Willie Tonga signs with Pirtek Parramatta Eels

[Suitman]

Thirty five.

He'll be 35 next year?? :shock:
We should have kept Walker.

Suity

 

[Poupou Escobar]

He'll be 35 next year?? :shock:
We should have kept Walker.

But with so few games under his belt, it could prolong his career. He could play until he's 50.

 

[Parra Pride]

Esi Tonga seems a bit injury prone too, he didn't play a game last year. By round 1 next year he'll be 24 but only have played around 30 first grade games.

I could be wrong, but I think he was dropped because he wasn't going to be there next year.

 

[whall15]

If Loko needs to play on the left, I can't see any problem with Tonga on the right, he played there very well on Sunday, although against a make-shift centre and a debutant winger.

 

[Eels Dude]

But with so few games under his belt, it could prolong his career. He could play until he's 50.

If Brad Thorn can still make the All Blacks side at the age of 78 then there's hope for anyone.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I could be wrong, but I think he was dropped because he wasn't going to be there next year.

I don't think Eels Dude was saying Esi hasn't played much footy because he's no good; rather that he isn't very experienced, regardless of the reasons.

Anyway, there's only one way to gain experience, and Esi Tonga has a good chance of playing a lot of first grade in 2012. You'd think he will at least play a dozen games throughout the year.

If he's not in the top 4 wingers/centres then he'd have to be top 6. Personally I reckon the only certainty is Willie Tonga. After that there's about 5 guys competing for the other 3 spots.

 

[Eels Dude]

I could be wrong, but I think he was dropped because he wasn't going to be there next year.

It was a combination of both. He didn't start the season in first grade and that was well before he signed with us.

 

[Eels Dude]

I don't think Eels Dude was saying Esi hasn't played much footy because he's no good; rather that he isn't very experienced, regardless of the reasons.

Anyway, there's only one way to gain experience, and Esi Tonga has a good chance of playing a lot of first grade in 2012. You'd think he will at least play a dozen games throughout the year.

If he's not in the top 4 wingers/centres then he'd have to be top 6. Personally I reckon the only certainty is Willie Tonga. After that there's about 5 guys competing for the other 3 spots.

That's exactly right, that's what I was trying to say. I don't think he'll be a superstar but the thing with our backline next year is that apart from Hayne and Willie Tonga the rest of the spots are up for grabs so there will be competition for spots and form will likely determine which 3 out of Burt, Loko, Morgan, Sio, Esi, And Atkins grab those remaining spots.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

It was a combination of both. He didn't start the season in first grade and that was well before he signed with us.

He got injured in the first trial against the Broncos. Cartwright said he would probably have been in the side from round 1. When you consider he played 19 games in 2009, when the Titans finished third, he was fairly high up the list before he got injured the first time.

That was round 24 in 2009, when he dislocated his shoulder.

Then in the pre-season 2010 he tore a pectoral muscle in the gym.

Then again in the first trial of 2011 he was injured (not sure what injury).

He's definitely had his share of bad luck.

 

[Blue & Gold]

I'm just so glad that we are blessed with this predicament def looking better then playing 2 backrowers in the backline, not that anyone could of predicted what happened to us at the start of the last season.....boy am I excited for next year, bring it on!

 

[Parra Pride]

That's exactly right, that's what I was trying to say. I don't think he'll be a superstar but the thing with our backline next year is that apart from Hayne and Willie Tonga the rest of the spots are up for grabs so there will be competition for spots and form will likely determine which 3 out of Burt, Loko, Morgan, Sio, Esi, And Atkins grab those remaining spots.

Atkins will be nowhere near the squad unless we have a handful of injuries.... again....

 

[Eels Dude]

I'm just so glad that we are blessed with this predicament def looking better then playing 2 backrowers in the backline, not that anyone could of predicted what happened to us at the start of the last season.....boy am I excited for next year, bring it on!

You can never predict what will happen in the off season/ pre season. This time last year we were expecting our back 5 to be Hayne, Grothe, Reddy, Tahu, Burt, but only 2 of those 5 played more than a handful of games.

 

[Eels Dude]

Atkins will be nowhere near the squad unless we have a handful of injuries.... again....

Agreed. But you're always going to have injuries. That's why you have a squad of 25 players yet most clubs use nearly 30 in a given season.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Atkins will be nowhere near the squad unless we have a handful of injuries.... again....

I'm inclined to agree.

I reckon Burt, Esi Tonga, Morgan, Loko and Sio will be fighting for the other centre and both wing spots.

Then again, if it were up to me I wouldn't play Burt on the wing in first grade either.

 

[Pazza]

Burt will be there if fit, always has been!

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Burt will be there if fit, always has been!

Only because we've needed a goalkicker.

 

[Pazza]

Even with Inu in the side, Burt has still had a mortgage on the left wing spot!

 

[mickdo]

Was away for the test... did Willie play well?

 

[Gronk]

Was away for the test... did Willie play well?

Had lots of nice touches. Ran hard into holes and fed Uate with a bunch of tries.

 

[mickdo]

Had lots of nice touches. Ran hard into holes and fed Uate with a bunch of tries.

Nice! Hope we see plenty of that next year (with a Parra player in the role of Uate of course)