Sydney Roosters sign Toyota Cup player Lama Tasi, 'next Jarea Waerea-Hargreaves'

[Rooster_6]

A crop of raging young bulls with size and aggression:

Nate Myles - 25 - 188cm, 106kg
FP Nuuausala - 23 - 183cm, 105kg
Anthony Cherrington - 22 - 193cm, 110kg
Tinirau Arona - 21 - 183cm, 104kg
Martin Kennedy - 21 - 191cm, 115kg
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves - 21 - 193cm, 108kg
Mose Masoe - 21 - 192cm, 115kg
Lama Tasi - 20 - 188cm, 104kg

The best thing about that list is they're all in forwards terms only a couple of years away from peaking. I'm not sure if they'll ever reach the heights of that Dogs '04 pack + bench but I'll be surprised if they don't go close.

Put that in front of arguably and potentially one of the best club halves pairings in years and the future is bright... bit of a trap door though to get caught up in potential.

[Guest]

I'm not sold on Myles as a front rower yet Roz, his best performances in the Red, white & Blue were without a doubt in the backrow. He's lost the weight and is by far and away our best forward so I'd let him play where he feels most comfortable.

although true, once leilua, maubs, cordner, cherro, symonds, tasi, lowe etc all push for first grade births (some already have), who do you propose we displace whereas when you look at our frontrow stocks, i think that as i have displayed, minus Myles and even FPN, we look very think in that region. i think if he put the kgs back on and provided we had someone like FPN starting in the backrow to help shoulder the go-forward workload, it would work fine. i dont think myles offers enough in the backrow and for team dynamics, we are better off with him in the frontrow down the track especially as he gets older, slower and more mature he may flourish a little more up front

[Guest]

although true, once leilua, maubs, cordner, cherro, symonds, tasi, lowe etc all push for first grade births (some already have), who do you propose we displace whereas when you look at our frontrow stocks, i think that as i have displayed, minus Myles and even FPN, we look very think in that region. i think if he put the kgs back on and provided we had someone like FPN starting in the backrow to help shoulder the go-forward workload, it would work fine. i dont think myles offers enough in the backrow and for team dynamics, we are better off with him in the frontrow down the track especially as he gets older, slower and more mature he may flourish a little more up front

I'd slot him in the backrow. As one of our more experienced forwards, I'd give him the responsibility of either acting like a front rower taking a hit up in the middle of the park, or going wide - where ever he sees fit. Pretty much like Gallen does at the Sharks. In defence, I'd have him out wide, so he can use his mobility and size to shut down any big centres or backrowers. Should it be late in the half and our big boppers are struggling, I'd shift him back to the middle to give a bit more mobility. Pretty much what I am saying is give him a free role.

[Guest]

I'd slot him in the backrow. As one of our more experienced forwards, I'd give him the responsibility of either acting like a front rower taking a hit up in the middle of the park, or going wide - where ever he sees fit. Pretty much like Gallen does at the Sharks. In defence, I'd have him out wide, so he can use his mobility and size to shut down any big centres or backrowers. Should it be late in the half and our big boppers are struggling, I'd shift him back to the middle to give a bit more mobility. Pretty much what I am saying is give him a free role.

ok thats fine but you missed the point. what im saying is that there are a limited number of backrow spots in a first grade side (i think 4 is the right number - 3 starting and 1 on the bench). now if myles is to play backrow, who do you propose out of that extensive list you leave off when the likes of leilua, maubs, symonds and cherro already have shown enough to warrant consistent selection to some extent

[Guest]

ok thats fine but you missed the point. what im saying is that there are a limited number of backrow spots in a first grade side (i think 4 is the right number - 3 starting and 1 on the bench). now if myles is to play backrow, who do you propose out of that extensive list you leave off when the likes of leilua, maubs, symonds and cherro already have shown enough to warrant consistent selection to some extent

It's not that I missed the point. It's more that I think he can fill multiple roles on the field at any given time, so why don't we use that? The front and backrow stocks are have so much potential, so it is up to the guys who want a first grade spot to earn it. Given Myles's experience and versatility, I think we should use that as much as possible, while the younger guys come through.

