Who knows? I guess we will have to wait and see.

Undoubtedly he’s a top name. I just worry about how much game time we will get out of him. He’s lost weight so I suspect he will be fit despite knee issues. If he comes over with the right attitude then he’s definitely an upgrade on what we currently have, no question. He might not offer that much himself but he might bring the best out of David? One thing is for certain we won’t be getting the Andrew Fifita of 3/4 years ago!

However, if he comes over with a lazy attitude then to me it will be a disaster and a potential waste of cash that we might have been able to use on a young NRL prop who can’t get game time with a potential recruit over here added in. We are in a real battle this year and I question whether he’s the sort of player who’s up for a survival campaign. I think the Eddie Battye type players are the ones to get us out of the hole.

It’s all ifs and buts and a risk. I just hope that if he does come over he buys in to what the club needs. Is he playing for the club or his brother?

Who knows, there could be some mileage in this story as my go-to sources are not confirming but nobody is laughing, which is odd.

All the same it would if true be nice to give the club the pleasure of announcing what would be a huge signing without people moaning before any alleged ink has dried on any alleged paper.

The odd thing is how do we get him on the quota, this still puzzles me whether it be AF or any other overseas player or am I missing something. I'm a bit baffled tbh.

Unless he counts as marquee?

Think the plan is to offload Tangata.

Don't know but Andrew does fit within the Marquee criteria as I read it.

God imagine .... Marquee and Wakefield in the same sentence

Marquee has nothing to do with the quota regulations. It just applies to salary cap regs which unless we are anywhere close to the £2million full cap won’t apply to us. So as has been mentioned we need to ship Tangata out before anything can happen.

Ahh I see on the salary cap bit. That's not what I'm hearing regarding Tangata or anyone else, we must have an ace up our sleeve somewhere. This has been constant for a while with CC stating we were looking at the NRL ages ago and others with no mention of letting anyone go. Not saying you're wrong just isn't what I'm hearing. As I say, odd.

visa requirements say that any player must have played 50% of NRL games over the last 2 seasons. Therefore you cant get young NRL props because they either haven't played enough games or if they have, that means that generally they will stay in the NRL!

The Full 80 minutes episode 88 about 21min -17 seconds into the program
YouTube

So how does Lino fit into that?

Ah I see, I suppose there will still be options though at least in the 25+ age bracket. There’s always going players who can’t get in or fall out of favour. There’s the NSW Cup too.

It is odd as the quota rules are pretty tight these days and there are virtually no way round them. That said my mail tells me that Tangata wasn't really wanted by our coach this year but a clause in his contract was activated and (i quote) 'we are stuck with him'. I can see a Horo/Tanginoa situation coming up but for that Tangata would have to agree to leave and he will likely only do that if he has a club to go to and we make up any monetary difference. Horo was ready to retire so that was easier, Adam isn't and he wants to put himself in a position to play for the Cook Islands at the world cup so needs to be playing somewhere. Chuck in an immediate change of coach for Cronulla and a suspention that means AF wouldn't be available til mid-May anyway means there are probably a few hurdles to cross yet, hence the silence.

Recent international appearances also have a bearing and he's represented Samoa in enough games within the desired timescale.

Or 80% of Nrl players that’s come over

games in NSW cup dont count