2021 RLWC (D) Wk1 - TON 24-18 PNG @ St Helens

[Harrigan]

Hope Fox get Graham on commentary next season. Better than listening to Brandy moan on

 

[Gobsmacked]

The halves for PNG are playing awesome but Lolahia is playing a blinder.

 

[Wizardman]

That Lolohea seems to have matured a shitload from the guy who played for the Tigers and Warriors. Good signs for the Tongan spine if he continues. If Katoa puts together good form....watch out.

 

[Harrigan]

And just like that PNG have a mountain to climb

 

[Harrigan]

That Lolohea seems to have matured a shitload from the guy who played for the Tigers and Warriors. Good signs for the Tongan spine if he continues. If Katoa puts together good form....watch out.

He was young. He just needed extended time in the halves and has had that at Salford and Huddersfield. Fine tuned his game and has turned into a good playmaker.

 

[Gobsmacked]

He was young. He just needed extended time in the halves and has had that at Salford and Huddersfield. Fine tuned his game and has turned into a good playmaker.

Massive boot on him too!

 

[yobbo84]

No idea how the shot clock went off after like 15 seconds at the end there... Bizzare

Not as bizzare as Koloamatangi playing dummy half though! Bloke does have skills

 

[Wizardman]

He was young. He just needed extended time in the halves and has had that at Salford and Huddersfield. Fine tuned his game and has turned into a good playmaker.

I have not followed him since he left our shores but from his ESL stats over the years, he has seemed to have put together a decent career at the Old Dart. The guy has always had "something" that just never matured here. He definitely looks a different player which is great to see.

 

[Gobsmacked]

We always talk about the Tongans and Samoans in the same way but their polls apart in terms of attitude.
Tongans moving the ball well and getting over the advantage line. We know they are big and strong but thier skill , speed and structure looks great. The young guys standing tall.
PNG doing well against what looks to me to be a genuine contender!

 

[Harrigan]

I have not followed him since he left our shores but from his ESL stats over the years, he has seemed to have put together a decent career at the Old Dart. The guy has always had "something" that just never matured here. He definitely looks a different player which is great to see.

Its all thanks to Dave Furner. He gave up on him at Leeds after about 5 games (his first 5 games in the halves too) and forced him out. Lolohea hasnt looked back since and Furner got sacked a month or so later

 

[Harrigan]

We always talk about the Tongans and Samoans in the same way but their polls apart in terms of attitude.
Tongans moving the ball well and getting over the advantage line. We know they are big and strong but thier skill , speed and structure looks great. The young guys standing tall.
PNG doing well against what looks to me to be a genuine contender!

Wolff is a decent coach too which helps. Brings a winning mentality and knows how to get a team organised.

 

[Gobsmacked]

I have not followed him since he left our shores but from his ESL stats over the years, he has seemed to have put together a decent career at the Old Dart. The guy has always had "something" that just never matured here. He definitely looks a different player which is great to see.

The little bit more time and space in superleague can certainly help some players games develop. The speed and pressure in the NRL can stunt the growth of some players.
If a guy like Milford went to SL a couple of years ago, he'd be a better player today imo

 

[Wizardman]

We always talk about the Tongans and Samoans in the same way but their polls apart in terms of attitude.
Tongans moving the ball well and getting over the advantage line. We know they are big and strong but thier skill , speed and structure looks great. The young guys standing tall.
PNG doing well against what looks to me to be a genuine contender!

Absolutely!!! I'd say 6+ years ago, they were quite similar to Samoa. This Kristian Woolfe seems to have really unlocked something within the guys in that team. They have had a hell of a recent crop of good forwards lately.......but the coaching setup and confidence from recent success seems to be serving them well.

 

[Wizardman]

The little bit more time and space in superleague can certainly help some players games develop. The speed and pressure in the NRL can stunt the growth of some players.
If a guy like Milford went to SL a couple of years ago, he'd be a better player today imo

We have seen how a bloke like Blake Green turned out to be a decent player when he came back to NRL.

 

[Wizardman]

I LOVE the spirit of PNG teams.......take some notes Samoa. Im still seething at the attitude of them the other day....lol.

 

[Wizardman]

This game is an absolute cracker!!! Take an absolute bow PNG!!!

 

[Wizardman]

What I thought was was PNG's greatest strength (backs) is actually turning out to f**k them atm.....a shame because they have been immense this morning.

 

[Harrigan]

What I thought was was PNG's greatest strength (backs) is actually turning out to f**k them atm.....a shame because they have been immense this morning.

Blown two walk ins

 

[Wizardman]

Blown two walk ins

The irony of the greatest walk-in try scorer in our games history playing for the same side has not been lost on me....lol

 

[Gobsmacked]

PNG PNG PNG !