Official Siosifa Talakai
- Thread starter snowman
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HaroldBishop
Megalodon
He has beat a player one on one.
His metres this year gave been very good, that's why I'm saying he's solid.
It's still early days for him, patience.
SF
Mako Shark
Yeah Talakai at least opens things up for Ronaldo and Wilton.
Though maybe not the best to start back against Staggs.
Though maybe not the best to start back against Staggs.
Proud Shark
Jaws
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Yeah he's in his debut season and isn't letting anyone down. Plenty of development left in him.
Vichyssoise
Great White
Sifa showed tonight that he's currently criminally underused since his shift to the bench. He was huuuuge.
I'm going to start a 'Give Sifa 50 minutes a game' campaign.
I'm going to start a 'Give Sifa 50 minutes a game' campaign.
jocktheshark
Oceanic Whitetip Shark
I think Sifa can be utilized more for sure , not sure where or how , but certainly can change things when he comes on , Iro whilst doing well has started to creep across the park more often than not and maybe as another young guy is feeling the stress of some big games and a short break will help .
Vichyssoise
Great White
I wasn't a fan of Iro getting Sifa's spot, but, as mentioned, he's been solid so far. With fewer than 10 games NRL experience, he's doing OK.
Nevertheless, we need more of Sifa's hard carries, soft hands and destructive tackles. The long term solution isn't to drop Iro obviously (unless he decides to sign for a rival club), however something needs to be done to get Sifa on the field for longer periods of time.
Nevertheless, we need more of Sifa's hard carries, soft hands and destructive tackles. The long term solution isn't to drop Iro obviously (unless he decides to sign for a rival club), however something needs to be done to get Sifa on the field for longer periods of time.
andrew's_sharks
Great White
Sife was immense when he came on. One of our best last night.
Proud Shark
Jaws
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Given the emerging talk of playing Sifa back at centre, I thought I'd flick through some random pages of comments last year to find some of the criticisms of him playing there. Haven't tagged the posts as I have no intention of picking on the posters.
- I’ve been saying it for so long now, Talakai back in the forwards please.
- Yep, drop Wade. Talakai to interchange forward. Either move Ronnie to centre or stick Iro there
- Talakai can tackle.,........but not in space as a centre. He is good when middles run straight but can be deceived by a decent attacking player. Hoping someone else (Iro) is better.
- Defence was woeful
time for a proper centre to play centre and him back to second row.
- He can't tackle at centre so you want to move him to a position where he has to make more tackles?
- Really generous.
S ifa is a poor defender with zero lateral ability.
He can't hold the ball in contact.
He can't make a break unless he plays against Morgan Harper.
There is zero reason to keep him in the team either as a centre or a back rower.
- We need a proper centre.
Sifa looked completely lost most of the game. Was standing next to a group of Roosters fans and they were furious that they didn’t keep attacking down Sifa and Ronaldo’s edge because they felt they were that bad.
- Give Hiroti a go
There are plenty more in there like myself that didn't want Sifa replaced due to his attacking output, but recognised his frailties in defence. There is no doubt that Fitz sees this too, but I think the current set up is a long term plan. Iro is doing almost as well as Sifa in yardage, and our bench impact is significantly better with Sifa there. We are missing his silky hands in attack, but hold out hope that this will be mitigated as Iro develops more of his game. Between Williams, Talakai, Hunt, BHU, Tommy and Tuks we have serious impact options. Once you bring AFB into that rotation, you have serious whole game impact that will dominate opposition packs. Add to that the likes of Kaufusi and Rudolf who do amazing work defensively around the ruck and we look great.
If Sifa moves back to the centre, we can probably cover that pack impact assuming everyone's fit. But once our middle forward depth is tested again, we lose that point of difference, and haven't worked towards Iro's development/he moves on elsewhere.
Personally, I don't think we are winning it this year. So I think we're better off getting a full season with the new combinations working together, particularly those around Iro and Trindall.
- I’ve been saying it for so long now, Talakai back in the forwards please.
- Yep, drop Wade. Talakai to interchange forward. Either move Ronnie to centre or stick Iro there
- Talakai can tackle.,........but not in space as a centre. He is good when middles run straight but can be deceived by a decent attacking player. Hoping someone else (Iro) is better.
- Defence was woeful
time for a proper centre to play centre and him back to second row.
- He can't tackle at centre so you want to move him to a position where he has to make more tackles?
- Really generous.
S ifa is a poor defender with zero lateral ability.
He can't hold the ball in contact.
He can't make a break unless he plays against Morgan Harper.
There is zero reason to keep him in the team either as a centre or a back rower.
- We need a proper centre.
Sifa looked completely lost most of the game. Was standing next to a group of Roosters fans and they were furious that they didn’t keep attacking down Sifa and Ronaldo’s edge because they felt they were that bad.
