Finau Latu's Move to Canterbury Bulldogs

[Dorothy the Winowhore]

Latu is now history so who do we replace him with. Do we have any one with as a hi a ceiling as this guy on our books, or will be have to go scouting outside.

Eddie Ieremia-Toeava....another backrow beast from the Warriors reserve grade team that monstered our boys last weekend. He has a few ahead of him that he is just as good as in Halasima, Laban etc

And we are going to need to replace RFM, Eisenhuth etc.

 

[matPORTS]

I believe our board weren't up for Fulton, but I 100% agree, we missed out on POS nearly 12 months ago, and nothing seems to have moved in that space.. from both the perspective of a) having someone whos full-time job is building contacts and looking for talent, and b) someone more nuanced/silky with the negotiation process, Flanno is very rough around the edges and not necessarily speaking specifically to this case, but he rubs some managers the wrong way, justified or otherwise.

The CEO is coming.. unfortunately we missed several of our preferred targets... but lets hope this bloke delivers for us... and the GM I assume they are going to try and ride out to the end of the year, but I certainly hope hes not being extended.

Yes agreed about Flanno with regards to working with the player managers. Demonstrated by his handling of the RCG situation where he just hung up the phone without a word spoken when we got rejected.

In saying this though, other than probably Wayne Bennett, not too many coaches would be able to talk properly with the player managers, and the coach would also be fully focused throughout the negotiations on what they thought was the players ability vs how much they should be paid. It doesn't work like that unfortunately.

 

[ALX25]

It's disappointing after all the good PR at the start of the year from both club and the player.

A suitable player swap deal should now take place.

 

[SIR LANCELOT]

Sad unfortunately.Need more Islanders in the forwards for their size and mobility.Point is they want to live in Sydney's west not Wollongong.Closer to family and friends.Our game has changed and our lads are up against it.We need luck to fall our way.Not with us this year.Big changes and not landing any decent front rowers has not helped us.Best result being losing Ben Hunt although timing not good.Keep the faith our fortunes must improve sooner or later.

 

[I'm Hornby]

I am puzzled by Shane Flanagan's failure to personally engage with Finau Latu to affirm his place in the team's long-term vision and outline his role within the team.

While Flanagan may deflect responsibility onto player managers, as head coach of the first-grade squad, it is his duty to cultivate positive relationships with all players in the broader roster.

Had Flanagan fostered a strong rapport with Latu and clearly communicated how he fit into the team’s plans, Latu might have directed his manager to prioritize negotiations with the Dragons, thereby positioning himself for a contract extension.

This incident represents yet another instance of Flanagan’s deficient player management, marking at least the fourth or fifth notable player to depart the club due to his inadequate interpersonal skills.

 

[Gippsy]

Maybe if we had a recruitment manager like every other club it might allow Flanno to concentrate on the main thing he's paid to do, coach the side.

 

[redVinme]

I am puzzled by Shane Flanagan's failure to personally engage with Finau Latu to affirm his place in the team's long-term vision and outline his role within the team.

While Flanagan may deflect responsibility onto player managers, as head coach of the first-grade squad, it is his duty to cultivate positive relationships with all players in the broader roster.

Had Flanagan fostered a strong rapport with Latu and clearly communicated how he fit into the team’s plans, Latu might have directed his manager to prioritize negotiations with the Dragons, thereby positioning himself for a contract extension.

This incident represents yet another instance of Flanagan’s deficient player management, marking at least the fourth or fifth notable player to depart the club due to his inadequate interpersonal skills.

you run all your comments through chat GPT and it still comes out as incoherent dribble.

 

[thebigredv]

I am puzzled by Shane Flanagan's failure to personally engage with Finau Latu to affirm his place in the team's long-term vision and outline his role within the team.

While Flanagan may deflect responsibility onto player managers, as head coach of the first-grade squad, it is his duty to cultivate positive relationships with all players in the broader roster.

Had Flanagan fostered a strong rapport with Latu and clearly communicated how he fit into the team’s plans, Latu might have directed his manager to prioritize negotiations with the Dragons, thereby positioning himself for a contract extension.

This incident represents yet another instance of Flanagan’s deficient player management, marking at least the fourth or fifth notable player to depart the club due to his inadequate interpersonal skills.

None of us know what goes on behind closed doors.

You think of the Galvin/ DCE incidents. No one really knows the full story.

The coach said he wanted Latu. The coach overtly called out the player manager. That much is clear. It was definitely his plan to debut him soon but Egan, Stewart were ahead of him.

The lure of the Bulldogs seemed too strong and I am more prone to thinking they did the dodge than Flanagan dropping the ball.

You and I don't have all the details. No one here does.

 

[Dorothy the Winowhore]

Seems like everything these days is Flanno's fault. I bet if he had us playing a bit more consistently, Pope Francis would not have had that stroke....f*ckin' Flanno!

 

[I'm Hornby]

None of us know what goes on behind closed doors.

You think of the Galvin/ DCE incidents. No one really knows the full story.

The coach said he wanted Latu. The coach overtly called out the player manager. That much is clear. It was definitely his plan to debut him soon but Egan, Stewart were ahead of him.

The lure of the Bulldogs seemed too strong and I am more prone to thinking they did the dodge than Flanagan dropping the ball.

You and I don't have all the details. No one here does.

Flanagan's assertion that the club "didn't get a chance to resign Latu" is, in my view, a telling indictment of underlying issues. A head coach who cultivates meaningful relationships with their players should earn the trust necessary to engage in candid retention discussions, with minimal interference from a player’s manager.

When a player opts to communicate solely through their manager, bypassing any dialogue with their coach about their future, it signals a need to scrutinize the coach-player relationship more closely.

