Manaise Fainu

[Mataiforever]

he honestly played like he was one of the premier hookers in the competition today

 

[Ryan]

He's very balanced, he's very smooth, yet sharp and slick. Like a quicker version of Matty Ballin.

Kids got some mustard, that's for sure.

 

[Narly]

The kid is awesome!

 

[The Who]

All true, but I like having Api in the 17. Api is a great defender and competitor.
Rotating the hookers helps keep both fresh. It's a smart strategy.
Also, if a back gets injured Api is the most likely to slot in. We don't have a back-up back in the 17.

 

[Tragic Eagle]

I wasn’t a believer but I certainly am now.

 

[KNUCKLES]

All true, but I like having Api in the 17. Api is a great defender and competitor.
Rotating the hookers helps keep both fresh. It's a smart strategy.
Also, if a back gets injured Api is the most likely to slot in. We don't have a back-up back in the 17.

I reckon Croker wouldn't be a bad option. Fairly safe all round

 

[Kevinward777]

I reckon Croker wouldn't be a bad option. Fairly safe all round

He’d make a decent nine I reckon... good defender, brave too.

 

[rifraff]

For the money Api is on and for the minutes Fainu played and how good we have looked with him on. Croker could be ideal for the first 20.

Not willing to write Api off just yet though and it will be good to see how he responds to the threat of maybe losing his position. He will need to lift and fight for his spot and that can only be a good thing for us...

 

[Mataiforever]

i honestly think we could put fainu at 9 and api at 6, with cust at 14 considering elgey played pretty average.
im not sure if i have seen someone look at comfortable and calm with the ball in hand as fainu looks. He's so cool calm and collected when doing things like running at the line and passing the ball

 

[manlyfan76]

i honestly think we could put fainu at 9 and api at 6, with cust at 14 considering elgey played pretty average.
im not sure if i have seen someone look at comfortable and calm with the ball in hand as fainu looks. He's so cool calm and collected when doing things like running at the line and passing the ball

He set up the winning try in the last 20's final.

 

[Sheikheagle]

Given the young fellas rapid development I can see API being shopped around as we speak. I am not against API but you can’t afford to have two hookers in your squad on top coin.

 

[brad]

Agreed. Keep api to take all the early defence and keep fainu fresh

Exactly, we have a 9 fresh for the whole game.

 

[Fluffy]

I am yet to see either Api or Faniu play 80 minutes at full tilt, so having both in the team works for me right now.

Its a tough one as you want to be on the front foot early but the flip side is like today if the change is made and they are on then you leave them on. Right now that would mean Fainu on the bench playing 50-60 most weeks.

A bit of hedging your bets.

 

[pjayz]

He is better with the ball than API but API is infinitely better in defence.

I don’t agree. Fainu defends quite well and misses less tackles. API hits harder for sure. Overall Fainu is going to be the much better player.

 

[maxta]

Let’s be honest
Sue called it last week and got shot down, but Fainu is a gun....we mess around too long with Friend injured every second week....Roosters offer 1.2 a season and we lose potentially a Top 3 dummy half in the NRL.
The kid is a gun

 

[double hoops]

Changing of the guard. Cust needs to be playing with him as well.

 

[manlyfan76]

He is signed till end of 2020, id be happy to sign him long term right now

 

[Kevinward777]

Let’s be honest
Sue called it last week and got shot down, but Fainu is a gun....we mess around too long with Friend injured every second week....Roosters offer 1.2 a season and we lose potentially a Top 3 dummy half in the NRL.
The kid is a gun

Indeed... @Sue appears to be right on it.

 

[manlyfan76]

Indeed... @Sue appears to be right on it.

I was just happy to create the thread for sue to reaffirm my view.

 

[KNUCKLES]

He’d make a decent nine I reckon... good defender, brave too.

100% what I was thinking. I reckon he could be a 'peats' type hooker. Nothing flashy but just solid all round.