Lote returns but does he still have what it takes?
Roar Guru
By ScottWoodward.me, 5 Feb 2010 ScottWoodward.me is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- Lote Tuqiri, NRL, Rugby League, Tim Sheens, Wests Tigers
Forgive me for not joining in on the party to celebrate Lote Tuqiri’s three year signing with NRL team Wests Tigers. The former dual international will finish up his contract with Leicester at the end of March and is on track to switch codes in time for round three or four in April.
Tigers CEO Stephen Humphreys should be congratulated for getting his man, but he has taken a huge gamble with the salary cap by signing the 102kg Fijian for three years as Tuqri turns 31 this year and has been recruited to play either fullback or wing.
Both are speed positions.
A young Lote was a flyer, but from what we have seen in recent years when he was playing Rugby Union, he has bulked up and has lost an enormous amount of speed.
The questions fans will be waiting to be answered are:
* Has Lote lost his speed?
* Can he adapt back to the NRL?
* Can he hold down a first grade position?
It is not a given that he will walk into first grade, as the Tigers are not light on for talented backs, including young Jake Mullaney, Beau Ryan, Blake Ayshford, Chris Lawrence and Taniela Tuiaki.
Tuqiri would not have come cheap and there is no doubt that extending the contract to three years, when Lote will be 33, was the icing on the cake.
Coach Tim Sheens will be more than happy if his marquee signing returns to the NRL as good as Matt Rogers and Wendell Sailor, who also returned after a stint in rugby union.
Enjoy sports? Enjoy a bargain? All Sports Online has your favourite sporting brands at up to 70% off. Online only, premium quality sporting goods and merchandise at discounted prices. Get a deal now.
The Crowd Says (27) | Page 1 of Comments
Have Your Say
Do you have what it takes to become a sports writer? Write for the roar
Rugby League articles
- Rugby league’s new era: where to now? (10)
- New dawn for rugby league gets underway (10)
- Rugby league commission ushers in new era (3)
- Ennis confident about his NRL fitness
- Why sporting seasons should never cross paths (33)
- Independent Commission four years in the making, but worth the wait (23)
- Kearney still to choose Eels kicker
- Rugby league’s new era: where to now? (10)
- Federal Court has it wrong on sports broadcast copyright (44)
- An open letter to Channel Nine (104)
- The NRL’s scariest players (56)
- Is the All Stars match increasing the divide? (25)
- Channel Nine needs NRL-cricket ODI compromise (36)
- The NRL needs a vision (52)
- Explore:
- Lote Tuqiri, NRL, Rugby League, Tim Sheens, Wests Tigers
Sam said | February 5th 2010 @ 7:18am | Report comment
I think he is too slow. In league, wingers especially are all about finishing. I think he has been average in union for quite some years and will be the same in league. He’ll attract a crowd though, and that seems to be more important than anything else.
ScottWoodward.me said | February 5th 2010 @ 1:09pm | Report comment
Jury is still out no doubt
True Tah said | February 5th 2010 @ 7:33am | Report comment
I think Lote will perhaps switch closer to the forwards, and I think he still has it.
The bloke is not short of confidence or mongrel and this will rub off onto the younger blokes.
ScottWoodward.me said | February 5th 2010 @ 1:13pm | Report comment
He played left wing for the broncos and there is no way he will get that position as Taniela Tuiaki has a mortgage on it when 100% fit, and he could struggle at number 1 with with size.
Campbell Watts said | February 5th 2010 @ 1:25pm | Report comment
I think everyone’s DREAMING if they think Lote can play fullback!
His kicking game is crap! I don’t think he has the skill set to pull it off.
Keep him on the wing – thats where he’ll be best suited.
mushi said | February 5th 2010 @ 8:58am | Report comment
If they’ve paid him an elite first grader contract (250k to 300k) then this is a disaster. If not then maybe worth the gamble if he can move inside.
One day clubs are going to figure out how to manage salary cap and place a $ value on likely future production rather than just assess talent.
Andrew Watson said | February 5th 2010 @ 9:23am | Report comment
The final piece in the finals puzzle. Tuqiri will be the difference in finishing 5th, rather than 8th.
The Tigers have the strongest left side in the NRL. Yep, better than Melbourne. Defences wont be able to double man the likes of Lawrence any more with Tuqiri attacking the right.
I’ve watched as many games in England as I could and he still has it. He is possible the most devastating ball runner in that comp. You dont have to score the points to achieve the results for the team…
As a mad tiger fan, when do they open the betting for the 2010 Clive Churchill Medal???
ScottWoodward.me said | February 5th 2010 @ 1:18pm | Report comment
Andrew,
Firstly with Jennings and Pritchrd I think penrith have the strongest left side, and as for Clive Churchill Medal that is for the Man of the Match in the Grand Final, dont you mean DallyM Player of the Year?
If so it will be up in a couple of weeks, but Lote will be 100/1 as I expect him to miss several games and then come off the bench.