Besides, I don't care if we end up with three great backrowers or 1 backrower and 3 props. Either way, as long as we get 2,3 or four highly regarded forwards in our team then that is all that matters to me. As you pointed out with backrowers, who out of the extensive list of JHW, Tasi, Kennedy, Masoe or Arona do we leave off? The only thing that matters is we get young guys living up to their potential.

[Guest]

although true, once leilua, maubs, cordner, cherro, symonds, tasi, lowe etc all push for first grade births (some already have), who do you propose we displace whereas when you look at our frontrow stocks, i think that as i have displayed, minus Myles and even FPN, we look very think in that region. i think if he put the kgs back on and provided we had someone like FPN starting in the backrow to help shoulder the go-forward workload, it would work fine. i dont think myles offers enough in the backrow and for team dynamics, we are better off with him in the frontrow down the track especially as he gets older, slower and more mature he may flourish a little more up front

Besides Maubs, its all just potential at this stage. If we get a 50% conversion rate on turning these guys into top class forwards, I will be happy. Myles is a SOO and now Australian forward - these guys have got a long way to go to get to that level, and most never will.

[Guest]

Besides Maubs, its all just potential at this stage. If we get a 50% conversion rate on turning these guys into top class forwards, I will be happy. Myles is a SOO and now Australian forward - these guys have got a long way to go to get to that level, and most never will.

Very true. There is a fine line between potential and wishfull thinking.

Chook.

[BUDDY]

With me at the helm, in a few years time id have our pack looking something more like this:
8. Myles
9. Friend
10. Kennedy
11. FPN
12. Cordner
13. Maubs

14. Watts
15. JWH
16. Cherro/Leilua
17. Tasi/Masoe/Arona/Maliota/Conn

The must keep players in our squad are as follows:
outside backs: perrett and SKD - the rest are good but none are really in the pivotal category - linnett is an excellent player but if he or anyone else like carney are offered bigger coin elsewhere, i wouldnt try too hard to keep them as they arent the individually brilliant players that would deserve such pay packets unless of course they develop into players in that category
hooker/halves: pearce, carney, friend - the utility spot on the bench i am happy to see rotate into the future between some of the younger kids coming through but there is no need to spend big coin on a replacement hooker when youve got friend, a future rep player that can even go the 80
Backrow: Cornder, Maubs, Leilua - these 3 are the cream of the crop. yes cherrington and co are good but these three are easily the best and most important to our pack going forward
Frontrow: Myles, JWH, Kennedy -these 3 similarly are the cream of the crop and most important - all must keeps

the list i have compiled above of 11 players are the genuine must-keeps in our side going forward. although there are notable and highly able players left off it, these guys are the ones that we can build a dynasty around. although some of the others would be losses, these guys should all be kept at all costs imo. I would love for us to be able to beef that list up to 12 once we find that long-term replacement for miniciello at fullback. It will then be 12 must-keeps which is perfect - a permanent 1, 6, 7, 9; full complement of forwards and a couple of outside backs. the rest of the spots can be filled by whatever else we can manage to fit in/afford

IMO Linnett will surpass SKD as our best centre. His defense is already better and he is also faster. A couple of years experience to learn the finer arts and bulking up a bit and he will be a gun centre. We shouldn't lose this kid. Having SKD on one side and Linnett on the others side, all we need are two speedsters on their outside and we will have a lethal backline.

[Guest]

IMO Linnett will surpass SKD as our best centre. His defense is already better and he is also faster. A couple of years experience to learn the finer arts and bulking up a bit and he will be a gun centre. We shouldn't lose this kid. Having SKD on one side and Linnett on the others side, all we need are two speedsters on their outside and we will have a lethal backline.

whilst i cant diagree with everything you have said there, the thing that puts SKD ahead of linnett is my mind is that although linnett is faster, better in defence and more consistent, he seems to lack the individual brilliance, workrate and x factor that SKD has. that doesnt mean he is a worse player or anything just a fact but thats not to say he couldnt develop this into his game you see SKD always had the freakish brilliance in him - his critics have always harped on about silly errors and consistency but the way he scores tries, breaks tackles and the line has never been questioned. The perfect comparison imo is gasnier and cooper - cooper is like linnett - not much individual brilliance/freakishness but a great defender, plenty of pace, a great finisher and consistent peformer. gaz like SKD, can miss a couple of tackles etc but can make something out of nothing and turn a game. Im not saying our 2 are anywhere near those 2 yet at least but thats the sort of reasoning i have founded my judgments on

