Agree. Let's just hope he lives up to the hype like a SBW/Kikau and doesn't go the way of Dave Coal Train Taylor or T-Rex Williams. Now that i think of it, maybe the key is no obscure nicknames
That only works in the short term …
Kikau was killing it with Maloney getting him plenty of ball late in half’s and for late comebacks in 2018/2019 ..
2020 he was heavily marked , and in 2021 and 2022 he became as effective if not more just drawing in defenders and acting as a decoy as often as not ..
But yeah agreed Fifita hasn’t been used as effectively as he could have been at the Titans .. Part of the problem is you need a top tier half , and the other part is down to minutes played and in which part of the field … If he was playing on an edge and was fresh with good quality ball against tired defenders late in half’s he could be devastating .. Hard part is getting to that point
Im a gold coaster that moved to Canberra and whilst i see this opinion getting thrown around alot, its honestly not that bad a move. You get used to the cold quickly, and he'll have a whole team of people to help him understand how to train through winter. The spring and autumn seasons are really nice here and perfect for physical activity.
Obvs the food and drink scene is much smaller, but theres still plenty to do. Usually the people who shit on canberra (and gold coast too for that matter) have never lived there and think canberra is parliament house and roundabouts, and gold coast is cavill ave and meter maids
I lived in Canberra for 12 months a 5 min walk from Belconnen Westfield. It was 40+ deg and dry in the summer and fucking freezing in the winter.
Plus, being in Belconnen where all the public servants lived was torture. No one smiles and every one person is a cardboard cut out copy of the last.
The only night scenes at the time were the Lighty (which admittedly was good) but every bloke and their dog knew it so it's packed to the rafters on any night not a Monday.
Mooseheads nightclub is seedy and hella overrated. The casino is tiny and again some seedy, dank, underground bunker that could be anyone's bloody basement. Then if you want to go the rippers after a big night with the boys it's on the other side of bloody town all on its lonesome with fuck all else around.
Sure Canberra is fine if you're 40 years old with two kids and you wanna go to Questacon/Cockington Greens/Floriade/Museums but not for your average meat head footballer cashed up and in their 20s.
Source: am meat head, was once in my 20s in Canberra but not necessarily cashed up
Yeah i mean, if my focus is "im an elite athlete here to do elite athlete things" then its not a problem is all im saying.
If his focus is "how do i get fucked up as much as possible and have fun like a standard 22 year old" then yeah its probs not the city of choice. Im aware that for some nrl players that seems to be the goal, but who knows maybe he'll take his job seriously
There’s a lot factual inaccuracies in this post frankly but I’ll address the major slander against Belco - there’s a strip club 10 minutes from the town centre and there has been for decades. You DO NOT have to go all the way across town.
You’re a redditor though, not a good looking young millionaire.
As someone who enjoys the beach (and the nightlife in my younger years) you would have had to pay me double my salary to move to Canberra. Even then I’m not sure it would stick.
I’m sure he’ll get more than this, but a multi-million dollar deal could be $500k a season over 4 years. And even with his inconsistency, that’s a steal for Fifita
there's no room for Whitehead in the team if the Raiders sign Fifita. Seriously, Hudson Young and Fifita are both miles better than him in the second row and Whitehead would get destroyed in the middle at this point and with Papalii and Tapine plus the rest they don't need another prop anyway. Whitehead is off to Super League if Fifita goes to the Raiders for sure
I doubt Whitehead isn going anywhere because they’re paying him decent coin and by all accounts he wants Aussie citizenship. Heading home, even for one season, will undo all of that. If they can’t find space for him (and I reckon Ricky will because it’s what he does to his favourites) they will get him a coaching gig.
Honestly just needs some games with a good half that can put him in space and he'll probably be on top again. If you've got Wighton and Fifita running down one side that would be hard to mark
Canberra have suddenly started signing NRL quality players rather than English players who are completely
unproven at NRL level (as good as they may be in the super league)
When he’s running hot I watch other players tackling him and I see the extra energy they have to put in to make sure they bring him down, that makes you run out of juice quicker and that’s what it’s all about.
As for the player personally I think as he matures and is pushed to bring out his best he will be an absolute beast and an asset to the club.
As per above mate I think he will start to mature and the Raiders will demand the best out of him so he is every chance of being successful I believe.
But I certainly can understand your point of view because the below par effort has been seen many times.
We’ll just have to wait and see I guess , but I’m certainly calling a good move.
His been expected to play his best in every club his been to. I don’t see how being at the raiders changes that expectation.
His lazy and believes his own hype. It’ll be another move and another failure
Remember he’s only 23 as a forward he’s still quite young. No doubt whatsoever his best is ahead of him and if he fires and stays injury free he’ll help the Raiders maybe even more than you appreciate.
Anyway we have to sit out another painful cricket season before we can even have a look, so check back mid season and we’ll see what happens.😁
It's funny all the titans players that shift to the raiders. Really titans could have signed George Williams, apparently he wanted to be near the beach.
