I agree with all that.
Army Dave reminds me of Semi. He was very raw when he came but had all the attributes to be really good.
When he had Solomon's and Domic with him he developed into quite a weapon.

Get your point but Semi was a fair few rungs up from this lad, in fact by today’s standards he’d be almost marquee. He had played 16 times for Melbourne Storm when he joined us and had played RL most of his life. This lad is super raw and a fair bit older than semi was.

Savatabua is probably a better example?

Fair point.
Semi was very raw though. It surprises me looking back that he played for the Storm

He was another natural athlete who became a rugby player.

I think what was always underestimated about Semi was how awful he was to play against. He was a big lad and all elbows and knees. You were pretty much guaranteed to get hurt every time he carried the ball against you.

I think from what very limited stuff I have seen of him Dave is more compact and powerful. One thing that I think sets Dave apart from all the other wingers currently at the club is his speed off the mark.

We have some quick wingers no doubt, but I don't think there will be any quicker than him over 20/30m.

I don't claim to understand RU or its positioning but in his highlights video on Youtube, he's certainly on the wing in some games but on others, he is as far as I can see in the centres. As I say I don't claim to know anything about Union but in some games, he's clearly got two men outside him, one I assume is the FB? but the other looks and acts like a winger. No RL winger would be so far in field in general play IMO.

What I suppose I'm saying is that in Union he may well be a winger but he doesn't half look like a centre in RL terms, he can certainly draw his man and release a great pass but as I say I don't know.

He could still be on the wing from your description but outside centre isn't a million miles away from being a winger anyway so if the quality in the team is reduced he could have moved inside.
He has to start on the wing in rugby league and see where he goes in training.

Either way it can't be a bad thing.
The fact he's been through the forces implies he's resilient and physically fit, which will certainly be a bonus in our back line.

Wing and centre traditionally seem to be the two best cross over positions between the codes. What I'm wondering is that despite being primarily a winger in Union he was used as a centre a lot of the time. If so I think he could in time find his way into the centres as Bill did. That is the huge bonus of a reserve comp, that's the place to find out.

He’s definitely playing centre in some of the highlights. He is wearing 13 I seem to remember which is the outside centre who tends to be the pacey centre with the inside centre 12 being the one to get you over the gain line.

Edit just rewatched his highlights.

He is playing inside centre generally the crash ball gain line centre.

He also wears 11 and 14 suggesting he is comfortable on both the left and right edges.

Yep he definitely is and quite well. I know it’s only second string Union but he looks like he could play centre. In truth he will have a learning curve weather he goes for wing or centre, centres are currently rarer than wingers, I know where I’d concentrate our efforts.

on Davetanivalu, in the boxing day game and in the RU highlights... he looked suited to the greater involvement required from a League three-quarter.

For his first "proper' game of RL he seemed keen and willing to get involved... and in the highlights his involvement in set plays and crash balls highlighted a potential for league. I am no coach (well actually that's a lie as I am a qualified coach) but I like the look of him.


and he seems a nice guy!

If anyone is on LinkedIn follow Thomas Minns.

His post puts a very interesting and honest slant on his rugby career and issues he has had.

Very interesting indeed... especially as he seems to think he plays for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats

Will we ever get rid of that

Copy and pasted from LinkedIn -

I want to share a little bit about my journey. I am a professional Rugby Player.

2017 age 22 I lost my Mother through addiction. I battled with manic depression.

2018 I lost my Professional and promising Rugby career through addiction. I got diagnosed with Childhood PTSD, Depression and Anxiety.

2019 I lost my Grandfather who raised me from 6 years old with my Grandmother.

2020 I lost my Grandmother who was the closest thing I had to a mother.

2021 I played Rugby in the 2nd Division for the first time in 1065 days.

Now age 27 in 2022 I have recently signed a Professional contract with Wakefield Trinity! Back at the top level of the Sport I play.

Don't ever give up. No matter how tough life is there is always hope to get better. Mental Health is no joke! The best thing I ever did was go and seek help.

To anyone out there who is thinking of giving up please, please go and seek help. I look back now and I'm so grateful for the lessons life has taught me.

The most important thing for me on this is I stopped the Cycle and hopefully my children will grow up and have the best possible chance at life. Unfortunately my Mum never got the chance to do that and her pain just got passed on to her Children. In 2017 I couldn't see the next day never mind where I am now.

Everyday I wake up and count my blessings. I have a lovely Fiancée who stood by me through thick and thin and 3 beautiful children who I love dearly.

We are all human and we handle things differently, some better than others.....just remember asking for help isn't a sign of weakness it's a sign of strength.

I now have a business called MinnsMind where I go into Schools/Workplaces etc and raise awareness on Mental Health. I have done around 25 talks mainly in highschools to try and break the stigma around Mental health. The feedback from the students and staff is unbelievable. My aim is to get this story out there and help as many people as I can!

Good for him. That's a tough story and I hope he can make it a happier ending with us.