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Recruitment for next year

TheDMC

Bench
Messages
3,419
you mean a Vete, Gubb, Gavett, Lisone type forward ?

Welcome to the forum, Villa ;-)


Gubb? hahaha.

No I don't mean a Gubb type forward. Bless him though.

Vete/Lisone have potential but are not yet near the echelon of those I mentioned. They most likely will never be, although I hope they will get there.
 

vvvrulz

Coach
Messages
13,625
Welcome Villa

Number one on my wish list would be a high quality half. But to be honest recruitment isn't the crux of the problem, we're fielding good sides who are not getting the return they should be. I'd be looking to make that top priority.
 

Penrose Warrior

First Grade
Messages
9,480
Welcome Villa

Number one on my wish list would be a high quality half. But to be honest recruitment isn't the crux of the problem, we're fielding good sides who are not getting the return they should be. I'd be looking to make that top priority.

Absolutely. Recruitment is wasted energy without a good coach and systems. And there's no glaring hole in our squad.

I still think if there's a big-time prop who wants to come, sign him. I don't rate Lisone. In the IQ mould of Gubb and doesn't show up for big games. Lillyman will get older and older, then you're an injury/complete form slide of Matulino away from a completely poxy front row stocks.
 
Messages
11,294
Robson and leuluai will go, as will maumalo and hurrel already has gone. Might lose wright too.

Based on that, we need and outside back and a half.

Jordan kahu would be great as would Anthony don. If many decides to move on, maybe we should make a play at mansour.

Not sure what halves are off contract.

maumalo is here next year
 

Rich102

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
11,764
Absolutely. Recruitment is wasted energy without a good coach and systems. And there's no glaring hole in our squad.

I still think if there's a big-time prop who wants to come, sign him. I don't rate Lisone. In the IQ mould of Gubb and doesn't show up for big games. Lillyman will get older and older, then you're an injury/complete form slide of Matulino away from a completely poxy front row stocks.

5. Sam Lisone Interchange 30 17 13 (135m) 6 12 1 2

Not bad for a youngster.
Props need a bit of time to mature. He will be just fine.
 

Manu Vatuvei

Coach
Messages
17,226
imo we are underrating Lisone and Vete a bit.

Lisone lacks a little size but makes up for it with his high impact runs and ball skills. Can play the impact role but I think/hope that longer term he can play more of a workhorse-with-skills role, like a James Graham type. I have been pissed off with his bonehead plays in first grade but I suspect that might be linked to the "go crazy" role he's been given. Was a totally different style of player in NYC (not that that's always the best gauge of course).

Vete is more a no frills prop with more size, not likely to be a world-beater but I like him and actually think he's a better first grader than Lisone at the moment, plays hard and has more physical presence than any of our other props bar Matulino imo.

I guess this might just be the tiny little optimist in me speaking.
 

tangalife

Juniors
Messages
530
Definitely a strike 2nd rower. Shame nothing coming through the U20s or NSW cup. I guess Ali was a one off.
OUr back three are all the same: 80minute, hardworking but hardly likely to terrorise the defensive line.
Its so much easier for a fullback or half following a strike 2nd rower who can free the ball in the tackle .
Is there anyone out there who would come to NZ?

I would also like another prop. Im guessing we wont pay overs for someone like Aiden Tolman who is very consistent. We need to snag someone on the up who is looking for a payrise. Maybe a Sharks or Storm player that's not getting much game time.
I am kind of in Rich's camp a little bit about Kata He has had 2 years now to improve his skills as a centre. He is a total ball hog and doesnt look like changing. When he does pass, they are usually crazy, have to get rid of it passes that cost us. He reminds me of Matt Utai with his power running. He should be on the wing if he doesnt start playing like a centre should.
Would love to have Brent Tate in this years team as he would have been great for them. Unfortunately, you cant turn back time...

Tate was the ultimate ball hog cejntre?

I havent seen many instances where Kata has needed to pass. He easily finds the line by keeping ball in hand. I dont see a problem with it. It's only bad if he backs himself and fails everytime.

I think he's a guy who has improved leaps and bounds, I really disliked him last year and thought he wouldn't amount to much, but he's changed his game to suit his smaller stature but still powerful nature.
 

KeepingTheFaith

Referee
Messages
25,235
A big bodied forward leader would be nice, and an outside back would be handy.

Lousi, Robson, Wright, Palavi, Hurrell will all be off the books next year, possibly Lane/TL too.

Tevaga, Ayshford, Hingano are likely to be re-signed, but I can't see them costing a ton of money.

You'd think we'd be in a position to pick up at least one reasonable signing and maybe another lesser signing for competition without it costing us anyone we want to keep.
 

Penrose Warrior

First Grade
Messages
9,480
5. Sam Lisone Interchange 30 17 13 (135m) 6 12 1 2

Not bad for a youngster.
Props need a bit of time to mature. He will be just fine.

Is that his numbers v the Knights?

I dunno, in sport you either like the cut of a guy's jib or you don't. I don't with him. He'd need to change the headless chicken approach before I'd start rating him. That doesn't last long in the NRL. He's not big, either. If he starts developing footwork, an offload etc, great. But I feel like Vete is 10x the prospect.
 

Big Marn

Bench
Messages
2,971
Is that his numbers v the Knights?

