Re: IN 2022 | David Fusitu’a - Expires: 2023 : Tue Oct 19, 2021 1:02 pm  

Mt Smart wrote:

David is a machine at scoring trys, as far as finishers go he is the best at scoring in the corner, there is no one better.

Unfortunately he had some kind of mental health break down at the Warriors, the club were fiercely protective of him, so the story of what happened never came out.

If it relates to his game it is not hard to see why he became a depressed looking player out there. The Warriors got rid of Shaun Johnson, and moved Pita Hiku to the opposite side of the field, any good ball that David had been getting to lead the comp in Trys completely dried up...he became a battering ram for kick returns and you could really see him suffering out there in a slump.

I am really happy he has made a decision to have a clean break from the NRL. The Warriors looked after him for most of this season and did not give up on him, clearly they value the guy as a person.

He is a winger, a great winger.

He can fill in at Centre no problem, but he is not a specialist there, he did not set the world on fire, merely provided a really solid injury cover at Centre for the Warriors.

His junior football was played a fullback.

He has a loping style as you will see in those videos, not the fastest winger around, but if your back line can line him up with the corner post you would put the house of David beating the defender and scoring.

Thanks for the background. really good read that and looking forward to seeing the big man in action.

Re: IN 2022 | David Fusitu’a - Expires: 2023 : Tue Oct 19, 2021 2:55 pm  

Jack Burton wrote:

He reminds me of Hardaker in his running style, deceptively quick and elusive.

He gives us the athletic finisher we've needed out wide for a long time. Hopefully, he is able to do the donkey work and make big metres coming away from our line.

Although from what`s been said he doesn`t like the donkey work coming away from the line.
He does sound like another Ryan Hall type player though which can`t be too bad.

Re: IN 2022 | David Fusitu’a - Expires: 2023 : Tue Oct 19, 2021 4:46 pm  

chapylad wrote:

Although from what`s been said he doesn`t like the donkey work coming away from the line.
He does sound like another Ryan Hall type player though which can`t be too bad.

Think you just contradicted yourself .

Re: IN 2022 | David Fusitu’a - Expires: 2023 : Tue Oct 19, 2021 5:01 pm  

ploinerrhino wrote:

Think you just contradicted yourself .

and it effects his game.

Haha you might be right.
What I was meaning was in reply to Jack Burton who said let`s hope he can take it in from the line and do the hard yards.
However a NZ Warriors fan said he doesn`t like doing that.
But maybe we will get a Ryan Hall type player and will be expected to do all that and finish well 10 metres out.
Don`t think my latest explanation has helped at all mate!

Re: IN 2022 | David Fusitu’a - Expires: 2023 : Tue Oct 19, 2021 8:39 pm  

We’ll have a good kicking game on his side of the field next year, Martin has good pace for a back row and Newman is… Newman. He will certainly need to get his passing game sorted otherwise that’s a heck of a waste of talent outside him.

You’d have to be happy with that set for a RHS combination in a Super League side though.

It’s nice that Leeds can really play both sides too - in fact our right has more strike than our left now.

Re: IN 2022 | David Fusitu’a - Expires: 2023 : Wed Oct 20, 2021 8:31 am  

chapylad wrote:

and it effects his game.

Haha you might be right.
What I was meaning was in reply to Jack Burton who said let`s hope he can take it in from the line and do the hard yards.
However a NZ Warriors fan said he doesn`t like doing that.
But maybe we will get a Ryan Hall type player and will be expected to do all that and finish well 10 metres out.
Don`t think my latest explanation has helped at all mate!

He didn't seem to mind doing his share when that was not the only reason the Warriors were using him. It became more of an issue when it became apparent that the Warriors outside backs were no longer capable of using him as a try scorer, that was when his game slipped.
The Warriors used a formulaic big Winger kick return start to all sets, Ken Maumalo was their other big winger, he is enormous. Those two, Fusitua and Maumalo, would carry the Props work, it has been that way at the Warriors going back a decade through the Vatuvei era...big Winger plays like a prop.

David has twinkle toes, he is a horse that needs to run, he just needs to get back to try scoring, you cannot stop him when he gets on a roll, a happy David is a nightmare to mark in the red zone. Once he locks onto that corner flag it is game over.

Re: IN 2022 | David Fusitu’a - Expires: 2023 : Wed Oct 20, 2021 8:43 am  

Mt Smart wrote:

He didn't seem to mind doing his share when that was not the only reason the Warriors were using him. It became more of an issue when it became apparent that the Warriors outside backs were no longer capable of using him as a try scorer, that was when his game slipped.
The Warriors used a formulaic big Winger kick return start to all sets, Ken Maumalo was their other big winger, he is enormous. Those two, Fusitua and Maumalo, would carry the Props work, it has been that way at the Warriors going back a decade through the Vatuvei era...big Winger plays like a prop.

David has twinkle toes, he is a horse that needs to run, he just needs to get back to try scoring, you cannot stop him when he gets on a roll, a happy David is a nightmare to mark in the red zone. Once he locks onto that corner flag it is game over.

Great great insight

Re: IN 2022 | David Fusitu’a - Expires: 2023 : Wed Oct 20, 2021 9:46 am  

His Tongan appearances seem to be poles apart from his recent Warriors efforts too.
Let us hope that we can keep him happy, seems to be down to managment from the outside looking in

Re: IN 2022 | David Fusitu’a - Expires: 2023 : Wed Oct 20, 2021 1:08 pm  

Big challenge for the coaching staff this year is to get a bit more width and fluency in our game in order that the likes of Fusitua, Handley and Newman can profit. This year we were very much down the middle (Dwyer & Leeming top scorers) and of course this was dictated by the constant injuries to our playmakers, but next year, with upgrades in these positions, we can play a more ambitious brand of football. Looking forward to it.

Re: IN 2022 | David Fusitu’a - Expires: 2023 : Wed Oct 20, 2021 3:58 pm  

It was very rare that our half backs put our centres in a position to draw and pass to our wingers, so it is hard to be too critical of our centres. On most occasions, our centres would be swamped by the time they had received a pass.

I am hoping with new half backs that this will see a big improvement.