Sebastian Su'a discussion

Billy

Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus

aaa.jpg
 
I have to admit my perception of him last year was coloured by how bad Toni Toupenoia had gone and the fact that we seemed to release Ben Talty to make a space for him.
Ben Talty was trying hard to make firstgrade and was producing massive efforts week after week and this kid came in and gave us 20 or 30 average minutes.
In hindsight, Talty at 24 had probably peaked at just below NRL standard, and this kid at 19/20 last year was probably smashing it in the gym and they could see he had a big future.
He is the age and size the Saifiti's were when they made fistgrade, and like them he had 1 year of Flegg/reserve grade.
The difference is we threw the Safs into the deep end and let them get dominated for years before they were ready for long minutes. We can use this kid in the same way we used Hetho last year - 15 or 20 minutes off the bench to rip in as hard as he can - and 2 years from now he might be our pack leader.
 
Would kill for a height/ weight stat on the young fella. He doesn't look that tall, I'd guess 186cm 105kgs
Well here he is standing between Riley Jones and Myles Martin in the team photo. Riley Jones is 190 cm and he has half a head on him. Myles Martin is 193cm and he looks maybe 2cm taller. So id say 195cm. The Saifiti's are both saying 195cm this year, but in the past they have said 197cm and they look a bit taller than Sua when side by side.

aaa.jpg
 
It will be interesting to watch this play out in the coming years. If Tyrone comes and develops as quickly as Leo, and Seb Sua indeed becomes the player we hope, is there room for both Safs? One would have to go I'd think.
 
Well here he is standing between Riley Jones and Myles Martin in the team photo. Riley Jones is 190 cm and he has half a head on him. Myles Martin is 193cm and he looks maybe 2cm taller. So id say 195cm. The Saifiti's are both saying 195cm this year, but in the past they have said 197cm and they look a bit taller than Sua when side by side.

View attachment 6752
Yep you're not wrong, he's at least 195.. big boy. Would have to be at least 110kgs min you'd think
 
He's really improved at harnessing the aggression and being more disciplined on both sides of the ball over the course of the season but still a pretty funny way for his debut to go. Will certainly be a memorable one for him.
 
Let's have a bit of info on his Dad ... Murphy Su'a, a left arm opening bowler who bowled a heavy ball and could hit the ball pretty well on his day too. Murphy played 13 tests, with 36 wickets at 38.25, and 12 ODIs with 9 wickets at 40.77. He was a part of the 1992 World Cup squad (I'm sure a lot of people recognise the shirt design below), but was a controversial selection and didn't play a game. In the process of playing for NZ, he became the first player of Pacific heritage to play for the Blackcaps. He paved the way for the likes of Ross Taylor and hopefully many more in the future.


1992-MurphySua-001.jpg
Murphy-Sua-001.jpg
 
In his 10 games of reserve grade in 2023 he averaged 45 metres a game, mostly off the bench.
I thought he was rubbish, but didn't realise he was only 19 years old. I thought he was in his early 20s.
He turns 21 next month, so still only 20.
I think he has been at the club for a few years and had some sort of injury that kept him out of a lot of football.
Anyway, he has grown a lot in both size and skill after having a good pre-season this year and playing nearly every round in either Flegg or reserves.
Another pre-season should develop him into at least a bench prop for firstgrade.
 
Back
Top