Grateful Latu reflects on his rise towards the NRL
Dragons teenager Finau Latu talks St George's 2024 SG Ball title, the joys of preseason & the role his family has played throughout his footballing journey.
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Thanks so much for your work Rev .Steelers (HM-U17's - BYE)
Steelers (SG - U19's) 32-4 Win:
What a side this is.. missing 3 of their best forwards in Weatherall, DMeafou and Phillips.. Taufa is a crucial cog in this team though.. hes such a big strong lad.. always bends the line. hes our intimidator... Centres are an issue also... I dont know what they will do, they have 4 centres im Heidke, Buchanan, Timmins & Tomo.. they are all guns.. its a real problem! Fitzy and Reed were great, Fityz big boot could be such as asset moving forward, but i dunno where all these boys could fit next year.. but a good puzzle to have.
- Probably a little lucky with a manly ball called back as forward, which it was but its not always called.. we went on with some good runs from Taufa and Fitzy.. and Borg runs a nice angle and beats an opponent to just get it down.. reed kicks the goal from near the touchline what a nice change to see lol.. 6-0.
- Mason Phillips is out this week with HIA from last round, they had Noah Parker as the 9, but a late call in for 15 Breakspear, big out for us, but hopefully the kids go ok.
- Nice simple try there with Breakspear going left late and Taufa running a decoy which gave Fitzy a little bit of room to drawn in his man and put #11 Smith over the line.. simple try but great to see. 12-0.
- Saifit Jr messed up the catch of the dropout.. now were dropping out from our line. Thankfully we defend and off their error Timmins picks it up and gets us out of trouble.
- Another attacking movement left.. same as before Breakspear looking right but passing left, Taufa a decoy, Fitzy > Borg > Timmins running right into a half hole and literally carrying a player on his back about 10m for the try out wide, 16-0.
- Forward pass from Reed in 1 set and we went back and forth for a while.. deft little kick into the ingoal from Reed for a repeat set, interesting watching him develop. Breakspear almost went over himself in the set that followed.. but instead a kick from Reed defelects and they run half the length.. few of our boys got back for the tackle, but it was noticeable how much faster Saifiti was travelling... but unfortunately last tackle they kick it wide and there is an overlap but Kirk is marking the centre and the manly winger can go in untouched.. not sure whos to blame there. 16-4.
- Bailey #13 got kicked in the head in an awkward tackle on a rampaging manly forward where he sort of flung him in the air, and hes on report for his part in it but I dont think there is anything in it.. hopefully not. Thankfully we defended brilliantly a few sets they had at us that followed.. ending with Saifiti flying off to make a tackle and missing.. but Heidke was brilliant and flung the winger into touch.. the winger had an open try line.
- Manly put on a really dangerous play late, Borg picked it up off his bootlaces at pace.. thank god.
- Massive bomb from Fitzy.. their bloke spills the catch and we go under the posts.. but its called back cause we tackled the guy in the air (well after he dropped it), was dumb tbh and unfortunate.But watching it back I think its unlucky, our 11 had commited to the tackle before his opponent suddenly leapt for it... wasnt deliberate.
- Good defensive set to finish, Bailey put a bloke in his a$$, penalty on half time from 45m out in front.. Reed nails it lol.. so refreshing after watching us struggle to goalkick in all grades these last few years... 18-4 half time.
- 2nd half and Fitzy gets a pass to Timmins who gets a late flick out the back to Tom Kirk who dives for a tough try in the corner.. 42-4, great way to start the half.
- Fitzy just got tossed above the horizontal on his head.. got pinged for losing the ball and when he asked the qn about the tackle.. got marched for backchat.. far out.
- Manly winger dives in to the corner.. Borg comes in and belts the besjsus out of him into touch.. hes pumped too.. f***ing love it when a young side is into their defence.
- Finally after many sets where we tested them.. we finally got there with Reed>Fitzy>Timmins, Timmins putting on footwork to beat a defender clean and goes over to put a seal on the game 30-6.
- Manlys #10 is a handful we defended well to save a late Manly try.. our boys are out on their feet... Saifit still doing plenty of work.. not sure what to make of him, hes really hard to stop and plenty quick.. just not sure about the footy smarts.. but rly enjoying watching him, cause if he comes good.. he will be a crowd favourite.
- After the Buzzer Reed puts in a cheeky kick, kicks again.. tackled without the ball before he could crash over.. penalty.. 32-4 win, well done boys.
Thanks Rev- I'll have to attend one of your services.Steelers (HM-U17's - BYE)
Steelers (SG - U19's) 32-4 Win:
What a side this is.. missing 3 of their best forwards in Weatherall, DMeafou and Phillips.. Taufa is a crucial cog in this team though.. hes such a big strong lad.. always bends the line. hes our intimidator... Centres are an issue also... I dont know what they will do, they have 4 centres im Heidke, Buchanan, Timmins & Tomo.. they are all guns.. its a real problem! Fitzy and Reed were great, Fityz big boot could be such as asset moving forward, but i dunno where all these boys could fit next year.. but a good puzzle to have.
- Probably a little lucky with a manly ball called back as forward, which it was but its not always called.. we went on with some good runs from Taufa and Fitzy.. and Borg runs a nice angle and beats an opponent to just get it down.. reed kicks the goal from near the touchline what a nice change to see lol.. 6-0.
- Mason Phillips is out this week with HIA from last round, they had Noah Parker as the 9, but a late call in for 15 Breakspear, big out for us, but hopefully the kids go ok.
- Nice simple try there with Breakspear going left late and Taufa running a decoy which gave Fitzy a little bit of room to drawn in his man and put #11 Smith over the line.. simple try but great to see. 12-0.
