Leilua Gets a start!

[Dragsters]

I saw him play for QLD under 20's, he is a massive human and runs hard, looks like an absolute weapon. If we sign him and retain Leilua, suddenly our forward pack looks very imposing...

8. Mose
9. (Farrah/Seggy/anyone but rein)
10. Packer
11. Leilua
12. Friz
13. JDB

14. Simms
15. Host
16. Kerr
17. (4th Forward or bench hooker depending on who we start at 9)

Pretty sure you will need to fit Thompson in there somewhere seeing as though he has just extended...

 

[st.phil]

retaining / developing juniors are our only hope of having quality players

 

[Saint-Fez]

Pretty sure you will need to fit Thompson in there somewhere seeing as though he has just extended...

Yeah my bad, how could I forget Thompson. Definitely has to be in there....

Eventually, I still like the idea of Leilua starting.... kid weighs 120kg and has pace, can kick, pass, step (Some of his try assists in the 20's are insane for a man his size). In saying that, if thommo was to come off the bench you'd still give him big minutes... high work rate and has more mongrel than Cooper, LAM, Marketo combined.

Of course all of this is assuming that we actually sign Kerr, Leilua.

 

[Dragsters]

Big boppers work well of the bench when opposition players begin to tire.

Fatsiano has made a career out of this.

 

[Saint-Fez]

Yeah I hear you and your right, starting him off on the bench coming on against tired defenders is the way to go initially, but have you seen him play? Totally different player to Fatsiano, more like a 120kg, Samoan Cartwright.... as he develops and adjusts to 1st grade, I can see him offering so much more on the edge than your traditional 'Big Bopper'.

 

[Dragsters]

Apt description "120kg Samoan Cartwright".

Love it.

Yep have seen him play a number of times and have marvelled at his skill, agility and energy for a player his size.

Without trying to heap any pressure on the kid of course.

A solid, confidence building debut is plenty in my book.

I just hope he gets a first half stint and if he goes ok maybe a second stint later on.

 

[Dragon Revival]

I agree he is one of the best Under 20's players along with Dufty every game and has a lot of natural ability being an incisive runner with a swerve and a good offload. The Fox commentators always praise his good play and his dominant attack.

 

[Dragsters]

His obvious skill aside, what I really like is his work off the ball.

There was a game earlier this season (the one where he carved em up) and there was no one at dummy half so he swoops in, scoops up the ball in one hand and caught the marker not square and drew a penalty for the team.

He didn't have to do it, but he saw both a need and an opportunity, took it and made the most of it.

I'm a big fan of that sort of play.

I see it as the opposite of a Tony Williams who, off the ball, loiters at best.

It would be much tragic if we were to lose a prospect like Leilua and end up with a lazy arse Williams.

 

[emu62]

Rugby League Week reported on 24/7/16 that the Dragons have made an offer to Josh Kerr to replace Mike Cooper. Kerr is 198cms
and looked great in the Storm's Under 20's.
He plays every position in the forward pack. I hope that this deal comes off and the Mann connection may help.

I hope he is no relation to Wayne

 

[duck]

Got a ton of footy smarts. Really hope we keep him.

 

[coast_dragons]

I am happy to see him get this oppurtunity.

If it wasn't him it could have been Sele if he wasn't injured and again i would be thrilled.

It shows him that the club do have a higher opinion and they want him to stay.

Thats the way the club has to go develop their own and keep them.

 

[TheRev]

Forgot about Sele, and hes signed a contract also.. I wasnt sure what the situation was with the 2nd tier salary cap or what have you, also not sure which signings went back into our Top 25.

 

[Saints Forever]

The boy is having a very good game

 

[Saints Forever]

Host also playing well

 

[Red V for life]

Big minutes. Looks right at home.

Go you good thing.

 

[St Tangles]

Please please tell me he has re-signed.

 

[Minh]

Its a no brainer....please re-sign this kid. We already have plenty of players like Host, now this kid is what we need.

 

[denis preston]

Its a no brainer....please re-sign this kid. We already have plenty of players like Host, now this kid is what we need.

Minh, Host can still play under 20's as well so look at him in 2 seasons, he will improve ( if we f..k the coach off )

 

[OzDragon]

Did he play in the 2nd half?

 

[duck]

In a crap team performance that is one of the best debut games I've seen in a long time.