I dunno, in sport you either like the cut of a guy's jib or you don't. I don't with him. He'd need to change the headless chicken approach before I'd start rating him. That doesn't last long in the NRL. He's not big, either. If he starts developing footwork, an offload etc, great. But I feel like Vete is 10x the prospect.

yeh, he makes a lot of hairbrained decisions in the heat of battle. kind of reminds me of Epalahame Lauaki in that respect. always shooting himself in the foot after doing something good. But with time, he might become more sensible. I am trying to remember what Sam Rapira was like when he first came on the scene.
 

Penrose Warrior

First Grade
Messages
9,480
yeh, he makes a lot of hairbrained decisions in the heat of battle. kind of reminds me of Epalahame Lauaki in that respect. always shooting himself in the foot after doing something good. But with time, he might become more sensible. I am trying to remember what Sam Rapira was like when he first came on the scene.

Sam I don't think was ever that way. I remember him seeming beyond his years when he entered FG. Maybe it's the person, maybe it's the environment. I dunno. And absolutely, over time he may improve his temperament. People are allowed to mature. Just at the minute, he's not someone I trust in the heat of the battle v a good side. The big pumping legs and the furrowed brow don't trick good oppositions for long. Look at Matagi. He burst onto the scene the first year with us, became a cult hero...then either burnt out, got found out, or didn't have anything else to his game.
 

Iafeta

Referee
Messages
24,357
imo we are underrating Lisone and Vete a bit.

Lisone lacks a little size but makes up for it with his high impact runs and ball skills. Can play the impact role but I think/hope that longer term he can play more of a workhorse-with-skills role, like a James Graham type. I have been pissed off with his bonehead plays in first grade but I suspect that might be linked to the "go crazy" role he's been given. Was a totally different style of player in NYC (not that that's always the best gauge of course).

Vete is more a no frills prop with more size, not likely to be a world-beater but I like him and actually think he's a better first grader than Lisone at the moment, plays hard and has more physical presence than any of our other props bar Matulino imo.

I guess this might just be the tiny little optimist in me speaking.

Agreed on both. They're both very talented players. Lisone is offering us a lot at the moment with his ball playing on the edges. It keeps the defences honest.

Tate was the ultimate ball hog cejntre?

I havent seen many instances where Kata has needed to pass. He easily finds the line by keeping ball in hand. I dont see a problem with it. It's only bad if he backs himself and fails everytime.

I think he's a guy who has improved leaps and bounds, I really disliked him last year and thought he wouldn't amount to much, but he's changed his game to suit his smaller stature but still powerful nature.

Agree with this too. I'd say a number of clubs would quite happily take Solomone Kata off our hands and be quite excited by the prospect. You're quite right on Brent Tate, and there's a number of other very successful centres who choose to run first and use their footwork and strength to take advantage. Sol's doing a bang up job this year, what I really like is how much his defence has improved. Onwards and upwards with him, the criticism he has copped IMO is nit picking at best.
 

gordynz

Juniors
Messages
565
Looking at the list of off contract players I'd only really be making desperate moves right now for Hingano, get him locked up for the next four years. Depending on how the caps looking I'd next re-sign : Benry, Tevaga, Gubb, Lane, and Wells. The others I'd only look at once we've done some external scouting.

Few names on my wishlist:

Luke Lewis (very unlikely)
Sam Tagataese
Nelson Asofa-Solomona
Mitch Aubusson
Curtis Rona
 

Penrose Warrior

First Grade
Messages
9,480
There ya go.

I can't see us doing a lot of recruitment in the off-season. It's come time to develop the talent and bring through the youth as has happened with Fus and Kata this year. The likes of Vete, Lisone, Sipley, maybe even Hingano, Lane have a vital next couple of months to further expose them to first grade and ensure they're that much better and ready to play bigger roles in 2017.

If we can get role players like a better outside back to replace Wright, let's do that bit of business...but otherwise it's time to start coaching and making our guys better. Because I think we'd all acknowledge we have the ability.
 

Big Marn

Bench
Messages
2,971
Agreed on both. They're both very talented players. Lisone is offering us a lot at the moment with his ball playing on the edges. It keeps the defences honest.



Agree with this too. I'd say a number of clubs would quite happily take Solomone Kata off our hands and be quite excited by the prospect. You're quite right on Brent Tate, and there's a number of other very successful centres who choose to run first and use their footwork and strength to take advantage. Sol's doing a bang up job this year, what I really like is how much his defence has improved. Onwards and upwards with him, the criticism he has copped IMO is nit picking at best.

jeez, i must be getting dementia or something cause thats not how i remember Tate at all. Senility has kicked in already for me. He was an amazing communicator on defence right?
 
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Big Marn

Bench
Messages
2,971
Looking at the list of off contract players I'd only really be making desperate moves right now for Hingano, get him locked up for the next four years. Depending on how the caps looking I'd next re-sign : Benry, Tevaga, Gubb, Lane, and Wells. The others I'd only look at once we've done some external scouting.

Few names on my wishlist:

Luke Lewis (very unlikely)
Sam Tagataese
Nelson Asofa-Solomona
Mitch Aubusson
Curtis Rona


Cleary got rid of Lewis from Penrith so not sure how he was affecting culture there
Tagatese has been with 3 clubs and longest time has been Sharks after early release from Titans. We dont have a very good strikerate with Sharks players so far.
Aubusson has been around awhile. Solid journeyman i guess

Dont know NAS at all and Rona would be an upgrade on Wright.
 
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