3 knights named for NSW under 16s

[aqua_duck]

Congratulations to Sione Mata'utia, Tevita Pangai and Travis Edwards who were all named for NSW in the under 16's origin curtain raiser. I know there has been a tendency in the past to go off early with junior and give them the kiss of death but Sione Mata'utia and Tevita Pangai are 2 of the best prospects we've had in years. Sione Mata'utia will be the best of all the Mata'utia brothers IMO, like his brothers he's got a good football brain and nice skills but he also has that size (already nearly the same size as Pete and Chanel) and speed (scored 3 or 4 length of the field jobs in the Harold Mathews finals).
Tevita Pangai is an absolute monster, but who also has a good passing game, has probably set up more tries for his winger in abut 10 games of Mats this season than Sau and Naiqama have in their entire lives, abit of a mix between T-Rex and Dave Taylor. The bloke would be about close to 6'2 and over 100kg and is lean and can move, best description would be man child. In the semi final againts Balmain he scored one of the best individual tries I've ever seen at any level, got the ball about 5 from half way centre field and pretty much steamrolled the entire Tigers forward pack to score.

 

[Johns Magic]

Tevita Pangai is an absolute monster, but who also has a good passing game, has probably set up more tries for his winger in abut 10 games of Mats this season than Sau and Naiqama have in their entire lives, abit of a mix between T-Rex and Dave Taylor. The bloke would be about close to 6'2 and over 100kg and is lean and can move, best description would be man child. In the semi final againts Balmain he scored one of the best individual tries I've ever seen at any level, got the ball about 5 from half way centre field and pretty much steamrolled the entire Tigers forward pack to score.

Wow that's exciting, a 6'2 100kg+ manchild running over 15 year olds.

Will be very interesting to see if he cuts it at NRL level in the future.

 

[aqua_duck]

Wow that's exciting, a 6'2 100kg+ manchild running over 15 year olds.

Will be very interesting to see if he cuts it at NRL level in the future.

I know theres a negative perception of big Islanders running over little white kids in juniors but guys like T rex, Frank Pritchard, Willie Mason, etc all had to start somewhere. He'll be about T rex size when he finishes growing, is fast and has ball playing ability to boot. Its not like some 100kg beef cake who is big because he can eat more maccas than the other kids

 

[Johns Magic]

Well I'm not sure if we can be certain that he'll continue growing to that size, but I hope so.

I've heard he has a fair bit of laziness in his game, hopefully he can step it up.

Was his brother as big a prospect at that age?

 

[aqua_duck]

Well I'm not sure if we can be certain that he'll continue growing to that size, but I hope so.

I've heard he has a fair bit of laziness in his game, hopefully he can step it up.

Was his brother as big a prospect at that age?

Even if he stopped growing now, you could put an extra 10kg on him just from the gym.
Mosese kind of came out of nowhere real quickly, wasn't as dominant at the same age but was fast tracked very rapidly, mainly due to his size I suspect.

 

[RABK]

The thing about Pangai that impresses me the most is his ball skills. It's one thing to use a 20kg weight advantage to steamroll the opposition - it's another to use your 20kg weight advantage to draw 4 defenders then throw a 10 metre pass to your now unmarked centre/winger. He's got footballing brains and skills, he's not just a one dimensional hit up merchant. He'll be every bit as good as T-Rex if coached through the grades well.

Sione is super talented - not a far stretch to suggest he might even beat all his older borthers to senior rep honours. If he progresses at the rate his talent is currently taking him he'll play Origin aged 18/19.

 

[ballbag]

Pity it will be for Canberra, not Newcastle
The rest of his family are relocating down there.

 

[Big Tim]

Pity it will be for Canberra, not Newcastle
The rest of his family are relocating down there.

Which player are you referencing here??

 

[aqua_duck]

Pangai and Travis Edwards were the 2 best players on the park last night, Pangai was unstoppable by all reports

 

[Yosh]

Pangai and Travis Edwards were the 2 best players on the park last night, Pangai was unstoppable by all reports

Any highlights available?