Who needs to be shown the door at seasons end if they don't fire this year?
Tuimavave,tupou,ikahahifo,Lousi brothers r on there last legs, there salarys combined we could at least get a reni maitua or lama tasi. People that contribute and not fill in. The tigers have koroibete he scored 4trys in a game last year, cowboys have taumalolo he kills it so why are our young guys failing to impress surely you dong need 3years to get up to speed.
Sorry but I disagree with your picks.
Tuimavavae impressed in all his first grade games to date, is young, multi-dimensional and appears very level-headed. I'd be more inclined to offer him a 4 year contract than release him.
Same
Ikahahifo - he has barely had a chance, and has looked solid in the gametime he has had to date.
Tupou is safe as long as we have no other quality wingers.
Sione Lousi was one of our few players who showed decent effort in our numerous collapses. He also performed well in an unfamiliar position and in my eyes is a very promising player who is still finding his place in first grade.
Sam Lousi has barely had a chance to show his goods, and is a physical freak. You do not release physical freaks until you are 100% certain they will not develop into anything worthwhile.
A big reason why our young players did not shine as some other clubs' did, is we had a SHIT of a season. The Cowboys finished 5th, the Tigers 10th (equal 9th) and we finished 14th (equal 15th!!). Obviously young players will not perform well in a struggling team, particularly when they are being relied upon to fill unfamiliar positions with short notice and poor preparation, as was often the case in 2012.
Now to who I believe is in danger of being released:
Ben Henry and Elijah Taylor. I like many aspects of both their games, but I feel their qualities are somewhat redundant when we have both Mannering and Lowrie in the team. If Henry and
Taylor are happy to play Vulcans while they wait for injuries, then all good. But I do not see a place for all 4 in our team, despite them all being first grade quality.
Steve Rapira. Is he a prop? Is he a second rower? Is he an NRL player? Is he made of glass? Is he a mythical creature, such as a Manticore or Hippogriff? The answer to all these questions is Yes. He needs an injury free season combined with less lateral jersey grabbing efforts on defense in order to prove his worth.
Jerome Ropati. I am a big fan of the 'Ro, but he is one injury away from retirement. A healthy Jerome could potentially regain the form that saw him as first pick centre for the Kiwis a couple of season ago. A broken Jerome will likely bow out into retirement.