Whilst I do not have the details and neither do you, the above logic from myself is based on what Flanagan has stated about how this situation eventuated is it not?

This incident exemplifies a broader pattern of complacency among many supporters, who continue to tolerate a litany of excuses from the head coach and club management.
Surely, as dedicated fans, we are entitled to higher standards and greater accountability from those leading the club.

 

[twinkletoes]

Eddie Ieremia-Toeava....another backrow beast from the Warriors reserve grade team that monstered our boys last weekend. He has a few ahead of him that he is just as good as in Halasima, Laban etc

And we are going to need to replace RFM, Eisenhuth etc.

Mate that would take some effort from someone in our organisation and I doubt there is anyone motivated enough to get off their backsides and be proactive…. our blokes would wait for his manager to come to us

 

[Georgeg]

Did someone mention Peter O’S as recruitment manager?
Wasn’t he the one who just signed Dylan Brown?

 

[blacksafake]

I am puzzled by Shane Flanagan's failure to personally engage with Finau Latu to affirm his place in the team's long-term vision and outline his role within the team.

While Flanagan may deflect responsibility onto player managers, as head coach of the first-grade squad, it is his duty to cultivate positive relationships with all players in the broader roster.

Had Flanagan fostered a strong rapport with Latu and clearly communicated how he fit into the team’s plans, Latu might have directed his manager to prioritize negotiations with the Dragons, thereby positioning himself for a contract extension.

This incident represents yet another instance of Flanagan’s deficient player management, marking at least the fourth or fifth notable player to depart the club due to his inadequate interpersonal skills.

And you know that he hasn’t

 

[Gazzamataz]

‘Handled terribly’: Flanagan unloads on agent after Dragons young gun’s ‘poor’ defection to rival

‘Handled terribly’: Flanagan unloads on agent after Dragons young gun’s ‘poor’ defection to rival

www.foxsports.com.au

“I wanted to keep him and I’m not happy about the negotiation side of it,“ Flanagan said.

“It’s been handled poorly, terribly.

“Sometimes you lose them because you’re not willing to pay a certain fee, or you don’t want the player, but we wanted to keep him, and we’re not happy.

“The way that it was handled by his management, was handled poorly, really poorly.

“We’ve brought that young bloke up the last three or four years and we wanted to keep him and never got an opportunity to.”

Im sure there will be those like I’m Hornby who will blame Flanagan but in reality you can only do so much. I never thought LKT would stay so we win 1 and lose 1.

Would have preferred to lose LKT

 

[Gazzamataz]

while Im pissed off like all of you here on our forum I have to say, this is who we are.
Players like Latu always want to go to a club like the Bulldogs, Storm, Penrith, Roosters , I mean we have been shit for many many years, who can blame these player who want to be the best and plays for grand finals.
Thank goodness we are on the up and thank goodness we have home grown talent that want to stay, I love the local buys coming through and the sooner we become a finals footy team the sooner we stop loosing players like Latu, This one hurts, he is a special talent.
The Bulldogs are a superior club right now, with plenty of money to throw around and under the table money, they probably said to Latu, what do you want, Play Grand finals or stay Loyal and would have told him if you want to play Grand finals you better sign the contract right now, you walk out that door to think about it we wont talk again, what is the kid supposed to do.
It Bloody Sucks But Here We Are!

Totally agree Vodka. My issue is WHY did the club even let Latu talk to other clubs? Should have sat down with him and his manager and sorted out a contract initially. I have a bad feeling it's all about Flanno making sure there is a spot for his boy in the 17 next season.

 

[Gazzamataz]

What's the compelling reason for any young hot shot to sign with the Dragons? Anybody?

Agreed Sloan. Losing Latu sux so big. However, we have the Couchman twins, Hamish, Loko, Egan, Halngahu, Liu, Tsougranis all coming through so there is 'some' hope. The silly club needs to massage those bloke into 1st grade soon, especially with the rubbish the likes of Leilua and Suli dish up every week or we'll lose them as well.

 

[Gazzamataz]

Good point, I expect it has been kept quiet & that period has now finished so it was announced but if so why werent we following it up with the manager. Something smells.....bee sting head !

I think Flanno was playing smoke and mirrors trying to play the 'upset with the 'manager' card there Sap. My feeling is he is trying to make sure there is a spot for his son in the 17 next season. Very suspicious that they would even let a kid like Latu even talk to other clubs. Should have been locked into a contract. Hmmm...

 

[Gazzamataz]

I am puzzled by Shane Flanagan's failure to personally engage with Finau Latu to affirm his place in the team's long-term vision and outline his role within the team.

While Flanagan may deflect responsibility onto player managers, as head coach of the first-grade squad, it is his duty to cultivate positive relationships with all players in the broader roster.

Had Flanagan fostered a strong rapport with Latu and clearly communicated how he fit into the team’s plans, Latu might have directed his manager to prioritize negotiations with the Dragons, thereby positioning himself for a contract extension.

This incident represents yet another instance of Flanagan’s deficient player management, marking at least the fourth or fifth notable player to depart the club due to his inadequate interpersonal skills.

Couldn't agree more. Flanno wants to keep his boy in the 17 next year and is willing to sacrifice a MUCH better player to achieve that. Glaring example of nepotism. Not what we need in a coach.

 

[VodkaSaint]

Totally agree Vodka. My issue is WHY did the club even let Latu talk to other clubs? Should have sat down with him and his manager and sorted out a contract initially. I have a bad feeling it's all about Flanno making sure there is a spot for his boy in the 17 next season.

Wait till Liddle leaves because lack of game time, then his son has a spot , Liddle is a free agent atm

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

Is this to do with Latu?