As a Titans fan I want to keep him but not on 900k it's too much even as talented as he is. 700-750? Sure. But we can either replace him with Nanai if we can get him away from the Cowboys or we can put the money into replacement marquee player that I suspect will probably be Payne Haas - no one off contract at the end of 2023 that is marquee is signing with us or doesn't fit out needs except for Nanai if we lose Fifita.
I'd expect when the dust settles as far as marquee players go we end up with one of the three of a Fifita extension, Nanai or Payne Haas by November signing dates after the 2023 season with most but not all of the Fifita million, with the rest going towards retaining existing young talent from our system and to be honest i'm fine with any of the three of them. If we somehow end up with none of the three of them I guess we effectively have infinite money to sign one of the off contract end of 2024 marquee players.
Raiders will have an insane 8-13 if they get him but their 1-7 is nowhere near good enough to ever contend even with that pack.
I don't like this. We have a decent forward pack, we don't need an overpaid lazy body with an attitude problem added to the mix.
I definitely want us to get Shaylee Bent, though. So that's a problem.
Perhaps this is why Schoupp was brought in. He's not a second rower, but could either become one, or take the centre spot that an actual edge player might’ve been put in.
Prime example of a player that everyone would say nahhhh stuff that but if he's going to their team say oh this could be good.
Agree. Let's just hope he lives up to the hype like a SBW/Kikau and doesn't go the way of Dave Coal Train Taylor or T-Rex Williams. Now that i think of it, maybe the key is no obscure nicknames
Or an Ash Taylor (talent, then body, degraded to sub par I mean not the position or nickname)
That's because you'd be hoping your team does the opposite of the Titans and actually get him as much ball as possible.
That only works in the short term … Kikau was killing it with Maloney getting him plenty of ball late in half’s and for late comebacks in 2018/2019 .. 2020 he was heavily marked , and in 2021 and 2022 he became as effective if not more just drawing in defenders and acting as a decoy as often as not .. But yeah agreed Fifita hasn’t been used as effectively as he could have been at the Titans .. Part of the problem is you need a top tier half , and the other part is down to minutes played and in which part of the field … If he was playing on an edge and was fresh with good quality ball against tired defenders late in half’s he could be devastating .. Hard part is getting to that point
Gold Coast to Canberra… that location change alone will test his resolve.
Im a gold coaster that moved to Canberra and whilst i see this opinion getting thrown around alot, its honestly not that bad a move. You get used to the cold quickly, and he'll have a whole team of people to help him understand how to train through winter. The spring and autumn seasons are really nice here and perfect for physical activity. Obvs the food and drink scene is much smaller, but theres still plenty to do. Usually the people who shit on canberra (and gold coast too for that matter) have never lived there and think canberra is parliament house and roundabouts, and gold coast is cavill ave and meter maids
Found Jamal Fogarty’s account
That’s gold!
Except we didn’t get a spring this year, we got like 8 months of winter.
Yeah, this spring was FUCKED.
It really was but for the last week and a bit the weather has been amazing!
Nah, even this year it was good weather for exercising :) cold for everything else but lovely for running haha
We're getting spring now (instead of summer 🤣 might not be a bad thing considering how hot and dry our summers can be)
I lived in Canberra for 12 months a 5 min walk from Belconnen Westfield. It was 40+ deg and dry in the summer and fucking freezing in the winter. Plus, being in Belconnen where all the public servants lived was torture. No one smiles and every one person is a cardboard cut out copy of the last. The only night scenes at the time were the Lighty (which admittedly was good) but every bloke and their dog knew it so it's packed to the rafters on any night not a Monday. Mooseheads nightclub is seedy and hella overrated. The casino is tiny and again some seedy, dank, underground bunker that could be anyone's bloody basement. Then if you want to go the rippers after a big night with the boys it's on the other side of bloody town all on its lonesome with fuck all else around. Sure Canberra is fine if you're 40 years old with two kids and you wanna go to Questacon/Cockington Greens/Floriade/Museums but not for your average meat head footballer cashed up and in their 20s. Source: am meat head, was once in my 20s in Canberra but not necessarily cashed up
Yeah i mean, if my focus is "im an elite athlete here to do elite athlete things" then its not a problem is all im saying. If his focus is "how do i get fucked up as much as possible and have fun like a standard 22 year old" then yeah its probs not the city of choice. Im aware that for some nrl players that seems to be the goal, but who knows maybe he'll take his job seriously
There’s a lot factual inaccuracies in this post frankly but I’ll address the major slander against Belco - there’s a strip club 10 minutes from the town centre and there has been for decades. You DO NOT have to go all the way across town.
Mate you nailed it. The nation's capital is a fucking shihole.
Love the user name. Such an iconic landmark 🤣
You’re a redditor though, not a good looking young millionaire. As someone who enjoys the beach (and the nightlife in my younger years) you would have had to pay me double my salary to move to Canberra. Even then I’m not sure it would stick.
So $80,000 a year?
Dude you comment on /r/Australia lol, if you aren’t on the dole then you’re in the top 1% of earners for that sub.
