I wouldn't really worry about forwards from SL. For sure it's a gamble, if you'd asked me how players like Sam Moa or Mike Cooper would go in the NRL before they moved, I'd have told you to look in reserve grade. Seriously, the guys I mentioned are in a completely different league to those guys. But moving players across the world does have it's risks, no doubt.
With respect, I disagree - quite frankly I feel you're overrating your wing stocks because they're your juniors.
Vatuvei is a great weapon, but infinitely exploitable by any winger with a bit of speed (and a team with suppliers with any nous to get behind/around him). He isn't the youngest and the inevitable shift closer to the middle is only getting closer.
Fusitua is very young and very raw, but no question he seems to have the potential - but I imagine it'll take a fair bit of time to bring his defence to standard.
Allwood... well I'll have to see him away from the basketcase that is the Raiders to judge him fairly.
For me, maybe this is a personal thing, but players like Kata and Laumape should not be on the wing unless you're desperate. Sure they will have the bulk to physically defend, but they're both too damn short (and without the jump to compensate) to be anything other than a liability, especially when they already have players of a similar stature as their centre. IMO it's just asking for trouble.
Fisiiahi may get somewhere if he can keep his speed - which is never a certainty even for the less injury prone - and grow up a lot more in the way he plays, and importantly defends. I'd class him as a maybe, but in first grade I clearly haven't seen what you guys have faith in with him.
Your team seem keen to sign Matai - if it were me I would bother with a guy about to hit the cliff in terms of ability, I'd be after a young winger without the glaring holes in their game. SL is finally starting to produce the same type of backs that Australia has been using for years - tall, fast, strong and with great rugby instincts.
