What is the story with Faagatu?
Yes had an injury, leg I think, for a few weeks & came back in Flegg yesterday.What is the story with Faagatu?
Laulilii is promising but has a huge amount of work to do defensively. I really like his tough carries, and he'll only get better as he builds himself up, but he's all at sea without the ball. Needs a full year or two on the wing in NSW cup before being considered as a genuine option.
Faatape should never play on the wing again. Would rather swap him and Naden around if we're limited to today's personnel.
Always difficult to tell just how fast some kids will adjust to NRL & with Luke it’s even more difficult having to also learn the switch from fullback to wing. Obviously it’s defence which will be most challenging as it’s a lot different to what he’d have to do at fullback. But his carries are good for someone who would probably be doing his HSC this year.Laulilii is promising but has a huge amount of work to do defensively. I really like his tough carries, and he'll only get better as he builds himself up, but he's all at sea without the ball. Needs a full year or two on the wing in NSW cup before being considered as a genuine option.
Faatape should never play on the wing again. Would rather swap him and Naden around if we're limited to today's personnel.
Actually thought about Lachie, Luke etc the other day and when you think that 4 or 5 of them did their HSC last year it gives greater perspective.Always difficult to tell just how fast some kids will adjust to NRL & with Luke it’s even more difficult having to also learn the switch from fullback to wing. Obviously it’s defence which will be most challenging as it’s a lot different to what he’d have to do at fullback. But his carries are good for someone who would probably be doing his HSC this year.Laulilii is promising but has a huge amount of work to do defensively. I really like his tough carries, and he'll only get better as he builds himself up, but he's all at sea without the ball. Needs a full year or two on the wing in NSW cup before being considered as a genuine option.
Faatape should never play on the wing again. Would rather swap him and Naden around if we're limited to today's personnel.
I didn’t see the Cup game yesterday but just saw stats on NSWRL site and good to see big Jordy get through another 40 minutes. 133m ran and 53 post contact, an offload and tackle efficiency quite good. He’s building his minutes and his fitness so no shock to see him getting another run or two in NRL this season the way he’s progressing.
I've noticed one or two posts suggesting this putting a lot of our faith in the development of players isn't looking all that good at the moment. I think this is an overreaction given we're in the very early stages of the process. But regardless of this I thought it'd be interesting to get some idea of where we think some of these young players are at and who we believe will be playing consistent NRL in the future. Only looking at players 22 or younger. There's a bit of crystal balling but why not eh. Just my opinion on the players so here goes.
For me these guys will be playing plenty of NRL, ages next to their names:
Jahream Bula - 22
Fonua Pole - 21
Samuela Fainu - 20 * (outstanding prospect)
Lachlan Galvin - 18 * (outstanding prospect)
Latu Fainu - 18
Tallyn Da Silva 19
These guys are probably just one level below but still good chances to play plenty of NRL:
Kit Laulilii - 19
Luke Laulilii - 18
Solomone Saukuru - 19
These players might play plenty NRL but still a question mark:
Justin Matamua - 20
Jordan Miller - 19
Tony Sukkar - 19
Chris Faagutu - 20
Josh Feledy - 19
No doubt I've missed a few but that's a pretty good list. In my opinion we'll see the players in those first 2 categories playing in the NRL team 2025 and/or 2026. Obviously could be wrong but that's just how I see it. And we have a couple of gems there too.
I'd also put Heamasi Makasini in that first category as an outstanding prospect but seeing as we're not sure he's signed yet I'll leave it here. Ashton Large, Christian Taupau-Moors and Ashton Large are also players from that Wests Matts side who look very likely to progress to a high level, others may as well.
Really good post.
In my view this list is the sole reason why WT are the bottom of the ladder again this season. The previous admin has put far too much faith in young, unproven players. Very few other clubs carry so many juniors in their top squad. These guys should only ever have been signed on development contracts.
From the category 2 and 3 players above, I think we can and should invest in 4 of them and we should let 4 of them leave. To carry so many juniors leaves us seriously short if and when injuries strike.
Kit Lauilii and Chris Faagutu are too similar players. We should let them both play NSW Cup for the last 8 games and then invest our future on one only.
Matamua - I read another poster say that his NRL performances have been sub par because he does not break tackles. I didnt realise this but it is true. He just distributes the ball. I don't want to see him leave because I think there might still be a good player in there somewhere. He looks like he could lose some weight?
Feledy - might only be holding a place for Makasini who is a better prospect in my view.
Luke L - is getting plenty of wraps but I don't see the hype to be honest. I think Nav Willett is a better prospect.
Sukkar - has looked ok in two years of NRL trials and is still young. I think he has an NRL future but I think tough calls have to be made.
Saukuru - is better suited to edge backrow and has been shown up defending in the centres at NSW Cup level. I'd like to see him play second row at Cup level before we make a call on his future.
Miller - is improving every week. We cannot decide on his future until he has lost weight. It will be interesting to see him play 5kg lighter, would he still have the impact?
