Karl Oloapu

[stevesonthebay]

Add fullback to the list, Dogs have Tracey and Taffe, not elite and no boom young fullbacks that I know off.

That's true. Though from what I have heard Tracy is pretty good at fullback so far. You have to remember the Dogs have never really had an elite fullback. Patten, Silver and Potter were bred by the Dogs and not in the top 5 fullbacks when they made their debuts.

Tracy may lack a bit of speed which would come in handy but he is doing ok so far. He has played a lot of half and 5/8 so he has a good footy head. I don't think he has played as much at fullback. He had a stint at the Sharks and did good but Kennedy was there.

I would see how he goes this season and then make a decision. Its a pity Taaffe hasn't worked out yet. I think he could also do well with some experience and confidence.

But I agree we need to get some young fullbacks. Maybe we can move Critta to fullback in the end as was originallt planned.

 

[Alan79]

Injured Bulldogs Playmaker Karl Oloapu Is eyeing a Return To Junior Club Redcliffe following Talk With The Dolphins

Via Telegraph Sport

By Travis Meyn and Michael Carayannis

Former Broncos prodigy Karl Oloapu has held secret talks with the Dolphins as the injured Bulldogs playmaker fights to save his NRL career amid cryptic posts from Phil Gould.

Oloapu is living with family in Redcliffe and a chance of joining the Dolphins’ reserve grade team this year if he parts ways with Canterbury.

Oloapu, 19, has not played for the Bulldogs since round 16 of the 2023 NRL season due to a career-threatening neck injury.

There were fears Oloapu may be forced into retirement by the injury, which required spinal surgery.

However the former Brisbane schoolboys sensation is fighting to prolong his career.

With no prospect of an immediate return to the NRL, Oloapu has returned to Queensland to continue his rehabilitation in the hope of being fit enough to play the game again.

He is contracted to the Bulldogs until the end of 2026, but there has been speculation Oloapu could be released from his deal by Canterbury.

That would open the door for him to sign with Redcliffe, prompting preliminary talks between the Dolphins and Oloapu’s camp.

Oloapu was one of Queensland’s most promising prospects, signing with the Broncos as a 13-year-old before a major falling out with Brisbane saw him shift to Canterbury.

The Dolphins targeted Oloapu before their 2023 NRL entry, but were blocked by the Broncos, who refused to release him to their Brisbane rivals.

An ugly spat followed, with Oloapu reportedly declaring: “I will never play for Brisbane as long as I live.”

He was eventually granted a release in January, 2023, after the Bulldogs agreed to pay the Broncos an unprecedented transfer fee in the vicinity of $500,000.

Gould rated Oloapu highly and brought him to Belmore on a four-year contract until the end of 2026.

Oloapu made his NRL debut for the Bulldogs in 2023 and showed promising signs in seven games before being sidelined by the neck issue in June that year. He hasn’t played since.

While the Dolphins NRL arm has distanced itself from reports Oloapu was joining them, a reunion with his junior club Redcliffe is a genuine chance.

Bulldogs football chief Gould further fuelled the speculation with a series of posts on X this week.

“Karl Oloapu? Karl is still working on his recovery from injury … Very slow process for Karl unfortunately…,” he responded to one punter.

“Karl is living with his family in Redcliffe … That’s where they live …” Gould wrote to another.

When probed on why a contracted Bulldogs player was living in Queensland, Gould replied: “It makes perfect sense to us … That’s all that counts … Karl is being well looked after …”

There's not even a new rumour in that. It's rehashing the rumours that've been circulating for weeks.

 

[Bulldogsforlife23]

Add fullback to the list, Dogs have Tracey and Taffe, not elite and no boom young fullbacks that I know off.

Only one i can think of is the one we signed recently jai callanghan from roosters

 

[bulldog butch]

That's like 2 in 30 years. Haven't really had many X Factors...

Ewan McGrady was one

 

[Howie B]

That's like 2 in 30 years. Haven't really had many X Factors...

We have had heaps of Y factor players .

As in , Y did we fuckin sign them ?????

 

[Cappuccino]

Scarborough.....A beautiful part of the world.

Scarletcurly mm mmm

 

[Johnnny2233]

Good riddance

 

[CBDog]

My view on our current X factor players;

Kikau, he can pull an amazing play out of nothing, there's no space, no gap in the defence and BOOM he is open space setting up the LHS centre or winger with a deft pass. Then there is his game changing kick chases, puts the fear of god into fullbacks, they know he is coming to get them, every time. Then there is the charge downs, which turn defence into attack in a millisecond.

