Ligi Sao coming home

[Mixmasterreece]

Well that's out of the blue:

http://www.warriors.kiwi/news/2015/07/22/sao_to_rejoin_vodafo.html

Manly forward Ligi Sao is coming home to rejoin the Vodafone Warriors on a two-year contract for the 2016 and 2017 NRL seasons.
The Manurewa Marlins junior joined the Sea Eagles in 2013 after 36 NYC appearances for the Vodafone Junior Warriors including their 2011 grand final win.
Since his NRL debut in 2013 he has made 16 NRL appearances, 15 of them this season. While used mainly off the bench he has started at loose forward in Manly’s last two games.
“We’ve been watching Ligi and he has developed well at Manly, especially this year with a lot more exposure at NRL level,” said Vodafone Warriors head coach Andrew McFadden.
“He helps our depth with our middle players and increases competition for spots. It’s also great to be able to bring Ligi back home.”
The Stan Martin-managed Sao said returning home was a key factor in his decision.
“I’ve got the rest of this season ahead of me here at Manly but I’m excited the Warriors have given me the chance to come home,” he said.
“It’s a new challenge for me and one I’m looking forward to. I’ve really enjoyed my time with Manly and have been lucky to be around some great players but it’s going to good being back in Auckland for next season.”
Sao will find plenty of familiar faces from his NYC days at the club with former team-mates Konrad Hurrell, Raymond Faitala-Mariner, David Fusitu’a, Ngani Laumape, Albert Vete and Ben Henry among those if the NRL squad.

 

[jamaman]

another young forwad...good news

 

[ozbash]

Very good news..

 

[Rich102]

Another back rower?

 

[Beavers Headgear]

Been playing very good footy this year after finally starting to train hard. Is a big loss for us

 

[jaseg]

Eh. Good, I guess. We did need one more middle forward in the squad, and he's looked ok at Manly this year. Was kind of hoping for a player who is likely to be more a dominant gainer up the middle (Sam Moa! even Scott Bolton), but not much available so he'll do. Could end up being quite good, but I'm not expecting much beyond a squad place, competing for the 4th prop spot.

 

[ozbash]

Another back rower?

plays prop too, fits the limited interchange they are talking about next season perfectly.

 

[Fufu Andronez]

Competition for spots is always good

 

[Fufu Andronez]

May be a worry for Benry though

 

[mean_maori_mean]

Ligi Sao is an out and out prop.

Great fit for the Warriors.

He is young only 23 and been around a very good Manly Pack (bar this year).
He went to Manly as they offered him a 3 year deal.

He is a really hard working player from memory.
Very aggressive like Sam Lisone but a bigger body.

He it an out and out prop and right away I think he genuinely competes again Vete for Fourth Prop spot.
And favourable to Lousi, Ikahihifo & Gubb even though they have had their moments.

Even in the worst case they lost Peteru, Rapira and likely Bhana
Also Sipley is coming off a bad knee injury so he wont compete for a spot until mid 2016.

 

[Iafeta]

Ligi is very different to Benry. He's a hard hitting prop who can pass before the line. He will be competing more with Lisone, Vete and Gubb.

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

hes 5 steps ahead of gubb but it would be to replace rapira wouldnt it. still think theres another prop lined up to sign

 

[themule]

Soa is a plodder and nothing more than a reserve grader. No impact with hits ups and struggles to keep up the pace of first grade. manly didn't want him so no loss

 

[Warrior@Heart]

I'm happy with this signing, think he'll be good but of course only time will tell. Be interesting to watch him for the rest of the year.

 

[Skinner]

Soa is a plodder and nothing more than a reserve grader. No impact with hits ups and struggles to keep up the pace of first grade. manly didn't want him so no loss

Absolutely no bitterness there of course....;-)

 

[Shaun Hewitt]

This one has me surprised!
Didn't see this one coming.

I'll reserve judgement until next year.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

I'm just glad we got him and not his brother Sogi.

 

[Skinner]

I'm just glad we got him and not his brother Sogi.

:lol::lol:

 

[jaseg]

Soa is a plodder and nothing more than a reserve grader. No impact with hits ups and struggles to keep up the pace of first grade. manly didn't want him so no loss

Lol. As a previous poster said, that comes off as hugely bitter. Particularly when (FYI) Sao wasn't one of the 14 players told to go (but 7 other middle forwards were given marching orders)- that list was:

Tyson Andrews
Matt Ballin (lol - who was doing recruitment/retention before Bozo came back? deserves a job at the Tigers the way he was going..)
Cheyse Blair
Luke Burgess
James Hasson
Jayden Hodges
Justin Horo
Jack Littlejohn
Dunamis Lui
Feleti Mateo
Willie Mason
Josh Starling
Siosaia Vave
David Williams

 

[Juju]

Soa is a plodder and nothing more than a reserve grader. No impact with hits ups and struggles to keep up the pace of first grade. manly didn't want him so no loss

the Manly fan's on their forums would disagree with you