Former schoolboy Superstar leaving NRL: Heading To The Canes
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<p>Still, it's interesting that there was zero talk about this kid when he <em>left</em> NZ to go play league. But now that he's returned it's HUGE news.</p>
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<p>I hope you guys are right and that he is the next Lomu, but you'll excuse me if I have my doubts.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="566447" data-time="1458611991">
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<p>there wasn't zero talk,</p>
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<p>I'm from Christchurch, don't follow Wellington or the Canes, but was well aware of who this guy is. </p>
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<p>It certainly wasn't common knowledge though.</p> -
<p>Agree, was probably somewhere in the middle of</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="566443" data-time="1458611728">
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<p>zero talk </p>
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<p>and</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Razbra" data-cid="566461" data-time="1458613709">
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<p>common knowledge</p>
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<p>if you follow schoolboy rugby, then you'd probably heard of him.</p> -
<p>Which kind of backs up my point :)</p>
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<p>I Vaguely remember seeing something about him leaving, but then it isn't an uncommon story either, and I guess he was 'just' another talented age group rugby player going to NRL.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Winger" data-cid="565225" data-time="1458208802"><p>2020 will be our year</p></blockquote>
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That's what Hammett was working towards..... -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="566470" data-time="1458614346">
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<p>Which kind of backs up my point :)</p>
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<p>Not really, plenty of people in NZ are still passionate about grassroots rugby.</p>
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<p>Even if most on here aren't.</p> -
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<p>15 is plenty of people so that still backs up NQ's post.</p>
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<p>I know one person that follows school boy rugby.</p>
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<p>There is more than 1 posting on this thread.</p>
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<p>The big crowds at the marquee games suggest a slightly larger following, also I don't think they'd show it on the rugby channel if there were only 15 viewers.</p> -
<p>Agreed so if you're still at school or have a kid at school who happens to play top flight footy then they would know. Again, backing up NQ's post.</p>
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<p>In the same way that most kids that play against a good netballer and also their parents would be "in the know" Hey, they might even make a local rag</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="566483" data-time="1458615666">
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<p>Agreed so if you're still at school or have a kid at school who happens to play top flight footy then they would know. Again, backing up NQ's post.</p>
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<p>In the same way that most kids that play against a good netballer and also their parents would be "in the know" Hey, they might even make a local rag</p>
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<p>NQs post said there was zero talk. There was definitely more than one article in a local paper about him.</p> -
<p>Well I'm sure somebody somewhere talked about him leaving. My point was (obviously) there was nothing coming close to mainstream media lamenting the loss of the next Lomu. But now that he's returned it's HUGE news and he's a certain FAB star.</p>
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<p>Like I said, I hope you guys are right. I'd love for there to be another Lomu in my lifetime.</p> -
<p>I'm sure most of the publicity was in the Wellington region. I remember seeing some footage of him playing for Wellington College on TV. The hype was similar to Taniela Tupou when he played for Sacred Heart.</p>
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<p>I don't think Asofa-Solomona made the NZ Schools team though. Was he injured?</p> -
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<p>I'm sure most of the publicity was in the Wellington region. I remember seeing some footage of him playing for Wellington College on TV. The hype was similar to Taniela Tupou when he played for Sacred Heart.</p>
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<p>I don't think Asofa-Solomona made the NZ Schools team though. Was he injured?</p>
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<p>He wasn't considered as he already signed a contract with the NRL.</p> -
<p>This the Article on Nelson Asofa Solomona when he left:</p>
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<p><u><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/8926500/Wellington-college-stars-set-to-join-the-Storm '>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/8926500/Wellington-college-stars-set-to-join-the-Storm </a></u></p>
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<p>A player that initially went with Nelson was promising Union prop Joe Apikotoa who has returned and is now in the Canes / Wellington Lions setup. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="566476" data-time="1458614976">
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<p>There is more than 1 posting on this thread.</p>
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<p><strong>The big crowds at the marquee games suggest a slightly larger following</strong>, also I don't think they'd show it on the rugby channel if there were only 15 viewers.</p>
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<p>Some schoolboys have big families. That's why the Temperance bar in Wellington went out of business, every Lion and/or Cane plus their "family" could drink for free. In some cases "family" was three figures.....</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="566483" data-time="1458615666"><p>Agreed so if you're still at school or have a kid at school who happens to play top flight footy then they would know. Again, backing up NQ's post.<br><br>
In the same way that most kids that play against a good netballer and also their parents would be "in the know" Hey, they might even make a local rag</p></blockquote>
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Well, I'd heard of him here in Japan...<br><br>- from reading the New Zealand newspapers that everyone here hates :)<br><br>
And<br><br> - watching Smithy's videos (I think) about future 'stars' of NZ rugby (there once was a thread?)<br><br>
Anyway, I think he was talked about enough as being a potential future star.
- from reading the New Zealand newspapers that everyone here hates :)<br><br>
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<p>I'm a Cantabrian living Auckland and heard plenty of him. I enjoy watching College Rugby so was impossible to miss him a few seasons back.</p>
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<p>Certainly made a bit of news when he was signed by the Storm. Not so much that rugby was losing a certain All Black to the enemy but he was used more of an example that some of the nation's brightest rugby talent was being lured to Australia and there was little that the wider rugby community could do to stop this happening to many more players of similar ilk.</p>
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<p>Looking forward to seeing him come back. One of the pleasures for those who follow college rugby is seeing over time if the stars of school can deliver on their promise.</p>
