Marquee has nothing to do with the quota regulations. It just applies to salary cap regs which unless we are anywhere close to the £2million full cap won’t apply to us. So as has been mentioned we need to ship Tangata out before anything can happen.

Ahh I see on the salary cap bit. That's not what I'm hearing regarding Tangata or anyone else, we must have an ace up our sleeve somewhere. This has been constant for a while with CC stating we were looking at the NRL ages ago and others with no mention of letting anyone go. Not saying you're wrong just isn't what I'm hearing. As I say, odd.

visa requirements say that any player must have played 50% of NRL games over the last 2 seasons. Therefore you cant get young NRL props because they either haven't played enough games or if they have, that means that generally they will stay in the NRL!

The Full 80 minutes episode 88 about 21min -17 seconds into the program
YouTube

So how does Lino fit into that?

Ah I see, I suppose there will still be options though at least in the 25+ age bracket. There’s always going players who can’t get in or fall out of favour. There’s the NSW Cup too.

It is odd as the quota rules are pretty tight these days and there are virtually no way round them. That said my mail tells me that Tangata wasn't really wanted by our coach this year but a clause in his contract was activated and (i quote) 'we are stuck with him'. I can see a Horo/Tanginoa situation coming up but for that Tangata would have to agree to leave and he will likely only do that if he has a club to go to and we make up any monetary difference. Horo was ready to retire so that was easier, Adam isn't and he wants to put himself in a position to play for the Cook Islands at the world cup so needs to be playing somewhere. Chuck in an immediate change of coach for Cronulla and a suspention that means AF wouldn't be available til mid-May anyway means there are probably a few hurdles to cross yet, hence the silence.

Recent international appearances also have a bearing and he's represented Samoa in enough games within the desired timescale.

Or 80% of Nrl players that’s come over

games in NSW cup dont count

Do not know if he is coming or not ,but I did watch A F in the all stars game .The game was low scoring but played at a fast pace.A F did not looked out of place at all .Know the commentator said he was getting match fit . So to me there are a lot of pluses if he comes.When you reached the high standed that A F did ,a A F playing at 60% that standed will still be better than we got now ,plus he is very good at getting the ball away i when tackled

It’s more his attitude I’m worried about than his ability. I think the Locke signing still harbours a few nightmares and I just fear these type of signings don’t work out for us. Especially when we are in a battle. If he comes though I hope he has a stormer on debut and casts those fears aside. It just all sounds a bit too good to be true.

I actually think the Anthony Tupou comparison is a perfect example. A guy with multiple rep appearances, including Australia, NSW & Tonga, played in NRL grand finals and in his heyday one of the best in the world in his position, but by the time he got here he was past his best and had a chronic injury which meant he could only perform to a limited capacity. In the end he missed as many as he played and left early. The situation could be similar unless due diligence is done. AF would improve us and should generate interest. But even with a subsidy he ain’t going to be cheap. We need to be sure he is up for the fight and has a damn thorough medical before any contract is signed. We need to be much more savvy than we was with Tupou.

Tangata signed for Halifax! Am I living in some sort of alternative universe here or what!

Ink must be dry

From twitter....

Ian Laybourn @ILaybourn @WTrinityRL have confirmed they have made an offer for Tonga international Andrew Fifita that could reunite him with twin brother David at Belle Vue.
6:25 PM · Apr 13, 2021

Getting nerves and hope he says yes

Would they risk being a prop down (Tangata to Halifax) unless they were pretty certain that they were signing a replacement?

I know some have concerns regarding his fitness and others with his attitude if he does arrive.
I have to say I couldn't care less about any of the above
The club
in my view have taken a giant stride to show some ambition and hopefully send a message out to fans and other clubs that we are not just making the numbers up.
Marketing big Dave and his brother could see fans returning in numbers.
Just hope this now happens.

Prob bring in a full back

I seem to remember David saying a couple of years ago that it was an ambition of his and Andrews to play together before they retired. We can only hope that it's at Trinity.

You are right. I’ve got my reservations but there’s no point worrying about it really until we’ve seen him put the shirt on. I think half of writing him off though was because many of us are in denial of it happening so you just write it all off as a bad job. Carter has delivered from his side though.

Andrew Fifita was once one of the worlds best players and one that could have got into any NRL club side
His signing will certainly whet the appetite of the Wakey fans and the media will also quite rightly be all over this signing which is also very good publicity for both Wakey and the SL when we need it most

It will be interesting to see how long a contract that he has signed at the club and also If his wage is being subsidised too by Cronulla Sharks in order to get him off their salary cap?
So perhaps Wakey have got a bit of a free hit with him cap wise?

I hope that he rips it up in SL for Wakey, But doesn't anyone find it strange that no other NRL club or SL club for that matter showed any interest in him?

Reports from down under say that both of his knees are shot to pieces

I remember a certain Ray Price coming over ,he had shot knees was one of a good signing for us

Ray Price was a superb player and top professional and as hard as they come, what a player !