Official Siosifa Talakai

[Milkshark]

Purely for discussion, with Iro showing good signs as a youngster at NRL level, albeit playing limited games. Does Cronulla look to push Talakai to the backrow to strengthen a soft forward pack lacking mongrel.

Or is this weakening 1 position to strengthen another?

Iro could be our next Holmes. And we could get him on good money for a couple of years.

Or is Ramien the weakest link to make room for Iro?

Talakai and Ramien are signed until end of 2026, so if Iro is seen a starting centre, someone will have to move or Iro goes elsewhere.

 

[Sevshark]

Purely for discussion, with Iro showing good signs as a youngster at NRL level, albeit playing limited games. Does Cronulla look to push Talakai to the backrow to strengthen a soft forward pack lacking mongrel.

Or is this weakening 1 position to strengthen another?

Iro could be our next Holmes. And we could get him on good money for a couple of years.

Or is Ramien the weakest link to make room for Iro?

Talakai and Ramien are signed until end of 2026, so if Iro is seen a starting centre, someone will have to move or Iro goes elsewhere.

I don't think our backrow is weak, I think it's under utilised.

 

[Milkshark]

I don't think our backrow is weak, I think it's under utilised.

I think the forward pack in general is soft, and lacks mongrel. Just my opinion

 

[Super Impose]

Purely for discussion, with Iro showing good signs as a youngster at NRL level, albeit playing limited games. Does Cronulla look to push Talakai to the backrow to strengthen a soft forward pack lacking mongrel.

Or is this weakening 1 position to strengthen another?

Iro could be our next Holmes. And we could get him on good money for a couple of years.

Or is Ramien the weakest link to make room for Iro?

Talakai and Ramien are signed until end of 2026, so if Iro is seen a starting centre, someone will have to move or Iro goes elsewhere.

I think Iro has shown he is an NRL player .

Sifa has been one of our best for a long time .

What’s best for the team ?

In this day and age of HIA - Sifa is worth his weight in gold in a #14 role - given he covers the outside backs (crucial ) , middle and edge .
So many teams have been caught out this year , with outside backs going down early in games and not having appropriate cover .

So - is it team first - or unfair on Sifa ?

 

[Gal The Goat]

Purely for discussion, with Iro showing good signs as a youngster at NRL level, albeit playing limited games. Does Cronulla look to push Talakai to the backrow to strengthen a soft forward pack lacking mongrel.

Or is this weakening 1 position to strengthen another?

Iro could be our next Holmes. And we could get him on good money for a couple of years.

Or is Ramien the weakest link to make room for Iro?

Talakai and Ramien are signed until end of 2026, so if Iro is seen a starting centre, someone will have to move or Iro goes elsewhere.

My opinion, I think Talakai and Ramien have started the year as 2 of our best players. Ramien has shut down RTS, Critta and Whighton, whilst also being strong in attack, without him we don’t beat Warriors. Talakai was an attacking beast in our wins when playing centre. Both at a good age to have plenty of their best footy still in front of them

I’m just letting Iro go and we grab the next guy off the rank when centre becomes a position we need to focus on.

As for aggression in the pack, AFB will bring that next year

 

[Sevshark]

I think the forward pack in general is soft, and lacks mongrel. Just my opinion

AFB solves that next year, although to be honest I'm not a fan of mongrel as a metric.

As I said I don't see moving Sifa into the backrow at expense of Teig or Briton helping. His production last night in 16mins was huge compared to 50mins starting on an edge.
Again I think that's game plan not player.

I think starting Cam at lock then bringing Sifa on for 25-30mins is what I'm most interested in seeing right now.

 

[apezza]

AFB solves that next year, although to be honest I'm not a fan of mongrel as a metric.

As I said I don't see moving Sifa into the backrow at expense of Teig or Briton helping. His production last night in 16mins was huge compared to 50mins starting on an edge.
Again I think that's game plan not player.

I think starting Cam at lock then bringing Sifa on for 25-30mins is what I'm most interested in seeing right now.

Agree. I would give Iro a good stint in the centres and having Sifa at 14. There's room in the team for both of them.

If, towards the back end of the year Iro isn't up to it, put Sifa back to centre for the last half dozen games or so.

 

[Sevshark]

Agree. I would give Iro a good stint in the centres and having Sifa at 14. There's room in the team for both of them.

If, towards the back end of the year Iro isn't up to it, out Sifa back to centre for the last half dozen games or so.

Yeah Iro's defence has honestly surprised me and is main reason im happy for him to hold his spot.

