Former schoolboy Superstar leaving NRL: Heading To The Canes

Canes4life

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="565079" data-time="1458164464">
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where will he play Canes4life? Assume loose fforward?
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Lock id say. Probably too tall to be a loose forward. In saying that he played no 8 for Wellington College and was quite damaging there so who knows. There are obviously plenty of work on areas in his game, but he no doubt has the potential to go far in Rugby if he does come back.

rotated

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="tubbyj" data-cid="565089" data-time="1458166709">
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Why are the Storm no putting up much of a fight for him or other NRL clubs smashing down the door to sign him with all their TV rights money?
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Bulldogs didn't put up much of a fight with Nehe either.

Smudge

Johnny Lomax is heading home to the Canes? Awesome!

No Quarter

So he's the next Will Skelton? Sweet!

kiwiinmelb

Better suited as a union forward , he's a monster , almost too big for league , 
Tall and athletic , watched him play a bit here in Melbourne in the lower grades . 
Big call , but I reckon better than a good chance to be an Allblack down the track sometime

Canes4life

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="565104" data-time="1458169900">
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So he's the next Will Skelton? Sweet!
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You obviously haven't seen him play. Will Skelton is a 140kg sluggish mosnter, whereas Asofa Solomona is an athletic unit weighing in at a healthy 122kg who can actually put his pedal on the gas when he gets into space. 
 
Have a look at this video. He has a high work rate, can offload ala SBW and he has subtlety's in his game that keep opponents guessing.

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canes4life" data-cid="565130" data-time="1458175880">
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You obviously haven't seen him play. Will Skelton is a 140kg sluggish mosnter, whereas Asofa Solomona is an athletic unit weighing in at a healthy 122kg who can actually put his pedal on the gas when he gets into space. Silly comparison. 
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Judging from the comments here I think you're the only one who's seen him play.

Nepia

Sheesh, not sure why everyones piling into Canes4Life like he's Winger talking about vaccinations, I mean who of us on here hasn't overhyped a player in our time (Robbie Robinson people, you know who you are ;)). Canes4Life over egged it and now he's just leaning into as well.
 
He looked good the times I saw him play U20s and his few appearances last year - I reckon he could have become a bloody awesome player. 
 
He seems to be one of a number of young Kiwis these days using league to pay them a salary for a couple of years where they might only be on development contracts in rugby, then returning to have a crack.

SammyC

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="565134" data-time="1458176590">
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Sheesh, not sure why everyones piling into Canes4Life like he's Winger talking about vaccinations, I mean who of us on here hasn't overhyped a player in our time (Robbie Robinson people, you know who you are ;)). Canes4Life over egged it and now he's just leaning into as well.
 
He looked good the times I saw him play U20s and his few appearances last year - I reckon he could have become a bloody awesome player. 
 
He seems to be one of a number of young Kiwis these days using league to pay them a salary for a couple of years where they might only be on development contracts in rugby, then returning to have a crack.
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Agree, at least Canes4life has watched him play more than 1 or 2 games of under 20 NRL and a few Youtube highlights.
 
It's generally pretty obvious watching grass roots rugby which players are going to become stars,
 
I trust the opinion of a bloke who obviously gets out and does that, most of the blokes on here probably only attend a few super matches a year and ignore club/schoolboy rugby entirely.

Canes4life

Yeah I have seen him play a few times back when he played for Wellington College. Obviously NRL and Super Rugby is a massive step up from College Rugby but he defiantly warrants the hype. I dont like to throw around the term freak but this guy has the potential to be an All Black for sure. One liability of his game seeing him live back then would be his tenancy to have brain explosions. If he can channel his aggression in a positive way though he will be an exceptional talent moving forward.

Crucial

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="565135" data-time="1458176967">
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Agree, at least Canes4life has watched him play more than 1 or 2 games of under 20 NRL and a few Youtube highlights.
 
It's generally pretty obvious watching grass roots rugby which players are going to become stars,
 
I trust the opinion of a bloke who obviously gets out and does that, most of the blokes on here probably only attend a few super matches a year and ignore club/schoolboy rugby entirely.
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There's a jump from saying a kid will make it to pro level to saying they will go all the way and/or be an AB star.
 
Quite a few good examples around of players that looked really good at lower levels but couldn't carry it all the way.
 
Some even find the hurdle from Provincial to Super trips them up (see Fritz Lee as a someone awesome at lower levels, couldn't make the step to super but has found his sweet spot at T14)
 
Hope he does well though. With young talent like him, the Ioanes, Saveas, Tuipolotu etc etc we won't be lacking for dynamic options.

SammyC

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="565142" data-time="1458180243">
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There's a jump from saying a kid will make it to pro level to saying they will go all the way and/or be an AB star.
 
Quite a few good examples around of players that looked really good at lower levels but couldn't carry it all the way.
 
Some even find the hurdle from Provincial to Super trips them up (see Fritz Lee as a someone awesome at lower levels, couldn't make the step to super but has found his sweet spot at T14)
 
Hope he does well though. With young talent like him, the Ioanes, Saveas, Tuipolotu etc etc we won't be lacking for dynamic options.
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Yeah probably shouldn't have used the word "star".
 
But it's pretty obvious who has the potential to become one. 
 
Agree.... he looks like a superb athlete, hope he can make the step up.

jegga

Hopefully he can deliver on his potential , in the meantime I think every thread deserves a Jennifer Lawrence gif .

taniwharugby

I recall seeing the hype of him as a schoolboy (TV1 News did a piece on him IIRC) and then that he'd gone to league, like the Saveas who were young stars, might take him a year or 2 to shine

Gunner

Canes4life, are you the guy who comes up with the outrageous headlines for the Herald or Stuff.co.nz? 
If not, they should hire you coz you seem very highly skilled in that area.

mariner4life

4 Big Kids Heading To The Hurricanes (Number 3 Will Shock You)

Higgins

If this pans out to be true it implies that the Hurricanes management must have given up hope that Christian Lloyd, Geoffrey Cridge and /or Iopu Iopu Aso will ever be fit enough to grace us with their presence in the playing fifteen.

kiwiinmelb

I go to a few Storm games , when Ive seen him live , Ive always thought , how did NZ rugby let this guy go ? he did have a bit of a look of a union forward playing league 
 
but a Very impressive looking athlete ,everything you would want from a lock ,
 
 just going to depend whats between the ears I reckon

African Monkey

Not trying to talk the kid down, but canes4life you really do over-rate any kid that comes through the Wellington Rugby scene to the extreme.

jegga

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="African Monkey" data-cid="565177" data-time="1458190619">
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Not trying to talk the kid down, but canes4life you really do over-rate any kid that comes through the Wellington Rugby scene to the extreme.
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I admire his passion for the team, he like a cantab without the awkwardness that comes with having parents who are blood relatives.

The Silver Fern

Former schoolboy Superstar leaving NRL: Heading To The Canes