Utai - Sensational as always

[IrishTiger]

You guys have picked the wrong game to attack Utai. He was strong in defence, positioned himself well most of the arvo and did a top job to almost score that try.

Crap call that anyone would have scored that try Sirro…he had millimeters to work in and just failed.

If you want to bag someone, Lawry and Aysh were our two worst. They were given a lesson on how to play the position today by two guys who everyone bagged out last week.

Exactly how I saw it.

Completely agree…... Lawrence and Ayshford were outclassed by over the hill has beens

 

[Goose]

As far as im concerned, Utai proved he shouldnt be in the team with the try he bombed.Any other winger in the club would have scored. Brown or Keroibete must come in. We need a finisher, not an extra forward

Agree, he is good at what he does, but most wingers would have finished from there.

 

[shane2801]

I didn't create this thread to smash into every other player but it will just annoy me that it is a known fact that Utail will have to make way for Lote when he is fit. It seems Lote as usual will not have to prove himself. Just like late last year and we all know how that went. Poor…

While its sad to say.. Tuquiri is a name nowadays and his best years are far gone.

 

[stryker]

Lote had an aweful 2011 Shane. Lets give him a little time to show what he has got after these injuries are done. If the form isnt returning I will call for his head with you.

 

[king_sirro]

That actually happened right in front of me and I am pretty sure he put a foot on the line before the tryline, he took the extra steps trying to stabilise himself. There was no room there and he almost pulled it off. I am not going to be critical of that.

For some reason today, the boys were standing dangerously close to the sideline. Remember the first half where Beau was over the line when he caught the ball? Certainly seemed a tactic. Flirting with the line is very risky and we stuffed up a number of times due to it.

Yeh he did put a foot on the line before the tryline but he should have been diving at the open space as that was just metres from the tryline. Your right, it was an odd day for wingers not realising where their sideline is. Vatuvai did the same thing as Beau in the Warriors game.

Ill certainly maintain Utai bombed that try by both lack of pace and decision making, but ill most definately praise the guy for his efforts

 

[underdog]

Totally polarising opinion - which suggest to me Utai had a mixed bag of a game.

Great runs as usual, but found wanting when the bomb went up, and yeah a more agile winger may have ducked back inside and scored that try.

Not bad (Beau crapped on everyone today in terms of a winger masterclass) but not brilliant.

 

[Peaches]

I thought he played well. He made heaps of hard yards out of own end. I'm sure he will be dissappointed about stepping on the line but he is usually reliable in that area. All teams target him with the kick and he wasn't exposed today.

 

[Bob]

Utai needs to be in our team. His barnstorming runs are fantastic, especially late in the game.
Unfortunately he is not a winger. He is a great bench player and would probably be one of the best. I think it's obvious either brown or grant needs to be on the wing.
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[shane2801]

Good point Bob. I just want to see him in the side and I do hope Lote fires up. For some reason I just can't see it happening

 

[Fraze23]

His big runs don't make up for lottery e puts us in every time a bomb goes up. I'm with KS on this one, if there's not a better option on the wing I'll stand rooted.
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[Luke]

Sensational? Sensationally bad. Yes he does run the ball back strong and he's hard to tackle but that's as good as he gets for a winger. First of all, he's too short - any other winger in the NRL can leap over him. Secondly, he is very very suspect catching bombs even if he doesn't have a player around him. Thirdly, he is the slowest winger in the NRL. Fourthly, he can't defend. Need I say more?

 

[tigertales]

Anyone rubbishing him on todays performance has no clue, if he goes then so should Ayshford, Lawrence, Moltz and about 5 others who were all worse than him today. Two weeks ago against the Eels he was probably best on ground as well.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

Totally polarising opinion - which suggest to me **Utai had a mixed bag of a game.**

Great runs as usual, but found wanting when the bomb went up, and yeah a more agile winger may have ducked back inside and scored that try.

Not bad (Beau crapped on everyone today in terms of a winger masterclass) but not brilliant.

This!

He ran back hard and did the dirty metres as usual and made a couple of great one-on-one tackles, although he was no match for Wright who bombed his try and probably should have been a little more aware of the sideline for the try he had disallowed.

In any case, I've said before I could never bring myself to not support a player who will tough a broken arm out for his team. Are there better alternatives? Of course.

 

[shane2801]

Sensational? Sensationally bad. Yes he does run the ball back strong and he's hard to tackle but that's as good as he gets for a winger. First of all, he's too short - any other winger in the NRL can leap over him. Secondly, he is very very suspect catching bombs even if he doesn't have a player around him. Thirdly, he is the slowest winger in the NRL. Fourthly, he can't defend. Need I say more?

Luke, apart from the height statement you pretty much described another one of our past wingers. Everyone loved him.. Tuiaki?? He could be a little suspect under a bomb, wasn't very quick, made huge yards….

Maybe I am a little biased as I love seeing hard running. I don't know?

 

[simonthetiger]

Anyone rubbishing him on todays performance has no clue, if he goes then so should Ayshford, Lawrence, Moltz and about 5 others who were all worse than him today. Two weeks ago against the Eels he was probably best on ground as well.

Agree with this.

 

[fergiefurr]

utai is what he is, he will make you great meters out of our own end and will bullock over for a few tries, he will always give 100% and be ultra aggressive

in saying that he will always struggle under the high ball, drop a few for no reason and occasionally get caught out in defence. currently he is our number 3 winger and i wouldnt mind him being the back on the bench

 

[stryker]

Anyone rubbishing him on todays performance has no clue, if he goes then so should Ayshford, Lawrence, Moltz and about 5 others who were all worse than him today. Two weeks ago against the Eels he was probably best on ground as well.

This is the correct statement.

Go and watch the game agin Luke. In no way was he sensationaly bad today.
Geeze its lucky we won…looks like he was being fitted for a scapegoat jacket on here.

 

[tiga4eva]

The play where Beau scores in the last few mins is only possible because of a great hit-up by Utai 2 plays before. The game was played in stifling heat and it's Rd 1,and we won. I'm prepared to cut em all some slack on yesterday's effort.
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[seijai]

To all you Utai bashers, I disagree with your comments.

I think he played a solid game. His hard yards in our own half took relieved the pressure off the rest of the team. Watch the game again, in our own half with the ball, our team only had 5 players back onside most of the time. If it wasn't for his runs, the rest of the team would never make it back.

His height is a problem, but currently, I would take him over Lote.

 

[Goose]

Utai ran the ball extremely well, undoubtedly, however, to brush over the other areas is dangerous. He is a massive liability under the high ball, lucky not to concede a try in the first half, and he should have finished the try where he found touch.
He has a massive heart and gives 100%, but he has obvious limitations.

Whether the pro's outweigh the con's is up to the coaching staff.