Official Braden Hamlin-Uele

[BurgoShark]

T

Putting Kaufusi straight into assumed lineups might be short lived. Even if he does get the jump on the position, I think people will be shocked with how he actually plays….

Considering players like Jack Williams would have to miss out. Jack Williams on form prior to injury far exceeded Kaufusi form. Yes it’s a stretch chucking in Williams as a prop, but Kaufusi plays more like a second rower anyway !!!

Williams and Kaufusi have been comparable players in terms of the way they have played in the past imho.

but... how he played before Fitz and with Fitz are two different things.

Fitz-ball is typically played with one "genuine prop" and 2 locks, regardless of what numbers they are wearing. From a deployment PoV Fitz may not feel that he can get 80 minutes out of the Hunt + BHU combination. Enter Kaufusi, who imo has played a more mobile role at Parra, but definitely has the size to play more like a genuine prop. I think BHU playing 30-35 and each of the other guys playing 20-25 might be a nice way to roll them (number of interchanges permitting).

 

[bort]

Putting Kaufusi straight into assumed lineups might be short lived. Even if he does get the jump on the position, I think people will be shocked with how he actually plays….

Considering players like Jack Williams would have to miss out. Jack Williams on form prior to injury far exceeded Kaufusi form. Yes it’s a stretch chucking in Williams as a prop, but Kaufusi plays more like a second rower anyway !!!

I'd never really considered that he may or may not play like a second rower, so short of throwing some Parra games on just to watch him I thought I'd see what his stats look like...

Statistically he is similar to Hamlin-Uele, Hunt & Fifita. He is statistically dissimilar to Nikora, Wilton and Graham.

He makes slightly more runs and tackles than those three props on slightly more minutes (35).
Compared to our second rowers he makes more meters in much less time, but less tackles.

So from a workload perspective he plays like a Cronulla prop not a Cronulla second rower.

some highlights here which also won't tell a complete story and aren't the most exhilarating highlights package of all time but shows he doesn't mind an effort play and also likes to use footwork at the line to find some extra meters or his front.

Not as excited about his signing as I was for Hynes, Finucane and McInnes and not sure where he ends up, wouldn't shock me either way if he was on bench or narrowly missed out round 1. Was just looking for whether I could easily see that he plays like a second rower and I don't think I have seen that from what I just looked at. What would I see if I watched some more indepth footage of him?

 

[bort]

T

Williams and Kaufusi have been comparable players in terms of the way they have played in the past imho.

but... how he played before Fitz and with Fitz are two different things.

Fitz-ball is typically played with one "genuine prop" and 2 locks, regardless of what numbers they are wearing. From a deployment PoV Fitz may not feel that he can get 80 minutes out of the Hunt + BHU combination. Enter Kaufusi, who imo has played a more mobile role at Parra, but definitely has the size to play more like a genuine prop. I think BHU playing 30-35 and each of the other guys playing 20-25 might be a nice way to roll them (number of interchanges permitting).

He's 4cm taller than Jack and 20kg heavier, if Fitz is looking for another 'prop' I think Oregon easily gets this nod. If the spot on the bench is for a 'lock' or flexi then Jack comes right back into contention. If we already have McInnes & Wilton on the bench though I think Fitz would be looking at starting & bench from Rudolf, Hunt, BHU, Oregon.

That's assuming the likes of Oregon, Jack and Teig are impressing to similar levels in pre-season. If Jack is looking far better then Fitz should make that work.

Regardless of who bumps out who in the pecking order we will likely see a lot of Oregon and Jack and probably at least twice as much of Jesse Colquhoun too.

 

[BurgoShark]

I'd never really considered that he may or may not play like a second rower, so short of throwing some Parra games on just to watch him I thought I'd see what his stats look like...

Statistically he is similar to Hamlin-Uele, Hunt & Fifita. He is statistically dissimilar to Nikora, Wilton and Graham.

He makes slightly more runs and tackles than those three props on slightly more minutes (35).
Compared to our second rowers he makes more meters in much less time, but less tackles.

So from a workload perspective he plays like a Cronulla prop not a Cronulla second rower.

some highlights here which also won't tell a complete story and aren't the most exhilarating highlights package of all time but shows he doesn't mind an effort play and also likes to use footwork at the line to find some extra meters or his front.

Not as excited about his signing as I was for Hynes, Finucane and McInnes and not sure where he ends up, wouldn't shock me either way if he was on bench or narrowly missed out round 1. Was just looking for whether I could easily see that he plays like a second rower and I don't think I have seen that from what I just looked at. What would I see if I watched some more indepth footage of him?

FWIW in my stuff he maps a little bit like Fifita, Hunt and BHU. More like Williams though.

Kaufusi in 2022 compared to Williams in 2021 are very similar. Identical deployment (10-15 either side of half time) and almost identical output in both attack and defence. Different body, same result.

 

[bort]

FWIW in my stuff he maps a little bit like Fifita, Hunt and BHU. More like Williams though.

Kaufusi in 2022 compared to Williams in 2021 are very similar. Identical deployment (10-15 either side of half time) and almost identical output in both attack and defence. Different body, same result.

Which perhaps further supports that they may find themselves fighting for one jersey in a 'best choice 17', but called up comfortably any time a middle is out
Other than perhaps if Colquhoun could secure himself as third man for the Finucane/McInnes combo.

 

[Blix]

FWIW in my stuff he maps a little bit like Fifita, Hunt and BHU. More like Williams though.

Kaufusi in 2022 compared to Williams in 2021 are very similar. Identical deployment (10-15 either side of half time) and almost identical output in both attack and defence. Different body, same result.

