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Rumoured Targets 3

Burwood

Bench
Messages
4,769
And who exactly are these backrowers we apparently have filling our squad? Having Friz, Fitz, Jones, Barnett is a pretty thin.
 

Woosh

Head Moderator
Messages
1,032
He may have been on the losing side last Sunday but Enari Tuala earned himself a slice of history that's been 34 years in the making in Newcastle's 28-20 loss to Parramatta in Rockhampton. In crossing for three tries against the Eels in his side's sudden-death play-offs defeat, the Knights winger became the first player in the club's history to score a hat-trick in a finals game. It's a feat that eluded even the likes of Newcastle's most prolific try-scorers Aku Uate, Timana Tahu and Adam MacDougall. It finished off an outstanding end to the season for Tuala with the Cairns-born 22-year-old now on the verge of re-signing with the Knights for another two years. One of only two players [Connor Watson was the other] to feature in all 25 games for the Knights this season, Tuala is the only member of Newcastle's finals squad still unsigned for 2022. But club officials are confident he won't be going anywhere else with a new deal expected to be finalised over the next week to keep him at the club. After only showing average form for a large chunk of the season, it took a positional change to turn Tuala's fortunes around. After spending all bar one of the opening 18 games as a right centre, scoring just two tries, Tuala was switched to the left wing by coach Adam O'Brien for the Knights' round 20 clash against the Canberra Raiders. The move proved to be a masterstroke. He score a hat-trick in that Raiders game and didn't look back. In the final seven games to end the season, he crossed for 11 tries and finished as the club's leading try-scorer with 13. Fullback Kalyn Ponga was next best with eight. Knights coach Adam O'Brien said Tuala is a highly valued member of the squad. "Enari didn't miss a game for us, was really consistent and at the back end of the season, he showed us just how good a finisher he is after we pushed him out to the wing," O'Brien said. "He showed great athleticism for some of those tries and from my point of view, he is a pleasure to coach. I certainly don't lie awake at night wondering what Enari is going to bring to the table each week." Tuala's re-signing will be among the final pieces sorted in the Knights' roster puzzle for next season. The club is still in the market for a backrower while young playmaker Phoenix Crossland is also set to be offered a new one-year deal. The futures of Text Hoy and Jack Johns are yet to be determined but both could still be squeezed into the squad. # Meanwhile, the NRL says it is still reviewing the circumstances behind the decision to allowed Knights backrower Tyson Frizell to return to the field against Parramatta last Sunday after he appeared unsteady on his feet from concussion.
 

Yosh

Coach
Messages
11,245
Tuala is so rocks and diamonds

Ok, rocks and less shit rocks

Really? He is a gun finisher, great under the high ball and a solid defender. The only weakness in his game is his kick returns are average at best. I think he can be a really great left winger for us for a long time. Personally I'm looking forward to seeing him partner Gagai and Ponga down that left side. We probably concede 4 times a game down that side but will score 8.
 
Messages
1,923
Really? He is a gun finisher, great under the high ball and a solid defender. The only weakness in his game is his kick returns are average at best. I think he can be a really great left winger for us for a long time. Personally I'm looking forward to seeing him partner Gagai and Ponga down that left side. We probably concede 4 times a game down that side but will score 8.
"Solid defender"? What games have you been watching mate. His efforts against Parra were awful

Tuala has had some "good" games on the wing for us sure. Generally against less than stellar opposition and usually on the back of either Pongas or Bests good work. His games in the centres, well, i struggle to remember any of them being better than "ok" and quite a few have been outright diabolical
 

Yosh

Coach
Messages
11,245
"Solid defender"? What games have you been watching mate. His efforts against Parra were awful

Tuala has had some "good" games on the wing for us sure. Generally against less than stellar opposition and usually on the back of either Pongas or Bests good work. His games in the centres, well, i struggle to remember any of them being better than "ok" and quite a few have been outright diabolical

Oh you were basing your opinion purely off the Parra game were you? Nice. Great observation there.

Is he a defensive specialist? Of course not. Is his defense first grade standard. I definitely think so. If anything tries down that side are due to Best's defensive issues not Tuala's.
 

Mr_Knightside

Juniors
Messages
2,155
Tuala has shown he can be a competent first grade winger but I still think a fully fit Edrick Lee would take his spot because he adds that aerial threat and better metres out of our end of the field. Given what’s on the market right now I’d prefer to keep Edrick for an extra year on the cheap if his foot heals rather than shopping for another winger.
 

Jono078

Referee
Messages
21,112
I think the difference between what a Tuala offers compared to a Lee is Lee would bring enthusiasm to the team and confidence he'd do the job in defense and attack. Lee would jam in and shut down a play and fire the boys up and he'd always contest any half decent ball Pearce threw up in the air.

Whereas Tuala almost plays not to make a mistake.

I guess that's an experience and age thing.

As I've said previously, I don't think it's time to give up on Tuala after the investment we've put into him over the past 2 years. He's still capable of learning and getting stronger and improving his craft. Not a high ceiling but certainly capable of being Hymel Hunt kind of solid.
 
Messages
1,923
Oh you were basing your opinion purely off the Parra game were you? Nice. Great observation there.

Is he a defensive specialist? Of course not. Is his defense first grade standard. I definitely think so. If anything tries down that side are due to Best's defensive issues not Tuala's.
Pump the brakes there champ

His defence has been average all year, just particularly bad against Parra last week. It's called an example mate and it's just one of many
 
Messages
3,663
Apparently Mullen is after a swan song and was in AOB’s ear and chatting to Pearce at the awards night. Any interest? Despite his history, I still love the guy and wouldn’t begrudge him a minimum wage contract.
I'd give him a go.
Maybe in Cup and available as a half back.
What I'd really like to see is Mullen taken under the wing as a trainer or halves coach or similar.
I reckon he could have a future in coaching.
 

Jono078

Referee
Messages
21,112
That’s what we thought about Watson after three injury ravaged seasons and then he played every game this year.

Not saying that we sign Edrick to a long deal but 1 year on low coin = low risk

There don’t seem to be many alternatives out there either.
This is exactly it. It's not like we're pinning our hopes on Edrick. It's if he comes good we give him a 1 year deal and IF he's back to his normal self he's easily our best winger. Even if he injures himself again it's no real difference to our current situation.
 

Burwood

Bench
Messages
4,769
Lee is easily worth the risk. Even Foran, who for the first time since about 2014, has managed to string games together this year, so I’m not willing to put a line through Lee’s career just yet.
 

Jono078

Referee
Messages
21,112
Assuming Michael Maguire is sacked from the Tigers, do you think he might be the perfect assistant to bring in?

I’m not sold on him entirely but he’s a tough kind of character and I’d like that here. I think he could be a real compliment to AOB.
 

Knight Tales

Juniors
Messages
2,343
Not sure what Tigers hope to achieve getting rid of a bloke who has success in The bank in both NRL and SL in the last decade.
 
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