Luciano Leilua

[Frank Facer]

Frank
Just to give you some idea last year.
When you came back from the off-season he was just under 130 kgs. This year 112 kgs very impressive.
But lucky and host are totally different players. Host runs good angles and is a worker . While lucky it's a huge X Factor and is a great off loader.

Lucky can also run over the top of players, he can ball play. I hope that Host does play well, but I think Lucky is the better prospect. I think Lucky can play reps. I haven't seen anything to suggest that Host will play reps.

The fact that Lucky has got down to 112 kgs, speaks volumes for his dedication and desire to play first grade. The more I think about it the more I question Mary selecting Host ahead of Lucky.

 

[Overseas dragon]

Lucky can also run over the top of players, he can ball play. I hope that Host does play well, but I think Lucky is the better prospect. I think Lucky can play reps. I haven't seen anything to suggest that Host will play reps.

The fact that Lucky has got down to 112 kgs, speaks volumes for his dedication and desire to play first grade. The more I think about it the more I question Mary selecting Host ahead of Lucky.

well frank lets not try and understand anything mary does ..hes one of a kind in that regard.......

 

[Wittenberg]

In the last couple of games last year when we were getting light on fit troops, he really impressed me. Played like a real forward not like a hesitant big kid. He showed guts and commitment. I hope that continues this year but it might take him a couple of games to get going. To my way of thinking he has all the skills but has lacked enough aggression. Playing more game time now Jack is missing may see that toughness and aggression grow.

 

[Dragonsamy]

In the last couple of games last year when we were getting light on fit troops, he really impressed me. Played like a real forward not like a hesitant big kid. He showed guts and commitment. I hope that continues this year but it might take him a couple of games to get going. To my way of thinking he has all the skills but has lacked enough aggression. Playing more game time now Jack is missing may see that toughness and aggression grow.

Wittenberg
I think you have nailed it . Hopefully with Graham and the two Sims boys and frizz to show him what mungal is all about he will learn quickly. I remember him winning the Tigers game for us last year when it looked lost.

 

[Dragonsamy]

Lucky can also run over the top of players, he can ball play. I hope that Host does play well, but I think Lucky is the better prospect. I think Lucky can play reps. I haven't seen anything to suggest that Host will play reps.

The fact that Lucky has got down to 112 kgs, speaks volumes for his dedication and desire to play first grade. The more I think about it the more I question Mary selecting Host ahead of Lucky.

Frank
I think he will be more used off the bench for us at the beginning of the year. Hopefully you'll have his minutes increased as he's getting fitter and fitter during the year.

 

[Old Timer]

Frank
I think he will be more used off the bench for us at the beginning of the year. Hopefully you'll have his minutes increased as he's getting fitter and fitter during the year.

With real chances opening up before the season even starts why is he not ready to grasp them?
He has been given a great opportunity to put his stamp on the 2019 season so I am some what staggered that he has to get fitter and fitter during the year to be able to do that.
Mind set surely comes into the equation?

 

[Dragonsamy]

With real chances opening up before the season even starts why is he not ready to grasp them?
He has been given a great opportunity to put his stamp on the 2019 season so I am some what staggered that he has to get fitter and fitter during the year to be able to do that.
Mind set surely comes into the equation?

OT
I understand your point of view. But if player is fit and not struggling ,the more confidences they have and lucky is a confidence player. When his confidence is up he can do anything. So agree with you re mental application. If he doesn't go well this year that's the end of his career I reckon.

 

[redandwhite4evr]

I agree with all above posts and the kids got ability but I think OKB was closer to the mark and I support the coaching staff on his slowish progression thus far into a regular 1st grader (shock horror), as I too saw that tendency to switch off and play loose when he was given time.as he did in Under 20's or ISP.
Having said that his last few games were good but he still needs to get in a bit better shape which I believe has held him back as he has the skill set to be as good as any back rower. He certainly is a work in progress and noticed the difference betwen 17 & 18. He could be anything..it is up to him now and his discipline in pre season and more progression this year because it is his spot to lose.

The "slowish progression" you refer to I think is the problem at SGI. Which of the many assistant coaches, high performance staff, consultants, high profile blowins such as Luke Phillips and Mick Crawley at this club is responsible for progressing Luc, Host, Dufty, Field, Kerr & co from ISP/bench NRL to starting NRL because it seems to me they're not doing a very good job compared to other clubs (eg Campbell Graham and Cameron Murray at Souths- Latrell Mitchell, Joseph Manu and Victor Radley at the Roosters). Host and Luc in particular have been hyped as excellent future starting players for two to three years but they're still not performing at NRL level consistently.