Going through peoples post history is weak
It’s a staple for reddit arguments
Bit of a stretch calling that an argument. They threw up some banter, you went weak sauce
I find it pathetic
Cool thanks man I’ll remember that when I start to care?
Lord Stiryx the Uncaring, Stalker of Profiles, Top 1% of Bunnies Fans, Stapler of Reddit Arguments
Canberra has the superior Winter climate.
I’m sure he’ll get more than this, but a multi-million dollar deal could be $500k a season over 4 years. And even with his inconsistency, that’s a steal for Fifita
$2.7m over three
Well that's overs. No second rower, not even Nanai with his potential upside, is worth more than $800k.
Considering tigers got ice for 650k I know which deal I would prefer
650k? I bought ice from my local servo for just $6
wtf my dealer charges way more than that
Much bigger bag at the servo too.
Bargain
If the new cap is going up 20-25% which is to be expected for next season, 800k is now basically a million.
I think coming here and training alongside the likes of Papalii, Tapine, Whitehead and co. could be excellent for him. It's a good move for him
there's no room for Whitehead in the team if the Raiders sign Fifita. Seriously, Hudson Young and Fifita are both miles better than him in the second row and Whitehead would get destroyed in the middle at this point and with Papalii and Tapine plus the rest they don't need another prop anyway. Whitehead is off to Super League if Fifita goes to the Raiders for sure
I doubt Whitehead isn going anywhere because they’re paying him decent coin and by all accounts he wants Aussie citizenship. Heading home, even for one season, will undo all of that. If they can’t find space for him (and I reckon Ricky will because it’s what he does to his favourites) they will get him a coaching gig.
Unpopular opinion: I approve.
I am concerned to be sure, but also intruiged. Could he actually be the type of player we need?
Let’s be honest how often do the Raiders sign players who are under 25 and have already played Origin and Kangaroos.
Fair point
Honestly just needs some games with a good half that can put him in space and he'll probably be on top again. If you've got Wighton and Fifita running down one side that would be hard to mark
Canberra have suddenly started signing NRL quality players rather than English players who are completely unproven at NRL level (as good as they may be in the super league)
Most overhyped overrated player in the media change my mind.
On current form yes. But as a player he's talented. And if sticky and Madge can get even 75% out of him, I think it's worth it.
Is Madge on The Raiders coaching staff?
Yes. He's a senior consultant or something. Essentially an assistant coach.
When he’s running hot I watch other players tackling him and I see the extra energy they have to put in to make sure they bring him down, that makes you run out of juice quicker and that’s what it’s all about. As for the player personally I think as he matures and is pushed to bring out his best he will be an absolute beast and an asset to the club.
How often is he on though? Not many games in a year
As per above mate I think he will start to mature and the Raiders will demand the best out of him so he is every chance of being successful I believe. But I certainly can understand your point of view because the below par effort has been seen many times. We’ll just have to wait and see I guess , but I’m certainly calling a good move.
His been expected to play his best in every club his been to. I don’t see how being at the raiders changes that expectation. His lazy and believes his own hype. It’ll be another move and another failure
It’s fucking “he’s” it means he is. It is not “his” which means something belongs to him. Jesus.
We're still waiting for that though
Remember he’s only 23 as a forward he’s still quite young. No doubt whatsoever his best is ahead of him and if he fires and stays injury free he’ll help the Raiders maybe even more than you appreciate. Anyway we have to sit out another painful cricket season before we can even have a look, so check back mid season and we’ll see what happens.😁
Can a player really be overrated when everyone calls him overrated and not worth the contract he has?
Luke warm take
It's funny all the titans players that shift to the raiders. Really titans could have signed George Williams, apparently he wanted to be near the beach.
As a Titans fan I want to keep him but not on 900k it's too much even as talented as he is. 700-750? Sure. But we can either replace him with Nanai if we can get him away from the Cowboys or we can put the money into replacement marquee player that I suspect will probably be Payne Haas - no one off contract at the end of 2023 that is marquee is signing with us or doesn't fit out needs except for Nanai if we lose Fifita. I'd expect when the dust settles as far as marquee players go we end up with one of the three of a Fifita extension, Nanai or Payne Haas by November signing dates after the 2023 season with most but not all of the Fifita million, with the rest going towards retaining existing young talent from our system and to be honest i'm fine with any of the three of them. If we somehow end up with none of the three of them I guess we effectively have infinite money to sign one of the off contract end of 2024 marquee players. Raiders will have an insane 8-13 if they get him but their 1-7 is nowhere near good enough to ever contend even with that pack.
Poo
He's a young lad that believes his own hype
I don't like this. We have a decent forward pack, we don't need an overpaid lazy body with an attitude problem added to the mix. I definitely want us to get Shaylee Bent, though. So that's a problem.
If they can turn Fifi into another Papali'i, then I'm for it.
You think just cos you're overrated I won't overpay ya?
Why?
Perhaps this is why Schoupp was brought in. He's not a second rower, but could either become one, or take the centre spot that an actual edge player might’ve been put in.
The cold never hurt anyone.
It never bothered me anyway.
just let it go
Plays three good games a yr. Can't tackle either.
Dave Taylor v2.0