Season 2025

[Tiger05]

It’s glaring to me that out of that group of lemons who wouldn’t get a start at any other NRL club we don’t have 2 competent centres.Its a fit Olam followed by daylight re our centre options unless Turuva who is untried as a centre can transition effectively.Its why it won’t surprise me if Bird is selected as Olams centre partner.

You're not a fan mate. I reckon they'll be fine.

 

[Tiger Ted]

You're not a fan mate. I reckon they'll be fine.

There has certainly been numerous times over the last 5 or 6 seasons when I so wished I wasn’t a fan of the deplorable rabble.If giving an unfavourable opinion of players who have proven to be atrocious is ur definition of not being a fan then there would be very few fans.I actually believe we will go well this yr & we will find a way to cover for our deficiency in the centres especially as we are looking quite strong everywhere else.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

There has certainly been numerous times over the last 5 or 6 seasons when I so wished I wasn’t a fan of the deplorable rabble.If giving an unfavourable opinion of players who have proven to be atrocious is ur definition of not being a fan then there would be very few fans.I actually believe we will go well this yr & we will find a way to cover for our deficiency in the centres especially as we are looking quite strong everywhere else.

I’m in the same boat.

We will be playing to our strengths and I think our centres won’t need to be influential game breakers in their own right, but they will need to tight, precise and manage their defence properly.

AD and our rising star, Faatape, will be putting a lot of pressure on that backline and they both offer different skill sets.

If Faatape, despite his “senior moments” keeps moving forward, he will be a huge asset by the end of the year. He’s 110% effort, big enough to stop anyone, has the young legs and likes being mobile. So good platform.

I’m happy to flog our players, but it comes from a good place. Professionally and personally. Our ugly lot, a term of endearment, but as a member, yeah I have expectations.

No sniggering in the grandstand is one.

And hopefully Heath has worked on his fitness and Nado his discipline!

 

[Tigerm]

It’s glaring to me that out of that group of lemons who wouldn’t get a start at any other NRL club we don’t have 2 competent centres.Its a fit Olam followed by daylight re our centre options unless Turuva who is untried as a centre can transition effectively.Its why it won’t surprise me if Bird is selected as Olams centre partner.

We are expecting young Makasini to be introduced to the NRL at some stage this season.
By all accounts, he will end up a mainstay in the centres.

 

[Tiger05]

I actually believe we will go well this yr & we will find a way to cover for our deficiency in the centres especially as we are looking quite strong everywhere else.

This is better. I think we'll do well and our outside backs will be fine. I don't see our centres as any worse than our wingers.

 

[Tiger05]

If Faatape, despite his “senior moments” keeps moving forward, he will be a huge asset by the end of the year. He’s 110% effort, big enough to stop anyone, has the young legs and likes being mobile. So good platform.

He isn't even in our top 30. Personally I don't think he is great but as a back-up option he is fantastic. He can do the job in first grade. Same as Porter. These guys aren't top tier players but having these guys as back-up is huge.

 

[Tiger Ted]

This is better. I think we'll do well and our outside backs will be fine. I don't see out centres as any worse than our wingers.

I’m certainly more confident with our wingers.Turuva is a gun Skelton appears a powerhouse Staines is competent & I really like young Luke Laulilii.This kid could b anything & I love the intensity he plays with.He looks like a To’o clone.

 

[Tiger05]

I’m certainly more confident with our wingers.Turuva is a gun Skelton appears a powerhouse Staines is competent & I really like young Luke Laulilii.This kid could b anything & I love the intensity he plays with.He looks like a To’o clone.

We can easily move one of these guys into the centres. I reckon our squad looks good. It's just moulding a good team out of the guys we have.

 

[Tiger Pedro]

Another option for the centre position and possibly the best option IMHO is Starford Toa. Missed virtually all last year thru injury, however, if he has an injury free year (and hasn't lost speed or movement as a result of the injuries) I think he's a quality centre. Can sniff out a try (has a good strike rate for a centre) and I think he was as reliable defensively as any we've had in that position when considering the woeful overall defensive system / pattern any centre (one in defender) has had to endure over the past 3 years. I hope Starford is back fit and healthy and gets a go!

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

Yeah a lot of options once you dig deep!

 

[Nutz]

We can easily move one of these guys into the centres. I reckon our squad looks good. It's just moulding a good team out of the guys we have.

