WWOS MOLE Bulldogs sign Sione Katoa from Panthers

Pity Fool

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https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/the-mo...vTHpD-GYDaJEMhONhwa2LsS631lAEV5eDI5MaWQzsDR0U


The Bulldogs have ramped up their recruitment drive for next season by signing promising Penrith hooker Sione Katoa.

With star hooker Apisai Koroisau joining the Panthers for next season, Katoa decided he had no future at the club and the Bulldogs have snapped up the up the 24-year-old.

Hooker has been a major problem for the Bulldogs in recent years, with Michael Lichaa struggling at dummy-half.

Benji Marshall's brother Jeremy Marshall-King, a specialist five-eighth, played well at hooker in the Bulldogs' late-season revival but the club decided it needed an experienced No.9. Katoa, a Tongan international, fits the bill nicely.
Not fussed on the signing, however, the part I’m most excited about is “Lichaa is not expected to be re-signed” Nuff said...
 

Kempsey Dog

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Don't want Katoa the 3 I would look at but only offer short term deal is Joey lussick been Killing it over in super league and still remains un signed for next year Isaac Luke 1 year minimum and the other would be James segyaro Katoa is definitely a shit signing if the club signs him
Yep Lussick has been really good this year. Dunno what he's going to do though as his mate Hastings is leaving for Wigan. Would have been way better signing than Katoa
 

craigo

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Remember when mike said we signed api. Yeah that deal was non existent
 

Gabe

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Why?

Are we not paying enough? At the end of the day money talks
For young players with no NRL experience like Robson in this instance it would primarily be a footballing decision:
- Development opportunities and pathway to NRL game time.

We don't have a coach that players are thinking I can learn and take my game to another level under this block, if anything it is the exact opposite.
 

Tassie Devil

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Look. As an outsider in all of this we do have to ask ourselves a few questions.

When looking at signing a hooker what choice is this guy IF we're actually signing him? I mean, we've pretty much gone to our 4th or 5th choice signing have we not? And he's now 4th choice hooker at the Panthers who stole our 3rd choice signing from us if we believe everything?

Looking at this rationally, he's really down on our pecking order for signings is he not? I'm all for waiting for the right buy, and many times a 2nd or 3rd choice signing turns out better than the 1st choice so let's hope that's true in this case. But I can certainly see why people are concerned ... if this is true.

Now, if it was this Billy guy from Souths then I could be happy but this guy? I don't know. I'm struggling to believe that it's true if I'm honest, and that the Dogs are really trying to cover their tracks after screwing up the Api signing
 

Natboy

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For young players with no NRL experience like Robson in this instance it would primarily be a footballing decision:
- Development opportunities and pathway to NRL game time.

We don't have a coach that players are thinking I can learn and take my game to another level under this block, if anything it is the exact opposite.
You’re guessing mate
 

Natboy

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Look. As an outsider in all of this we do have to ask ourselves a few questions.

When looking at signing a hooker what choice is this guy IF we're actually signing him? I mean, we've pretty much gone to our 4th or 5th choice signing have we not? And he's now 4th choice hooker at the Panthers who stole our 3rd choice signing from us if we believe everything?

Looking at this rationally, he's really down on our pecking order for signings is he not? I'm all for waiting for the right buy, and many times a 2nd or 3rd choice signing turns out better than the 1st choice so let's hope that's true in this case. But I can certainly see why people are concerned ... if this is true.

Now, if it was this Billy guy from Souths then I could be happy but this guy? I don't know. I'm struggling to believe that it's true if I'm honest, and that the Dogs are really trying to cover their tracks after screwing up the Api signing
They didn’t screw up the Api signing.
He was using us to get more money and wanted to follow Barrett anyway. I’m glad we didn’t sign him. Injury prone and a Manly reject
 

GrogDog

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With the lack of anything to crow about at 9 available at the moment I would have thrown 1 year at Luke and given us another year to keep an eye out for a real long term option. Whether that's another year for a player from reggies to progress or wait for someone to come onto the market worth getting. JMK at worst could learn something of him and give ourselves some time. No point in continuing to purchase 3rd or 4th string hookers when that's all we have had since Ennis.
 

Noeasyday

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Interesting ..... and there is a Dubbo connection there as well ...
anyone know how Watson played at hooker towards the end of this season ? I didn’t watch many knights games
I thought he looked pretty good when playing big minutes in the 9.
Solid in defence and sharp in attack. Great acceleration out of dummy half, but still needs to learn the subtleties around the hooking role.
 

The Faz

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We had a top class hooker in Damien Cook and we punted him. So basically we deserve the Katoa signing. You reap what you sow.
 

Natboy

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We had a top class hooker in Damien Cook and we punted him. So basically we deserve the Katoa signing. You reap what you sow.
I hate Des with a passion but we can’t blame him for this one, if true ;)
 

Dingo

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Is this even true? Nothing from club yet.
 

Natboy

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Isn't that suppose to be underwhelming too though? Bugger all highlights on youtube and can't remember noticing him when playing??
I think you need to read the original comment and my response mate.
He was saying we deserve this signing and I’m just saying if true it’s a new signing and not Des.

My mates at Penrith are very happy we are linked to him. I’ll give him a chance and fresh slate if he comes to us
 

COVENS

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Didn't he see no talent in him (Cook) and move him on?
My understanding is Des was the catalyst in turning Cook from a fringe fullback/winger into a hooker. We wanted to retain him but Souths offered more money and a better chance of starting.
 

Blueandwhiteblood1968

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Of all available options we end up with Sione Katoa. That is fucking dreadful.

I'd rather just keep Lichaa for another season.
Lichshit is the worst 9 in the history of league, Lichshit was turned to shit by Hasturd and never regained consciousness, maybe Pay can turn Katoa into Cra-Katoa but any hooker is better then Lichshit.
 

kap123

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I’ll admit, Katoa isn’t the best hooker on the market. But people comparing him to Lichaa is just unfair. Lichaa was given the starting gig in first grade for 3-4 years behind a decent forward pack and couldn’t make anything of it.

Katoa hasn’t set the world alight at Penrith, but he hasn’t really had the opportunity. It is Clearys choice to have him as 3rd/4th choice hooker and you are really splitting hairs between him, Kenny and Egan. Let’s be honest, Clearys opinion is not the be all and end all. He would definitely be regretting letting DWZ go.

Reed Mahoney and the Eels performance on Sunday showed that you don’t necessarily need a hooker like Cook to win games. Yes a running game out of dummy half is great but JMK is developing this quite well. A hooker that can pass quickly and accurately off the deck This will win games and the bulldogs proved that this year with their

If he is on a reasonably low wage, than I back this signing.
 
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