Re: What we currently look like for 2023 : Sun Nov 27, 2022 10:28 am  

Eastern Wildcat wrote:

I've just been having a quick look at the super league stats for last year, to compare Napa with some of our own.

He did get suspended, but his number of games played are on a par with some of ours.

However, on players I looked at conceded less than Miller, Lino and Fifita.

Maybe he's not quite the penalty machine we all thought.

Would just like to see us get over the line now with some of these signings.

Which signings, do you know something we don't?

Re: What we currently look like for 2023 : Sun Nov 27, 2022 3:02 pm  

PopTart wrote:

I feel the same.

I went to see Mal Meninga speak yesterday. He was brilliant as you'd expect.
When he was asked about picking a team for Australia and what he looks for, he said Character.
He went as far as to say he picked character over skill.

And that is why I wouldn't choose Napa.

It’s a goodpoint and really valid one

In the case of Australia though
They have the luxury of such a massive talent pool
They can afford that luxury

I’m not sure it applies to us in the same way

I can also think of a few players who come to us in a last chance saloon and completely turn there careers around

Sounds like his wage demands are not where we need to be though

I just feel a more easy going culture like we have could maybe revitalise his career

Re: What we currently look like for 2023 : Sun Nov 27, 2022 3:04 pm  

Eastern Wildcat wrote:

I've just been having a quick look at the super league stats for last year, to compare Napa with some of our own.

He did get suspended, but his number of games played are on a par with some of ours.

However, on players I looked at conceded less than Miller, Lino and Fifita.

Maybe he's not quite the penalty machine we all thought.

Would just like to see us get over the line now with some of these players we have been linked with.

Might be his penalties are more obvious ones
High tackles
Swinging arms and not hand on the ball bad play the balls etc

Re: What we currently look like for 2023 : Mon Nov 28, 2022 9:14 am  

Read an interview with MA the other day saying he is very interested in Renouf Atoni, he’s got everything he wants in a forward and comes well recommended, so sounds promising. Not sure about Napa, when he was at the Roosters he was an absolute beast, I remember him absolutely mullering Walmsley in their world club challenge game. He’s been a shadow of his former self at Catalans unfortunately, he’s only 30 so should be really in his peak.

Re: What we currently look like for 2023 : Mon Nov 28, 2022 9:42 am  

This might be one of the best things I've read in regards to a rugby league player.

On 10 January 2019, lewd videos of Napa were leaked to the media. The first video leaked showed Napa being filmed having sexual intercourse with an unknown female with Napa saying in the video "Call me Big Papi, Call me Big Papa". On 12 January 2019, a second video was leaked with Napa performing a sex act while former teammate Kane Evans was filmed shadow boxing.

Looks like it's where it all started to go south for the lad, always carried some aggression which to be fair has never really bothered me but off field issues can really disrupt camp. See what happens with him but doesn't seem to be as big of a link to him as previously thought.

Re: What we currently look like for 2023 : Mon Nov 28, 2022 11:38 am  

TimmySmith wrote:

This might be one of the best things I've read in regards to a rugby league player.

On 10 January 2019, lewd videos of Napa were leaked to the media. The first video leaked showed Napa being filmed having sexual intercourse with an unknown female with Napa saying in the video "Call me Big Papi, Call me Big Papa". On 12 January 2019, a second video was leaked with Napa performing a sex act while former teammate Kane Evans was filmed shadow boxing.

Looks like it's where it all started to go south for the lad, always carried some aggression which to be fair has never really bothered me but off field issues can really disrupt camp. See what happens with him but doesn't seem to be as big of a link to him as previously thought.

LOL

So the bloke an idiot, not unknown amongst sportsman. Personally I couldn't care less about the video, only person hurt was Napa who made himself look infantile.

However I do get your point.

Look at it this way, many of these players, especially those in the NRL are nurtured from very young ages. Some respond well and some become silly over privileged man boys. I suspect Nap falls into this category.

That said many men go through a 'daft spell' usually their late teens, just arrives a bit later when you are as over protected as these boys. Even in SL, many young players have no experience of real life until they finish playing.

The knack here is if Mash feels Napa (if he's actually after him) is now past that stage and can be put back on track. Many many players have come back from this period of their lives in the past, often at clubs like Trinity.

Of course he could be a walking disaster, but that can apply to any player, it's always a risk, but I accept this is a bigger risk than some. Unfortunately this is the part of the market where we are, and not just us but SL in general.

[PopTart]

Re: What we currently look like for 2023 : Mon Nov 28, 2022 1:15 pm  

I agree. I'm not bothered about the video. Probably loads do stupid things, they just don't video it.

The point to me is his attitude now. If he's the same guy, who doesn't seem to respect his position in the team or his team mates, then stay clear. If he wants to prove everyone wrong and buys into Wakefield and Mash to do it, then he'll likely be great.

Unfortunately, that's a hard thing to find out before you sign him.

Re: What we currently look like for 2023 : Mon Nov 28, 2022 2:16 pm  

f

PopTart wrote:

I agree. I'm not bothered about the video. Probably loads do stupid things, they just don't video it.



Unfortunately, that's a hard thing to find out before you sign him.

Only way you could cover that is by some form of rolling contract, or some escape clause should he step out of line.

However ,like others have said we have had plenty of these type of 'characters'on our books over the years and MC will have had to sort out many of their various antics in the past. The bloke may be at a stage by now that he thinks is the risk of potential bother really worth taking anymore.

Re: What we currently look like for 2023 : Mon Nov 28, 2022 2:40 pm  

Don't care how good he was in Oz, it's what he's done over here and unfortunately it's not been very much, I would have thought that Bernard Squash would have paid him big bucks to bring him to France, and you have to wonder why they are eager to get rid, don't think we can afford him personally and I don't mean financially.

Re: What we currently look like for 2023 : Wed Nov 30, 2022 6:29 pm  

Squad numbers are being released tomorrow, could that mean we’ve finished up in terms of recruitment?