What about Rua as a Brandon smith / cotter style lock?
He’d be my 14 to start the season I think. From the trials last year he was close to our best player.
Alex Seyfarth
Alex Twal
David Klemmer
Fonua Pole
Joe Ofahengaue
Sione Fainu
Stefano Utoikamanu
Tukimihia Simpkinsif you add Woods you gave 9 middle forwards. I would keep Twal over Seyfarth and I doubt seyfarth sees much first grade given our depth in this position is pretty good
I’d rather Woods or Brown than Twal.
I agree @yeti tuki could be a breakout this year. Looked good early but then went out of favour for some reason (from memory he got a little lazy in defence and ball security). I think mid season he will come into contention for lock, particularly with that offload capability which suit sheens second phase footy.
@skippa13 Big upside with Tuki IMO.. my view on him would be what Parra use Shaun Lane for with great success as a wide running forward ,he has a similar build to Lane and has that offload .Would be wasted as a battering ram ,he needs to knuckle down and want a spot in the team.
@snake I agree re his position - it has to be lock I think. Whether he is agile enough, I'm not sure. Needs to be able to cover a bit wider defensively. It will be interesting though. Definitely a 'Sheens type'. Let's hope.
@skippa13 Big upside with Tuki IMO.. my view on him would be what Parra use Shaun Lane for with great success as a wide running forward ,he has a similar build to Lane and has that offload .Would be wasted as a battering ram ,he needs to knuckle down and want a spot in the team.
Agreed, his only weakness really has been his defence.
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@skippa13 Big upside with Tuki IMO.. my view on him would be what Parra use Shaun Lane for with great success as a wide running forward ,he has a similar build to Lane and has that offload .Would be wasted as a battering ram ,he needs to knuckle down and want a spot in the team.
Agreed, his only weakness really has been his defence.
Looked totally disinterested in the Ressies game I watched last year, something was definitely off. Maybe he gets a new lease of life with Sheens otherwise no chance with the attitude he was showing.
@barra with all the departures he's seen this off season, he will be well aware it's 'show time'. If not ..... another door closing on a potential NRL career
From memory Tuki spent all last off season training at prop. Then Blore went down 2 days before one of the trials so they moved him to the edge because there was nobody else.
Jury is still out on whether he will make it but by way of comparison, He came to NQ from NZ with Griffin Neame who has progressed strongly for the Cowboys.
Agree with the Shaun Lane comparison. Tuki is certainly of that mould.
From memory Tuki spent all last off season training at prop. Then Blore went down 2 days before one of the trials so they moved him to the edge because there was nobody else.
Jury is still out on whether he will make it but by way of comparison, He came to NQ from NZ with Griffin Neame who has progressed strongly for the Cowboys.
Agree with the Shaun Lane comparison. Tuki is certainly of that mould.
If he knuckles down and grabs a second row spot that would be great.
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@skippa13 Big upside with Tuki IMO.. my view on him would be what Parra use Shaun Lane for with great success as a wide running forward ,he has a similar build to Lane and has that offload .Would be wasted as a battering ram ,he needs to knuckle down and want a spot in the team.
Agreed, his only weakness really has been his defence.
Looked totally disinterested in the Ressies game I watched last year, something was definitely off. Maybe he gets a new lease of life with Sheens otherwise no chance with the attitude he was showing.
Sheens was ready to let him go but impressed at training late in the season.
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@avocadoontoast I don’t think it’d take a horrible injury toll, not with the squad as it is right now. Not much depth in back row right now. And there will be injuries unless incredibly lucky which we haven’t been for a very long time.
@avocadoontoast I had a chat to him last year when I dropped into a training session at Campbelltown, was a little surprised at his size. Definitely smaller than Smith and Cotter but is obviously pretty solid. I doubt very much he’d have the impact of the other guys but wouldn’t be expected to either if played at lock at some point.
