Young Fijian Simione Sawene in line for contract with Newcastle

[Frederick]

Fri, 24 Feb*
By ROBERT DILLON*
Young Fijian Simione Sawene in line for contract with Newcastle


THE Knights are poised to sign Fijian triallist Simione Sawene but have no plans to recruit his high-profile countryman Watisoni Votu.
Sawene and Votu have played in three reserve-grade trials and spent the past month training with the Knights.
Sawene, a 20-year-old front-rower who grew up in Brisbane, has shown enough for the Knights to believe he can be a project player in their NSW Cup squad.
But Votu, the 26-year-old winger who captained Fiji’s World Sevens rugby union team in December, is understood to be considering offers from overseas.
Knights chief executive Matt Gidley said Sawene would be offered a second-tier deal.
‘‘We were probably looking for a front-rower to bolster our resources in the NSW Cup squad and Simione has been impressive in the trials and he’s been rewarded,’’ Gidley said. ‘‘He’ll be offered a 12-month contract.’’
Gidley was hopeful Votu would benefit from his short stint with the Knights.
‘‘He’s spent a few weeks training with an NRL club and hopefully he’ll learn from that experience and it will help him become a better player,’’ he said.
Sawene, who represented Fiji at the IRB World Junior Championship in Italy last June, is best known as a No.8 in rugby union but has been used as a prop since joining Newcastle.
At 196centimetres and 111kilograms, he appears to have the physical attributes to make an impact in the 13-man code.
Newcastle’s coaching staff believe he is young enough to make a successful transition.

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[billy2]

Bad news about Votu.
His 3 tries in 3 games shows he has plenty to offer in attack.
I hope he sticks with League for a year or two, but suspect he will go back to playing Union 7s.
Sawene is a huge unit and he improved noticably from trial one in the game this week. He looks ok doing hit ups but he doesn't get stuck in in defence like he should, rarely being second or third man in while others come from further away to help in defence.

 

[Footin mouth]

I think that there is plenty of talent to cover for Votu. To be honest Votu never got involved in the games he played. The tries he scored were pretty basic especially against Wests but Votu where he just strolled to the tryline with no one in front. Votu may be talented but in the game of rugby league wingers have to come in and take the ball up to relieve pressure of the forwards, all the trials games that I saw he never did ruck the ball up. He needs a more development before he can make NSW cup side.

 

[billy2]

I saw Votu ruck the ball up on the first tackle 2 or 3 times, and go looking to do it a few more times.
His two tries V Wests looked very simple, largely because everyone just stopped as soon as he put the hammer down, because they weren't going to go near him. He strolled in for the second one.
He had a lot to learn, but the run he had where he got the ball off an awkward bounce and ran up to a fully set defensive line and breezed past Simon Williams like the guy was stuck in cement showed he has plenty of flair. He isn't the first guy to get past Williams, but not even ex test players like Inu get past him like he is standing still.
I think Votu being 26 is what told against him. It would take 2 or 3 years to get him ready for firstgrade, and then he retires.

 

[Big Tim]

Age and depth in our outside backs would have worked against him.

Its clear that Bennett like Kev, we also have Pete and Wes. Too many numbers, not enough positions.

 

[Misanthrope]

We're developing a real Fijian flavor at the Knights. Love it. Love Fiji. Beautiful country and has a knack for creating exciting players.

 

[perverse]

we've built a very strong connection with Fiji over the past few years. roopy has spoken about it extensively, and yeah i think it's a great thing. they're a country that produces some amazing athletes, and it can't be a bad thing to have all their heroes playing for the Knights. you could almost say we're slowly but surely claiming it as our own catchment area.

 

[Rolla]

In my experience the are very mild, polite and friendly people too. Might just be the Kava though.

 

[billy2]

Fiji will give the World Cup next year a red hot go with Stone as coach and Bennett as adviser.

They have Civo, Tuquiri and Hayne on board, and they could get all three Sims brothers, both Naiqamas etc etc as well.

Apparently they have 32 NRL players interested.

The Knights will do a pre season camp in Fiji next year and play a trial against what should be a full strength Fiji side - which will double as a trial for the Fiji World Cup side.

Millard, Sutton and Hayne will need to find a way to make up a quality halves pairing, but apart from the halves they are strong all over the park.

They are a strong chance at repeating their fourth place finish, and a small chance to knock off one of the big three if they get lucky.

 

[Yosh]

Fiji National Team?

1. Uate
2. Tuquiri
3. Wes

5. Kev
6. Hayne

8. Civo

11. Sims
12. Sims
13. Sims

Who else would make the squad?

 

[macavity]

Votu's English isn't great - would be a major issue for him, in the backs especially.

 

[Joker's Wild]

Hayne and Tariq Sims will be playing for NSW before the next WC so will they be eligible for Fiji?

 

[slotmachine]

Fiji National Team?

1. Uate
2. Tuquiri
3. Wes

5. Kev
6. Hayne

8. Civo

11. Sims
12. Sims
13. Sims

Who else would make the squad?

Aku will be playing for us.

 

[RABK]

Yosh just wanted to revisit his Uate to fullback fantasy for a second.

 

[Yosh]

Don't we all?

 

[Misanthrope]

Christ, I hate the Kangaroos sometimes. Because we need Uate so badly.

 

[Joker's Wild]

The Kangaroos don't but NSW do and as the stupid eligibility rules mean 1 is not exclusive of the other, well here we are

 

[Newie is God's Country]

Great to see we let Fijian kids have a shot at their football dreams.