Others have said that its hard to let these players go when they have contracts. Yes that is true however, clubs with cap pressure always love to look at promising juniors and these guys are on lower value contracts. This hopefully means we can move 4 of them on without carrying any freight.
I will revisit this at the end of the year but I would hope the club retains -
Miller, Faagutu, Matamua and Saukuru at this time
Lauliili x2, Feledy and Sukkar to depart.
I would probably swap L Laulilii and Matamua around from that list. The latter has great hands, but just doesn't do nearly enough as a middle forward to warrant a spot for me. Doesn't present any danger as a runner and is below average in defence. I think we've mucked him around with his development over the last couple of years to be honest. #13 is a real weakness for us.
Laulilii has plenty of weaknesses but is a great ball carrier, so worth persisting for now - in NSW cup.
Great to see a few of those Wests Matts team at training this week, Tapua-Moors, Onitoni Large and Phoenix Godinet most notably. No doubt Heamasi Makasini would also have been there but according to NBWT on "X" he received a head knock last week at the national schoolboys competition. Have to also mention Jared Haywood from the Balmain Ball team making the Aussie schoolboys team and this week on the extended bench for Flegg. It seems the club has a few good 9s coming through the system and difficult to say with any real certainty who will be the best. TDS has the jump on the others and at the moment looks the obvious one to progress but Haywood and possibly Ashton Large, who I think may well be the best of them, might be knocking on the door in a couple of years as well. It'll be interesting to see what happens with those three over the next few years.
Had a very short chat to Matt Betsey at the NRLW captain’s run last week, asked him about Heamasi Makasini. I was surprised to find he isn’t contracted for 2025 as yet. I didn’t want to bother Matt too much (think he’s sick of me by now) but he did say the club was working on it with his manager, Mario Tartac. He nodded when I suggested there’d be a fair bit of interest elsewhere, Union included. So, it’s a wait & see on Heamasi. Hopefully it falls our way.
I see NBWT has been posting a few clips of young Tino Tavana, one of which shows him scoring for the Cup team last week. I was at the Wests Ball game against Norths at C’town last year when he caught the ball from a high kick and scored, impressive as done at speed & athletically. He’s also another worth watching.
Also saw that NBWT has posted an article from the Telegraph with a photo of Heamasi Makasini & Onitoni Large in Tigers jerseys. Haven’t read the article but good to see Masi in the jersey. Gives me hope that there might be an announcement soon regarding him signing with the club.
Was fortunate enough to watch most of the Flegg game and was quite impressed with Jared Haywood who came off the bench to play 9. The Tigers have another good kid coming through. Also young Cale Edmed came off the bench for a run in the front row. He played in the Balmain Ball side earlier this year so is still a teenager. He’s another to watch next couple of years.
Just looking at this post from 4 months ago and wondering what has changed. I think I’d put Luke in that first category now, he’s debuted and looks very likely to have a good NRL career. Same with Heath Mason who it looks like I didn’t put on the list initially, remiss of me not to. I still have hopes for Kit & Sol. Sol has had his injury issues this year but did play some Cup & went ok. Still believe he can make it & become a handy NRL outside back, still 19 so plenty of time. Kit keeps working away in Cup, I like his leg speed & he can make some tough carries. Probably best at 13. I’d now put Jared Haywood in that 2nd group. He’s come out of nowhere really but I think he has a great future, only 18 so will be watching him next year or two as he could put pressure on Tal if he doesn’t end up going elsewhere.I've noticed one or two posts suggesting this putting a lot of our faith in the development of players isn't looking all that good at the moment. I think this is an overreaction given we're in the very early stages of the process. But regardless of this I thought it'd be interesting to get some idea of where we think some of these young players are at and who we believe will be playing consistent NRL in the future. Only looking at players 22 or younger. There's a bit of crystal balling but why not eh. Just my opinion on the players so here goes.
For me these guys will be playing plenty of NRL, ages next to their names:
Jahream Bula - 22
Fonua Pole - 21
Samuela Fainu - 20 * (outstanding prospect)
Lachlan Galvin - 18 * (outstanding prospect)
Latu Fainu - 18
Tallyn Da Silva 19
These guys are probably just one level below but still good chances to play plenty of NRL:
Kit Laulilii - 19
Luke Laulilii - 18
Solomone Saukuru - 19
These players might play plenty NRL but still a question mark:
Justin Matamua - 20
Jordan Miller - 19
Tony Sukkar - 19
Chris Faagutu - 20
Josh Feledy - 19
No doubt I've missed a few but that's a pretty good list. In my opinion we'll see the players in those first 2 categories playing in the NRL team 2025 and/or 2026. Obviously could be wrong but that's just how I see it. And we have a couple of gems there too.
I'd also put Heamasi Makasini in that first category as an outstanding prospect but seeing as we're not sure he's signed yet I'll leave it here. Ashton Large, Christian Taupau-Moors and Ashton Large are also players from that Wests Matts side who look very likely to progress to a high level, others may as well.
