fell out of favour at the Dogs (they had some excellent wingers and Utai was injured). Maybe he'll be a dud but I'll take a look first.

I'm betting he'll be one of our leaders in metres gained.

 

[system]

You make your own luck

 

[guesty123]

i think of it as this way, mitch brown came to the club as a washed up sharks player and tigers took him on board and taught him the ways, same with daniella from penrith.

i see it as a good opportunity for the tigers to develop an excellent winger that was one of the best bulldogs in the premiership side. Talent doesnt disappear, it is still there just needs to be brung out again and by starting him this weekend it gives him the feel for nrl again

Yes i am aware that tigers have also failed to revive dead players: fitzy, cayless, topou to name a few but its worth a shot

 

[clontarfkid]

Brown performed well all last season,& did everything asked of him,& finds himself in the state cup because a 30yo who hasnt performed in several years has become the coaches new " pet project".
Utai should do what just about every other team would have done & earnt his position thru the State Cup,showing that he has overcome his injuries,& at the same time demonstrating he can finally catch a high ball.
Too right he's one lucky guy

 

[underdog]

Brown performed well all last season,& did everything asked of him,& finds himself in the state cup because a 30yo who hasnt performed in several years has become the coaches new " pet project".
Utai should do what just about every other team would have done & earnt his position thru the State Cup,showing that he has overcome his injuries,& at the same time demonstrating he can finally catch a high ball.
Too right he's one lucky guy

He didn't earn his position?
:crazy

Let me sum up the position of said "Too right he's one lucky guy" ok?

_"Hi, I'm Matt Utai.\
\
I used to be a great winger, and want to prove myself again as an asset to your team.\
\
Let me train on with the squad over summer, work my ass off, and prove to you that I can be a value addition to your team.\
\
By the way, DONT pay me any money, let me prove it to you that I can still go, and am willing to work hard, and then and ONLY then, offer me a 2nd tier contract, which entitles me to BUGGER ALL unless I actually get a run. I feel that being scrutinized by a fitness nazi like Steve Folkes and one of the best coaches in the game Tim Sheens will only make me hungrier to get out on the paddock, and play to the best of my abilities."_

Lucky my ass. He did work hard to get back in the team, now all he has to do is put it together on game day.

 

[Geo]

Brown performed well all last season,& did everything asked of him,& finds himself in the state cup because a 30yo who hasnt performed in several years has become the coaches new " pet project".
Utai should do what just about every other team would have done & earnt his position thru the State Cup,showing that he has overcome his injuries,& at the same time demonstrating he can finally catch a high ball.
Too right he's one lucky guy

He didn't earn his position?
:crazy

Let me sum up the position of said "Too right he's one lucky guy" ok?

_"Hi, I'm Matt Utai.\
\
I used to be a great winger, and want to prove myself again as an asset to your team.\
\
Let me train on with the squad over summer, work my ass off, and prove to you that I can be a value addition to your team.\
\
By the way, DONT pay me any money, let me prove it to you that I can still go, and am willing to work hard, and then and ONLY then, offer me a 2nd tier contract, which entitles me to BUGGER ALL unless I actually get a run. I feel that being scrutinized by a fitness nazi like Steve Folkes and one of the best coaches in the game Tim Sheens will only make me hungrier to get out on the paddock, and play to the best of my abilities."_

Lucky my ass. He did work hard to get back in the team, now all he has to do is put it together on game day.

Excellent post…..to suggest ant FG is lucky is well... :crazy

 

[alexaki]

Brown performed well all last season,& did everything asked of him,& finds himself in the state cup because a 30yo who hasnt performed in several years has become the coaches new " pet project".
Utai should do what just about every other team would have done & earnt his position thru the State Cup,showing that he has overcome his injuries,& at the same time demonstrating he can finally catch a high ball.
Too right he's one lucky guy

He didn't earn his position?
:crazy

Let me sum up the position of said "Too right he's one lucky guy" ok?

_"Hi, I'm Matt Utai.\
\
I used to be a great winger, and want to prove myself again as an asset to your team.\
\
Let me train on with the squad over summer, work my ass off, and prove to you that I can be a value addition to your team.\
\
By the way, DONT pay me any money, let me prove it to you that I can still go, and am willing to work hard, and then and ONLY then, offer me a 2nd tier contract, which entitles me to BUGGER ALL unless I actually get a run. I feel that being scrutinized by a fitness nazi like Steve Folkes and one of the best coaches in the game Tim Sheens will only make me hungrier to get out on the paddock, and play to the best of my abilities."_

**_Lucky my ass. He did work hard to get back in the team, now all he has to do is put it together on game day._**

Excellent post…..to suggest ant FG is lucky is well... :crazy

All shall be revealed on Monday night…!!

 

[boonboon]

Whatever happens on Monday night - Matt Utai was good in the trials -worked hard played hard, he has obviously trained his but off over summer as well. He is uninjured and not coming back from an injury - Brown has been injured and may not be up to first grade this week coming back from an injury . Also Utai against his old team is sure to play at his hardest. He got picked because he deserves too and if he goes well Monday night he will deserve to keep it, if he doesen't then someone else needs too

 

[underdog]

Yes, anyone in first grade, particularly under the tutelage of sheens and folkes would have earned their stripes to be there.

and yes, all will be revealed monday night…. I just HATE the fact its the last game of the round.....