Big Tevita Pangai Junior

[tony]

Hey guys sorry if there is already a thread about big TPJ! I always rated him at the raiders under 20s. When he joined us i was ecstatic! No doubt he will be a future star! Do you think he can be our version of jason taumalolo?

Starting lock next year? He is a good hits man and great ball skills.

Discussion time...

 

[Fozz]

He could be a player in the mould of Taumalolo for sure. I don't think he can start next year though, he gets blown up too quickly at the moment and he just doesn't have the stamina yet.

 

[jamesqld]

Taumalolo had a slow and up and down introduction to first grade before he cemented his spot don't forget.

There are players ahead of him at current for the #13 in my opinion. But you never know...

I'm really looking forward to seeing how he goes next year. I think bench front rower is where he will spend the start of 2017.

 

[Nashy]

Hopefully next year he's put on for more than 5 minutes, in extra time, when we have forwards who are that absolutely fucked that they can walk.

 

[pennywisealfie]

I've taken a massive interest in him this year. He's going to be awesome.

 

[Mr Fourex]

Hopefully next year he's put on for more than 5 minutes, in extra time, when we have forwards who are that absolutely fucked that they can walk.

Yeah......the more time I spend think about this the more pissed off I get. Just what the **** were you thinking WB??

Ultimately Thaiday being pushed off by Thurston put the sword through us. Thaiday who had a fantastic game IMO, didn't deserve to have that moment as a lasting memory for 2016. He shouldn't have been out there...he was dead on his feet.

That WB decision...and a few others this year and last (I still blame Wayne for the 2015 GF loss....we closed up shop way too early !!) ....and even Wayne's demeanour sometimes in the post game interview (he seems to accept losing far too easily for mine) makes me start to wonder,

is it time for Wayne Bennett to hang up the clipboard and whistle?

 

[Super Freak]

I think if any of our young forwards are going to start next year it's Su'A. He can handle the long minutes.

But TPJ, you can see he gets tired quickly. And perhaps that's why Bennett kept him on the bench for so long, perhaps he felt he wouldn't be able to handle the pace of the game. The games against the Cowboys are unlike any other game he has played in. They are faster.

But I think he can be our version of Taumalolo.

He is big, he is a strong runner of the ball, he has some ball skills in him as we've seen already this year. And he isn't slow. He has a bit of toe for a big guy.

He is a star of the future. I would give him another year on the bench with the focus of working on his fitness before starting him but he can definitely play in that lock type role.

He seems to me the kind of player that will be more useful playing both sides of the field rather than just stuck on one side.

I see more upside for him at lock than what I do with Arrow.

 

[Unbreakable]

I think if any of our young forwards are going to start next year it's Su'A. He can handle the long minutes.

But TPJ, you can see he gets tired quickly. And perhaps that's why Bennett kept him on the bench for so long, perhaps he felt he wouldn't be able to handle the pace of the game. The games against the Cowboys are unlike any other game he has played in. They are faster.

But I think he can be our version of Taumalolo.

He is big, he is a strong runner of the ball, he has some ball skills in him as we've seen already this year. And he isn't slow. He has a bit of toe for a big guy.

He is a star of the future. I would give him another year on the bench with the focus of working on his fitness before starting him but he can definitely play in that lock type role.

He seems to me the kind of player that will be more useful playing both sides of the field rather than just stuck on one side.

I see more upside for him at lock than what I do with Arrow.

That's the thing, all the big boppers get tired, except Taumalolo, he's the first impact forward I've ever seen that never slows down at any stage of the game.

 

[dtmtrano]

I think gillett given his workload is better off at Lock. Tpj will give us the needed impact off the bench now that Wallace is gone. I think Glenn stays on the bench and Oates, who has stated he loves the contact and hits, should slot in second row. I think we're better off with a proper wing who can contest for them high balls.

1. Boyd (c)
2. Mead/Anderson
3. Opacic/Seve
4. Roberts
5. Kahu/Pearson
6. Milford
7. Hunt
8. McGuire
9. McCullough
10. Blair
11. Thaiday
12. Oates
13. Gillett
14. Nikorima
15. Pangai Jr
16. Ofehangue
17. Glenn
18. Su'a
19. Arrow

 

[Super Freak]

I think gillett given his workload is better off at Lock. Tpj will give us the needed impact off the bench now that Wallace is gone. I think Glenn stays on the bench and Oates, who has stated he loves the contact and hits, should slot in second row. I think we're better off with a proper wing who can contest for them high balls.

1. Boyd (c)
2. Mead/Anderson
3. Opacic
4. Roberts
5. Kahu
6. Milford
7. Hunt
8. McGuire
9. McCullough
10. Blair
11. Thaiday
12. Oates
13. Gillett
14. Nikorima
15. Pangai Jr
16. Ofehangue
17. Glenn

Anderson is gone.

He won't be at the club next year.

Personally, given his injury history, I think we would be better off putting Oates on the bench and easing him into the backrow.

But I do agree that's where his future is and that's where he wants to play. But I wouldn't mind if he stayed on the wing.

 

[dtmtrano]

Anderson is gone.

He won't be at the club next year.

Personally, given his injury history, I think we would be better off putting Oates on the bench and easing him into the backrow.

But I do agree that's where his future is and that's where he wants to play. But I wouldn't mind if he stayed on the wing.

Just some of his plays are questionable. At times, he lacks maturity and its as though he loses focus after scoring a try. You can clearly see it during times when Boyd has to clean up after him who then tells him off

 

[Kimlo]

He's really unfit, he'll need to work on that big time in the ore season. I do really rate him though, I think he has the potential to be a star forward.

 

[Kimlo]

That's the thing, all the big boppers get tired, except Taumalolo, he's the first impact forward I've ever seen that never slows down at any stage of the game.

He played 75 minutes in that game which was incredibly fast pace, and he wasn't exactly hiding, he made 23 runs and 28 tackles. Incredible for someone his size.

 

[bazza]

I think TPJ will come on even more next season with a bit more game time. We've already seen glimpses of his potential, and I'm sure with some more fitness he'll provide even greater momentum and strike. I think he's style differs from Taumalolo, but he can no doubt be as effective for us.

Taumalolo is a rare breed. I've never seen anyone that big have the sort of speed, footwork, power and explosiveness that he possesses. His second stint on the field against tired defender is just so lethal. The scary thing with Taumalolo is that he's so raw and still so young. He'll get a lot better which is hard to imagine.

I don't think TPJ has the same sort of footwork or speed, and at this stage, probably not the same explosiveness, but hopefully as he matures he'll provide a similar impact for our team. He should be used in the middle third of the field similar to Taumalolo, and against tired defenders he could wreak havoc. He definitely needs to lift his fitness and defence, but that's understandable since he's still eligible for the NYC.

 

[Kimlo]

Taumalololo is off contract next year. He'd have to be getting a million plus for his next contract. I dare say he's the best forward in the game right now.

 

[Alec]

I expect TPJ to improve big time. He was probably one of the all time great U20s forwards, and hasn't had the same impact in first grade so far. He needs to find that same or similar level of play first before he can be a starter.

 

[Kimlo]

I expect TPJ to improve big time. He was probably one of the all time great U20s forwards, and hasn't had the same impact in first grade so far. He needs to find that same or similar level of play first before he can be a starter.

I think it's just a matter of fitness. I can see why Bennett didn't want to put him on early, because from previous game he seems to get gassed after 5-10 minutes. If he can get his fitness up, I'm super excited to see what he can offer.

 

[I bleed Maroon]

EDIT: Defamatory