Big Haumole into Top 30

[Chip and Chase]

I like Frankie, honest footballer, but if Penrith think they are getting a like for like replacement for Billy Kicks then not sure that's going to go well for them.

 

[Bearfax]

Dessie's comment that losing Winterstein may be positive as he believes the squad is too forward dominated, suggests he could be looking at backs to promote or recruit to the 30.

 

[Fluffy]

We need another half in the top 30 C and C.If the 12 seater the halves travel on crashes we are totally f....d.

I’d love some more info on the mystery man Kioa in the three quarters in the top 30. Any word on his progress? Funas use in the top 30 last year was very strange. Was never even mentioned all year despite our woes out wide.Hopefully Tevita gets a chance to show his wares this year.

If Funa was a coach only decision then you know Zorba would have been white anting in his column so has to be something.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Dessie's comment that losing Winterstein may be positive as he believes the squad is too forward dominated, suggests he could be looking at backs to promote or recruit to the 30.

Interesting if that is what he thinks Bear,at the moment without Paseka/Tanginoa and Fainu available for round 1 we only have Sipley,Perrett,Waddell and Gosiewski outside of our starting 6 forwards.I know that all 3 will be back relatively soon but I don't see us as top heavy in forwards.I wonder if that is just journalistic licence by channel nein?15 backs 13 forwards and 2 each on the development squad.Yeah Hodko and Croker could play hooker,but we have Korisau and Fainu there.

 

[Ryan]

Who the hell is Haumole? Yet another reserve grade no name? This team needs proven, not potential. This is first grade, not reserve grade.

 

[brad]

Good on Penrith, Great on Manly for letting him fly the coup . Nothing against the big unit personally but that's all he was B...I...G . Bringing in a young raw gun is the right move here Manly , well done.

 

[Class of 96]

Who the hell is Haumole? Yet another reserve grade no name? This team needs proven, not potential. This is first grade, not reserve grade.

Why Ryan, he is the next Sonny Bill Williams. Have you been residing in a cave recently?

 

[Ryan]

Why Ryan, he is the next Sonny Bill Williams. Have you been residing in a cave recently?

I guess so, I can't even find anything about him online.

 

[Scorpio]

Who the hell is Haumole? Yet another reserve grade no name? This team needs proven, not potential. This is first grade, not reserve grade.

He played Lock in our 2017 Holden Cup win, has been playing for Blacktown since then.

I will back Des and co's decision on this one.

 

[Ryan]

He played Lock in our 2017 Holden Cup win, has been playing for Blacktown since then.

I will back Des and co's decision on this one.

Awesome, that seems to be everyone's strategy. Forget everything else, Des will fix everything. Can't wait.

 

[Sue]

Don't know that Frankie would free up a lot of space,thought he was on about 250-300K,and doubtful the panthers would take him without us contributing some this year.Wonder if moving Frankie is for Gauca to take his spot in the 29,maybe it is also to sweeten the rumoured upcoming deal for Schuster?Upgrade him to a development contract for this year and allows him to train with the NRL squad after the Ball season ends,gives him some extra cash this year for a little less next year?Gives us a chance to maybe also give him a little taste of top grade later in the year depending on the situation....

You sure Smokin Joe? 300k for a bloke who struggles to make our bench and has not made any impact at NRL level here or at the dogs AND is 32. Surely not. No wonder we have cap problems.

 

[Scorpio]

Awesome, that seems to be everyone's strategy. Forget everything else, Des will fix everything. Can't wait.

You complain about all of our other juniors that have left Manly, like Gutherson and Ramien (though he never played an NRL game for us).

And yet... when one of our juniors like Olokau'atu gets promoted to the Top 30, you complain that we are hiring reserve graders!

Make up your mind.

 

[Ryan]

You complain about all of our other juniors that have left Manly, like Gutherson and Ramien (though he never played an NRL game for us).

And yet... when one of our juniors like Olokau'atu gets promoted to the Top 30, you complain that we are hiring reserve graders!

Make up your mind.

Ramien? You must be thinking of someone else on the boards. He plays for The Knights or Sharks or someone doesn't he?
Gutherson on the other hand, was already getting established, had raw talent. Massive loss. Would you have Ramien or Gutherson over Suli, Parker, Elliott & others? I would. Heck, I'd have Gutherson in there over Elgey & Hodkinson

Who the HELL is Olokau'atu?

 

[Sue]

The thing I like about Guaca is he looks like a footballer , not a robot. Just like Waddell looks like he has some footy awareness. Needs to fill out into a mans body but from what I saw in 20s he is a talent.

 

[Sue]

Awesome, that seems to be everyone's strategy. Forget everything else, Des will fix everything. Can't wait.

Ryan I’m with you in saying this years team will struggle and possibly struggle really badly. But we have some serious young talent in the wings and Des is already starting to move ordinary players like Winterstein when given the chance.
This is how we rose before under Des. Talented juniors, shifting deadwood , mouldings journeyman into solid first graders and purchasing a couple of stars..

Des has done it before .He can do it again.

 

[Ryan]

Ryan I’m with you in saying this years team will struggle and possibly struggle really badly. But we have some serious young talent in the wings and Des is already starting to move ordinary players like Winterstein when given the chance.
This is how we rose before under Des. Talented juniors, shifting deadwood , mouldings journeyman into solid first graders and purchasing a couple of stars..

Des has done it before .He can do it again.

He also had a really tough regression at The Dogs (that everyone seems to forget about).
BUT, he did absolutely do it with us. I'm looking forward to seeing the on field product he produces this Saturday.

 

[Smokin Joe]

You sure Smokin Joe? 300k for a bloke who struggles to make our bench and has not made any impact at NRL level here or at the dogs AND is 32. Surely not. No wonder we have cap problems.

Yeah,250-300K is about right,he was signed when he was starting and was weighing up an offer from Japanese rugby.It is not that much when you consider Siro is on supposedly about 400K and is injury prone.Des had Perrett on about 400K and he was playing reggies,he is another being paid more by us than people think...

 

[The '47ers]

If that is the case we definately need to fast track a nick name for him ...or find out what his team mates call him ..

When going well : Holy Gaucamole
When going bad : Hurthole

 

[Sue]

250-300K is what I said,and yeah it was back when he was a starter that he signed...He was also weighing up an offer to return to Japanese RU,250-300K is not a lot really,Siro is supposedly on 400 or so and that is for an injury prone guy,so 250-300 sounds about right...Des had Perret on 400K years ago when he was playing reggies,he is on more money than many think he is being paid by us.

Thanks Smokin .I’m sure you have a better handle on it than me. We obviously paid too much for quite a few fringe guys plus we five or six guys on huge money so that’s obviously why the cap is an issue.I don’t think this will be the last one we see move on. Looking at our list there is a few guys who don’t fit Dessie’s mould of a first grader if history is a guide.

 

[Disco]

Who the hell is Haumole? Yet another reserve grade no name? This team needs proven, not potential. This is first grade, not reserve grade.

Love how if you don't know a player they are automatically rubbish.

Haumole was one of the stars of our 2017 Holden Cup team that include Fainu, Funa, Cust etc. From the games I saw you could argue he is the most talented of them all. Natural footballer great offload.

The reason you didn't hear about him last year is that he got injured and missed the season but he is highly rated.

I personally expect him to feature this year and then really start to make a mark in 2020. We are on the verge of some of these real talented youngsters contributing in a big way (Hoppa, Olakauatu, Fainu, Cust, Funa, Metcalfe, Schuster, Trbojevic). Not all will make it but that bunch reminds me of when Buhrer, DCE, Foran JWH came through together and they worked out okay.