The Willie Tonga Appreciation Thread

[Eelementary]

Some were wary of his injury-riddled past. Some were concerned about his excess weight from last season. And others were worried about his increasing age.

But whatever people's thoughts on Willie Tonga, the consensus - and I agree with this - is that he has been instrumental in Semi Radradra's blindingly awesome form, and as a senior player and leader, he has been key in keeping a squad of young players in check.

I think Willie has been phenomenal this season, and deserves a thread.

 

[I bleed blue & gold]

I'm happy for him. He is a competitor. I'm sure he has been very dissapointed with the last couple of years and was keen to make amends.

 

[Maroubra Eel]

He owes us.

 

[Joely01]

I think last year has more Ricky to blame then anyone, why he got him to put on so much weight is beyond me.
He is a class player, almost back to his best. This is the rep player he is capable of playing like consistently and it's great to watch.
He is a massive reason why semi is playing so well.

Keep it up willie!

 

[Eelementary]

He owes us.

You're right. And I'm sure Willie feels that way, too.

I'm glad to see him playing so well. I defended him stoutly last year because I have always thought he's a quality person and a great player.

 

[natheel]

You're right. And I'm sure Willie feels that way, too.

I'm glad to see him playing so well. I defended him stoutly last year because I have alwus thought he's a quality person and a great player.

100%

I was happy when we got him back from cowboys based purely because he was a origin rep who could add a lot of experience to a side with a lot of rookies in the back and it's finally paying off. If he continues this way I'd be tempted to give him another year

 

[Eelementary]

100%

I was happy when we got him back from cowboys based purely because he was a origin rep who could add a lot of experience to a side with a lot of rookies in the back and it's finally paying off. If he continues this way I'd be tempted to give him another year

He's still easily the best centre at the club IMO. If his body holds up, I don't think it would be a bad decision to offer him a new deal - especially because he's missed so much footy the last few years that his body might still be relatively fresh.

And having Willie take Semi under his wing for another year or two would only be a good thing IMO.

 

[Pazza]

The success of this season was always going to depend not just on the impact of our new signings but the ability of the players already in the side to play at their best, especially the ones who's production was way down on what it should have been. Tonga is a great example of this and i am so pleased to see him do well.

Watching Loko, Roberts and Reni operating down that left hand side last season was one of the most painful experiences i have had as an eels fan. Now watching Semi, Willie, Corey, Ma'u/Pauli do their work is indescribable, brilliant stuff!

 

[Poupou Escobar]

He is still contracted for 2015. He will be 32 at the end of this contract.

Let's f**k him off a year too early rather than a year too late, which could end up the case anyway.

 

[Parraren]

I remember the year he signed for us he played for Australia and QLD and I remember watching him thinking he had probably the best footwork for a centre in the comp.

When he eventually ran out for us in 2012 he just looked like he was wearing concrete boots. He just wasn't the same player.

Best thing he could have done was to trim down. He deadset looked 10 years younger when the promo photos came out for the 9's tournament in the pre-season. I honestly thought it was Holden cup player.

 

[Pazza]

He is still contracted for 2015. He will be 32 at the end of this contract.

Let's f**k him off a year too early rather than a year too late, which could end up the case anyway.

And replace him with a kid from NYC with no one else competing for the position?

Worked out awesome for your hero SK.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I thought he got more wrinkly.

 

[Eelementary]

He is still contracted for 2015. He will be 32 at the end of this contract.

Let's f**k him off a year too early rather than a year too late, which could end up the case anyway.

That's true - it's better to let him go a year early than a year late.

But if his body and form hold up well, he'd be worth consideration at least IMO.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

And replace him with a kid from NYC with no one else competing for the position?

Worked out awesome for your hero SK.

Let Morgan and Folau fight for the spot. f**k, by the end of 2015 plenty of other options might've appeared, including Nathan Davis.

A bloke in his 30s and a current teenager will be vastly different players in two years time.

 

[Pazza]

might fall into the same trap of losing quality and replacing them with no bodies.

anyone here think Semi would make a good centre? saw him attacking from centre a lot verse the roosters with Tonga outside him.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

might fall into the same trap of losing quality and replacing them with no bodies.

It might also fall into the trap of spending money and a top 25 slot on an injury-prone player in the twilight of his career and being unable to retain a promising youngster because of it.

The club knows how good the 'academy' players are, and they've got a fair idea of how good they're going to be - they are constantly testing and monitoring these kids precisely so that they can make an accurate judgement on who to keep, and how much they will be worth through the duration of their early contracts.

It's not just a matter of watching the guy on weekends against SG Ball or NYC level opposition. They test everything that can be tested - often in simulated match conditions. They compare this data to historical data for the same player, as well as conparing between players.

This is why we hear criticism (from dinosaurs) that the game is breeding athletes, not footballers. However every club wants to recruit footballers, but only if they meet the standard athletically. Because in this game the pure athlete will beat the pure footballer over 80 minutes every single time.

This makes those athletic footballers worth their weight in gold, but it makes slow, weak footballers worth f**k all, no matter how tough they are.

 

[Casper The Ghost]

I think last year has more Ricky to blame then anyone, why he got him to put on so much weight is beyond me.
He is a class player, almost back to his best. This is the rep player he is capable of playing like consistently and it's great to watch.
He is a massive reason why semi is playing so well.

Keep it up willie!

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

 

[Gary Gutful]

The "I told youse" thread.

 

[Gary Gutful]

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

There won't be enough lols to adequately capture the ensuing hilarity when Casper sees that Pou Pou used the word "penis" in another thread.

 

[hineyrulz]

There won't be enough lols to adequately capture the ensuing hilarity when Casper sees that Pou Pou used the word "penis" in another thread.

They say the smallest things amuse simple minds, pun not not intended.

I am sure Casper will find a penis joke in there somewhere.