- Saifit Jr messed up the catch of the dropout.. now were dropping out from our line. Thankfully we defend and off their error Timmins picks it up and gets us out of trouble.
- Another attacking movement left.. same as before Breakspear looking right but passing left, Taufa a decoy, Fitzy > Borg > Timmins running right into a half hole and literally carrying a player on his back about 10m for the try out wide, 16-0.
- Forward pass from Reed in 1 set and we went back and forth for a while.. deft little kick into the ingoal from Reed for a repeat set, interesting watching him develop. Breakspear almost went over himself in the set that followed.. but instead a kick from Reed defelects and they run half the length.. few of our boys got back for the tackle, but it was noticeable how much faster Saifiti was travelling... but unfortunately last tackle they kick it wide and there is an overlap but Kirk is marking the centre and the manly winger can go in untouched.. not sure whos to blame there. 16-4.
- Bailey #13 got kicked in the head in an awkward tackle on a rampaging manly forward where he sort of flung him in the air, and hes on report for his part in it but I dont think there is anything in it.. hopefully not. Thankfully we defended brilliantly a few sets they had at us that followed.. ending with Saifiti flying off to make a tackle and missing.. but Heidke was brilliant and flung the winger into touch.. the winger had an open try line.
- Manly put on a really dangerous play late, Borg picked it up off his bootlaces at pace.. thank god.
- Massive bomb from Fitzy.. their bloke spills the catch and we go under the posts.. but its called back cause we tackled the guy in the air (well after he dropped it), was dumb tbh and unfortunate.But watching it back I think its unlucky, our 11 had commited to the tackle before his opponent suddenly leapt for it... wasnt deliberate.
- Good defensive set to finish, Bailey put a bloke in his a$$, penalty on half time from 45m out in front.. Reed nails it lol.. so refreshing after watching us struggle to goalkick in all grades these last few years... 18-4 half time.
- 2nd half and Fitzy gets a pass to Timmins who gets a late flick out the back to Tom Kirk who dives for a tough try in the corner.. 42-4, great way to start the half.
- Fitzy just got tossed above the horizontal on his head.. got pinged for losing the ball and when he asked the qn about the tackle.. got marched for backchat.. far out.
- Manly winger dives in to the corner.. Borg comes in and belts the besjsus out of him into touch.. hes pumped too.. f***ing love it when a young side is into their defence.
- Finally after many sets where we tested them.. we finally got there with Reed>Fitzy>Timmins, Timmins putting on footwork to beat a defender clean and goes over to put a seal on the game 30-6.
- Manlys #10 is a handful we defended well to save a late Manly try.. our boys are out on their feet... Saifit still doing plenty of work.. not sure what to make of him, hes really hard to stop and plenty quick.. just not sure about the footy smarts.. but rly enjoying watching him, cause if he comes good.. he will be a crowd favourite.
- After the Buzzer Reed puts in a cheeky kick, kicks again.. tackled without the ball before he could crash over.. penalty.. 32-4 win, well done boys.
Weatherall was training with the injured players on fan day, did a lot of short sprint work with some others, always last but looks a real goer.Hi guys, long time lurker first time poster, I am curious to know if anyone knows when Weatherall of meafou will be back? Also what was hikila doing with the play the balls! Was that match fixing?
Champion effort again Rev .Love your work.Steelers SG Ball Notes (20-34 Loss):
Was a very even game, the raiders had more size than us was the only thing.. very hard to tackle some of those forwards running at pace.. but having said that a couple of key moments was all that was in it.. and letting them get off to a flyer.. rly hope we get DMeafou and Weatherall back soon.. our best forwards r out.. so we can be a better team than this.
- Missing a bunch of players including Mason Phillips + 2-3 of their best forwards against another unbeaten team.. tough assignment... the size difference is very noticeable, they have some big strong units.
- Very windy conditions and the Raiders got off to a flyer with 2 tries under the posts for easy conversions... 0-12.
- Finally got some ball.. Heidke with a big run to start the set and then a nice grubber from Reed to thread it into the ingoal for Hedike to finish. 6-12.
- Next attacking set.. Reed > Borg > Saifiti too quick into the corner.. Saifiti is rly quick btw lol. 10-12. Goalkick off the upright from the edge.
- Another barrge over close to the ruck.. ffs.. we have to fix that area up just left and right of the ruck.. again in front, 10-18.
- Been some flabbergasting decisions by the ref against us.. commentators are like wtf. 10-18 halftime.
- Crap dropped ball turns into a raiders try out side.. ffs.. 10-22.... then Kirk puts the restart deadingoal for a penalty on halfway.. come on boys..
- Heidke runs about 40 with a beatiful slicing run.. I thought the offload might have been forward but tbf camera is at an awful angle.. trytime with Reed supporting. Beautiful tough conversion of his try too.. 16-22.
- Heidke again lol.. Reed puts him in a little space and hes too skillful.. hes like a surgeon the way he cuts into open spaces. 20-22.
- Damn it Saifiti makes an error on a hitup.. hes an incredible player but has some glitches.. and its rly hurt us a big forward crashing over again under the posts, 20-28 that could be the game with goalkicking such a challenge.. 55mins in.
- 3 raiders to contest Borg taking his bomb.. he knocks is back thankfully and Kirk has a 40m run into a penalty and were attacking their line.. Heidke cut down 1m out.. unforced error from Parker at dummy half.
- Borg runs 50 off the kick return.. but 5mins left.. on their line but cant convert.. 4mins left.
- Timmins runs 50.. but his eventual offload gets knocked back by a raider into another raider and they survive..
- Penalty against us.. and a soft try for them to finish again under the sticks.. 20-34 loss.