We all know Mary needs to go but a lot of support staff need to follow him out the door.

 

[Frank Facer]

The "slowish progression" you refer to I think is the problem at SGI. Which of the many assistant coaches, high performance staff, consultants, high profile blowins such as Luke Phillips and Mick Crawley at this club is responsible for progressing Luc, Host, Dufty, Field, Kerr & co from ISP/bench NRL to starting NRL because it seems to me they're not doing a very good job compared to other clubs (eg Campbell Graham and Cameron Murray at Souths- Latrell Mitchell, Joseph Manu and Victor Radley at the Roosters). Host and Luc in particular have been hyped as excellent future starting players for two to three years but they're still not performing at NRL level consistently.

We all know Mary needs to go but a lot of support staff need to follow him out the door.

I actually think it has more to do with Mary's reluctance to blood young players and his reluctance to drop established players who either aren't good enough or aren't performing in first grade. Mary would probably call it loyalty.

Lucky was one of our few positives from the last 3rd of last year's season, but he has lost his spot to Host. While Lomax showed that he is up to NRL standard in the few games that he got to start at the end of last year, but Mary still picked Aitken ahead of him for round 1. The poll was around 90% in favor of Lomax over Aitken, but Mary Mary is quite contrary.

I think Marsters could be ready for first grade this year, but I doubt that he will get the chance to show us if he is.

Robson has a massive boom on him, but Mary won't give him a run either.

Kerr apparently looked good in his game for the indigenous all stars, but hasn't been given a run off the bench for us in his 2 years here.

Until they get the opportunity to play first grade, we will never know and until the youngsters get an extended number of first grade game, they won't develop any confidence in themselves or their place in the team.

This is a major concern about Mary's coaching. As numerous other have already stated, he is ultra conservative, stubborn, which borders on idiotic and prefers to play older more experienced players. I actually question his ability to identify young talent.

 

[Warabrook saint]

I actually think it has more to do with Mary's reluctance to blood young players and his reluctance to drop established players who either aren't good enough or aren't performing in first grade. Mary would probably call it loyalty.

Lucky was one of our few positives from the last 3rd of last year's season, but he has lost his spot to Host. While Lomax showed that he is up to NRL standard in the few games that he got to start at the end of last year, but Mary still picked Aitken ahead of him for round 1. The poll was around 90% in favor of Lomax over Aitken, but Mary Mary is quite contrary.

I think Marsters could be ready for first grade this year, but I doubt that he will get the chance to show us if he is.

Robson has a massive boom on him, but Mary won't give him a run either.

Kerr apparently looked good in his game for the indigenous all stars, but hasn't been given a run off the bench for us in his 2 years here.

Until they get the opportunity to play first grade, we will never know and untill the youngsters get an extended number of first grade game, they won't develop any confidence in themselves or their place in the team.

This is a major concern about Mary's coaching. As numerous other have already stated, he is ultra conservative, stubborn, which borders on idiotic and prefers to play older more experienced players. I actually question his ability to identify young talent.

And will result in us losing a lot of our promising young players

 

[Belta]

I actually think it has more to do with Mary's reluctance to blood young players and his reluctance to drop established players who either aren't good enough or aren't performing in first grade. Mary would probably call it loyalty.

Lucky was one of our few positives from the last 3rd of last year's season, but he has lost his spot to Host. While Lomax showed that he is up to NRL standard in the few games that he got to start at the end of last year, but Mary still picked Aitken ahead of him for round 1. The poll was around 90% in favor of Lomax over Aitken, but Mary Mary is quite contrary.

I think Marsters could be ready for first grade this year, but I doubt that he will get the chance to show us if he is.

Robson has a massive boom on him, but Mary won't give him a run either.

Kerr apparently looked good in his game for the indigenous all stars, but hasn't been given a run off the bench for us in his 2 years here.

Until they get the opportunity to play first grade, we will never know and untill the youngsters get an extended number of first grade game, they won't develop any confidence in themselves or their place in the team.

This is a major concern about Mary's coaching. As numerous other have already stated, he is ultra conservative, stubborn, which borders on idiotic and prefers to play older more experienced players. I actually question his ability to identify young talent.

Eggzachary

 

[watatank]

Leilua is in the role he needs to be at the moment. He's not consistent enough to be a starter so being on the interchange with opportunities to start is what he should be doing. He's a liability as a right edge defender so I'm glad that Host was picked ahead of him there.

