Dane Gagai Re-Signs with Knights until 2017

You need more than just speed to play fullback.
Otherwise you can just chuck any fast player in the 1.
Why not play Uate at fullback then?
Fullback are pretty much second 5/8th these days.
Mamo needs a lot of work with his hands.
 
For all those out there that are up Gagai about not passing the ball, the Broncos will suit his future better as Bennett won't let him pass anyway haha
 
Junior11 said:
Anyone who says Jake Mamo only offers speed obviously hasn't seen him play 20's and trials before. He just hasn't had the chance to show it in first grade yet.

And still, speed will always be his biggest asset just like some of the most exciting players in the NRL, you know if he gets a bit of space a try will be scored.
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Agreed, I've seen Mamo do some freaky shlt that most players wouldn't attempt. He's more than a bundle of energy

People need to get passed the convention of judging a player based on their achievements. Kurt Gidley was a player who hadn't shown much until the age of 25 when he became one of our greatest players over the next 5 seasons. What we should hold as the most vital criteria are attributes like desire, commitment, fitness, physical ceiling, and a raw ability to improve. Mamo has all of those things, that's the only reason I'm excited to give him a chance to grow and learn, I reckon he might be the next Robie'o
 
Kenny Powers said:
Fill what gap though? It isn't a collection of average players that win you games and trophies, it's the collection of special players.

I don't understand the argument which says we can sufficiently replace Gagai with 3 players of lesser ability

According to the breakdown of the current salary cap - if Gagai is one of our six best players then we can afford to pay him 600k. And if Gagai is playing FB then he Is definitely worth 600k

Get with the times guys, 600k isn't the marque payday it was 2-3 seasons ago. Tariq is on 600k...
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I'd love to see him stay, but, I don't think he's worth getting in a bidding war with the Bronco's over. Give him our best offer and if he decides he wants to go to Brisbane wish him good luck. Sione's a good replacement and it opens up a spot for Mamo. We're pretty well served for outside backs and I'd rather search for a top shelf prop then pay overs for Gagai.

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Lord of the Skraelings said:
Trials, 9's and 20's are so lacking relevance it's not even worth bringing up when comparing to NRL.

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Exactly Gagai, BJL and Uate are the guys that are going to bust a game open for us.
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So we should get in a bidding war with Brisbane and pay him what ever he wants? You're kidding aren't you?
 
I don't think it will be a bidding war. I mean Gagai is a great player, Newcastle normally throw overs at Ciraldo's and Reynoldson's. I don't know Brisbane's contract situations but I'd say they could only throw him the big ones if they lose Thaiday.

Now, the way I'm starting to look at it is.

Situation 1. We keep Gagai, Gidley moves on. Gags > 1. Sione > 4. J Mac > released > Mamo >5 - This is my ideal scenario. I've said it before props to J Mac for everything he has done but I feel he is going to slowly become a Luke Covell type player with all the advancements in winger 'stats' speed and weight wise. If he bulked up I could see him moving to Lock - He would need to change his centre of gravity, but he can tackle. An offseason in that position and who knows.

Situation 2 - Brisbane Sign Gagai - Can't afford Thaiday, We take Thaiday on the 600 K we throw at Gags? Sione > 4 Mamo > 1? And put Thaiday at prop?

After typing this, I realise this is the most farfetched two situations possible.
 
Personally can't see him staying, fingers crossed he does...but won't bag him if he leaves...just hope the media don't blow this out of proportion.
 
I'm just thinking, if we begin fighting for Gagai do we begin to lose vision on the Mata'utia's? Realistically I'd rather have Sione and his brothers than Dane, sure Dane has been good for us but if him staying means we lose possibly the biggest prospect we have than I'd rather lose Dane and keep Mata'utia x3
 
Sione is all hype - he has no speed, no step, isn't an agile ball runner. .. and isn't a ball player, he'll wind up being a solid centre who commands more money than he's worth
 
Kenny Powers said:
Sione is all hype - he has no speed, no step, isn't an agile ball runner. .. and isn't a ball player, he'll wind up being a solid centre who commands more money than he's worth
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Please look up last year's home match against the Warriors where he sprinted 80 metres to score against a team that has Shaun Johnson.
 
-Patrick- said:
Please look up last year's home match against the Warriors where he sprinted 80 metres to score against a team that has Shaun Johnson.
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Please we've been through that. He did well there, against TOMPKINS, who pretty much kept up with him... Watch his last 2 games that have been televised he has been out sprinted and couldn't make the cover tackle even with a head start - last week was against Lolohea.

And he's 18. He's as fast and agile as he will ever be, he's only slowing down from here

And just because he's advanced doesn't mean that he will continue to be, I think he's got a great footballing mind but he ain't the Messiah people are expecting him to be
 
Kenny Powers said:
Please we've been through that. He did well there, against TOMPKINS, who pretty much kept up with him... Watch his last 2 games that have been televised he has been out sprinted and couldn't make the cover tackle even with a head start - last week was against Lolohea.