Andrew Watson said | February 5th 2010 @ 2:04pm | Report comment
Scott, I definately meant Churchill…
When the Tigers make the GF this year, I’ll shout you a couple hundred on him…
ScottWoodward.me said | February 5th 2010 @ 1:19pm | Report comment
Mushi
Spot on. I see this causing a problem down the track for the Tigers. he should have got 2 years with an option.
Cracker said | February 5th 2010 @ 9:39am | Report comment
He could be a very useful signing but he definately appears to have lost pace. In the last few years with the Waratahs he would make a break and then get mowed down from behind – not what you’d want from one of your finishers. Mind you Wendell did ok when he came back all bulked up and heaps slower.
ScottWoodward.me said | February 5th 2010 @ 1:23pm | Report comment
Cracker,
Wendell was the Dragons best go forward.
The Tigers are one of the best attacking teams in the NRL, as they do not lack players who can bust the line. They may have been better served with a big worker in the pack.
Campbell Watts said | February 5th 2010 @ 1:27pm | Report comment
And that AINT Lote!
Corey said | February 5th 2010 @ 3:07pm | Report comment
I think Lote is a buy like the League did back in 1908 with Dally M, people went to matches just to watch him play, just as I love going to the games to watch Inglis play (albeit I am a Broncos season ticket holder). If I didn’t have the Season pass I would buy the tickets to watch him play, especially against Hodges. Lote is a similar buy, I can’t wait to see him play the Broncos up here- especially since we were his only previous NRL team. So he may not be as good as he was, but he is still exciting and he has character, a bit like the big Dell.
brad said | February 5th 2010 @ 7:38pm | Report comment
Lote will be brilliant. His rugby training will stand him in good stead he will have more space to work with and won’t have to worry about being isolated and losing possession. He wil be tactically stronger now and will have much wider vision than before. I battle to find a rugby union convert who has disapointed in league. Even Tiaan Strauss who was a dumb forward by springbok stds went ok.
MyGeneration said | February 5th 2010 @ 9:17pm | Report comment
I struggle to recall Tiaan Strauss’ impact on League, but look no further than Garrick Morgan for a rugby union convert who disappointed – just showing that it’s hard for forwards going either way.
Crosscoder said | February 6th 2010 @ 6:32am | Report comment
Or former Wallaby Barry Stumbles.Tiaan Strauss was an honest plodder in rugby league nothing more.
As stated forwards are a different animal when it comes to both rugby codes.Ray Price proved the exception.
MyGeneration said | February 6th 2010 @ 9:59am | Report comment
and Brad Thorn.
JohnB said | February 6th 2010 @ 2:40pm | Report comment
Brad Thorn is a somewhat heavily qualified exception (given he had reached the top in league, before going to union and then going back to league)! Maybe Scott Gourlay a better example of another exception. On the other hand, Garrick Morgan, Tony D’arcy and Chris Roche were 3 outstanding Wallabies who had at best limited impact in league.
Siva Samoa said | February 6th 2010 @ 2:50pm | Report comment
i didn’t know chris roche played rugby league.
JohnB said | February 8th 2010 @ 12:55pm | Report comment
Which perhaps supports my point!
Brisbane club league only I think, in pre-Broncos days.
ScottWoodward.me said | February 6th 2010 @ 11:48am | Report comment
Call me cynical but there is no way any guy who has been playing RU for 7 years and will be 31 this year should be signed for a 3 year NRL contract.
The CEO is a rookie and he would have been influenced by coach Tim sheens, but what about if the coach is not planning to be a Tiger for the next 3 years?
The mail is not going away from Lote’s new coach could be wearing red and green next year.
Andrew Watson said | February 7th 2010 @ 9:24am | Report comment
Scott… go wash your mouth out!!!
Im having nightmares of when Tim Brasher signed for the Red & Greens…
Mick from Giralang said | February 7th 2010 @ 10:12am | Report comment
I’m an admirer of Tim Sheens (four premierships as coach) but I reckon it would do both him and the
Tigers good to part company. Eight years with one club is probably enough.
ScottWoodward.me said | February 7th 2010 @ 12:44pm | Report comment
Mick
I dont think eight years is a problem as Wayne Bennett showed at the Broncos when he won 6 premierships in 21 years. It is relative to the individual and if they can continue to keep reinventing them-self to modern times.
Sheens style is very strict and maybe you can only impose that for so long. If he does go to Souths, I think it will be a good fit, but it will be a huge change to the players from the easy going and likable coach they have know.
Andrew Watson said | February 7th 2010 @ 2:04pm | Report comment
Humphries is a fan, so its highly unlikely they will show Tim the door.
Follow that with the clause in Benji’s contract that if Tim goes, he can opt out.
This could be very dis-stabilising to the Tigers…
ScottWoodward.me said | February 7th 2010 @ 7:22pm | Report comment
Andrew
Agree it could be. it appears that Russell is also a fan and he tried to get him for this year.