Karl Oloapu

stevesonthebay said:
But they were relatively unknown and young and we made them into Bulldogs. We have done that a lot (Bulldogs born and bred). Andrew Ryan was from Parra juniors I think. The Smiths brothers, Ennis as well. Barba was from north Qld and so was Thurston. We should have kept Thurston lol.

But just like KO and Woods though Woods is really a local. But we but young outside talent and we develop them so they are still like our juniors in coming through our system and develop the Bulldog mentality. Then mix them with our local talent.
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Andrew Ryan had played 73 1st grade games for Parramatta
Luke Patten had played 13 games for Illawarra & 44 games for St.George-Illawarra. Canterbury was criticised for this purchase & oobviously paid off.
Rod Silva had played 92 games for Eastern Suburbs (Penrith junior) & had repped City 1sts twice + 1993 Dally M fullback of the year.
Darren Smith had represented Combined Brisbane 6 times in 1988 & 89 & brought his brother along with him. I saw him score his 1st 1st grade try V Canberra on the right wing whilst playing 2nd row.
Michael Ennis had played 20 games for Newcastle, 24 for St.George-Illawarra & 42 games for Brisbane + played in a World Club Challenge final in 2007.
Ben Barba was a scouting discovery in Mackay & came to Canterbury in 2007 to play Flegg. (Best wishes to him for 2025 at the Sharks!)
Jonathan Thurston was turned down by every club except Canterbury & St.George-Illawarra because he was too small & too slow. It was the Dragons who made first contact with Thurston through Nathan Brown, but his manager suggested that Canterbury would be a better fit.
 
Alan79 said:
I dare say that those selecting the origin and Australian teams see more than a bomb in his repertoire.

I personally thought his edge was probably more potent in attack until the second half of the season. In my opinion he still needs work on his short kicking game. But his running game is good and he does ok with ball distribution. We're all entitled to our opinio, I dont think n but I think you are a harsh judge.
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Yes he might be valuable as a fill in player for multiple positions in the backs in rep. games
Since that SOO where he was targeted and a couple were put on his chin he went into his shell.
It exposed his weakness so to speak.
I agree with his short kicking game might need improvement. That involves eyeballing the defence, opposed to a long pass fom
the ruck and putting up the bomb.
Might be a long time before he is selected again in a run on rep. side.
I might be a bit harsh, but if he was not a high profile, big money signing and showing his present form I think
there would be many questioning his position in the side.
My two cents worth of an opinion, nothing more.
 
stevesonthebay said:
So you don't reckon its an option at any time. Didn't he play fullback internationally a couple of times. Or was that Kiraz. I know he has played there a few times.

But your right I think his best position is center. His defense and presense is the best in that position. He can be all over the place as he is more or less in the middle and the more he gets the ball the better.
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No he's a better center I still think he should have a licence to roam though from side to side.

I was talking about the rumours of we signed Critta to play fullback was bs.
 
J_Cooper said:
This is such a bizarre one honestly. To pay half a mill just to get him to belmore. Then promote him into the team and gave him a crack. Then going through the whole medical process to fix his neck issue. Surely there must be more to this and they know he'll never be the same again OR we must have another player coming ASAP.
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The genetic condition was unknown when we signed him from the Donkeys. Sometimes you roll the dice and lose.
 
I'd say Gus has some doubts about KO's recovery and is happy to consider what the player wants. It's an unknown, so why not have a look at what's on offer?

But would any club really want to buy him when he's still failing the medical? And I highly doubt we'd try to force him out unless it was at medical retirement stage. Even if he wants to go, I expect he'll stay for now, and only (maybe) go by June 30 if he can get some cup games in by then and impress a QLD team.

I reckon all this is just pure speculation anyway based on his family living in Redcliffe.
 
Psycho Doggie said:
The genetic condition was unknown when we signed him from the Donkeys. Sometimes you roll the dice and lose.
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Unknown to us. If its a genetic, hereditary condition you would think the family or close friends
would have been aware. The sour situation between himself and the Broncos made it easier to transition elsewhere
 
albatross said:
I'd say Gus has some doubts about KO's recovery and is happy to consider what the player wants. It's an unknown, so why not have a look at what's on offer?

But would any club really want to buy him when he's still failing the medical? And I highly doubt we'd try to force him out unless it was at medical retirement stage. Even if he wants to go, I expect he'll stay for now, and only (maybe) go by June 30 if he can get some cup games in by then and impress a QLD team.