Burton, with one kick he can change the momentum of the game, be it a 40/20 (at which he is the best in the NRL) or a well place end over end bomb, or the fullback's nightmare floater that no one knows where it's going to land. He turn and average set of 30 metres into 60/70/80 metres many times each game. Land kicks like clockwork on the ~10 metre line which lets our defence stifle and strangle the life out of the opposition.

Crighton, he makes game winning plays regularly, when the game is on the line he steps up, take charge. Be it stifling the other team with his defence (at which he is the best centre in the NRL) or attack, where he plays the whole field, pops up on the left side, up the middle, running an angle or straight down the RHS. Watch the Parramatta game to see his X factor at work, 2 tries, 1 try assist and 2 line breaks. Kicking, left foot right foot it doesn't matter. Crighton can win a game for us single handed.

KIraz, for an honourable mention, the opposition can never slacken off for an instant when he has the ball, he will make them pay for a poor kick chase or a non straight line in defence. Tired defenders are his victims, he's lanky, with flailing arms and legs, very hard to handle and has an unconventional running style that puts defenders into 2 minds, they have no idea WTF he is going to do. His unpredictability is his X factor.

And a prediction for 2025, Xerri, this is his year to show his full potential, he has had X factor since Under 6's. This season is his opportunity to fulfil what should have been his 4 years ago, looking forward to watching it.


Team First

Dont agree with Burton.
Ours and other teams X factor players are normally running with the ball and turning nothing in something.
Putting up an up and under seems to me as a one trick pony.
In Union he would be considered an X factor with those bombs.
The others definitely would qualify.

 

[CrittaMagic69]

X factor is fucking gay

 

[Johnnny2233]

Dont agree with Burton.
Ours and other teams X factor players are normally running with the ball and turning nothing in something.
Putting up an up and under seems to me as a one trick pony.
In Union he would be considered an X factor with those bombs.
The others definitely would qualify.

Burton got us out of a lot of shit last year no one in the league and kick that far yes he could use his torpedos but maybe there is a reason every time he did it we scored but got pulled back for being offside or something last year. This year we are backed with some real strong talent and backups are there we will be lethal in defence and still
Be 1 in defence in the league and I see try’s all over the park!!!!

 

[TwinTurbo]

Dont agree with Burton.
Ours and other teams X factor players are normally running with the ball and turning nothing in something.
Putting up an up and under seems to me as a one trick pony.
In Union he would be considered an X factor with those bombs.
The others definitely would qualify.

So "running" is your only X factor criteria? Interesting.


Team First

 

[Johnnny2233]

So "running" is your only X factor criteria? Interesting.


Team First

I agree with twin turbo all the way

 

[CBDog]

Yeah its nice scenery wise but theres a few snobs that have moved in from outside. Its also getting busier with traffic and you can't move on the waterfront on weekends.

Like Shorncliffe when I first came these areas were relatively undiscovered and they were like secret places you could go and enjoy the views of Morton bay and island. Now you can't move with people and cars.

I like Bribie island and even though its built up a lot theres still places with few people where you can enjoy the wilderness. Of course Morton Island is still undeveloped and hopefully it will stay that way.

When I first visited Scarborough in the early 70s Bribie Island was a go to area.
BBQs on the beach fishing etc. The locals were so friendly.
Only bad experience one night crossing the water by bus on the Hornibrook Bridge during a wild storm.
Young bloke from Sydney not used to have waves crashing onto the bridge.
Is the Scarborough Pub still standing?

 

[2ndphase]

That's true. Though from what I have heard Tracy is pretty good at fullback so far. You have to remember the Dogs have never really had an elite fullback. Patten, Silver and Potter were bred by the Dogs and not in the top 5 fullbacks when they made their debuts.

Tracy may lack a bit of speed which would come in handy but he is doing ok so far. He has played a lot of half and 5/8 so he has a good footy head. I don't think he has played as much at fullback. He had a stint at the Sharks and did good but Kennedy was there.

I would see how he goes this season and then make a decision. Its a pity Taaffe hasn't worked out yet. I think he could also do well with some experience and confidence.

But I agree we need to get some young fullbacks. Maybe we can move Critta to fullback in the end as was originallt planned.

Critta was never playing fullback that was all bs people made that up because of what we were paying him...

 

[CBDog]

So "running" is your only X factor criteria? Interesting.