 

[barry]

Leilua is in the role he needs to be at the moment. He's not consistent enough to be a starter so being on the interchange with opportunities to start is what he should be doing. He's a liability as a right edge defender so I'm glad that Host was picked ahead of him there.

I haven’t seen host play 1 good game.

Built like Tarzan, plays like Jane.

I definitely rate Leilua much better then Host, I hope he can prove me wrong.

 

[BLM01]

The "slowish progression" you refer to I think is the problem at SGI. Which of the many assistant coaches, high performance staff, consultants, high profile blowins such as Luke Phillips and Mick Crawley at this club is responsible for progressing Luc, Host, Dufty, Field, Kerr & co from ISP/bench NRL to starting NRL because it seems to me they're not doing a very good job compared to other clubs (eg Campbell Graham and Cameron Murray at Souths- Latrell Mitchell, Joseph Manu and Victor Radley at the Roosters). Host and Luc in particular have been hyped as excellent future starting players for two to three years but they're still not performing at NRL level consistently.

We all know Mary needs to go but a lot of support staff need to follow him out the door.

I agree to a point as the support, HPU, physios etc staff outside the main boys club asst coaches of Head, Hornby, Young have been like part of a departure lounge as they have been chopped and changed since Mary's tenure as the reasons for our fade outs in 15,17 & 18 and other poor seasons 14 & 16 etc etc etc

Luke Phillips came in to assist in coaching (do you believe this one) to help with getting on the right side of the ref and understanding how they think etc...guess what... we lost all penalty counts towards the end (especially caned in the 1st half) after he came in and a few went to the sin bin etc..so that worked a treat

Crawley hast just arrived so cant blame him...yet..give them 6 weeks.

That English coach that helped with identifying / nurturing talent etc...he lasted a year as did our jersey Flegg coach in Wayne Collins

As I have said on here before they look around the fringes for the problems without digging to the coal face.
Mary does the same when he analyses losses and relying on stats past and present ..becomes content after a few wins, job is done, feet up on the desk..
He tends to look to far ahead...starts quoting the premiership table and our location, winning a certain amount of blocks of games to say get to the 8, Top 4 etc......thinking a switch can be flicked on when form drops thinking we can just recreate early season or past good form as was the case last year..and the year before.
The players flicked the switch on themselves in the Broncos game but that was our GF as roaring underdogs.

 

[watatank]

I haven’t seen host play 1 good game.

Built like Tarzan, plays like Jane.

I definitely rate Leilua much better then Host, I hope he can prove me wrong.

He earned an opportunity in the trials. Leilua has had opportunities but still lacks consistency.

 

[West coast dragon]

With real chances opening up before the season even starts why is he not ready to grasp them?
He has been given a great opportunity to put his stamp on the 2019 season so I am some what staggered that he has to get fitter and fitter during the year to be able to do that.
Mind set surely comes into the equation?

One word- professionalism

 

[Old Timer]

One word- professionalism

Just reading some stuff on young Haas & Fifita at the Broncos, let alone think about Pangai Jnr and then read all the mallachy in this thread and it highlights just how succinct your post is.
Big, strong, fast, fit and very keen.
It will really be a showcase of how to bring young blokes through when we play them and I fully expect their pack to be much improved over what we played in the semis last year.

 

[West coast dragon]

Just reading some stuff on young Haas & Fifita at the Broncos, let alone think about Pangai Jnr and then read all the mallachy in this thread and it highlights just how succinct your post is.
Big, strong, fast, fit and very keen.
It will really be a showcase of how to bring young blokes through when we play them and I fully expect their pack to be much improved over what we played in the semis last year.

Yep I think the big criticism of lucky has been his approach to preparation and come to think of it it was a criticism of his brother too could take the game by the nuts if they only take the off field side of the game more seriously can only hope the coaching staff identify that and instill that in him

 

[possm]

OT
I understand your point of view. But if player is fit and not struggling ,the more confidences they have and lucky is a confidence player. When his confidence is up he can do anything. So agree with you re mental application. If he doesn't go well this year that's the end of his career I reckon.

The coaching staff knowing that Leilua is prone to having a fitness problem, should have designed monitoring and control points to address this for the past pre-season program. It just shows me how inept our coaching staff really are.

 

[SBD82]

The coaching staff knowing that Leilua is prone to having a fitness problem, should have designed monitoring and control points to address this for the past pre-season program. It just shows me how inept our coaching staff really are.

After the bloke has cut himself down from 130kg to 112kg this place can still find a reason to complain.

It’s an absolute disgrace in here sometimes.