Look we are just beginning to get a quality white man pack, I'd hate to see the balance go the other way again with signings like Tamou coming on board. He is exactly the type of mental softness we have been suffering from for years. Why risk it?
I still stand by my opinion, you particularly can not have to many Islanders in your pack, except in rare circumstances. It is a cultural thing, they are just to laid back and chilled and generally don't like the CONSISTANT hard grind that the NRL demands for success.
Of course there are great CONSISTANTLY good forwards of Islander descent, but not enough of them, yet at least. So when the balance goes their way in numbers at a club, then you are unwittingly flirting with unexplained sub par performances and much inconsistency.
Having quality players like Mannah, Peats, De Gois, Wicks, Watmough, Gower and Lussick has been the real reason behind our pack being able to mix it with the best of them. Sure we are still a little inconsistent as a team, but that will eventually come, especially if we can add some real strike power out wide to capitalise on any platform our forwards give us or half chances that may come our way.
Now you add to those guys, the only consistently good islander in our club Ma'u, (and maybe Junior when he comes back) and we have the makings of a consistently good set of forwards.
The remainder of the forwards in Joseph Paulo, Peni Terepo, Tepai Moeroa and Pauli Pauli, have yet to show that consistent quality in their play. Special mention for Kenny Edwards, he is almost there, but still has some to go. But being in a European dominated pack prevents them from zoning out with their bros and teaches them effort, on effort, on effort.
Just my two cents worth, don't shoot the messenger.