Even just having him on the bench gives us flexibility how we use other players, we can bring a BHU or a Tuks onto the field wide of the ruck when we are attacking in opp 20 with sifa already on the field then switch them in the line once defending again.
(I dream of a day where Fitz uses his bench creatively)


I also REALLY want to see Tuks murder a halfback, like alot, alot.

 

[bort]

Yeah Iro's defence has honestly surprised me and is main reason im happy for him to hold his spot.

Even just having him on the bench gives us flexibility how we use other players, we can bring a BHU or a Tuks onto the field wide of the ruck when we are attacking in opp 20 with sifa already on the field then switch them in the line once defending again.
(I dream of a day where Fitz uses his bench creatively)


I also REALLY want to see Tuks murder a halfback, like alot, alot.

Can’t Tuks just run a bit wider whenever?

Or are you bringing him on at second row then moving Sifa to second row when Tuks comes off?

Tuks running a Nikora line is pretty scary I admit (assuming he can actually catch a crash ball)

 

[Sparkles]

I'd like to see him come on a little earlier for Cam.

Leave Dale at 18th man when he's fit and split lock 50/30 with cam/sifa

I was really disappointed with our bench usage last night, especially with souths lack of troops.

Will be interesting to see what Dale's role will be next year. This year I think he still gets his spot

 

[Deleted member 2543]

This could all be moot for this week if Katoa gets rubbed out. Sifa to centre, Iro to wing. BHU made it through his Jets stint OK apparently so he comes back in. Toby starts. Tommy goes back to providing impact from the bench.

Iro > Stonestreet in the NRL at this stage for me, even as a winger.

 

[MMsharks]

This could all be moot for this week if Katoa gets rubbed out. Sifa to centre, Iro to wing. BHU made it through his Jets stint OK apparently so he comes back in. Toby starts. Tommy goes back to providing impact from the bench.

Iro > Stonestreet in the NRL at this stage for me, even as a winger.

waiting for stonestreet to break into the NRL.
can't wait, ready to rip in

 

[Sir Chadley]

Yeah, I love the pace Stonestreet would bring, but not sure he is up to it at the moment defensively. I am worried about him being able to provide the carries the backs need to do out of our own area or confident with the high ball.

I reckon if Katoa is suspended for the Cows game, then Fitz would bring Sifa back to centre and Iro on the wing. Question is, which wing. Seems like Iro is better on the left but do you move Ronnie from his left wing in the form he is in? Can Iro play on the right wing?

 

[Gumby]

Yeah, I love the pace Stonestreet would bring, but not sure he is up to it at the moment defensively. I am worried about him being able to provide the carries the backs need to do out of our own area or confident with the high ball.

I reckon if Katoa is suspended for the Cows game, then Fitz would bring Sifa back to centre and Iro on the wing. Question is, which wing. Seems like Iro is better on the left but do you move Ronnie from his left wing in the form he is in? Can Iro play on the right wing?

You don’t move Ronnie at all simple.

 

[Wizard]

Shout out to tank for taking the bench role well and openly on record saying he’s happy to take one for the team to accommodate for Iro.

Not enough of this going around

 

[Western Sharkie]

Shout out to tank for taking the bench role well and openly on record saying he’s happy to take one for the team to accommodate for Iro.

Not enough of this going around

100%

Sifa has shown a great deal of maturity and team commitment

could you imagine a Cronk, C Smith, Munster, Mitchell doing something like this.

Not a chance. It’s me first, then maybe the team second.

 

[Capital_Shark]

could you imagine a Cronk, C Smith, Munster, Mitchell doing something like this.

No. Nor should they. Australian halfback, hooker & captain and 5/8 - what rookie you benching them for? They'd be doing their team a disservice by not playing 80 in their positions.

 

[Mr Ryan]

No. Nor should they. Australian halfback, hooker & captain and 5/8 - what rookie you benching them for? They'd be doing their team a disservice by not playing 80 in their positions.

Poor Harry Grant got loaned to the Tigers because that selfish prick Smith wouldn’t retire

 

[Vichyssoise]

I'd like to see Talakai get more minutes. I think he only got 30 or thereabouts yesterday.
Problem is how? Iro's not going to be dropped for now and Nikora & Wilton are 80 minutes players.

 

[bort]

I'd like to see Talakai get more minutes. I think he only got 30 or thereabouts yesterday.
Problem is how? Iro's not going to be dropped for now and Nikora & Wilton are 80 minutes players.

11 of those minutes are from Teig coming off

As a coward he’s an ‘impact’ foward