For mine the difference is Williams (and rudolf) were Cronulla’s best forwards in 21 with little help coming from others.

Kaufusi was bog standard this year and whilst stats might make him look decent what they aren’t showing is that he would continually take end of set hit ups, Niokore would take the earlier ones, no doubt as he had more impact then Kaufusi. As soon as RCG and Paulo went off the eels were dominated.

If we see Jack back at pre-injury form he should take that spot

 

[Paul C]

He's 4cm taller than Jack and 20kg heavier, if Fitz is looking for another 'prop' I think Oregon easily gets this nod. If the spot on the bench is for a 'lock' or flexi then Jack comes right back into contention. If we already have McInnes & Wilton on the bench though I think Fitz would be looking at starting & bench from Rudolf, Hunt, BHU, Oregon.

That's assuming the likes of Oregon, Jack and Teig are impressing to similar levels in pre-season. If Jack is looking far better then Fitz should make that work.

Regardless of who bumps out who in the pecking order we will likely see a lot of Oregon and Jack and probably at least twice as much of Jesse Colquhoun too.

v good pack this year

 

[Sparkles]

FWIW in my stuff he maps a little bit like Fifita, Hunt and BHU. More like Williams though.

Kaufusi in 2022 compared to Williams in 2021 are very similar. Identical deployment (10-15 either side of half time) and almost identical output in both attack and defence. Different body, same result.

That's interesting if Williams is 20kg lighter... Any differences worth highlighting? Play the ball speed, potential minutes.... Errors?

I guess for the money one of them will be good depth, which we really need at prop.

 

[bort]

v good pack this year

Very solid pack, someone needs to take their game to another level to really get us right in the thick of chat about who the best pack is.
Don't think that someone (or a new player) necessarily needs to be hyper aggressive to get us there, although an extra degree of intimidation factor could contribute.

Blake Lawrie last year said we were the toughest pack to play against, think someone else did too but blanking on who/where.

We have lost a little bit of a point of difference in Fifita although for much of the year he outside best 17 still potentially anyway and that impact was often very short. Oregon doesn't add anything new or exciting but consistency of best form from Rudolf, Hunt and/or BHU could all be big very impactful if one or more of them can find it.

 

[BurgoShark]

For mine the difference is Williams (and rudolf) were Cronulla’s best forwards in 21 with little help coming from others.

Kaufusi was bog standard this year and whilst stats might make him look decent what they aren’t showing is that he would continually take end of set hit ups, Niokore would take the earlier ones, no doubt as he had more impact then Kaufusi. As soon as RCG and Paulo went off the eels were dominated.

If we see Jack back at pre-injury form he should take that spot

Williams often takes late set hit-ups too, but that is more to do with him having (possibly) the best ptb in the game. He's the best guy to have taking either a tackle 4 play before a kick or the hit-up prior to a shift.

 

[Tiger Shark]

It might be a simplistic view of the situation but for mine the fact they signed Kaufusi a year in advance suggests he’ll be in the 17 Rd 1 and he’s highly regarded.

In saying that others might take his spot but I’ll be surprised personally

 

[bort]

Williams often takes late set hit-ups too, but that is more to do with him having (possibly) the best ptb in the game. He's the best guy to have taking either a tackle 4 play before a kick or the hit-up prior to a shift.

Another bloke taking a meaningless run on the fourth with no chance of scoring smh what a waste

It might be a simplistic view of the situation but for mine the fact they signed Kaufusi a year in advance suggests he’ll be in the 17 Rd 1 and he’s highly regarded.

In saying that others might take his spot but I’ll be surprised personally

Obviously Fitz really likes what he has seen from him but also as you say a long time for someone elses game to improve enough to get in over the top of him. His 'style' of play I don't think would be what makes him miss out, that's pretty much what he was signed for.

 

[andrew's_sharks]

If Fitz picks a true best 17 I think Graham sits out.

Forward pack would be
Hunt
Brailely
Toby
Nikora
Wilton
Finucane

Reserves
Mccinnes
BHU
Kaufusi
Williams

18 man Graham

 

[BurgoShark]

If Fitz picks a true best 17 I think Graham sits out.

Forward pack would be
Hunt
Brailely
Toby
Nikora
Wilton
Finucane

Reserves
Mccinnes
BHU
Kaufusi
Williams

18 man Graham

BHU, Toby, Finucane, Brailey, McInnes are all in the best 17. Everyone else is competing for a job in the pre-season. For mine Williams, Hunt and Kaufusi all play a similar role (low minutes wrapped around halftime) so one of those drops off.

 

[bort]

BHU, Toby, Finucane, Brailey, McInnes are all in the best 17. Everyone else is competing for a job in the pre-season. For mine Williams, Hunt and Kaufusi all play a similar role (low minutes wrapped around halftime) so one of those drops off.

Didn’t Royce start far more games than he played off the bench last season?

 

[Western Sharkie]

Didn’t Royce start far more games than he played off the bench last season?

Maybe due to injuries to BHU and Williams

 

[andrew's_sharks]

BHU, Toby, Finucane, Brailey, McInnes are all in the best 17. Everyone else is competing for a job in the pre-season. For mine Williams, Hunt and Kaufusi all play a similar role (low minutes wrapped around halftime) so one of those drops off.

I think we do better with Royce starting and BHU coming off the bench.

 

[Gumby]

I think we do better with Royce starting and BHU coming off the bench.

Agreed

 

[Thresher]

Definitely at least one of those two starting.

Bit of muss for the opening exchanges.

 

[Proud Shark]

Kaufusi to start and be the form prop of the comp.