Joseph Leilua released by the Knights

KnightsArmy said:
I have been told it is bj Leilua for tevita Pangai
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he'll be a big boost to NYC - but all his older brothers have looked great till just before NRL level, and fail to take the step up.
He's a skinnier Toka Likiliki I think. A beast in the lower grades, not a big enough motor for NRL.
Having said that, he's 18 - same age as Sione - so we can hope he comes good.
 
Please please don't be mcrone, if we sign him I honestly don't think I would be able to support this club anymore.
 
KnightsArmy said:
I have been told it is bj Leilua for tevita Pangai
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That would awesome.

The guy is a star in the making and has looked very dominant in NYC but also against seniors in NSW Cup from what I've seen. I don't really understand why he hasn't played any firsts yet, he's a gun.
 
Aidos said:
That would awesome.

The guy is a star in the making and has looked very dominant in NYC but also against seniors in NSW Cup from what I've seen. I don't really understand why he hasn't played any firsts yet, he's a gun.
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Because of his work ethic. No doubt he's a good talent but he's got a bit of Tony Williams or Dave Taylor in him. Has the ability to dominate whenever he wants but is often too lazy.
 
mullenmagic said:
Because of his work ethic. No doubt he's a good talent but he's got a bit of Tony Williams or Dave Taylor in him. Has the ability to dominate whenever he wants but is often too lazy.
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He looks to be going great guns since moving to prop in NYC this year. Getting through more work now it seems.
 
If we get Pangai I will respect the Knights a bit more just for the fact that Canberra obviously don't want Shillington & offered him to us laughing to themselves because it's a win-win for them & we said no, we want Pangai, a player that the Raiders wouldn't want to lose. It'd be a little disappointing because he's just an unproven rookie with work ethic issues over a big prop that we really could have used but I'd be happy that we showed a bit of balls for once.
 
Some of the most enjoyable junior games i've seen were when Tevita and Sione played Harold Mathews together.
Tevita would run 40 metres, swatting guys off like flies, till finally 6 of them would slow him down a bit, and he'd slip an arm free and offload to Sione, and then the fun would really start.
It really was like two adults were allowed to play against the 15 year olds, and they were both 14 at the time.
 
Joey Leilua's early release to Canberra Raiders may happen early next week

June 12, 2015 - 10:00PM

Unwanted Newcastle Knights centre Joey Leilua could be playing for the Canberra Raiders as early as next weekend, with David Shillington being mooted as part of a trade deal.

Knights chief executive Matt Gidley said the club was considering "whole range" of recruitment options before the June 30 transfer deadline, including a fast-tracked release for Leilua.

Leilua confirmed on May 14 he had activated a get-out clause entitling him to forgo his 2016 contract with Newcastle, amid widespread speculation he intended to join Canberra.

Knights officials have since been steadfast in stating Leilua would play out the season before moving on.

Newcastle coach Rick Stone made his position clear last month when he said: "If I had my way, I wouldn't be letting him go, because he's a quality player."

Stone's stance was reaffirmed by director of football Michael Hagan, who said last week:

"It was agreed at the time of his release that he would see the year out here.

"That was my understanding, and nothing has changed."

But Leilua indicated on Tuesday he had not given up on securing a release before the June 30 cut-off date.

"It's not my decision," he told Fairfax Media.

"I've already put in an application to leave. That could be before June 30, or definitely at the end of the year.

"I'm not too sure about June 30. We'll see how we go, what the club wants from me.

"If they don't really want me, I should just leave."

After Knights officials held a strategy meeting on Friday, at which recruitment and retention was a focal point, it now appears Leilua could be released within days.

If he signs with Canberra, he could be playing against his current teammates within a month, when the Raiders host Newcastle on July 10.

"We're likely to reach a decision [about Leilua] by Sunday night or maybe Monday morning," Gidley said.

"It's been a busy week, so we just need some time to consider our options . . . and not only with BJ."

There has been speculation that veteran Canberra prop Shillington might sign with Newcastle as part of a trade deal, and Gidley did not rule out that possibility.

"It's certainly an option for us," he said.

"We've got a whole range of options.

"These managers can smell salary cap space like sharks can smell blood in the water.

"We've got a lot of different options at the moment.

"It's just a matter of sitting down and considering all those and what type of skill set would complement our squad, and the character that would go with that as well."

Shillington and his management didn't return calls on Friday.

Newcastle need front-row reinforcement, given its engine-room rotation has been depleted by the loss of Jack Stockwell to a season-ending ruptured biceps.

Knights supporters would be unlikely to shed any tears over Leilua's departure after his candid interview, in which he said he had been "looking for another club" since being warned he was likely to start the season in NSW Cup.

Gidley said he had no problems with Leilua's comments.

"I think he spoke pretty frankly," Gidley said.

"As long as players are being honest, you can't really stand in their way.

"They were BJ's thoughts and feelings, and I think fans will take those for what they are."


http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...y-happen-early-next-week-20150612-ghmz4o.html
 
I'd kind of prefer if we went after a young guy like Pangai over Shillington tbh. We're not going to be competitive this year or next year with or without Shillington. We should be looking to the future.
 
"We've got a lot of different options at the moment.

"It's just a matter of sitting down and considering all those and what type of skill set would complement our squad, and the character that would go with that as well."
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Sounds like we're actually really trying to recruit at least, which is good to know.
 
We need someone in return at least. Someone who will benefit our NRL squad and not just someone that'll get a game or two and play NSW Cup for the rest of their stay.

Shillington - ageing, injury prone and is a hot and cold player.
McCrone - lol.
Pangai - young with massive potential but poor work ethic and yet another lazy player.
Cornish - young with massive potential, inexperienced.
 
I think Tevita Pangai's potential upside is worth it. He might be a bit lazy at times but not many possess both his size and power but also the athletic ability to go with it. We have few attacking forwards in FG (Tariq and sometimes Korbin). I reckon he would give our pack a more attacking edge we have lacked in recent years.
 
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He's young, it shouldn't surprise anyone that he's got a lazy attitude especially if he's shredding it in U20's with ease. Get him into seniors right away, get him a little more battle hardened and the lazy attitude should slip right away. He's an excellent prospect and one the club can right after slipping through.

People tout Shillington as a top buy but he's a band aid solution. Pangai isn't. He's young, he's got a **** load of potential and if his junior years with Sione haven't withered away, we'll have something truly exciting for the future. The club wants to be so focused on the future, on generation next and local talent; this is fits everything they want and puts us fans on their good side even for a small amount of time until their next stuff up.
 
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