Former schoolboy Superstar leaving NRL: Heading To The Canes

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="565198" data-time="1458198730">
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speaking of Slammin' Sammy, it's testament to the maturity of the Fox Sports league commentators that they can admit that he looks to have come back to league a better player thanks to some new skills and a leaner frame. No Ch9-esque "unions a shit sport" bullshit was a refreshing change. 
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How bout Willie Mason ?

kiwiinmelb

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="565197" data-time="1458198629">
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I get what you are saying, but perhaps this version of Wayne Bennett's Broncos are not the best example. They are structured and disciplined as fuck, stacked full of role players. 
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And I think the structure bit about Melbourne is more around their defense , they still score shit loads of points , 
 
Nelson was offloading plenty in the tackles , as do the other kiwi boys , Ive heard he wants to chase his dream of being an All Black ,thats what its about

Canes4life

It also suggests that hes homesick. However at the Nines he was asked if he was settling in within the Melbourne environment and he came accross as quite positive. Who knows. If he does come back though I will be a keen observer of his game.

Bones

He'd be bloody handy in the 7s.

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canes4life" data-cid="565206" data-time="1458200776">
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It also suggests that hes homesick. However at the Nines he was asked if he was settling in within the Melbourne environment and he came accross as quite positive. Who knows. If he does come back though I will be a keen observer of his game.
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Well since you've blown the lid on the secret talks that's bit up in the air

Canes4life

Secrets out from the orginal article wouldnt you think mate.

Dan54

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-time="1458198001" data-cid="565193" data-author="MN5">What were Sam Burgess's views ?</blockquote>Actually you could ask what Brad Thorn's view was too, I heard him talk a couple of weeks ago, was surprised when someone in audience kind of knocked union how quick he was to say how much he fell back in love with the game when he swapped, words along the line that he thought union was so much a complete team game, didn't knock league but said how much he enjoyed the fact that everyone had to support each other in union. Anyway I happy to see that Canes4 is happy about the boy returning to his team, isn't that what being a sports fan is about??

Winger

2020 will be our year

hydro11

Seriously, this guy was a very good player at high school level. Probably the most impressive player in Wellington at that level since Ardie Savea. You can never tell off of high school stuff whether someone has what it takes. I watched both Savea brothers carve it up at high school but you never knew they would be able to step up. Solomona has the potential to have what it takes and that is reasonably worth getting excited about even if 'star' is unwarranted. I just hope he has a season of ITM Cup rugby before being thrust into Super Rugby.

JayCee

Any young talent that switches back to union is exciting enough for me.

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Dan54" data-cid="565224" data-time="1458207942">
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Actually you could ask what Brad Thorn's view was too, I heard him talk a couple of weeks ago, was surprised when someone in audience kind of knocked union how quick he was to say how much he fell back in love with the game when he swapped, words along the line that he thought union was so much a complete team game, didn't knock league but said how much he enjoyed the fact that everyone had to support each other in union. 
Anyway I happy to see that Canes4 is happy about the boy returning to his team, isn't that what being a sports fan is about??
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How bout Willie Carne ?

Dan54

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-time="1458245705" data-cid="565278" data-author="MN5">How bout Willie Carne ?</blockquote>Yep MN5, but I was thinking of players that were any good, why I didn't mention Will Chambers etc, and anyway I have never heard carne speak so wouldn't know or care to be honest what he thought.

wfballLegends

Wow this is HUGE news for the New Zealand rugby union. NAS was the superstar of the u20's and certainly the most talked and hyped up junior player to arrive at the storm since Falou. The guy would add stacks of big athletic talent to the All Blacks pack and is near on impossible to stop one on one.
 
New Zealand Warriors will be gutted! they have been after him for the last 3 years.
 
Congrats hurricanes if you pull this one off, NZ Rugby will be thankful he is back in Union.

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="meetthemonster" data-cid="565755" data-time="1458365695">
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Wow this is HUGE news for the New Zealand rugby union. NAS was the superstar of the u20's and certainly the most talked and hyped up junior player to arrive at the storm since Falou. The guy would add stacks of big athletic talent to the All Blacks pack and is near on impossible to stop one on one.
 
New Zealand Warriors will be gutted! they have been after him for the last 3 years.
 
Congrats hurricanes if you pull this one off, NZ Rugby will be thankful he is back in Union.
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Have you got two fern accounts Canes4Life ? I don't think that's allowed.....

