Why do we need Israel Folau?

[Poupou Escobar]

For those who think we're in a 'predicament', what exactly is wrong with our roster? We have plenty of youth, good depth, and a couple of stars.

This year we had Luke Burt and three rookies play 80+ games between them. We also had long term injuries to key players.

Next year those rookies are a year wiser, Burt is gone, and what are the chances of two years in a row with the side decimated by injury?

For those putting shit on Willie Tonga, he was an Australian rep just 12 months ago, and an Origin player last year. If he can strong a few games together without injury he is still a very good player.

Hayne was awesome in his 12 games this year. We'll go a lot better if he can play most of the season.

Finally, Sandow showed glimpses of his brilliance throughout the year. If Mannah can get back to his 2011 form, and Lussick becomes the player he can be, Sandow will thrive on the improved time and space. If not we have Luke Kelly to run the patient game, with Sandow sitting back waiting for opportunities.

 

[Maroubra Eel]

I reckon we are alright with Willie Tonga for next year. Fallow would have been good for years to come.

Anyway I'm now confident after reading Staggers posts that he will be signed.

 

[oldmancraigy]

I think our outside backs are sketchy, and that's being generous.

I fail to see how Luke Burt being part of any outside back rotation was a good thing this season? Surely the fact that he played at all indicates the ineptitude of the other blokes.

In the end, if we had a Tonga/ Folau combination in the centres, I'd have more confidence in our defence out wide (which was atrocious) and in our attack out wide (which was atrocious).

If the only possible option was Folau OR Tonga, then I don't see that getting him next year is a massive massive thing, but I think having Folau instead of Tonga gives us (a) the better player of the 2 and (b) a long term centre partner for Hoppa.

 

[hineyrulz]

Wouldn't care either way if he signs or doesn't, he will add plenty to the team but by the looks he'll be costing the club more than we can afford.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

I agree - while it would be nice to have izzy I wouldn't be breaking the bank for him considering hoppa is here in 2014

Also the biggest problem with our backline wasn't scoring points (which is what izzy is good at ) but their crap defence (which izzy is not reknown for )

I actually have some hope for 2013.

 

[Noise]

Our outside backs have no strike power. Even Tonga (who has been injury prone for years) only made a handful of linebreaks (and was it 1 try??) this year. Izzy would have given us a genuine attacking weapon out wide.

In regards to defence, our edge defence is horrible - and yes i realise that is also due to our halves and 2nd rowers but a decent center on each side of the field would help. Tonga was good defensively on one side, izzy would improve it on the other.

Our ability to diffuse bombs was absolutely shithouse this year. There is no arguing that Izzy would have helped out here.

 

[boxhead]

Mostly I wanted him because it would actually create a lot of interest in our team, and plus, it has been years since we've signed a genuine, young representative quality star player. Also, as much as our outside backs are young and still developing, I don't have too much faith in most of them.

And plus, we suck in the air. He scores something like 18-20 tries a season on average.

 

[Maroubra Eel]

Yeah he's pretty crap. We don't need him.

I think this stage is the denial one.

 

[The Engineers Room]

In the end, if we had a Tonga/ Folau combination in the centres, I'd have more confidence in our defence out wide (which was atrocious) and in our attack out wide (which was atrocious).

Tonga gives me not confidence in attack or defence.

Did he beat a player at all this year, can't remember a time and even when he got quality ball he struggled to capitalise. I remember a few occasions where he just needed to draw and pass but he couldn't do that. On the defensive end I remember he getting showed up often.

Tonga based on this year is a myth and needs to go. Falou as one centre and either Morgan or Blair as the other is our best option. Blair needs work on his defence but I can see he has real potential as an attacking centre. Morgan has the speed and his defence is a little better than Blair.

 

[strider]

cos he has a sharply honed kicking game

 

[oldmancraigy]

I agree - while it would be nice to have izzy I wouldn't be breaking the bank for him considering hoppa is here in 2014

Also the biggest problem with our backline wasn't scoring points (which is what izzy is good at ) but their crap defence (which izzy is not reknown for )

I actually have some hope for 2013.

Um?

How many teams scored less points than us last year?

Don't bother looking it up, I'll give you the answer: it was 2.

Our outside backs and attack are words that don't go together in 2012.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I think our outside backs are sketchy, and that's being generous.

I fail to see how Luke Burt being part of any outside back rotation was a good thing this season?

It wasn't. That's why I included him with the rookies. What's good is he is no longer at the club (and the rookies are no longer rookies).

Surely the fact that he played at all indicates the ineptitude of the other blokes.

In the end, if we had a Tonga/ Folau combination in the centres, I'd have more confidence in our defence out wide (which was atrocious) and in our attack out wide (which was atrocious).

Tonga is at the top end of what you'd want to pay for a centre. If Schubert has his way Faloo will cost even more.

Centre's just not that important a position any more.

If the only possible option was Folau OR Tonga, then I don't see that getting him next year is a massive massive thing, but I think having Folau instead of Tonga gives us (a) the better player of the 2 and (b) a long term centre partner for Hoppa.

I don't want Hopoate to play centre. I don't even really want Hayne to play five-eighth. When Sticky rings me I'll tell him that too.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Yeah he's pretty crap. We don't need him.

I think this stage is the denial one.

Nobody doubts he's a good player. The question is whether we need to allocate that much of the cap to him.

Jason Taumalolo would have been a great signing. If I was in denial I would have said he was shit, but I regret we missed out on him. I would have liked to have gotten Hinchcliffe too.

But guys like T-Rex and Folau wouldn't have been good signings. IMO.

 

[Maroubra Eel]

Nobody doubts he's a good player. The question is whether we need to allocate that much of the cap to him.

He's coming cheap. Most of it's third party. He's a bargain and if we miss him it will hurt us.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Um?

How many teams scored less points than us last year?

Don't bother looking it up, I'll give you the answer: it was 2.

Our outside backs and attack are words that don't go together in 2012.

Given we had the worst go-forward and disruption to our playmakers, I'd say our outside backs did a good job this year.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

He's coming cheap. Most of it's third party. He's a bargain and if we miss him it will hurt us.

If he comes cheap then he's a great signing but doesn't Schubert have a problem with him coming cheap?

And even if we got him cheap next year, he was going to be on big money for 2014 and beyond. The same 2014 and beyond where Hopoate will be on big money.

 

[spiderdan]

Nobody doubts he's a good player. The question is whether we need to allocate that much of the cap to him.

that's probably the key point that has been lost in this circus of an attempted signing.

he'd be a great player to have on the books but i think no centre/winger (bar inglis before his switch to fullback) is worth more than $400k of cap space. it was the same situation when jennings was linked to us through the media.

it would still be a joke if he ended up at a club like souths if it was cap rules that stopped us getting him.

izzy may be better than anyone else taking an attacking high ball but when fit, tonga is just as dangerous running the ball and morgan improved more than i thought he was capable of last year. plus we have crazy jake to return, and he may live up to potential for a lot less cash and hopa2 here in 2014 (again, too much to play centre but hayne may play pivot if he stays).

 

[spiderdan]

If he comes cheap then he's a great signing but doesn't Schubert have a problem with him coming cheap?

that's my understanding.

wouldn't matter if he had $1m of third party deals in a $1.055m deal, schubert still wants him valued at $400k minimum cap space.

 

[jason taylor]

Hock would have been a lot more useful than Folau imo. Too bad we wouldn't have had enough money for him either.

 

[Eelementary]

We need Folau so we can move him to the back row...