Tuimoala Lolohea

Tomkins talking about his electric feet already....Tomkins has been here five minutes and has electric feet himself.

I'm hoping those two are put together a lot by the Warriors in Lolohea's formative years. Throwing them into the Nines team together is a dream start.

That Kind of experience for Lolohea will keep him here more readily than Big Offer too soon I hope. BTW are those Jerseys in your collection Mt Wellington ?

 

Totally concur with MW. This kid is special. Golden boy of the West.

 

My two cents from watching every u20s game last year:
He has a nack for being around the ball, he gets a lot of what some might call 'oppertunist' tries like intercepts, and scooping up loose balls and racing away to score. But this is a result of his ability to read the game, which is very difficult to teach. He isn't as dangerous in the open field with ball in hand as Johnson is, but he is close, and doesn't have the big boot Johnson has. But Tui's defence is superior.

I agree with Mt W, and would go on to say that he is a more complete League player than Johnson was at the same stage of his career. I would cite general play kicking and passing vision (which is difficult to judge because most u20 centres/ 2nd rowers just wanna be given it and then run over someone rather than be put into a gap) as the areas in most need of improvement.

 

What positions can he play? Just in the halves or could go alright at hooker?

 

Super impressed with this kid. Huge future.

 

Electric feet all right. I think if he makes the big time, it'll be as a fullback.

 

love seeing this dude in open space,theres real purpose in his body language when hes in full flight

 

I'm calling it now , Lolohea will take over Johnsons position in the team before Johnsons contract ends.

Re watching the Trial game , it was a good Johnson game , classic Johnson , a very individual player. Watching Lolohea , he is a very different player.

Both have similar physical attributes. Practice your Goal Kicking Tui.

 

I don't want to derail Tui's thread discussing Johnson but the direct comparison is relevant in terms of Tui's future. Johnson looked pissed off when they interviewed him after being pulled for injury " It's nothing , I'm fine , just a precaution " watch his smile...Shauny's eye creases don't move ( body language 101 the fake smile ).
I suspect a lot more is going on there. I would like to start a Tui V Johnson Thread but most haven't seen enough of Tui yet to take it seriously ? too bad I'm looking at the Future and Lolohea has everything and he tackles.

 

Lolohea will also learn his trade better with someone like Tomkins around to teach him how to be an effective star. Keep him grounded but allow his ego to drive him to success. It is imperative that he doesn't pick up on the hype too early or it could mean yet another star who doesn't deliver because he doesn't need to.

 

With the new club structures involving the old Vulcans, hopefully players like Tui and other younger one's won't just get exposed to the Reserve Grade team but also to the First Graders and learn from the professionalism and training ethos of players like Friend, Tomkins, Manu and, of the field, JRo. Also, a number of younger first graders and fringe first graders of learn a lot from those older ones.

 

I think it is important to emphasise the highlighted part. Just in case Elliot checks in and misses the off the field part.