Canes4life

Nah mate just another man that actually knows his grass roots. Unlike some Ferners on here who watch maybe one Super Rugby match a week and think they are an expert. :mocking:

Frye

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="meetthemonster" data-cid="565755" data-time="1458365695">
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Wow this is HUGE news for the New Zealand rugby union. NAS was the superstar of the u20's and certainly the most talked and hyped up junior player to arrive at the storm since Falou. The guy would add stacks of big athletic talent to the All Blacks pack and is near on impossible to stop one on one.
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A superstar of the U20s, but didn't make the 2015 Holden Cup team of the year.
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://www.nrl.com/2015-holden-cup-team-of-the-year/tabid/11525/newsid/89792/default.aspx'>https://www.nrl.com/2015-holden-cup-team-of-the-year/tabid/11525/newsid/89792/default.aspx</a>
 
 
It's great he may be coming back. But I wouldn't get my hopes up that he will be anything special, especially at test level.

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Don Frye" data-cid="566262" data-time="1458525608">
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A superstar of the U20s, but didn't make the 2015 Holden Cup team of the year.
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://www.nrl.com/2015-holden-cup-team-of-the-year/tabid/11525/newsid/89792/default.aspx'>https://www.nrl.com/2015-holden-cup-team-of-the-year/tabid/11525/newsid/89792/default.aspx</a>
 
 
It's great he may be coming back. But I wouldn't get my hopes up that he will be anything special, especially at test level. 
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Quite right Don, if the fern was around back in the late 90s I would have sung from the rooftops about how Koala Tukino and Roy Kinikinilau were destined for AB superstardom. As I only watch about 25% of what Canes4life suggests as a minimum to comment on players then maybe I need to keep my bold predictions to myself. That's if I even recognize the players in the first place.
 
There's still time for Tim Visser to be the best in the world though.

Canes4life

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Don Frye" data-cid="566262" data-time="1458525608">
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A superstar of the U20s, but didn't make the 2015 Holden Cup team of the year.
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://www.nrl.com/2015-holden-cup-team-of-the-year/tabid/11525/newsid/89792/default.aspx'>https://www.nrl.com/2015-holden-cup-team-of-the-year/tabid/11525/newsid/89792/default.aspx</a>
 
 
It's great he may be coming back. But I wouldn't get my hopes up that he will be anything special, especially at test level. 
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Probably because he didn't play Holden Cup in 2015 Don. He made the 2014 Holden Cup Team of the year:
 
1. Jake Mamo (Newcastle Knights)
2. Valentine Holmes (Cronulla Sharks)
3. Sione Mata'utia (Newcastle Knights)
4. Brendan Elliot (Sydney Roosters)
5. Nene Macdonald (Sydney Roosters)
6. Te Maire Martin (Wests Tigers)
7. Drew Hutchison (St.George Illawarra Dragons)
8. Andy Saunders (Penrith Panthers)
9. Manaia Cherrington (Wests Tigers)
10. Sam Lisone (Warriors)
11. Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Melbourne Storm)
12. Tepai Moeroa (Parramatta Eels)
13. Willis Meehan (Sydney Roosters)
14. Danny Levi (Newcastle Knights)
15. Joseph Tapine (Newcastle Knights)
16. Addin Fonua-Blake (St.George Illawarra Dragons)
17. Kane Elgey (Gold Coast Titans)
Coach: Mick Crawley (Newcastle Knights)

Smithy_NZ

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canes4life" data-cid="566414" data-time="1458596838">
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Probably because he didn't play Holden Cup in 2015 Don. He made the 2014 Holden Cup Team of the year:
 
1. Jake Mamo (Newcastle Knights)
2. Valentine Holmes (Cronulla Sharks)
3. Sione Mata'utia (Newcastle Knights)
4. Brendan Elliot (Sydney Roosters)
5. Nene Macdonald (Sydney Roosters)
6. Te Maire Martin (Wests Tigers)
7. Drew Hutchison (St.George Illawarra Dragons)
8. Andy Saunders (Penrith Panthers)
9. Manaia Cherrington (Wests Tigers)
10. Sam Lisone (Warriors)
11. Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Melbourne Storm)
12. Tepai Moeroa (Parramatta Eels)
13. Willis Meehan (Sydney Roosters)
14. Danny Levi (Newcastle Knights)
15. Joseph Tapine (Newcastle Knights)
16. Addin Fonua-Blake (St.George Illawarra Dragons)
17. Kane Elgey (Gold Coast Titans)
Coach: Mick Crawley (Newcastle Knights)
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Don Frye et al. 
 
<img src="http://media0.giphy.com/media/4pMX5rJ4PYAEM/giphy.gif" alt="giphy.gif">

No Quarter

Still, it's interesting that there was zero talk about this kid when he left NZ to go play league. But now that he's returned it's HUGE news.
 
I hope you guys are right and that he is the next Lomu, but you'll excuse me if I have my doubts.

The Silver Fern

Former schoolboy Superstar leaving NRL: Heading To The Canes