I'd be surprised if we didn't have a more than capable back up fullback already.
It's not Walker. And it's not Garrick. Or Funa. He's just too slow.
It may be Harper but I have my doubts.
It could be Saab or Koula. But surely we can find someone already at the club who can fill in for Tom when he enters the Corso Gift.
With 9, we've just found the perfect storm. Let Api go when we thought we had it covered just to have Manase stood down. At least we've taken steps to address it with the signing of Lawton. I can't watch another match with Croker at 9. Hopefully, Cust starts this week.
We need to do something because one thing's for sure. What we're doing now isn't working.
Tolutau Koula: Position FB
Age: 18
Height: 183cm
Weight: 93kg
Speed: 100m & 200m sprint champion...100m in 10.5sec
Tolutau Koula is one of the real exciting prospects at the Manly Sea Eagles.
A full-back/centre, Tolutau has been rated as one of the best young attacking players seen in either rugby league or rugby union at school and representative level in recent years.
Tolutau has been fast tracked into Manly’s NRL top 30 squad after completing his HSC at Newington College in 2020.
A player with tremendous speed, Tolutau played full-back for Manly in the Club’s 2018 Harold Matthews premiership winning team. He also played SG Ball for Manly in 2019 and 2020.
Tolutau represented the Australian Schools and U18 rugby team in New Zealand last year after being involved in the 2019 Academy Series at the NSW Waratahs Rugby Academy.
Tolu Koula (Manly Sea Eagles)
“He’s the one I’m really looking forward to, he’s a 100m and 200m sprint champion.
“From all reports a couple of months of athletic training he was running 10.5 second 100 metres.
“I heard Manly were going to coach him into becoming a centre, but I think he’s an out and out fullback.
“He can run, he has really good peripheral vision and really good footwork.
“He has blinding speed and with Tom Trbojevic missing he’ll get a run early in the year.
“He’s a pretty special kid, I’m looking forward to seeing him in 2021.”
WE HAVE youngsters good enough!!! See above re Koula! They just need a fvcking chance! If Suaalii is ok to play 1st grade so is this kid. He’s a solid build, good defender & bigger than Papenhuyzen ffs. This club needs to take some risks or we will lose these kids. Imagine our team with Trbo, Saab, Koula in the backline. FMD Des give them a go!
