Official Sione Katoa

Sione also allowed us to put Ronnie on DWZ, if that was a factor for Fitz.

As well as give Sam’s body a rest from his constant batterings he isn’t used to yet.

More of a Katoa was selected ahead of him than he was dropped, as such
 
bort said:
Sione also allowed us to put Ronnie on DWZ, if that was a factor for Fitz.

As well as give Sam’s body a rest from his constant batterings he isn’t used to yet.

More of a Katoa was selected ahead of him than he was dropped, as such
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noticed they swapped back to their normal sides, sammy goes much better on the right in my opinion
 
It's not that Sam doesn't have some advantages over Katoa it's just on balance overall we gain more than we lose with Sione over Sam

I don't think Katoa was ever dropped, just needed some time to get his injury right (Maybe work on a thing or 2 on the side)

Fitz isn't the type of coach to normally drop an established regular starter over one bad game (unless it's Rudolf and there were underlying fitness and attitude issues)

What ever you think of Katoa, he's a tough like bugger, a real goer. Had 25 carries for the Sharks against NZ and there wasn't another Shark close to that, that's some grit right there in those conditions, in a physical game.

If Sione had genuine pace he would be an absolute weapon of a player but he uses what he's got as best he can

At least Sam wasn't sulking, he was on the sideline celebrating with the boys with a big smile (as he should). Being on the fringe, being in and out of FG is just what it's all about sometimes in the early part of ones career
 
I'm expecting Sione to be named this afternoon back in his normal number 2 shirt. I know he is leaving next year but out of him and SS he's the most experienced and apart from that last minute penalty I thought he played strongly against the Warriors.
 
Sir Chadley said:
I'm expecting Sione to be named this afternoon back in his normal number 2 shirt. I know he is leaving next year but out of him and SS he's the most experienced and apart from that last minute penalty I thought he played strongly against the Warriors.
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Fitz probably feels as well that with so many players out at the moment, we need as much experience on the field as possible.

Plus, a few weeks out of top grade won't hurt SS. He would be feeling pretty banged up I reckon. He also knows he is pencilled in as the long term option as well.
 
bort said:
Sione also allowed us to put Ronnie on DWZ, if that was a factor for Fitz.

As well as give Sam’s body a rest from his constant batterings he isn’t used to yet.

More of a Katoa was selected ahead of him than he was dropped, as such
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I think that's important. Plus, the things SS needs to work on in his game he can do in reggies (like a hit and spin on his kick returns).
Sione's no superstar, but he is a very capable, hardened first grader. That's only going to be of benefit for the rest of the season
 
Gards said:
It's not that Sam doesn't have some advantages over Katoa it's just on balance overall we gain more than we lose with Sione over Sam

I don't think Katoa was ever dropped, just needed some time to get his injury right (Maybe work on a thing or 2 on the side)

Fitz isn't the type of coach to normally drop an established regular starter over one bad game (unless it's Rudolf and there were underlying fitness and attitude issues)

What ever you think of Katoa, he's a tough like bugger, a real goer. Had 25 carries for the Sharks against NZ and there wasn't another Shark close to that, that's some grit right there in those conditions, in a physical game.

If Sione had genuine pace he would be an absolute weapon of a player but he uses what he's got as best he can

At least Sam wasn't sulking, he was on the sideline celebrating with the boys with a big smile (as he should). Being on the fringe, being in and out of FG is just what it's all about sometimes in the early part of ones career
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Not sure playing for Newtown and getting injured is a good was to get an injury right
 
BrickMan said:
Not sure playing for Newtown and getting injured is a good was to get an injury right
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Haha no it's not. In hindsight he should have just sat out starting that week and maybe he comes back a week or two earlier than he did - but I can understand the decision.

It's fairly common in other sports for players to drop to the minor/reserve league for a short time to manage an injury. Stakes are much higher at the top level and wins for the B team are nice but don't really matter.

Every other outside back being fit/available at the time was probably also a factor in letting him play. I reckon if they were down a few guys they make him sit it out.
 