Team First

Didnt say or intend to give that impression. By running I mean doing that and create more opportunities to outside backs
instead of just shovelling it out, take the line on etc.
I would think a player bought to the Doggies as a 5/8 and on big bucks would have more than a bomb in his repertoire.
Still waiting for him to display some gamebreaking form.
Hoping we see it this year.

 

[Moedogg]

I think they only started using that term with Barba.

 

[TwinTurbo]

Didnt say or intend to give that impression. By running I mean doing that and create more opportunities to outside backs
instead of just shovelling it out, take the line on etc.
I would think a player bought to the Doggies as a 5/8 and on big bucks would have more than a bomb in his repertoire.
Still waiting for him to display some gamebreaking form.
Hoping we see it this year.

That's very narrow criteria you have there for X factor.

Plus you really need to take the time and watch Burton's running game.

In the 5/8's ranking for 2024 Burton was ranked #5.

5. Matt Burton
The Bulldogs man had a great 2023 season but truly came of age (as a half) in 2024.
To say he played a huge part in seeing the Bulldogs turn to Finals footy is putting it very lightly.
His 23 games for his beloved Dogs saw him score nine tries, assist 13, force nine dropouts, provide 12 line-break assists, run for just under 100 metes per game and kicked for over 366 metres per game. Then there was that string of field goals!
Burton has become way more than just someone who tackles hard and can kick the ball to the moon. He has become the perfectly rounded half across the past 12 months.


Team First

 

[Rumdogmillionaire]

That's true. Though from what I have heard Tracy is pretty good at fullback so far. You have to remember the Dogs have never really had an elite fullback. Patten, Silver and Potter were bred by the Dogs and not in the top 5 fullbacks when they made their debuts.

Tracy may lack a bit of speed which would come in handy but he is doing ok so far. He has played a lot of half and 5/8 so he has a good footy head. I don't think he has played as much at fullback. He had a stint at the Sharks and did good but Kennedy was there.

I would see how he goes this season and then make a decision. Its a pity Taaffe hasn't worked out yet. I think he could also do well with some experience and confidence.

But I agree we need to get some young fullbacks. Maybe we can move Critta to fullback in the end as was originallt planned.

Phew - you're a tough marker!
I always thought Tracey was lightning fast.

The main thing I'd like to see him fix as a fullback is his defence.
I think he adds plenty in attack.
For mine ...he is waaaay ahead of Taaffe.

 

[albatross]

That's like 2 in 30 years. Haven't really had many X Factors...

Going back a bit further Ewan McGady was a big x-factor. He was quick and clever but I don't think he even knew what he was doing half the time.

 

[Bulldog1966]

My view on our current X factor players;

Kikau, he can pull an amazing play out of nothing, there's no space, no gap in the defence and BOOM he is open space setting up the LHS centre or winger with a deft pass. Then there is his game changing kick chases, puts the fear of god into fullbacks, they know he is coming to get them, every time. Then there is the charge downs, which turn defence into attack in a millisecond.

Burton, with one kick he can change the momentum of the game, be it a 40/20 (at which he is the best in the NRL) or a well place end over end bomb, or the fullback's nightmare floater that no one knows where it's going to land. He turn and average set of 30 metres into 60/70/80 metres many times each game. Land kicks like clockwork on the ~10 metre line which lets our defence stifle and strangle the life out of the opposition.

Crighton, he makes game winning plays regularly, when the game is on the line he steps up, take charge. Be it stifling the other team with his defence (at which he is the best centre in the NRL) or attack, where he plays the whole field, pops up on the left side, up the middle, running an angle or straight down the RHS. Watch the Parramatta game to see his X factor at work, 2 tries, 1 try assist and 2 line breaks. Kicking, left foot right foot it doesn't matter. Crighton can win a game for us single handed.

KIraz, for an honourable mention, the opposition can never slacken off for an instant when he has the ball, he will make them pay for a poor kick chase or a non straight line in defence. Tired defenders are his victims, he's lanky, with flailing arms and legs, very hard to handle and has an unconventional running style that puts defenders into 2 minds, they have no idea WTF he is going to do. His unpredictability is his X factor.

And a prediction for 2025, Xerri, this is his year to show his full potential, he has had X factor since Under 6's. This season is his opportunity to fulfil what should have been his 4 years ago, looking forward to watching it.


Team First

Geez TT would have thought you of all people would have spelt Critta's name right!
I dislike fans misspelling our players names especially the easier ones for e.g Hayward, for fucks sake it aint hard.