Karl Oloapu

Gus's responses seem plausible.
Although it would have been better if he had used 'recovery' rather than 'injury'. He should know the difference better than anyone.
Would also be better if Gus had addressed the rumour directly. He hasn't actually denied it.
Because if we all know he won't do that if arrangements are still being negotiated. Comments like 'he's being well looked after' are pretty ambiguous.
Guess we will know soon if Oloapu does show up at Dolphins training.
Even if Oloapu does stay, I still reckon Bulldogs need to develop some talent to replace Mann with a similar game. Hayward is on the list but he doesn't has the same physique as Mann. Oloapu is actually bigger than Mann.
 
Especially with JAC gone we're definitely lacking X-Factor to help score tries out of nothing. Oloapu offers a heap of potential there. I hope we keep him for another 12 months at least to see if he can challenge Sexton for the 7 or even make a decent 14. He's only on a low wage at the moment so little risk. Why totally waste the 500K transfer we paid the Broncs plus whatever we paid him last year when he failed to play a game
 
For such a young talent it's fair to say that Karl Oloapu has had a really frantic start to his career. Dispute and sudden departure from the Broncos before his debut and then a dire medical prognosis which halted his development is far from ideal.

For the best outcomes for the player at his age he is best to be back at home getting himself right. We've had enough talent in the rehab centre for the past 5 years....don't need another.
 
yh it's not adding up, either gus is lying or the media are using info from here and making this whole saga up

Well it was Moleman who reported KO was “set” to go to Dolphins, so it was always dubious, and someone here said he’s already moved “back to” Redcliffe. Did he live there before moving to Sydney? Either way, they’re either bullshitting or Gus is being coy. Actually it’s pretty much lying by omission, saying he is still working on his recovery, if KO has left. I mean, he could say that even if he’d left, as he would probably be doing the same thing, just in a different location, but the fact he gave no indication that he’s no longer at the club is interesting.
 
Oloapu has already moved back to Redcliffe and will start training with his new club this week.

Quote I was talking about. Iirc this is a known crisis merchant account though.

I hope all the stories are wrong and KO remains in blue and white!
 
The offseason seems to go for evvvvvveeeeer!

I suppose all the horse trading is a distraction, however, just can’t wait for that first trial
 
Last edited:
Fair call....especially w.r.to plateau & needing a change.
Hopefully the change will be good for those players.
I'm just being greedy and concerned that our depth may be tested in lower grades now??

The Flegg list you mentioned all looked like keepers last year.
Be interesting to see how they go in cup in '25.
Sua may even get another crack at NRL...he's exciting.
Be interesting to see how Tia handles cup. I have a sneaking suspicion that after he settles in, he's gonna smash it.
Likewise big Jack up front. He copped a bit of punishment in cup last year, but kept coming back for more. Hell of a motor!
And hopefully Gabrael/Afualo/Tuala can take over from Samrani/Clark/Perrin in the centres.

Dunno what Larry M is doing this year...
 
If rumour is true no doubt KO has had a cruel run with his health, but also fair to say he has manipulated the outcome to suit his agenda. Was always a matter of when, not if he would return to Brisbane.
Didn’t have a lot of options when he chucked his toys out of the cot at the ponies. Was banned from moving to his preferred club, the fins, and most clubs baulked at the transfer fee. He either stood out of the game for a period or came to us.
Disappointing has ended this way but certainly not a surprise.

Well now we know (based on Gus’ tweet) that he may not have left/be leaving, but to your point about KO initially being blocked from joining fins from Bronx, I had forgotten about that. That would make a move there understandable, but also enough info to make up this rumour.

Guess we’ll find out eventually.
 
I hear ya ...& I'm feeling it too.
Papalii, KO, Seve brothers, Samrani, Clark (questionable that we let gun juniors go)??

Ad then there's
Fox, Perham, KK.... ???
Tough to let them go??

then the ones we agree that we should have let go - Knight, Patolo, Poasa, Tetevano -which we have - Hallelujah

Then peace.

