2019 Discussion

[betcats]

Hopefully its a shootout for fullback with no bias involved to pick who starts round 1.

Knowing us both will be injured

I think its likely Dylan will be given first crack, I just see so much upside in Dallin if we make first choice and give him a good run there.

 

[tripster]

Katoa has the XP. We should be rooting for him.

Katoa will also be Tonga’s hooker for the test matches at the end of the season, including the massive Aus v Tonga test.

 

[Fangs]

Katoa will also be Tonga’s hooker for the test matches at the end of the season, including the massive Aus v Tonga test.

Certainly not a throw away game. Playing with and against some of the best players in the world.

As I said before, its better for us if he does improve. IF

 

[franklin2323]

Edwards v DWZ. Both very different fullbacks. Edwards is far safer and better defensively. DWZ more physical and dangerous with the ball in hand. Both good support players. Neither have any ball playing ability right now.

I'll take Edwards for team balance, DWZ and Mansour gives us two quality wingers. Only saw Edwards play one game on the wing and it was shithouse. DWZ first choice backup, Aitkens will have to enjoy playing wing if he wants to play first grade here.

That is how it is for me. DWZ is a great winger without a great winger coming through no reason to change it

 

[franklin2323]

Certainly not a throw away game. Playing with and against some of the best players in the world.

As I said before, its better for us if he does improve. IF

According to some it was just the coach...

 

[mxlegend99]

According to some it was just the coach...

Katoa is an average player. Masada Iosefa 2.0, he had so much talent coming through the grades. But poor discipline and a lack of ability to read the game have prevented him from establishing himself.

He made his debut in 2015 under Ivan Cleary and still hasn't established himself as our hooker. If he cant do it in 2019 he never will IMO.

 

[franklin2323]

Katoa is an average player. Masada Iosefa 2.0, he had so much talent coming through the grades. But poor discipline and a lack of ability to read the game have prevented him from establishing himself.

He made his debut in 2015 under Ivan Cleary and still hasn't established himself as our hooker. If he cant do it in 2019 he never will IMO.

I just think he along with a few others just aren't that good. It is why I think we are further away from a premiership then people realise

 

[betcats]

I just think he along with a few others just aren't that good. It is why I think we are further away from a premiership then people realise

We were one field goal away from still being alive, after an atrocious start and an atrocious performance by Jimmy we still almost won.

 

[OldPanther]

Is our boy the only Hooker there?

Tonga squad

Andrew Fifita (Cronulla Sharks)
Addin Fonua-Blake (Manly Warringah)
Mahe Fonua (Wests Tigers)
Moeaki Fotuaika (Gold Coast Titans)
David Fusitua (NZ Warriors)
Siliva Havilli (Canberra Raiders)
Ata Hingano (Canberra Raiders)
Will Hopoate (Canterbury Bulldogs)
Konileti Hurrell (Gold Coast Titans)
Michael Jennings (Parramatta Eels)
Robert Jennings (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Solomone Kata (NZ Warriors)
Sione Katoa (Penrith Panthers)
Samisoni Langi (Catalans Dragons)
Tuimoala Lolohea (Wests Tigers)
Sika Manu (Hull FC)
Sam Moa (Catalans Dragons)
Ben Murdoch-Masila (Warrington Wolves)
Joe Ofahengaue (Brisbane Broncos)
Tevita Pangai jnr (Brisbane Broncos)
Agnatius Paasi (NZ Warriors)
Leivaha Pulu (NZ Warriors)
Scott Sorensen (Cronulla Sharks)
Ukuma Ta'ai (Huddersfield Giants)
Jason Taumalolo (North Qld Cowboys)
Tevita Tatola (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Siosiua Taukeiaho (Sydney Roosters)
Peni Terepo (Parramatta Eels)
Daniel Tupou (Sydney Roosters)

 

[umina panther]

Is our boy the only Hooker there?

