Here is a question that needs an answer: Does South Sydney want to play Lote or Lotto in season 2014?
This week’s announcement that veteran winger Lote Tuqiri had been signed on by the Rabbitohs beggars belief. Surely this is some cruel joke, a media gee-up that will be laughed down in the weeks ahead.
This man is 34 years old. He is a walking (hobbling?) advertisement for any health care or pensioner fund and from where I sit, there is nothing he can add to a Rabbitohs’ team supposedly mounting a challenge for premiership glory.
Just what was head coach Michael Maguire thinking when Lote’s name was mentioned as a possible recruit?
Was his mind made up by a higher power? Is there a touch of Hollywood and a Rusty Crowe fingerprint on this?
Perhaps Madge was shown a tape of Tuqiri’s blitz season of 2010 when he returned from rugby union to score 18 tries in 27 games for the Wests Tigers.
Terrific season for sure but that was three and a bit years ago and Lote has done precious little since then due to a spate of major injuries and, it must be said, the loss of speed that comes with age.
I read the Tuqiri signing story and thought the newspaper was taking the snake’s hiss.
South Sydney, of all clubs, do not need a veteran out on the wing, even if he is playing for match payments only or even less.
I believe the Rabbits have many pieces of the premiership puzzle in place and to me, the last thing they need is an old fogey out on the flank not capitalising on the brilliant lead-up work from the inside backs.
There are any number of exciting young wingers in the South Sydney system – right now or in the immediate future – who might be denied an opportunity to shine if Tuqiri is handed the two or five jumper.
In my view, this signing of an ageing, injury-plagued outside back is dumb and retrogressive.
Every season, Souths play their part in the Charity Shield to help out hospitals but this is a charity they can ill afford.
They say charity begins at home. For heaven’s sake Rabbitohs, if you must, look for wingers in your own back yard.
Your premiership-starved club needs a new hero, not yesterday’s . . .
Tiger Jack
Guest
Lote the orthopaedic surgeons best friend
Evander
Guest
I'm with you Robbo. Lote sacked by union for an incident and then booted by the Tigers. What do people love about Lote? It can't be his sidestep or speed because he has neither. Is it his dreadlocks?
Robbo
Guest
" Lote great branding for the NRL " Storm Boy Yes what an outstanding role model !! NOT
Evander
Guest
Other teams wanted Farrell, Asotasi and the others. But Souths were the only bidders for Lote after he was booted out by the Tigers. Come on, you can admit that you are wrong. Man up.
The eye
Guest
Eva,stop it,you're making a knuckle of yourself.I know who they've lost. The only one of current 1st grade standard is Farrell,the others couldn't crack the top 17,or in Asotasis case wouldn't crack it.I'm waffling ?Man,open your mouth when you have a clue.
Evander
Guest
Still waffling. Here's the losses and gains for Souths this year: LOSSES- Asotasi, Buckett, Crocker, Everingham, Farrell, Hazard, Hunt, King, Lima, Peats, Phillps, Smith, Starling and Talanoa. GAINS - Lote, Auva'a, Grevsmuhl, Neale, Picker, and Reddy. That's 14 losses and 6 gains. You really do need to wise up!
The eye
Guest
You said Souths are weaker I say they're not..thats the point of the waffle.You say they weren't good enough when it mattered,I say using that criteria,only the Roosters were.Not a Souths fan but they'll play in the finals again,too good not to..the end.
Evander
Guest
But the Rabbits weren't good enough to beat the Roosters and Manly when it counted. And during the year they won a number of games on the back of Reynold's goalkicking. If the defence doesn't improve, and Reynolds starts missing goals, the Bunnies will be going backwards. (The rest of the stuff you waffled on about....Farrell, Everingham, Hunt, Champion, et al....has nothing to do with what I said. I never mentioned them.)
