So it is increasingly looking like Loko will be considered as a back rower next year, which quite a few of us have been wanting for a while now.
That and the emergence of Peni Terepo as a genuine NRL quality lock, really does make our second row stocks look much, much brighter and better than they have been for many years.
Feasibly we might have.
11. Hock
12. Loko
13. Terepo
With the likes of Paulo, Tanginoa and Pauli Pauli on the bench.
What's nicest about those backrowers is we have a good range of players. Terepo really fits the bill of a modern-day lock. He has a surprisingly strong workrate, defends strongly in the middle, can hit the ball up as a prop but can also hit a short-ball around the middle of the park.
Hock gives us a bit of aggression. Loko I still believe can absolutely be destructive in terms of both making metres and being a massive threat on the fringes. Tanginoa's strength is his ability to hit a short pass at full speeds, Pauli Pauli combines size with a big of skill and Paulo brings the ballskills.
I think what you need to add in there is one senior second rower - both to provide a bit of leadership and someone you know you're going to get reliable results out of. Certainly after watchign the Sharks game last week, I haven't changed my position on Anthony Tupou being the right player. I think over the past six weeks he's been playing in near career best form. I think he'd be a strong mentor for the other younger boys and just appears to be a good fit to me (and of course has played under Stuart before).
We could just fluke it - a couple of young blokes coming out of nowhere, and a couple of strong, but not outrageous signings, and we could suddenly emerge with a really impressive collection of backrowers.
Of course, our signings could also be flops and our young boys don't hit the peaks we're hoping of them, but I'll take the promise of this group over the consistent mediocrity of what we've had these past few years.
Replies
A Tupou seems to play great around contract extension time !!!!
Not a bad Idea :)
"Tanginoa's strength is his ability to hit a short pass at full speeds, Pauli Pauli combines size with a big of skill and Paulo brings the ballskills."
I think you have miss counted your bench Phil, unless you are going to play a 80minute hooker? or drop one of our props Lussick,Mossop,Moi Moi or Mannah?
Solution: Tanginoa to the centers!!!
Parody, Im not saying having all of them on the bench at once, I'm working in my depth into that.
Tanginoa in the centres really doesn't make use of his greatest talent which is running off the short ball. Your centres need to be players who you can give the ball to early and they can make space. They tried Kelepi in the centres for a couple of weeks in NYC and it didn't work.
I think Kelepi in the centres has some merit
Again, I wasn't suggesting all of those on the bench at the same time. I wouldn't even start the season with Kelepi on the bench, he's only 19 and he'll get plenty of opportunities. I think the problem you've identified is doubly why Paulo stays on the bench because he replaces Terepo and gives you two very different players that can change up the game.
I hate to say it but Kasya won't be ready next year, not to mention at the moment. He needs time to develop in the lower grades where he can push his game to the next level by having more control. If you throw him in first grade with players who already command the ball without Pritchard having to do much thinking his growth will be shunted
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