Even though I agree generally, I would say with Samrani and Clark at least, I can see the club’s perspective. I haven’t seen enough from them, to say that they’re future NRL players for sure. Samrani had a lot of injuries a few years ago but has had plenty of playing time since, and hasn’t been able to really convince he’s up to NRL standards. Same with Clarke. Has some good qualities but imo isn’t that impressive.

Papali’i may be only slightly more convincing but took some steps backwards last season. He still could become an NRL player, but I can understand the club not valueing him as highly as a few years ago.
 
He got the nod cos he actually played some good games in cup last year...especially in the second half of the year.
But ..I'm happy with your relegation system :blush:

And to think that Perham looked good in cup (yet was still bad defensively) and Clark wasn’t as impressive. Shows how cup form can be deceptive.
 
Gus's responses seem plausible.
Although it would have been better if he had used 'recovery' rather than 'injury'. He should know the difference better than anyone.
Would also be better if Gus had addressed the rumour directly. He hasn't actually denied it.
Because if we all know he won't do that if arrangements are still being negotiated. Comments like 'he's being well looked after' are pretty ambiguous.
Guess we will know soon if Oloapu does show up at Dolphins training.
Even if Oloapu does stay, I still reckon Bulldogs need to develop some talent to replace Mann with a similar game. Hayward is on the list but he doesn't has the same physique as Mann. Oloapu is actually bigger than Mann.

Agreed but re: Gus should have addressed the rumours immediately, the fact is he would either not know or care about such rumours. A lot goes on that the club staff don’t care about. They just go about their business. Speculation is for us nuffies.
 
Agreed but re: Gus should have addressed the rumours immediately, the fact is he would either not know or care about such rumours. A lot goes on that the club staff don’t care about. They just go about their business. Speculation is for us nuffies.

There's numerous things that might be happening behind the scenes. So I understand why Gus might be playing coy. Could really just take one comment to throw a spanner in the works in something in any given negotiation.

For instance the Connor Votano thing where he's potentially speaking to other clubs right now, but according to his loudmouth relatives, he actually has his heart set on being a knight for life at this stage. If you are Connor and trying to get the Knights to offer you decent coin, you'd kick your cousin in the nuts for announcing that you are ultimately 100% loyal and your club of choice can just lowball you because your cousin doesn't like what someone is saying about your loyalty.

So perhaps with KO, we're quite ok with letting him go if we get a player in compensation. But there's still a lot of decisions to be made. Eg, we want a prop/centre/or whatever position we're lacking that's decent and looking like being within a year of being NRL ready otherwise we'll keep KO for now. The dolphins can potentially sound out several players about a move and meanwhile KO isn't required at training as long as he keeps up his running and gym sessions.

But in the interests of not putting heat on KO, Gould is playing his cards close to his chest so KO doesn't have a handful of dopey supporters hitting his socials telling him he's an ungrateful so and so for accepting our aid with rehab then jumping ship when he's healthy. We may or may not make a trade. But the one truth Gould can disclose is that we're supporting KO until things are sorted out.
 
That’s as good a denial as we’ve seen so far.

This is the thing I was talking about. Karl is seen back in Redcliffe, people join the dots and voila, he’s moving to Dolphins. Meanwhile, Gus and club are like, “go spend time around your family and build your fitness”. Just like several other players like RFM, Sutton and BBO who had long term injuries did. Look at Sutton. **** has barely seen the field in 2 years but is still around the club, doing rehab or whatever.

Let’s just hope Karl isn’t like 2 of them and ends up leaving, but he is the best out of all 4 on potential.
 
Lmao at Gus’ response about buying a jersey and having it embroidered fk he’s funny
 
Especially with JAC gone we're definitely lacking X-Factor to help score tries out of nothing. when he failed to play a game
JAC wasnt a player who could score a try out of nothing. And he didnt have much x factor. What he had was speed and a step when hes moving, but hes nothing when he has no service to put him in holes. Sometimes he gets lucky and the balls falls to him with space in front of him, but mostly the service he gets makes use of his speed. He had no work rate. Hes just a finisher, not a starter
 
Whole story could well just be another case of lazy journalism. KO seen at Redcliffe while given permission by the dogs to remain at home undertaking rehab becomes KO requests release to sign with fins.
 
Back
Top