[Guest]

Besides Maubs, its all just potential at this stage. If we get a 50% conversion rate on turning these guys into top class forwards, I will be happy. Myles is a SOO and now Australian forward - these guys have got a long way to go to get to that level, and most never will.

the only one that may not convert simply by virtue of having never player first grade to date is cordner who is arguably the pick of the crop. leilua, symonds and cherringon when fit have shown more than enough ability. all im saying is that myles, in terms of team dynamics would be more beneficial in the frontrow as we have better backrowers than frontrowers so essentially down the track, by playing him in the backrow, we are forced to play potentially a less able prop so as to not be thin on frontrow replacements which causes one of the more talented backrowers to miss out. with a few extra kgs myles can essentially play the same role - i dont think its as big of a deal as people seem to be making out

[BUDDY]

whilst i cant diagree with everything you have said there, the thing that puts SKD ahead of linnett is my mind is that although linnett is faster, better in defence and more consistent, he seems to lack the individual brilliance, workrate and x factor that SKD has. that doesnt mean he is a worse player or anything just a fact but thats not to say he couldnt develop this into his game you see SKD always had the freakish brilliance in him - his critics have always harped on about silly errors and consistency but the way he scores tries, breaks tackles and the line has never been questioned. The perfect comparison imo is gasnier and cooper - cooper is like linnett - not much individual brilliance/freakishness but a great defender, plenty of pace, a great finisher and consistent peformer. gaz like SKD, can miss a couple of tackles etc but can make something out of nothing and turn a game. Im not saying our 2 are anywhere near those 2 yet at least but thats the sort of reasoning i have founded my judgments on

I don't think SKD had shown any brilliance until this year. This was his third year in first grade. Linnett has had a handful of first grade games. The brilliance will come with experience and as he bulks up. Another of our X-factors and could become the strike centre we have lacked. That's also not to say that SKD won't improve next year either. If he can learn how to tackle better then we will have a pair of centres in years to come as good as any other centre pairing in the NRL.

[Cockadoodledoo]

whilst i cant diagree with everything you have said there, the thing that puts SKD ahead of linnett is my mind is that although linnett is faster, better in defence and more consistent, he seems to lack the individual brilliance, workrate and x factor that SKD has. that doesnt mean he is a worse player or anything just a fact but thats not to say he couldnt develop this into his game you see SKD always had the freakish brilliance in him - his critics have always harped on about silly errors and consistency but the way he scores tries, breaks tackles and the line has never been questioned. The perfect comparison imo is gasnier and cooper - cooper is like linnett - not much individual brilliance/freakishness but a great defender, plenty of pace, a great finisher and consistent peformer. gaz like SKD, can miss a couple of tackles etc but can make something out of nothing and turn a game. Im not saying our 2 are anywhere near those 2 yet at least but thats the sort of reasoning i have founded my judgments on

well said mate.. great comparison and I agree with you.. Linnett looks a very good prospect but doesn't quite have that 'x' factor that SKD brings to the table.

[Guest]

Besides Maubs, its all just potential at this stage. If we get a 50% conversion rate on turning these guys into top class forwards, I will be happy. Myles is a SOO and now Australian forward - these guys have got a long way to go to get to that level, and most never will.

Aint that the truth, and how anyone would ever consider Symonds...(great talent)...or Cherro..( love the guy immensely but has not played for a year)...over a talent that is Nate Myles......He should and will be one of the first picked in any team.....the rest of the backs and forward fall around him....

[Guest]

Aint that the truth, and how anyone would ever consider Symonds...(great talent)...or Cherro..( love the guy immensely but has not played for a year)...over a talent that is Nate Myles......He should and will be one of the first picked in any team.....the rest of the backs and forward fall around him....

still missing my fundamental point. its not that nate isnt an awesome player its that by picking nate in the backrow, that forces you to not pick one of our gun backrowers and play an extra prop which is an area where we have far less quality and depth. by playing myles up front a couple of years down the track when he gets slower anyway, our side will have a better balance. we will then have 3 linch pin props in myles, JWH and kennedy. you take Myles out and tell me who the other 2 bench props are going to be and dont say tasi, masoe and maliota because they are either unproven or all in the same sort of category - we need a prop with a workrate not just impact forwards. thats what we learnt this year