Utai...one lucky guy!!!

[AmericanHistoryX]

i dont think utai will be revealed in one game - he wasnt revealed against the roosters or parra in the trials - what was revealed was that he deserves his spot in first grade so far.

 

[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

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\
\
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

Think the key words here are "USED TO BE"..Jason Cayless "used to be" a great front rower,Tame Tupou used to be a great winger,Jason Moodie etc etc

More relevant,as opposition kicking games evolved over the last decade ,Utais stature & abysmal hands proved such a transparent liability he couldnt make 1sts at the dogs,& these liabilities dont get tested in a couple of trial games.But they will on Monday nite.
Lucky…reckon Mitch Brown,who actually EARNT this position on last seasons form rather than 2005 form,wld reckon he's won the lottery!

 

[westTAHger]

don't be suprised if the opposing coach instruct his team to send alot of high bombs the way of Matt Utai.
this is the only thing that concerns me, that taller players will easily out jump him, regain the ball and score alot.
only time will tell

 

[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\
\
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

Think the key words here are "USED TO BE"..Jason Cayless "used to be" a great front rower,Tame Tupou used to be a great winger,Jason Moodie etc etc

More relevant,as opposition kicking games evolved over the last decade ,Utais stature & abysmal hands proved such a transparent liability he couldnt make 1sts at the dogs,& these liabilities dont get tested in a couple of trial games.But they will on Monday nite.
Lucky…reckon Mitch Brown,who actually EARNT this position on last seasons form rather than 2005 form,wld reckon he's won the lottery!

What's a few nothing trial game form compared to a 13 weeks of solid NRL form?…isn't that what Brown and Utai are being judged on?..**.I still firmly believe Utai is one lucky guy to be in the team.**..I watched the replay of the Semi Final between the Tigers and the Dragons yesterday and Brown had a great game at full back...now Wing is a much easier position to play than fullback!.

**A few other points:**

1) Watching yesterdays 2010 semi final replay against the Dragons there was one passage of play in the 2nd half with the scores tied 12 all with about 15 minutes to go...the Dragons were on their 20 and one of their players didn't even touch the ball in the play the ball and he got away without being penalised!!!!..Penalty to the Tigers right in front and we win the game!!..I couldn't believe it!

2) Last nights Footy show Beau Ryan said he is out for a month due to a groin injury...when questioned where is he going to play when he returns...fatty jokingly suggested it would be state cup..Beau was adamant it would be right wing!.

 

[happy_tiger]

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\
\
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

Think the key words here are "USED TO BE"..Jason Cayless "used to be" a great front rower,Tame Tupou used to be a great winger,Jason Moodie etc etc

More relevant,as opposition kicking games evolved over the last decade ,Utais stature & abysmal hands proved such a transparent liability he couldnt make 1sts at the dogs,& these liabilities dont get tested in a couple of trial games.But they will on Monday nite.
Lucky…reckon Mitch Brown,who actually EARNT this position on last seasons form rather than 2005 form,wld reckon he's won the lottery!

What's a few nothing trial game form compared to a 13 weeks of solid NRL form?…isn't that what Brown and Utai are being judged on?..**.I still firmly believe Utai is one lucky guy to be in the team.**..I watched the replay of the Semi Final between the Tigers and the Dragons yesterday and Brown had a great game at full back...now Wing is a much easier position to play than fullback!.

**A few other points:**

1) Watching yesterdays 2010 semi final replay against the Dragons there was one passage of play in the 2nd half with the scores tied 12 all with about 15 minutes to go...the Dragons were on their 20 and one of their players didn't even touch the ball in the play the ball and he got away without being penalised!!!!..Penalty to the Tigers right in front and we win the game!!..I couldn't believe it!

2) Last nights Footy show Beau Ryan said he is out for a month due to a groin injury...when questioned where is he going to play when he returns...fatty jokingly suggested it would be state cup..Beau was adamant it would be right wing!.

Last time I checked Beau isn't coach But I think he will return to First grade after maybe 1 run in reggies (Depending on how team is going)

 

[travis_bickle]

In my opinion **Mini-tank** is simply too short to be an effective winger in the modern game. There are a huge number of attacking kicks to the flanks and Utai simply won't be able to compete for the high balls. I honestly hope he does well against the dogs and doesn't forget to bring out his step-ladder. :smiley:

 

[W3ST_T1G3R1]

I'm still going to give him a chance in a proper NRL game. I still believe he will fire against the dogs tonight. Lets all hope so anyway.

 

[851]

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.

This about sums it up in my opinion.