Tonga squad

Andrew Fifita (Cronulla Sharks)
Addin Fonua-Blake (Manly Warringah)
Mahe Fonua (Wests Tigers)
Moeaki Fotuaika (Gold Coast Titans)
David Fusitua (NZ Warriors)
Siliva Havilli (Canberra Raiders)
Ata Hingano (Canberra Raiders)
Will Hopoate (Canterbury Bulldogs)
Konileti Hurrell (Gold Coast Titans)
Michael Jennings (Parramatta Eels)
Robert Jennings (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Solomone Kata (NZ Warriors)
Sione Katoa (Penrith Panthers)
Samisoni Langi (Catalans Dragons)
Tuimoala Lolohea (Wests Tigers)
Sika Manu (Hull FC)
Sam Moa (Catalans Dragons)
Ben Murdoch-Masila (Warrington Wolves)
Joe Ofahengaue (Brisbane Broncos)
Tevita Pangai jnr (Brisbane Broncos)
Agnatius Paasi (NZ Warriors)
Leivaha Pulu (NZ Warriors)
Scott Sorensen (Cronulla Sharks)
Ukuma Ta'ai (Huddersfield Giants)
Jason Taumalolo (North Qld Cowboys)
Tevita Tatola (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Siosiua Taukeiaho (Sydney Roosters)
Peni Terepo (Parramatta Eels)
Daniel Tupou (Sydney Roosters)

Havilli

 

[OldPanther]

Havilli

So the answer is yes, he is the only hooker.

 

[tripster]

So the answer is yes, he is the only hooker.

I am sure he will play no. 9 for them. I think he came off the bench in the Tonga v Samoa game earlier in the year but I can’t remember clearly.

He has, however, been fantastic in all of the test matches for Tonga.

Tonga’s biggest problem is in the halves. Lolohea can be good on his day (a bit like Milford) but is no longer a regular first grader at the Tigers. Tonga don’t even have anyone else to pair with him. He did a decent job organising the side and showed he had a pretty good kicking game in the test against Samoa, but is the only option they have.

If you threw two top quality halves behind that pack and with those outside backs they would likely challenge Australia for No.1 in the world. Their pack in particular is incredible and they get so fired up when playing for their country (more so than I would say the Australian side does).

I was at the Tonga v Samoa game this year and the first 20 minutes of that game was the among the most brutal forward displays I have seen.

 

[franklin2323]

We were one field goal away from still being alive, after an atrocious start and an atrocious performance by Jimmy we still almost won.

No Waqa. Moylan.. May injured last year and still only lost by a try. When does it become the players just aren't good enough?

 

[mxlegend99]

No Waqa. Moylan.. May injured last year and still only lost by a try. When does it become the players just aren't good enough?

You honestly think these players arent capable of finding that extra point this year or try last year?

The players are good enough. They just need to be fit and firing in the finals. I mean very few of them played well and we were only a point away from Sharks.

These players are good enough to win (or almost win) 80 minutes games with only ~20 minutes or so of good football. The talent is there. Its just a matter of finding a coach who can use the talent to its potential.

 

[OldPanther]

You honestly think these players arent capable of finding that extra point this year or try last year?

The players are good enough. They just need to be fit and firing in the finals. I mean very few of them played well and we were only a point away from Sharks.

These players are good enough to win (or almost win) 80 minutes games with only ~20 minutes or so of good football. The talent is there. Its just a matter of finding a coach who can use the talent to its potential.

For sure. Our season was built on 15 minute performances. If they get a coach who can make them play for 60 - 80 minutes consistently they will be top 4 and a real shot at premiers no question.

 

[mxlegend99]

I say that not even rating all of our roster that highly. But at the end of the day even playing poorly we went pretty close to week 3.

A better hooker and front row rotation wouldnt hurt. But somehow what we have doesnt even need to play well to challenge teams or win. The competition is that weak these days we could win it all if we just played 10 more minutes of good footy each week.

 

[betcats]

No Waqa. Moylan.. May injured last year and still only lost by a try. When does it become the players just aren't good enough?

Look at the difference dean pay made at the dogs, Cleary at the tigers, Seibold at the rabbits, that’s all short term. You are extremely underestimating the value of good coaching.

Were the burgess boys not good enough last year but now they are? Lol no they are just playing much better for a new coach.

 

[OldPanther]

 

[franklin2323]

Look at the difference dean pay made at the dogs, Cleary at the tigers, Seibold at the rabbits, that’s all short term. You are extremely underestimating the value of good coaching.

Were the burgess boys not good enough last year but now they are? Lol no they are just playing much better for a new coach.

The Burgess boys won a comp in 2014 though. Teams always need a re tool after winning the comp. I guess we will see but people here seem to over hype players

 

[Luke Bowden]

I find it interesting that there are a lot of people on here willing to throw shit at Jimmy Maloney and yet, Mal has named him as one of two people in contention for the vacant Australian No.7 Jersey...