Our backline is improving and has better depth than previous years, but the fact remains, we don't have a marquee centre.
It really is the only piece of the puzzle missing.
If we roll the clock back a couple of years, I wonder how far up the ladder we'd go this year if we had Manu and Olam as centres. Manu was and still is a joy to watch.
Whilst we have our share of
ex- Panther players, let's make a play for Izack Tago, he goes alright ha ha.

 

[Nutz]

Another option for the centre position and possibly the best option IMHO is Starford Toa. Missed virtually all last year thru injury, however, if he has an injury free year (and hasn't lost speed or movement as a result of the injuries) I think he's a quality centre. Can sniff out a try (has a good strike rate for a centre) and I think he was as reliable defensively as any we've had in that position when considering the woeful overall defensive system / pattern any centre (one in defender) has had to endure over the past 3 years. I hope Starford is back fit and healthy and gets a go!

He goes alright and his latest injury was a cruel blow as he looked primed for a big return in '24. He's still young and has plenty of footy left in him.

 

[Nutz]

I’m certainly more confident with our wingers.Turuva is a gun Skelton appears a powerhouse Staines is competent & I really like young Luke Laulilii.This kid could b anything & I love the intensity he plays with.He looks like a To’o clone.

Luke Laulilii

 

[Wizardman]

Centres and bankrow are our main issues. We need our young ones to really step up as I have no confidence in Olam and Douhei for various reasons.

 

[Tiger Ted]

We can easily move one of these guys into the centres. I reckon our squad looks good. It's just moulding a good team out of the guys we have.

Turuva is the one most likely to make an effective transition to centre

 

[Tiger Ted]

Centres and bankrow are our main issues. We need our young ones to really step up as I have no confidence in Olam and Douhei for various reasons.

If Olam has overcome his knee issues he will do a job for us however AD who I mistakenly rated early in his career has become a major liability.They must have given him the extra yr on compassionate grounds due to his horrendous ACL injuries coz he certainly should’ve been discarded.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

If Olam has overcome his knee issues he will do a job for us however AD who I mistakenly rated early in his career has become a major liability.They must have given him the extra yr on compassionate grounds due to his horrendous ACL injuries coz he certainly should’ve been discarded.

Before his injury, I thought he re-signed for unders and the club were quite pleased with his gesture.

There was a lot of love for AD.

 

[Tiger05]

Before his injury, I thought he re-signed for unders and the club were quite pleased with his gesture.

It wasn't a gesture. It was the best option he could get.

There was a lot of love for AD.

I was once a fan. Then I saw his inconsistency over the game and across the season. Then his defensive efforts have been atrocious. On top of that he talks it up like he is a gun player.

Yes he has had some great moments in games and he shows attacking class at times that few players have.

When he came back last season I half talked him up and copped it. It wasn't long until he showed his true form. He had a great first game but past that point he was woeful.

The problem is that the positives haven't been anywhere near the negatives. I also think he may suffer from not being skilled enough for the halves, quick enough for the outside backs or big enough for the forwards.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

It wasn't a gesture. It was the best option he could get.



I was once a fan. Then I saw his inconsistency over the game and across the season. Then his defensive efforts have been atrocious. On top of that he talks it up like he is a gun player.

Yes he has had some great moments in games and he shows attacking class at times that few players have.

When he came back last season I half talked him up and copped it. It wasn't long until he showed his true form. He had a great first game but past that point he was woeful.

The problem is that the positives haven't been anywhere near the negatives. I also think he may suffer from not being skilled enough for the halves, quick enough for the outside backs or big enough for the forwards.

Fair enough, but he was once strike. Some players are never strike.

 

[Nutz]

It wasn't a gesture. It was the best option he could get.



I was once a fan. Then I saw his inconsistency over the game and across the season. Then his defensive efforts have been atrocious. On top of that he talks it up like he is a gun player.

Yes he has had some great moments in games and he shows attacking class at times that few players have.

When he came back last season I half talked him up and copped it. It wasn't long until he showed his true form. He had a great first game but past that point he was woeful.

The problem is that the positives haven't been anywhere near the negatives. I also think he may suffer from not being skilled enough for the halves, quick enough for the outside backs or big enough for the forwards.

I always pictured AD as a fullback, however he didn't do too well everytime he was put at the back.
He's caught in between roles and doesn't really excel at either.
He is a competitive player who hates losing and I've been saying for a long time on here that he'll be Olam's partner. I don't agree with it but our club seems to make these sort of decisions.