Former schoolboy Superstar leaving NRL: Heading To The Canes

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.

raznomore

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canes4life" data-cid="565070" data-time="1458162524">
If any of you watched Sky Sport College Rugby you would know who this guy is. He was named NRL under 20 player of the year last year and he was meant to have a big future in the game. Its funny how players are getting bored of League with its "run it straight", "crash it up" bullshit. Nelson has pace to burn for such a big guy and he probably doesn't fit the mold of Melbourne - where they have structures put in place. I watched a few of his cameos last year and he man handled some of the top NRL players. I'm optimistic that if he does make the switch back to Rugby he can be a massive force in our game. <a class="bbc_url" href="

">

</a></blockquote>Just a few questions. 
Which players have have so hilariously stated they are sick of the crash and bash of NRL? 
Don't all teams have structures in place? 
Sent from my SM-G925I using Tapatalk

mariner4life

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="jegga" data-cid="565183" data-time="1458193547">
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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.
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I'm still convinced he's the Hurricanes' social media manager

Canes4life

<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 only rate kids that are worthy of rating. Maybe I am overrating guys like Peter Umaga Jensen, Alex Fidow and Nelson Asofa Solomona but hey I guess the Canes feel the same as they've been bloody quick to sign these guys up. 
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Razbra" data-cid="565185" data-time="1458194148">
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Just a few questions. 
Which players have have so hilariously stated they are sick of the crash and bash of NRL. 
Don't all teams have structures in place? 
Sent from my SM-G925I using Tapatalk
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Laumape, Fisiiahi and Sonny Bill Williams have expressed recently that League is a very contact dominated sport where room to roam is scarce throughout the duration of a match. Theyve mentioned that Rugby provides them with more open space to attack and the fact that their bodies aren't getting punished like they are in League is a bonus. Plenty of players enjoy the crash and bash of League and thats fine. I just believe that Nelson Asofa Solomona is more effective in rugby, one because of his size and two because he can insert his dominance on more facets of the game.
 
To answer the second question you are right, all teams have structures, I just feel some are more structured than others. For example when you compare teams like Melbourne in League and the Crusaders in Rugby they have a strict game plan in place. In contrast teams like the Canes in Rugby and the Broncos in League let their players back themselves a bit more. I guess Nelson doesn't like being tied down to Melbourne's strict game plan and probably feels that he is more suited to a team like the Hurricanes where he can express himself more.

Canes4life

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="565186" data-time="1458194185">
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I'm still convinced he's the Hurricanes' social media manager
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hahahha i wish.

African Monkey

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canes4life" data-cid="565187" data-time="1458195447">
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I only rate kids that are worthy of rating. Maybe I am overrating guys like Peter Umaga Jensen, Alex Fidow and Nelson Asofa Solomona but hey I guess the Canes feel the same as they've been bloody quick to sign these guys up. 
 
 
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Fair enough. I do admire your passion and the fact that you do follow the grassroots with interest despite my earlier criticisms.

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canes4life" data-cid="565187" data-time="1458195447">
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I only rate kids that are worthy of rating. Maybe I am overrating guys like Peter Umaga Jensen, Alex Fidow and Nelson Asofa Solomona but hey I guess the Canes feel the same as they've been bloody quick to sign these guys up. 
 
 
Laumape, Fisiiahi and Sonny Bill Williams have expressed recently that League is a very contact dominated sport where room to roam is scarce throughout the duration of a match. Theyve mentioned that Rugby provides them with more open space to attack and the fact that their bodies aren't getting punished like they are in League is a bonus. Plenty of players enjoy the crash and bash of League and thats fine. I just believe that Nelson Asofa Solomona is more effective in rugby, one because of his size and two because he can insert his dominance on more facets of the game.
 
To answer the second question you are right, all teams have structures, I just feel some are more structured than others. For example when you compare teams like Melbourne in League and the Crusaders in Rugby they have a strict game plan in place. In contrast teams like the Canes in Rugby and the Broncos in League let their players back themselves a bit more. I guess Nelson doesn't like being tied down to Melbourne's strict game plan and probably feels that he is more suited to a team like the Hurricanes where he can express himself more. 
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What were Sam Burgess's views ?

The Silver Fern

Former schoolboy Superstar leaving NRL: Heading To The Canes