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Gards said:
It's not that Sam doesn't have some advantages over Katoa it's just on balance overall we gain more than we lose with Sione over Sam

I don't think Katoa was ever dropped, just needed some time to get his injury right (Maybe work on a thing or 2 on the side)

Fitz isn't the type of coach to normally drop an established regular starter over one bad game (unless it's Rudolf and there were underlying fitness and attitude issues)
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You sound similar to Sam on Sharkscast Pod, discussing player selections, he appears to not like the phrase dropping players or questions were they dropped, rested or tactical etc.
I don’t know why it’s a big deal at the Sharks, every NRL club drops a player but it’s like we loathe to change or heaven forbid tell a player someone is better than you 😀
 
Bundy Shark said:
You sound similar to Sam on Sharkscast Pod, discussing player selections, he appears to not like the phrase dropping players or questions were they dropped, rested or tactical etc.
I don’t know why it’s a big deal at the Sharks, every NRL club drops a player but it’s like we loathe to change or heaven forbid tell a player someone is better than you 😀
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Everyone seems to need a bloody cuddle these days.
 
HaroldBishop said:
Everyone seems to need a bloody cuddle these days.
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Ha. I'm just developing a presentation on Psychosocial Hazards in Construction due to new legislation commencing 1 July where these hazards needs to be controlled as important as physical safety hazards on site.

Way of the world these days.
 
apezza said:
Ha. I'm just developing a presentation on Psychosocial Hazards in Construction due to new legislation commencing 1 July where these hazards needs to be controlled as important as physical safety hazards on site.

Way of the world these days.
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Yeah even in white collar work we need to do it now. At least in construction you don't have the risk of paper cuts!
 
Bundy Shark said:
You sound similar to Sam on Sharkscast Pod, discussing player selections, he appears to not like the phrase dropping players or questions were they dropped, rested or tactical etc.
I don’t know why it’s a big deal at the Sharks, every NRL club drops a player but it’s like we loathe to change or heaven forbid tell a player someone is better than you 😀
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I'm not sure every club does drop a player anywhere near as often as some people online like to imply.
Sure, people can usually come up with a couple examples, but hardly any in the scheme of things, especially vs what some call for online

I'm also really unsure what the messaging and analysis would have been on telling Sione Katoa that Stonestreet is better than him, then when Katoa is available again after being injured and not even playing, we tell Stonestreet that Katoa is better than him?
More likely IMO, at least one of them was not just 'dropped'.

Not to mention someone like Sam Shinaz outright saying 'dropped' could lead to increased media pressure on the players involved, questions at Fitz and players about people being dropped doesn't benefit the playing group - they want to focus on the game and who is playing it.
He's also connected enough that being overly critical or spilling info we don't want pushed likely leads to him being cut off from his sources and access to players. Like it or not, that's the position his podcast comes from. Fins Up is available if you prefer an unconnected at times hypercritical option.

HaroldBishop said:
Yeah even in white collar work we need to do it now. At least in construction you don't have the risk of paper cuts!
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You think that's bad, trying having a different opinion to someone on the internet
(not aimed at Bundy, however if anyone does read the comment and think it's aimed at them, well, that's interesting)
 
Sharks NRL Prospects said:
Haha no it's not. In hindsight he should have just sat out starting that week and maybe he comes back a week or two earlier than he did - but I can understand the decision.

It's fairly common in other sports for players to drop to the minor/reserve league for a short time to manage an injury. Stakes are much higher at the top level and wins for the B team are nice but don't really matter.

Every other outside back being fit/available at the time was probably also a factor in letting him play. I reckon if they were down a few guys they make him sit it out.
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Yea mate that's what I was getting at, coming back through reggies is a pretty normal part of managing a return from injury depending on the player and type of injury. The fact Sam got some additional FG experience during this time and himself was fit to play was a bonus
 
bort said:
Not to mention someone like Sam Shinaz outright saying 'dropped' could lead to increased media pressure on the players involved, questions at Fitz and players about people being dropped doesn't benefit the playing group - they want to focus on the game and who is playing it.
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Unless someone like Sam had a direct quote from Fitz himself I question how much weight or accuracy it would carry anyway despite how connected they are to the club and "inside mail"

It's completely out of character for any FG coach to drop an established player after a couple bad plays in a single game UNLESS there are underlying attitude or fitness issues.

