True Al, and can see the same thing happening at the Tigers. With Latu's age he's always been the player in waiting, but the trouble with this, while waiting there's always someone playing in your preferred position who's got everything to prove and play for. Got the feeling the Tigers really wanted Sam and that Latu was part of the package deal on getting the whole Fainu clan over to the Tigpies.
Latu was already on about 300 k for season "s 22 and 23 and in different circumstances and maybe with a bit more Blacktown experience and if was really coming on , could have warranted an additional 200 k
However , was playing as a 7 at Blacktown and had a heap of injuries prior to that and no way really knowing if he could almost instantly manage to be a capable 6 at N R L level .
Siebold under a bit of pressure to get results now so of course understandable to go for a player of Brooks "s caliber and experience .
Latu would probably have to be one of the highest paid juniors and not to have played i st grade for all times however but such is life .
Sort of had hopes that Samual could have transitioned into a quite viable 13 for Manly short term and long term and again in different circumstances and with a bit of opportunity to play there even at Blacktown , may have been a possibility .
Then to match the West Tigers 500 k and still not even in the short term consideration as a permanent edge let alone 13 , hard to retain him .
Really , really hope of course that Shu can do something very worthwhile again on an edge , .
if not , losing Sam could prove to be a real bad option