Player Tevita Latu

[jahc_old]

Tevita Latu

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Tevita Latu has to be in the Kiwis side next week. He seems to have sorted out his aggression issues, his big hits are coming off, his darts are incisive, hes setting up trys.. hes doing well at the moment.

I'm picking Faiumu to start, and Latu to come off the bench.

 

[LeagueNut_old]

Agreed. He looked very sharp against the Panthers tonight - and it was great to see some good shots on defence from him as well.

I'd expect him to come off the bench for the Kiwis, but I reckon he could easily handle starting the match.

 

[mosh_old]

Tevita Latu has to be in the Kiwis side next week. He seems to have sorted out his aggression issues, his big hits are coming off.

I think its because of good coaching rather than Tevita Latu. Shows how in New Zealand we neglect our youngsters, whereas the Aussie coaches instill some confidence and responsibility in them and they pay off.

 

[AliN_old]

yep agree with all the above.
Showed a few people a thing or two last night.

 

[PB_old]

Tevita Latu has to be in the Kiwis side next week. He seems to have sorted out his aggression issues, his big hits are coming off.

I think its because of good coaching rather than Tevita Latu. Shows how in New Zealand we neglect our youngsters, whereas the Aussie coaches instill some confidence and responsibility in them and they pay off.

It mainly shows me that some players don't pull finger until they are away from the "safety" of home. They are put into a professional culture in unfamiliar surroundings and they sink or swim. To swim they have to work harder. Plenty of Aussie players with wraps sink too.

 

[ozbash_old]

tevita has always had the talent, pity the coach/es couldnt let him display it.

i would expect the opposite to what you suggest bob. the safety of home would be a better place to hone your skills rather than the critical environment of aussie.
faumuina at the raiders is an example.

 

[Skinner_old]

No one listened to me......as usual ~sniff~

Seriously though - like so many when they got away from
Anderson and Kemp.....they blossom.

Cheers

 

[PB_old]

tevita has always had the talent, pity the coach/es couldnt let him display it.

i would expect the opposite to what you suggest bob. the safety of home would be a better place to hone your skills rather than the critical environment of aussie.
faumuina at the raiders is an example.

Not the norm though. Rauhihi, Whatuira etc. Tevita had the talent. So did Mellars. Hame does too. Knocked the world out when they played for us ay?

The safety of home should be a better place in an ideal world. It's not.

The systems in NZ aren't hard enough to adjust quickly. The Kiwi way breeds inate flair through oversize players creating second phase play. The Aussie way is adhering to the basics and building pressure. The Warriors have to temper the first to teach the latter. Takes a while and we whinge when people leave 'cause they don't want to stick around or can't learn quick enough.

Aussie system demands that they perform. So they do or they don't.

 

[PB_old]

I should point out that Tevita is playing well and would be a good Test option.

He should have been retained. The issue is in our expectations and with what they are doing with AhVan, Taulapapa etc the gradual approach, and not expecting miracles first up, will get us there if we don't bay for blood as soon as they don't give us 3 try assists per game. Unfortunately NRL pressures demand instant success.

 

[Skinner_old]

I should point out that Tevita is playing well and would be a good Test option.

He should have been retained. The issue is in our expectations and with what they are doing with AhVan, Taulapapa etc the gradual approach, and not expecting miracles first up, will get us there if we don't bay for blood as soon as they don't give us 3 try assists per game. Unfortunately NRL pressures demand instant success.

Bang on there Bob. Remember the crap put on Manu when he didn't
instantly perform.

I think in Tevita's case though, he had to get right out of this environment
and be exposed to an extremely disciplined regimen.

Cheers
Skinner

 

[JonB_old]

I still think not holding on to Tevita was the best option. Remember he had not been playing well at all, probaly because of his sickness which would of been really debilitating.
When he left the warriors he was not in form, and I don't think he had done enough or shown enough to earn a contract based on loyalty alone, rather than anything tangable like results on the field.

 

[mosh_old]

tevita has always had the talent, pity the coach/es couldnt let him display it.

i would expect the opposite to what you suggest bob. the safety of home would be a better place to hone your skills rather than the critical environment of aussie.
faumuina at the raiders is an example.

Not the norm though. Rauhihi, Whatuira etc. Tevita had the talent. So did Mellars. Hame does too. Knocked the world out when they played for us ay?

The safety of home should be a better place in an ideal world. It's not.

The systems in NZ aren't hard enough to adjust quickly. The Kiwi way breeds inate flair through oversize players creating second phase play. The Aussie way is adhering to the basics and building pressure. The Warriors have to temper the first to teach the latter. Takes a while and we whinge when people leave 'cause they don't want to stick around or can't learn quick enough.

Aussie system demands that they perform. So they do or they don't.

Stacey Jones, Ali Lauiti-iti, Clinton Toopi, Sione Faumuina, Motu Tony. There we have expansive players who I believe were at their peaks playing at home.
I really think your theory is quite absurd. Its all due to coaching and application of players. Tevita Latu was used as a rotten apple here, a few minor incidents and he probably was shown the toilet a few times as thats what he would be cleaning if he wanted to stay at the club. However, at the Sharks they probably told Latu he would be on the bench every game. That makes all the difference to a youngster when someone has faith in you. You really do not want to let them down.

 

[scottyb_old]

actually mosh and polar bob, you are both right, what it comes down to is the individual. some people need the safety of home to thrive other peoople need the pressure of being in unfamilar surroundings to get them out of the comfort zone they are used too. One approach doesnt work for everyone.