The eye
Guest
So what,that defence was still good enough for them to finish the regular season equal top of the ladder.Choking in finals is a bigger issue for them..loss of Farrell makes them weaker ? He was a small fish in a big pond,when did he ever take a game by the scruff of the neck like a top centre ? Hopefully he will at the Dragons,a fit Champion covers that loss.Asotasi was playing very ordinary,Everingham was a liability in defence and Hunt was rated by the coach below him..so how are they weaker ? PS did you notice the Storm defence out wide in their final games of last season against the Titans and Knights ?
AA
Guest
Souths need him. Without him who are their back up wingers? I actually think he makes their starting team but that aside he brings more to the table for them. They have some strong juniors who are a stones-throw away from sending their career down the james roberts line... he will teach young blokes about professionalism and he will be a character around the club. I am an easts fan and when we signed Luke O'Donnell last season everybody said the same thing. He didnt produce anywhere near his best for the 1st 10 weeks but you cannot discount the impact his training, experience and professionalism had on a young and impressionable squad. Lote will provide a similar platform for Souths and he will also provide much needed depth to their outside backs. A lot people are forgetting that Souths lost (D. Farrell, J. Hunt. A. Everingham and M. King last season). Now none of them set the world on fire but they were all 1st grade ready and decent back up. Good luck Lote.
Evander
Guest
Souths are weaker than last year and they haven't fixed the main problem: defence. Manly, Roosters and the Storm kept other teams tryless in games, but Souths never did.
The eye
Guest
Gee,Souths are the last team I'd be writing off.Agreed they missed a golden opportunity with that choke in the final,but they're a gritty side with lots of playmakers,excellent spine and Burgess grunt in the pack.Luck with injuries will be the monkey on every sides shoulder,what will befall Manly if Cherry goes down..or the Chooks without Sonny. They lost depth,but not significant impact,as Manly have with Kite,Storm have with Blair and Dogs have with Barba..Lote was a dud with the Tigers,but Matt Utai was a very handy pick up in what was a similar situation a few years ago when push came to shove out there.
Danny
Guest
you are 100% correct Tim. The sad thing is, if he is the first "back up" player to come in and play First Grade if someone gets injured, it will mean quality young up and coming players like Curtis Johnson and Mitch Buckett will NOT get their chance so in 2015 when Lote hobbles off into retirement, we will also lose the good up and comers that will go to another club seeking a decent opportunity. Justin Hunt is a good example of someone who was absolutely killing it for the Bears last season but was only ever used as a last resort. If the coach was fair dinkum, Merritt would've been dropped due to his dismal form post Origin and Hunt would've been called up.
Danny
Guest
Prove you otherwise? Three words........ 2013. Grand. Final.
Danny
Guest
Yes, The Cootamundra Coots
Evander
Guest
No. His daughter needs an escort to a school dance.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
As a Bunnies supporter my expectations are lowered this season. After losing 10 players and only picking up 3 the depth is the biggest issue. Last year we were loaded with quality back up players. The other issue is the halves and lack of creativity. Keary is putting serious heat on Reynolds and wouldn't surprise if Walker comes into 6 with Sutto going to lock. For the Rabbits to make another run they will need few injuries and imo they need to sign Ferguson if / when he is allowed to play. The Bunnies ( apart from GI ) don't have much X factor out wide.
Wildman From Borneo
Guest
I don't get it. Does Maguire need someone older to talk to?
Muzz
Guest
Signing Tuqiri says it all Tim....No team that would be considered serious challengers would make such a silly move.Good luck to Lote though for still having enough desire to convince Madge to give him a shot.
manlyman101
Guest
Totally agree with you muzz. And this never happens. Souths will struggle this year. Teams know there game plan. It's all inglis and if they try keary at 6 which they should expect a lot of traffic to be directed at them. If inglis gets injured they are doomed full stop. With merrit and lote on the wings only weakens there already weak back line. About 6th or 7th sounds right. Cowboys will struggle. Bulldogs will improve. Storm to struggle big time expect injuries all round for them. Most will stay the same.