And he's 18. He's as fast and agile as he will ever be, he's only slowing down from here

And just because he's advanced doesn't mean that he will continue to be, I think he's got a great footballing mind but he ain't the Messiah people are expecting him to be
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Johnson has said it himself that Tomkins is one of the top 5 fastest in the squad. That same squad includes the likes of Johnson and Fisiahi. It's quite obvious Sione isn't a fullback and is naturally a centre, I've seen nobody hail him as a "messiah", majority of people see him as an exciting young prospect who's only going to improve from here.
 
-Patrick- said:
Johnson has said it himself that Tomkins is one of the top 5 fastest in the squad. That same squad includes the likes of Johnson and Fisiahi. It's quite obvious Sione isn't a fullback and is naturally a centre, I've seen nobody hail him as a "messiah", majority of people see him as an exciting young prospect who's only going to improve from here.
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I don't waste my time with vague comparisons between players who are said to be faster than another etc, I just watch him play, he's definitely no sprinter. Look at his body type! Him and each of his brothers have slow twitch muscle fibers. He's an average sprinter at best and if you think anything more than you're not paying attention
 
Kenny Powers said:
I don't waste my time with vague comparisons between players who are said to be faster than another etc, I just watch him play, he's definitely no sprinter. Look at his body type! Him and each of his brothers have slow twitch muscle fibers. He's an average sprinter at best and if you think anything more than you're not paying attention
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You don't waste time on that, you just waste time picking at players for the sake of having a differing opinion. It also amuses me that speed is the only aspect you've been able to comment and haven't mentioned his incredible strength for an 18 year old. If you believe you need speed to be a good outside back you just need to look at guys like Hurrell, Vatuvei, Fonua etc.
 
Sione never had a problem with his footwork when he was drawing the opposition winger in as a centre in the NYC side or for the blues. On Gagai it would be a shame to lose him but when it comes to a fullback for next year Inwould be going hard for Alex Johnston who is off contract is a natural fullback, he won't be playing their anytime soon with Inglis and perhaps even walker in front of him. The other guy I would look at if Dylan Walter-zelinak from penrith anyone her natural fullback who has Moylan in front of him.
 
I agree with Kenny Powers, but not so concern with Sione's speed.
He's quick enough and you don't need to be super quick.
However, I don't think he will trouble many defences with his running game.
He's not a player that would blow the game apart, game breaker.
 
Sione's still only 18 though. There wouldn't be too many kids his age troubling an NRL defensive line like he does. Let him finish growing and reassess him then.
 
Lord of the Skraelings said:
Trials, 9's and 20's are so lacking relevance it's not even worth bringing up when comparing to NRL.
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I think it is worth bringing up because people are saying he only offers speed when I'm saying he offers a lot more than that when given the chance. Whether it's 20's or not, he's still shown many of times that he can kick and chase, set up brilliant plays, he has evasive footwork, he can save tries, he's got a huge leap on him and more dedication and high standards for himself than most players his age. So no his blinding speed isn't the only thing he could offer our NRL side. We will see more of that in the NRL when he gets given the opportunity because he's shown he's capable of winning games. He's got plenty of tricks up his sleeves that were restricted in first grade because he's a rookie who was playing with an injury on the wing.

Of course he has to get bigger while he's only 20 but I still find it crazy anyone thinking he's only got speed to offer but each to their own. He may never convert his 20's/trials/9's form into the NRL but doubting his overall ability before he's given the real chance to make that conversion isn't fair, there's enough signs there to say he's a real quality prospect and clubs are going to be all over him.

A try scoring machine who wins Fullback of the Year, leading NYC try scorer, NYC Player of the Year, MOTM in 20's Origin, plays for the junior Kangaroos, score's hat-tricks left right and centre, how can anyone take him lightly.

I hope Stone doesn't take that same approach as some on here but I'm sure he can actually see the piles of talent Jake has other than his speed.
 
I always thought in the lower grades that the reason Sione was so much better than his brothers at the same age was because he had three older brothers living in the same house who were training at a senior level, and Sione was probably doing the same training and following the same diet etc, while other 15 year olds were training 3 hours a week.
Having said that, he has already gone way past all his brothers and at 18 he still has a lot of growing to do.
Paul Harrogan was a skinny winger at 18.
It isn't impossible that Sione could grow 3 inches taller, put on 20kg and be a prop forward for Dora Creek by age 23.
I don't think anyone can say how an 18 year old will develop.
I mean, he is the same age as our Australian schoolboys centre Braden Robeson, who has about 10 games of NYC under his belt, but is seen as a very good prospect.
Maybe in 3 years Sione might lose his spot to Robeson, or maybe Wayne Bennett is right and he will be a club legend and future captain.
At 18, anything could happen.
 
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