Egan Butcher

[theGman]

Fotuaika is under contract until the end of 2022.

I also think next season will be very interesting in terms of his value, stocky power running forwards seems to be less effective this year.

Fotuaika's got a good motor for his physique. Quite often this afternoon vs the Merge he was carrying defenders with him and getting up for a quick play the ball.

Aside from how he performs on the field i like his story - his determination to proudly represent his family in upholding the memory of his late brother Mosese, who in 2013 tragically took his life just short of debuting for the Wests Tigers.
I recall on debut in 2018 a commentator mentioning how committed he was to the cause that despite living about an hour or so from Keebra Park High each morning he'd rise at 4.30am to fulfil his scholarship.

[Rooster_6]

Fotuaika's got a good motor for his physique. Quite often this afternoon vs the Merge he was carrying defenders with him and getting up for a quick play the ball.

Aside from how he performs on the field i like his story - his determination to proudly represent his family in upholding the memory of his late brother Mosese, who in 2013 tragically took his life just short of debuting for the Wests Tigers.
I recall on debut in 2018 a commentator mentioning how committed he was to the cause that despite living about an hour or so from Keebra Park High each morning he'd rise at 4.30am to fulfil his scholarship.

Don’t get me wrong, I think he’s a great player. I’ve been waxing lyrical about Tonga’s potential middle third of SST, Fonua-Blake, Taumalolo and Fotuaika since he burst onto the scene. Shame we never saw it and likely never will now.

I just think the game has shifted and where these guys add value is in their ability to make post contact metres, disrupt the defensive line and earn a quick play the ball which 24 months ago was such a rare and valuable asset. Earning that kind of momentum in attack now comes far more easily and differently, it’s around leg speed, mobility and ball playing. That’s not to say they have no value, just that their value is not what it once was and paying market value for that talent right now would be a mistake IMO.

In saying that with every change comes adjustment and I think it will be interesting to see what the game looks like next year after coaches and players have had a full off-season to go away and adjust.