I reckon all this is just pure speculation anyway based on his family living in Redcliffe.
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100% the injury his body suffered bad it will not be the same I feel for the kid but it’s time for him to go back to qld if they want him…
 
chisdog said:
Andrew Ryan had played 73 1st grade games for Parramatta
Luke Patten had played 13 games for Illawarra & 44 games for St.George-Illawarra. Canterbury was criticised for this purchase & oobviously paid off.
Rod Silva had played 92 games for Eastern Suburbs (Penrith junior) & had repped City 1sts twice + 1993 Dally M fullback of the year.
Darren Smith had represented Combined Brisbane 6 times in 1988 & 89 & brought his brother along with him. I saw him score his 1st 1st grade try V Canberra on the right wing whilst playing 2nd row.
Michael Ennis had played 20 games for Newcastle, 24 for St.George-Illawarra & 42 games for Brisbane + played in a World Club Challenge final in 2007.
Ben Barba was a scouting discovery in Mackay & came to Canterbury in 2007 to play Flegg. (Best wishes to him for 2025 at the Sharks!)
Jonathan Thurston was turned down by every club except Canterbury & St.George-Illawarra because he was too small & too slow. It was the Dragons who made first contact with Thurston through Nathan Brown, but his manager suggested that Canterbury would be a better fit.
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Wow I didn't know Barba was back in the NRL. Will he get the chance to play again.
 
2ndphase said:
No he's a better center I still think he should have a licence to roam though from side to side.

I was talking about the rumours of we signed Critta to play fullback was bs.
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Ok so why did they say he was signed as fullback. I remeber hearing some news from Belmore that Critta was going to be training at fullback but as he was limited in his training Taaffe filled in.
 
stevesonthebay said:
Ok so why did they say he was signed as fullback. I remeber hearing some news from Belmore that Critta was going to be training at fullback but as he was limited in his training Taaffe filled in.
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They didnt!
Only the media and online fans said he was.
So why isn't he fullback then!?!
 
2ndphase said:
They didnt!
Only the media and online fans said he was.
So why isn't he fullback then!?!
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OK yeah when you consider that Gus and CC have been brilliant in their management and planning so far and getting the right type of players you would think that it would be going against the obvious that Critta was one of the best centers in the game and fullback was an unknown and risky move.

I think they had covered fullback with Taaffe and Tracy. I think they may have pinned their hopes on Taaffe turning out. But Tracy is a quality player and will do well anywhere in the backline.

I think Critta and Xerri could turn out to be a great Bulldogs center pairing like in the past.
 
stevesonthebay said:
But they were relatively unknown and young and we made them into Bulldogs. We have done that a lot (Bulldogs born and bred). Andrew Ryan was from Parra juniors I think. The Smiths brothers, Ennis as well. Barba was from north Qld and so was Thurston. We should have kept Thurston lol.

But just like KO and Woods though Woods is really a local. But we but young outside talent and we develop them so they are still like our juniors in coming through our system and develop the Bulldog mentality. Then mix them with our local talent.
Click to expand...
Rod Silva wasn’t an unknown at the Eastern suburbs,
 
Phalangist said:
Rod Silva wasn’t an unknown at the Eastern suburbs,
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You're not wrong ! Rocket was a wanted man before he left Mt Druitt. Rod used to stay with the family of a mate of mine at Luxford Rd Letho from time to time. At 1 point he had hit a cricket ball through their kitchen window . . . A couple of decades later, on Xmas day, mates and I were singing his praises, rocket this and rocket that and my mates mum walked in the room and said " you tell Rocket he still owes me a 100 bucks for the bloody kitchen window" . . . .pay up Rocket . . . Sandra's gunning for ya ! :tearsofjoy: :tearsofjoy: :tearsofjoy:
 
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Freakzilla said:
Nothing to do with what I said. Wilson doesn't have more X-Factor than JAC.

Also JAC isn't going to lose his speed in the next 2 seasons. He's still 29.
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About to be 30 and you lose alot of your speed when you get to 30 haha

Look at how rabid players are in their early 20's compared to when they hit 30 across all sports.
 
LucasFitzo said:
About to be 30 and you lose alot of your speed when you get to 30 haha

Look at how rabid players are in their early 20's compared to when they hit 30 across all sports.
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There are always exceptions, Usain Bolt won the 100m Olympic gold medal in his 30th year at 9.81, he also won the 200m. Lindford Christie was 32 when he won the Gold in 1992 at 9.96.


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