Willie Isa 1 year deal : Thu Sep 14, 2023 12:04 pm  

1 year contract for Willie.

Re: Willie Isa 1 year deal : Thu Sep 14, 2023 12:07 pm  

Very strange, is what it is tho.

Re: Willie Isa 1 year deal : Thu Sep 14, 2023 12:07 pm  

It's like watching your mother-in-law drive off a cliff in your brand new car, you're just not sure how to feel about it.

Great guy, loyal, gives 100% - but he's had injuries and he's no spring chicken and we have younger guys coming through.

Re: Willie Isa 1 year deal : Thu Sep 14, 2023 12:15 pm  

Surprised, but if he's on buttons then it sort of makes sense. Even with Walters coming in and the emergence of Nsemba, it's not a position where we have lots of depth.

Re: Willie Isa 1 year deal : Thu Sep 14, 2023 12:19 pm  

I'm going to go against the grain and say I'm happy with it. The injuries are a worry for sure but it's the first season he's been impacted by issues and hopefully it's a one off. When he has played, I think he's been very good actually.

I look at the squad and the second row area looks light in experience (if we're saying it's Nsemba and Walters competing with Faz for a spot). What those two younger lads don't lack though is talent, they have it in bucket loads and you don't want to hold them back. If we went out and signed an out and out starting second rower, who plays long minutes like Faz, you are really limiting the minutes Nsemba and Walters (if we play him there) could get in that position. To keep Isa around allows you an experienced head, who can drop in and out as needed and one who is a leader and sets a fantastic example of what being a professional rugby league player is all about.

The side is still a very young one and to keep Cooper and Isa around for the extra year is something I'm supportive of. I was worried we were heading for a scenario of Liam Farrell being pretty much our only experienced player/leader, so it makes total sense that we've avoided that.

Re: Willie Isa 1 year deal : Thu Sep 14, 2023 12:22 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

I'm going to go against the grain and say I'm happy with it. The injuries are a worry for sure but it's the first season he's been impacted by issues and hopefully it's a one off. When he has played, I think he's been very good actually. I look at the squad and the second row area looks light in experience (if we're saying it's Nsemba and Walters competing with Faz for a spot). What those two younger lads don't lack though is talent, they have it in bucket loads and you don't want to hold them back. If we went out and signed an out and out starting second rower, who plays long minutes like Faz, you are really limiting the minutes Nsemba and Walters (if we play him there) could get in that position. To keep Isa around allows by you an experienced head, who can drop in and out as needed and one who is a leader and sets a fantastic example of what being a professional rugby league player is all about. The side is still a very young one and to keep Cooper and Isa around for the extra year is something I'm supportive of.

Spot on.

Re: Willie Isa 1 year deal : Thu Sep 14, 2023 12:40 pm  

As much as I love Willie Isa as a bloke and I think he was actually having his best season for a long time prior to his injury, I can’t say I am enthused by this at all. He will be 35 next season, coming off quite a big injury and he is also taking up a quota spot which means (to my knowledge) that if Mago also signs a 1 year deal we can’t sign another non federation player as it will be Cust out and Keighran in, unless Isa can get an exemption for being in the country for 12 years similar to what Tommy got? Still think we will be very well set for next season but I did have my hearts set on an experienced big second rower from Oz and the rumours on here about 2/3 signings had got me really excited.

Re: Willie Isa 1 year deal : Thu Sep 14, 2023 12:44 pm  

I’m happy, like others have said experience in the pack and especially the second row. He give 100% he’s a good utility when fit and give 100%. I know he’s had his injuries this year but that game at Warrington at the peak of their season he was great hitting that line tiring out their forwards, he was instrumental to that win

Re: Willie Isa 1 year deal : Thu Sep 14, 2023 12:54 pm  

Odd use of a quota spot

Re: Willie Isa 1 year deal : Thu Sep 14, 2023 12:58 pm  

I think it's the form of Nsemba these past few weeks that confirms it as a good re-signing for me. When he first came in, I thought he did really well but in my mind I thought that he was really raw and would still only see him playing 5-10 games in 2024. This past few weeks has seen him take a number of steps forward, to the point where you could see him being heavily involved in 2024 and a move that jeopardises that could actually hurt us longer term. We cannot risk another Matty Nicholson style exit because a team elsewhere decides to offer him a load of cash and a starting spot. It's a balancing act but one I think we've got right here.