https://twitter.com/WarringtonRLFC/stat ... 26565?s=19

https://twitter.com/WarringtonRLFC/stat ... 26565?s=19

I think the fella was on a hiding to nothing, smart price never wanted him , that was plain to see lack of reserve grade because of covid, in the game I seen him play he looked half decent, but we will never know the full story did he have a attitude problem fitness who knows

We don't know that price didn't want him, maybe price sanctioned the move but then didn't like what arrived in front of him? Who knows, ultimately good luck to the bloke I hope he manages to find another club, from our point of view the quota spot and the wages freed up are more valuable than a player who won't make the match day squad in the absence of a reserve grade.

We got him as we were cheap on bids of available props last season and lost out on every effort.

I would like to know who recommended him.

Panic buys of any sort rarely work out.

JIMO;

As it is club expenditure the CEO would have been behind the Latu recruitment, although Price would have been consulted. We don't know to what extent he was consulted though ( "Ooh, yes please" or "well, if he is the only option, I suppose so"icon_wink.gif

I saw Latu when he first played for the reserves back in early March. He was very unfit. If you are a professional sportsman who want's to get a contract and play you don't let yourself get in that state. He then had plenty of time to get up to fitness but I can remember a comment from Price indicating he was making slow progress.

So reading between the lines I would guess that as Ducky says Latu was a last option because all the decent props were already taken. So we ended up with an unfit, poorly motivated player that Price couldn't afford to play ( and win games). The club statement says he has been released from his contract so I suspect we are still paying his salary.

Not a great example of how to identify the right player and something for the Board to discuss and reflect upon so that it doesn't happen again.

must admit, i nearly did a thread title, 'See you Latu'

i thought it was a bit mean.

I wonder if this bit of tidying up is because they are about to announce shirt numbers ?

Forget just 'panic buys' the majority of our signings in the last 5 years haven't worked out. It's very concerning.

If we paid him on full before he played this season then
1) I don’t think his salary counts on the cap (remember Chris Hicks going early so J Monaghan could join us).
2) it frees up cap space and an overseas slot so
3) Making space for incoming?

Now is a chance for Latu to show Steve Price how wrong he was and train the house down so he can become a dominant prop in SL or the NRL.

Perhaps, since we ended up re-signing Ellis Robson then Latu was just surplus to requirement.

I can see three possible reasons for him being released;

1) We achieved some sort of cost saving i.e. we didn't pay his full salary, maybe because he wanted to move back to Australia.
2) He is a toxic presence in the dressing room. I have no inside info but I've heard no rumours to this effect.
3) He creates space both against the salary cap and the overseas register.

3 would be nice but, with revenues down and the UK being less attractive than Australia in a pandemic, that may be wishful thinking.

Fingers crossed

Indeed, a case of all other options have failed, let's bring him over. Wonder how many of the available props just didn't fancy it at Warrington, rather than it simply was a case of being outbid/the money.

Might have been simpler if he had done this while here. On the other hand this could be a genius move by Latu to get paid twice for the one season (assuming some other team is prepared to take a punt on him).

Latu agreed to his release the first week in January. It's strange how the club didn't announce it until now.

Which were the available props we missed out on prior to signing Latu?

We ended up with Latu because that was what was available. It was a gamble that with hindsight there were enough signs to say don't bother.

If you want to install a win at all costs attitude in a squad you do not want to have in that environment people who will just do what they have to do to pick up their pay packet. You need people who will go beyond the norm and put themselves out to achieve the goals. I don't think Latu was in the second category!

Not sure, RD or others may be able to help enlighten/remind us.

Perhaps the club wanted to boost season ticket sales

Just wait till they release the news about Price.

Trouble is we don’t learn. Weller Haruki has this week come out and said he had an offer from Warrington a few weeks ago but decided to retire. Good grief. What must these young forwards in the academy be thinking?

He hasn't said Warrington made hm an offer. He made some vague comment about having chats with a few clubs and Warrington showing interest. What they phoned hls agent back.

Complete none story.