- Give Hiroti a go
There are plenty more in there like myself that didn't want Sifa replaced due to his attacking output, but recognised his frailties in defence. There is no doubt that Fitz sees this too, but I think the current set up is a long term plan. Iro is doing almost as well as Sifa in yardage, and our bench impact is significantly better with Sifa there. We are missing his silky hands in attack, but hold out hope that this will be mitigated as Iro develops more of his game. Between Williams, Talakai, Hunt, BHU, Tommy and Tuks we have serious impact options. Once you bring AFB into that rotation, you have serious whole game impact that will dominate opposition packs. Add to that the likes of Kaufusi and Rudolf who do amazing work defensively around the ruck and we look great.
If Sifa moves back to the centre, we can probably cover that pack impact assuming everyone's fit. But once our middle forward depth is tested again, we lose that point of difference, and haven't worked towards Iro's development/he moves on elsewhere.
Personally, I don't think we are winning it this year. So I think we're better off getting a full season with the new combinations working together, particularly those around Iro and Trindall.
Talakai wasn’t strong defender there but I’m not convinced he was worse than Iro
Even a tackle Iro made 2 games ago he’d let the guy get on his outside, Ronnie got lashed (by Kayal and forum) for coming in, then very next game same happens again and Ronnie stays out. Damned if you do dambed if you don’t if Iro is gunna get beaten to outside every week.
Ronnie, Wilton & Moylan all be lashed for that left edges defence on past season and a half.
Experience and stability only things which can fix it at this stage.
The slightest stumble, misread or moment of hesitation to asses and a try can be scored. A ban mentality and two or three hiccups and one of the worst sides suddenly has 30 on you.
In saying that of course doesn’t mean the side can’t strive to improve and limit these issues. Marginally better D by Iro potentially stops two tries in two week
Even a tackle Iro made 2 games ago he’d let the guy get on his outside, Ronnie got lashed (by Kayal and forum) for coming in, then very next game same happens again and Ronnie stays out. Damned if you do dambed if you don’t if Iro is gunna get beaten to outside every week.
Ronnie, Wilton & Moylan all be lashed for that left edges defence on past season and a half.
Experience and stability only things which can fix it at this stage.
The slightest stumble, misread or moment of hesitation to asses and a try can be scored. A ban mentality and two or three hiccups and one of the worst sides suddenly has 30 on you.
In saying that of course doesn’t mean the side can’t strive to improve and limit these issues. Marginally better D by Iro potentially stops two tries in two week
Proud Shark
Jaws
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Now i'm no experienced league player, but I thought this was to a degree how you were supposed to defend on the edges. Essentially 'showing them the sideline'. My take so far is Iro often shows them the sideline, but hasn't been beaten very often. I will concede that you can't do this as much on your line though, and I agree I don't blame Ronnie for that one.
My post is also in no way saying that Iro is a better player or option right now. More that we know the limitations of Sifa in D, and I don't think a switch back is going to help in that aspect of the game, but backing long term development might.
Agree.
Though I will add that I was hoping Iro might be showing a bit more in attack by now. Something Talakai definitely has over him.
Yeah you can do it more up field and also when you’re all sliding hard. On tryline when Iro does it he forces Ronnie to think about if he has to help or not, whether Ronnie makes the right call or not even then he took a split moment to decide.
If Iro always does it and (almost) always makes the tackle it’s a different story as Ronnie can learn to always leave it (pretty) confidently.
Two other tricky things about the tryline that make it different
- you can make a perfectly good stop and give up just as many points as if you stepped out the way. Letting them start to get around you gives them less space and more momentum towards tryline. And they can’t dive out of the field and still score if you give them the tryline 60m up field
- because of well crafted block plays, wraps, slingshots, straighten up runners and
any number of well practiced back line moves you’re exponentially less likely to be one cohesive sliding defence and guys are checking runners and pulling people in all across the backline affecting what the centre and winger get left to adjust to.
Up field and sliding hard as a unit you can let them run themselves out of space.
Wizard
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Talakai at centre is a different beast
I think there were plenty of games where he made most metres, most tackle breaks, try assists etc
I like how Talakai sets up Ronnie and draws in defenders, such an underrated trait that no one other then Sharks fans can appreciate
It will just come down to if you keep Iro that means those $ will not be able to be used to throw at someone else
You cherry-picked the posts that suit your agenda here. There were many positive posts also...
HaroldBishop
Megalodon
Did you read his entire post?
Proud Shark
Jaws
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No agenda. I explained why I did that too, including saying I believe Sifa is the better centre right now.
Completely agree. He offers so much there in attack that we aren't getting from Iro. I guess I was just looking to remember why so many in the forum wanted him moved initially.
I think we could keep Iro for the same price as Royce right? I'd be very keen to shed a few mid rangers if we could get someone else elite in though.
HaroldBishop
Megalodon
Yeah I think we need to if we want to take the next step, lacking one more elite player for mine.
