Can Uate have his wing spot back ?

[maxta]

I know a few were excited about the prospect of Uate in the centres after destroying some sub standard defence against weak opposition, but last night showed his best position by a long way - is the wing.
Not to bag the bloke, as he has done well and in that Fiji side - deserves to play there.
Fact is - against a quick , sharp attacking team like you face week in-week out at NRL level, he will get caught out with decisions, positioning and to a degree - technique....the centre position is a specialist area that can really be engaged and icsolated by slick attacking sides.
As a winger, which he has played predominantly and knows blindfolded - he is a gun and his returns - especially to initiate momentum and field position - are critical to success in 2018.
Personally have him well back behind at least 4 players as a centre with Wright and Parker both preferred options along with Walker and Kelly as starters.
Uate is a gun winger and at Manly - this is the ONLY position he should play.

 

[The Wheel]

There is an old coaches rule - dont weaken one position to strengthen another

 

[tookey]

Parker is 1000% better centre than Uate

 

[brad]

Uate is a Winger .

 

[Holmsey]

I disagree partly because he has played centre all world cup and blown sides away, last night he played centre again and destroyed Australias edge and was Fijis best player. But yes he should play wing for us but he is more than capable if called upon to play in the centres. He showed up the Aus international centres quiet easily last night.

 

[HoldenV8]

While Aku was arguably Fiji's best player against Australia last night, I have to agree with @maxta 100%. A couple of times he was caught out in defence, including once early in the game where he rushed up to take Slater only for Matt Gillett to stroll through the gap created and if not for his complete balls up by trying to pass it to Gagai rather than just crashing over himself, Australia would have scored a try at that point only about 10 minutes into the game.

Aku and Dylan Walker formed a rather lethal combination on our right edge this year and I don't think Baz will want to change that.

Aku is a winger at NRL level and that is where he should stay, but at least he's an option at centre if we need an injury replacement.

 

[HoldenV8]

I disagree partly because he has played centre all world cup and blown sides away, last night he played centre again and destroyed Australias edge and was Fijis best player. But yes he should play wing for us but he is more than capable if called upon to play in the centres. He showed up the Aus international centres quiet easily last night.

Yeah but look at those sides Fiji beat in the pool games. USA, Italy, Wales.....they wouldn't even be competitive with NSW or Qld Cup sides, let alone in the NRL. Remember the 2013 WC when Hayne was moved to centre and looked like a world beater? Everyone was going on about how he would then play centre in the NRL and would be a star doing it, but the reality was that every time he has played centre since 2013 he has basically been crap. They played him in the centres in Origin and TBH it was a complete failure.

Yes Aku has arguably been Fiji's best player in this tournament and definitely was last night.....but in the NRL I wouldn't be playing him at centre unless there was an injury crisis. His best position is the wing.

 

[Fluffy]

who was he up against, they certainly arn't a centre either given Uate made 2 line breaks out of position.

 

[Deleted member 26876]

Definately Wing, although even though he was caught out a few times, his side was so much better in defence than the other (where Holmes scored 6). He was one of the best, if not the best, players on the field last night. Only player in the comp to consistently worry the Australian defence, showing unmatched determination to break the line, breaking through on multiple occasions. Had some brutal tackles as well

 

[Dinga]

If Aku has a blinder of a season in 2018 we may extend him another season..At his age im not sure what the club will decide..We have Tom Wright and Jade Anderson who can fill that role in 2019...If we dont give these Kids a run in 1st grade soon we will lose them.

 

[BOZO]

If Aku has a blinder of a season in 2018 we may extend him another season..At his age im not sure what the club will decide..We have Tom Wright and Jade Anderson who can fill that role in 2019...If we dont give these Kids a run in 1st grade soon we will lose them.

Too many if's .
We just have to wait patiently and see . No rash decisions

 

[Snake]

What you are saying is 100% but is also the opinion of anyone with even a casual rugby league knowledge. Barrett was never going to consider moving him and even Mick Potter would know that it's only happening because they are a minnow Country and even at his worst in the centres, Uate is better than the other alternatives. Brayden Williame played backrow for christ sake haha.

 

[double hoops]

I am not so quick to discount a move. Unlikely yes.

In defence Uate stays on the wing no question. His kick return and taking high balls are his strength. Bit too late to turn him into a defensive centre.

In attack I'm not convinced a move to centre would be a bad thing at all for either the team as a whole or Uate personally.

What I really liked, is his game didn't change one bit in the world cup playing centre, it was as simple as he just was getting the ball in his hands more often. He is such an electric runner of the ball, he didn't try and be a ball player, he just worried teams with his pace, he can find a hole and surprisingly his ability to set up others, was pretty bloody good.

But the more we as a team can get the ball in his hands with room to move is win.

Thinking of the team as a whole especially with a Tom Wight or Brad Parker in mind. Bigger bodies who would be more experienced making the difficult defending reads at centre. But could both those young blokes actually be better on the wing as finishes in attack? Without the pressure on such young lads to be the creative force out wide.

If i had to put money on it i think Tom Wright will get a run at centre. But dam Uate also needs to see more ball.

 

[Spartan Eagle]

Uate is a natural winger. He just needs more ball coming his way.. There was a period there past season when walker was linking up with him sensationally. I think walker needs to stop hogging the ball and be more selective with his runs. There is no use having a machine like uate on the wing if he isn't being utilised.