Fusitua signs on for 3 more years.

[Iron Lion]

I think you guys missed the most vital part of the resignings the last week or so. The warriors by some incredible miracle, (and i mean by some stretch an sizeable incredible miracle) managed to hold onto Isaiah Papalii.

The kid was only allowed to play a handful of games this year and has been earmarked a future All Black in the making. I believe he was named NZ schoolboy's player of the year. He managed to be named in his first 3 or 4 U20 games in a row as the best player on the field.

The young warrior has been a superstar in the schoolboy rugby as a flanker yet for some stupid reason the Warriors have been playing him at prop as a battering ram. He is immensely powerful and though he needs to fill out a lot has been charging through players like they are made of foam. Im pretty amazed we got him to commit for 3 years. In fact im kind of stunned. Warriors just dont sign players of his calibre and I am not sure what he is thinking or who advised him to do so!!

If I was to compare him to other players I would liken him to a Jerome Kaino type player. This kid is hard and id rate his signing 10 times more important that Fusitua. I kind of wish he stayed in rugby as he will keep developing in those systems, at the warriors im not so sure.

 

[ZEROMISSTACKLES]

Youtubed this Isaiah Papalii and doesnt show much of him in this years Jnr Kiwis vs Roos HLs game. It showed good stuff from Hingano, Roache, Cleary, Hess (Cowboys), Pangai jnr and thats about it. He didnt shine in this game but it doesnt mean he wont in the future, however that could explain why he stayed at the Warriors - maybe no real interest from other clubs.

 

[JJ]

The Lion has spoken

 

[jaseg]

Papalii looks impressive (and probably a prop - will take longer to see his long term position but what he did as a Union schoolboy isn't necessarily a good guide), but there's a good reason that he's being overlooked right now.

He's 17, and years away from being first grade ready - if he keeps developing. Better prospects have failed to do so from similar positions.

Pauga I don't really care about.. if it came down to keeping him or Niukore, they should've gone with Niukore. Some of Pauga's fundamentals are pretty bad, even though he is a strong ballrunner.

 

[Fufu Andronez]

If Fus puts in the work over the next 3 years he could become world class. All the potential in the world, I just hope we manage him right

 

[ZEROMISSTACKLES]

If Fus puts in the work over the next 3 years he could become world class. All the potential in the world, I just hope we manage him right

Absolutely agree. He's 21 years of age and so far hes shown that he's got the physical presence, versatility, skills, strength and also strikes me as a cool customer. Like Johnson and Kata, I believe Fusitua is our other bright spark in the backline. As long as we're doing well in our games next year and leave him to focus on what he needs to do, he should deliver a better season in 2017.