PopTart wrote:
No way. Bowden and Atoni are the star props. Even with Vagana the momentum drops when they go off.
I'd put him either as Vagana's partner off the bench or at 13 as he has a bigger engine.
Though to be honest Pitts has been great there.
Nice to have the problem.
Although I agree with you, Vagana came over late and missed all the hard yards done in pre-season. I think he arrived towards the end of January, before the York game, so he's missed about 3 months, this period we've seen him play will be like his pre-season and will be getting up to speed, both individually and with how the team want him to play. Saying all that, from what I've seen from him, he's quick on his feet, and makes great post-contact meters. He's very hard to get down and be dominated in the tackle and more often than not he's not brought down and manages to get a quick play of the ball off the back of that.
Personally, I think out of all the guys we've brought in, there's none that I'm disappointed with, taking into account we've not seen Bain yet. For me, Vagana's ceiling is higher than who we've currently got in the pack, although Uele has had some good games and looks like someone who would do a good job at SL level. Some won't agree, and some will hopefully about my opinion on Vagana. When he's come on at prop, he and Atoni have been the big tackle-busters and you can see the side physically get a lift from their big carries. Look how long it's taken Atoni to hit his stride though and now he seems to be thriving, he isn't the first Aussie to struggle when they first arrive and then find their form. I know people will say that's due to the level we're playing at but to me, he looks so much lighter on his feet, seems to have a bit of a step now that he didn't have before and is generally fitter, plus confidence seems to be oozing from him atm.