I believe that moving Jacob Loko to the second row is the biggest difference we can make to this side right now, and indeed going forward.
Loko is a beast - he destroys defences and running off shorter balls from our playmakers he's going to suck in defences like bees to honey.
Ryan Morgan keeps getting better and Hopoate coming into the club next year, where it appears he'll almost certainly be centre, I believe that Loko really fills a void in our pack for next year and I'd like to see him starting his education in the forwards now. He's our FFF.
As a centre, I think he can tend to choke a little when a try beckons and his communication in defence isn't always great. You give him a simpler role as a fringe second rower and he'll be an absolute star.
On another matter, I think you can write Ken Sio and Vai Toutai in as our long-term wingers. Those two are doing fantastic jobs in bringing the ball back - we're getting really strong rolls-on in those early tackles which is something we've not had for a long time. With continued experience and as they learn to cope with different situations I think that side of our roster is sealed.
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Loko is Ben Smiths replacement.
He did choke a little when he bombed an almost certain try with Sio open next to him.
Totally agree, ive heard this discussed a few times now, loko is a forward imo, and he would be more effective to the team in the 2nd row for sure.
For next year? 1. Hayne 2. Sio 3. Morgan 4. Hopoate 5. Toutai 6. Norman 7. Sandow 8. Mannah. 9. Kelly 10. Moimoi 11. Loko 12. Hock 13. Maitua 14. Pritchard 15. Lussick 16. Mossop 17. Tanginoa
lol. Ammended
I think Kelly is exactly the style of hooker that you need to get the most out of Sandow. He's a great talker, can take pressure off with his kicking game and he'll give us a bit of consistent direction that will always go missing when you've got Sandow at six.
Grab a replay of the game where he played nine for us last year for 40 mins or so. He was really quite impressive and then if you have a running 14 like Pritchard, it's quite a nice combination. I was very tempted to throw Docker-Clay in there, but he probably needs another year.
From what I've seen of Iosefa he's one of those hot and cold players. You don't want your starting nine to be a rocks or diamond player, because it doesn't give you a consistent platform to work from. And like I said, I think if Sandow is going to be our seven, you need a converted half at dummy half, to make-up for his control limitations.
I think he is better of in the centers, more one on one opportunities. I am not saying he couldn't be a good second-rower i just think while he is young and still finding his feet in first grade he is better off out wide. He has played 6 games in almost three years, he will come good you can bet on that. A season or two playing in the centers and watch out.
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