 

[PB_old]

Stacey Jones, Ali Lauiti-iti, Clinton Toopi, Sione Faumuina, Motu Tony. There we have expansive players who I believe were at their peaks playing at home.
I really think your theory is quite absurd. Its all due to coaching and application of players. Tevita Latu was used as a rotten apple here, a few minor incidents and he probably was shown the toilet a few times as thats what he would be cleaning if he wanted to stay at the club. However, at the Sharks they probably told Latu he would be on the bench every game. That makes all the difference to a youngster when someone has faith in you. You really do not want to let them down.

Not a theory Mosh. A still-forming opinion on the majority and not set in stone.

I'm talking overall structure of the sport and not just coaching. Of course it comes into it but my impression is that the stakes are higher, earlier in Aussie so the mental capacity to want and have to succeed is greater. Some of our juniors are look like they are actually designed to play football yet some pissweak aussie performs better. I think it is too easy too fast and then they bugger off or burn when hit by expectations.

IMO previous locals seemed to be too mentally weak to be professional athletes. The Kiwi side has how many players that performed well here first? The locals coming out through the junior systems now seem better equiped to handle it due to earlier professional exposure. When brought on slowly, as the dev team seems to be, the trend will continue to your opinion but I believe from the past until now, or very soon, my "absurd" suggestion has a basis.

On your examples.

Stacey Jones - No comment needed as is a cut above any we'll see for a while.
Ali Lauititi - Fantastic player. Fell of the boil during a team low and didn't get the opportunity to carry on. Don't care about the reasons. Mentally not hard enough.
Clinton Toopi - 2 good years. That's it. Relied on Ali. Ali went, so did his form.
Sione Faumuina - Good player but plays like a hero. Left first and saw what the NRL was like elsewhere but preferred being home. Fair enough.
Motu Tony - Decent player, but not a team one presumably. Same as Ali, for reasons I care not, mentally couldn't handle it.

 

[commonsense_old]

tevita has always had the talent, pity the coach/es couldnt let him display it.

i would expect the opposite to what you suggest bob. the safety of home would be a better place to hone your skills rather than the critical environment of aussie.
faumuina at the raiders is an example.

Not the norm though. Rauhihi, Whatuira etc. Tevita had the talent. So did Mellars. Hame does too. Knocked the world out when they played for us ay?

The safety of home should be a better place in an ideal world. It's not.

The systems in NZ aren't hard enough to adjust quickly. The Kiwi way breeds inate flair through oversize players creating second phase play. The Aussie way is adhering to the basics and building pressure. The Warriors have to temper the first to teach the latter. Takes a while and we whinge when people leave 'cause they don't want to stick around or can't learn quick enough.

Aussie system demands that they perform. So they do or they don't.

Stacey Jones, Ali Lauiti-iti, Clinton Toopi, Sione Faumuina, Motu Tony. There we have expansive players who I believe were at their peaks playing at home.
I really think your theory is quite absurd. Its all due to coaching and application of players. Tevita Latu was used as a rotten apple here, a few minor incidents and he probably was shown the toilet a few times as thats what he would be cleaning if he wanted to stay at the club. However, at the Sharks they probably told Latu he would be on the bench every game. That makes all the difference to a youngster when someone has faith in you. You really do not want to let them down.

i agree with that. it's a mixed batch right there. its a common thought that when u go the ESL you degrade urself as a player. but some players have flourished over there ie solomona, vainokolo, jamie lyon etc.

the whole tevita latu situation is starting to feel like de ja vu. but instead of latu it's lance hohaia. i know half you guys are sick of me bringing lance up every opportunity but its hard not to compare it. i just hope lance doesnt leave the club and bites us where the sun dont shine.

 

[Skinny_Ravs82]

actually mosh and polar bob, you are both right, what it comes down to is the individual. some people need the safety of home to thrive other peoople need the pressure of being in unfamilar surroundings to get them out of the comfort zone they are used too. One approach doesnt work for everyone.

Bang on target I feel. Everyone is different and how they do sometimes depends on where they are. In Latu's cause he was a given a better shot at the Shakrs then he was here. And he's taking it, at his time at the Warriors the decision was he was just there to make up the numbers a bit esp after all they had a few too many for the one position. Where as right now at the Sharks its all a bit haywire because Kimmorley isn't there either. Granted, at the start of the year were we talking about Latu? Not really you had Kimmorley and Dykes still running the show and that's all there was. Now with one out others around have to start taking their opppertunites and sometimes that's when you start to notice them.

 

[raypower_old]

Just heard on the evening news wrap up that Tevita Latu assaulted a woman at a service station early this morning and has been suspended indefinitely.

Can't find anything else on it however it looks as though they'll be one ex warrior down....

 

[KeepingTheFaith_old]

If it's true then he should have the book thrown at him. No excuse for that sort of thing. There's always the chance it could have been exaggerated. The media tend to do that with league players so we'll have to wait for the full story to come out.

 

[2big2strong_old]

yeah i've heard about 10 different stories. the first one was *edited*. I refuse to believe any of it until i hear all the facts. Hopefully it's not true as it will damage the already tarnished image of our game and the aussies will just run it as a 'kiwi' incident

 

[2big2strong_old]

Cronulla rugby league player Tevita Latu has been stood down pending an investigation after claims he punched a teenage girl in the face.

The Daily Telegraph reported the Sharks utility bloodied and broke the nose of 19-year-old Brooke Peninton after an alleged incident at a service station in Cronulla.

Peninton claimed Latu had struck her after he threw chips, dirt and bark at her outside the service station at about 3am on Monday.

"He punched me in the face," Peninton told The Daily Telegraph.

"I fell back and hit my head on the concrete.

"When I put my hand to my face there was blood everywhere."

The incident was reported to have been witnessed by about a dozen onlookers, including a Bulldogs player who came to blows with Latu as he attempted to calm him down.