Newcastle Knights sign Evarn Tuimavave

[Joker's Wild]

Didn't say he was old. But I recognise he won't have anywhere near the upside of a 20 year equivalent either.

This signing was practically a fall back option after Ah Mau decided he didn't want to come to Newcastle.

I dont think it was mate. As it stands we have plenty of young inexperienced props on the books already and were lacking in experience up front.

If anything I think we were gunning for both these guys but only got one of them.

 

[otori]

I'll be interested to see where this puts Tolar. Faas deserves his spot and we're paying too much for Cross to have him play Real NRL so that's two out of the rotation. So it comes down to Wicks, Tolar and Tuimavave for the last two spots. Personally, I'd take Tolar, Cross, Faas, Tui but that's just me.

I'd put Houston back in the second row in this instance. Simpson and Paterson on the bench with Taia, Houston and Hilder in the back row.
That's a pretty deadly forward pack.

 

[Whats Doing]

The fact of the matter is, this signing was meant to be Leeson Ah Mau - who is 20.

Ah Mau decided to go to the Cowboys.


So we are stuck with an older alternative with nowhere near as much potential long term.


Its like we've won the consolation prize.

The fact of the matter is that next year we have a kiwi international who prior to getting injured had destroyed some sides and has come back from serious injury fairly well and will get much better next year.

We are so much better placed next year to have Evarn than a 21 year prop.

Another thing that is also a good sign is the fact that a Name signing has come to Newie which is a positive show of support for Rick Stone as a head coach.

 

[Tom155]

is natusch offiically gone? If so who to?

 

[Baron Vo Mandor]

Bronco's.

 

[Jono078]

The fact of the matter is, this signing was meant to be Leeson Ah Mau - who is 20.

Ah Mau decided to go to the Cowboys.


So we are stuck with an older alternative with nowhere near as much potential long term.


Its like we've won the consolation prize.

FFS you like the cup half empty view.

You could argue that at 25 Tui (thanks Maca) is about to hit his prime for a front rower.

With Ah Mau we may have been waiting 5 years for him to really kick on.

 

[antonius]

Good signing, Pika will soon knock him into shape!

 

[voltron]

im tired of "potential"
id rather a proper leader
we have loads of potential in wicks and cross and uate etc

 

[Tom155]

Bronco's.

where did you see that? i have not seen or heard anything

 

[Whats Doing]

im tired of "potential"
id rather a proper leader
we have loads of potential in wicks and cross and uate etc

Exactly and this is what Tui will provide the knights next year.

 

[roopy]

So our top forward pack next year should look like;

Cross
De Gois
Tuafua
Houston
Simmo
Taia

Paterson
Tui
Faas
Hilder

Tolar
Wicks
Ciraldo
Tovo
Mika
Edwards

Who am I missing?

 

[roopy]

Marvin and Wes???

 

[perverse]

taufua wouldn't be in my top forward pack. tui and tolar would both be ahead of him in my team.

 

[roopy]

taufua wouldn't be in my top forward pack. tui and tolar would both be ahead of him in my team.

I think he deserves first shot after playing great and improving steadily for the whole season.
The other guys need to force him out.
Cross gets in because House moves to second row.

 

[Baron Vo Mandor]

Wow our forward pack looks pretty imposing next year.

For me Tolar is way behind Cross, Tui & Faaoso.

His just too small and not strong enough to be a front rower, and too slow to be a backrower...... IMO his best position is "left right out."

 

[perverse]

I think he deserves first shot after playing great and improving steadily for the whole season.
The other guys need to force him out.
Cross gets in because House moves to second row.

fair, but i still think he has zero impact in attack.

 

[roopy]

Someone needs to make sure Wicks signs his clearence papers for Kurri, or we will have ti sign him up for pilates to keep him fit.

 

[K-Man]

I'll be interested to see where this puts Tolar. Faas deserves his spot and we're paying too much for Cross to have him play Real NRL so that's two out of the rotation. So it comes down to Wicks, Tolar and Tuimavave for the last two spots. Personally, I'd take Tolar, Cross, Faas, Tui but that's just me.

I'd put Houston back in the second row in this instance. Simpson and Paterson on the bench with Taia, Houston and Hilder in the back row.
That's a pretty deadly forward pack.

It's a very good forward pack indeed.

However I doubt we will see a bench of Paterson, Simpson, Fa'aoso and Tuimavave very often. Not enough utility value there for most coaches' liking.

I'd probably go with this:

8. Cross
9. De Gois
10. Taufua
11. Simpson
12. Taia
13. Houston

14. Hilder
15. Paterson
16. Fa'aoso
17. Wicks

18. Tolar
19. Tuimavave

Hilder back to the bench probably seems like a harsh call, but I think with everybody fit and available again Stone will start the season something like that. Hilder is still going to spend time at lock when Houston has a rest.

In my opinion Houston defending in the middle and Taia swapping between the right and left side of the field in attack is a good combination. That's why I don't have 13. Taia, 12. Houston.

I hope it doesn't end up
13. Hilder
14. Naiqama

 

[K-Man]

I think he deserves first shot after playing great and improving steadily for the whole season.
The other guys need to force him out.
Cross gets in because House moves to second row.

I think so to Roops.

Surely there can't have been much between Tolar and Taufua at the start of this season anyway, and since then Mark has played the whole year and improved once again whilst Dan has been stuck on the sidelines.

I think Tolar would have to force him out rather than the other way around.

For Tuimavave it probably all depends on team balance. Is Stone likely to want to vary from the system of 2 solid starting props and 2 bench impact props? I doubt it, which means Faas, Wicks, and Tui would only be in the same team due to injuries in my opinion.

8. Cross
10. Tuimavave
16. Fa'aoso
17. Wicks

Quite scary in attack... but defensively and in regards to work rate I don't like it. Props like Taufua, Tolar and Houston are important for balance imo.

 

[Pika]

8. Cross
9. DeGois
10. Mark T
11. House
12. Taia
13. Simpson

14. Hilder
15. Patto
16. Faas
17. Wicks

It is fair to suggest that during most periods of the season you expect one starting minutes prop and one bench impact prop to go down.

ET to replace impact.
Tolar to replace starting prop.

With Simpson more and more prone to injury, Hilder to start at 13 and Marv to come onto the bench.