Sione has never come across as having an attitude or work ethic issue, like ever so I am banking on it being a niggle/injury related and not much more

Fans and media use the word "dropped" flippantly and interchangeable with being not selected in the starting 17 but it isn't really the same thing. A player being genuinely rested over injury concerns has not been dropped due to poor performance.

Kafusi and Talakai playing reduced minutes doesn't mean they are out of favour with Fitz or lost his trust, it could just be the coach managing workloads over a long season and reacting to games requirements tactically.

Sparkles said:
I think that's important. Plus, the things SS needs to work on in his game he can do in reggies (like a hit and spin on his kick returns).
Sione's no superstar, but he is a very capable, hardened first grader. That's only going to be of benefit for the rest of the season
Click to expand...

IIRC Sione was one of our best performers in the finals last year
 
bort said:
I'm not sure every club does drop a player anywhere near as often as some people online like to imply.
Sure, people can usually come up with a couple examples, but hardly any in the scheme of things, especially vs what some call for online

I'm also really unsure what the messaging and analysis would have been on telling Sione Katoa that Stonestreet is better than him, then when Katoa is available again after being injured and not even playing, we tell Stonestreet that Katoa is better than him?
More likely IMO, at least one of them was not just 'dropped'.

Not to mention someone like Sam Shinaz outright saying 'dropped' could lead to increased media pressure on the players involved, questions at Fitz and players about people being dropped doesn't benefit the playing group - they want to focus on the game and who is playing it.
He's also connected enough that being overly critical or spilling info we don't want pushed likely leads to him being cut off from his sources and access to players. Like it or not, that's the position his podcast comes from. Fins Up is available if you prefer an unconnected at times hypercritical option.


You think that's bad, trying having a different opinion to someone on the internet
(not aimed at Bundy, however if anyone does read the comment and think it's aimed at them, well, that's interesting)
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Maybe not as brutal as telling player A is better than player B but essentially, player B is going better, deserves the opportunity etc.
From memory, Sione did get replaced or dropped for Stoney & ended up getting injured playing in Cup.
Sione coming back after not playing & being injured, who knows? Maybe Stoney has been asked to work on things & possibly not progressed on such things as quickly or adequately as much as Fitz wants? All pure speculation, not saying this is fact.

Recent high profile teams or teams in lofty ladder positions who have dropped players
Broncos - Mamm
Panthers / Tago
Storm - Lehiero
Roosters - Walker (I think last season? the season before, Crighton)

Given we have minimal turnover during seasons of our best 1-17 it feels like it’s a subject we need to tread carefully or tip toe around & don’t use the dreaded D word if a player doesn’t get selected.
 
Bundy Shark said:
Maybe not as brutal as telling player A is better than player B but essentially, player B is going better, deserves the opportunity etc.
From memory, Sione did get replaced or dropped for Stoney & ended up getting injured playing in Cup.
Sione coming back after not playing & being injured, who knows? Maybe Stoney has been asked to work on things & possibly not progressed on such things as quickly or adequately as much as Fitz wants? All pure speculation, not saying this is fact.

Recent high profile teams or teams in lofty ladder positions who have dropped players
Broncos - Mamm
Panthers / Tago
Storm - Lehiero
Roosters - Walker (I think last season? the season before, Crighton)

Given we have minimal turnover during seasons of our best 1-17 it feels like it’s a subject we need to tread carefully or tip toe around & don’t use the dreaded D word if a player doesn’t get selected.
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Sione was already playing with a niggle/injury in the game against the Roosters (picked up during the game or started with it) and my understanding is that it was aggravated or at best didn't improve in the following days
 
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