Exodus 2017
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Malakai Fekitoa apparently confirmed off to Toulon.
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Notice on the Toulon website (as translated by me), published earlier today:
Notice from RC Toulon:
At this time, in which more or less far-fetched speculations circulate in the media or on social media networks about the possible signing, or retractions (?), of this or that player with RC Toulon, we wish to remind everyone that it's only through statements of club President Mourad Boudjellal, or this website and our official social media accounts that information about our recruits will be made public.
Until they have been confirmed via these communication channels, they are nothing but rumours.
A word to the wise ... ("A bon entendeur…" is a very specific French expression that's not really easy to translate in an English equivalent; it's basically an expression urging people to listen carefully, because it's important)
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Here it is:
malakaifekitoa: I wanted to let you all know that after a lot of thought I have decided to join Toulon (RCT) at the end of the year. It has been the hardest decision of my life to leave New Zealand, but after looking at all the things that are important to me I feel this is the right time for me personally and for my career. I especially want to thank NZR and the All Blacks, the Highlanders and Auckland Rugby for all your support and development over the years. Most of all I want to thank my team mates for all your support and friendships. Finally to my fans THANK YOU, its been a hell of a ride. I'm blessed and thankful to play this game. Doesn't matter where I go to work. We still have a lot more to do. I hope to return one day with more experience and success. MF13 -
Wow didn't see that coming. Not even the slightest rumour these last few weeks.
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Honestly I don't see much of a loss to the AB's. Its more a loss to the Highlanders.
Fekitoa is a not an improviser or a creator. He's quick and has an ok pass. Kick is passable when he has to. IMO he has lost the ability to beat a man, well at least as well as he could when he initially made the ABs. He's never improved on his ability to link up in broken play and often when a swift pass is needed his "catch and pass" is too laboured and the pay breaks down, usually with him dying with the ball.
I don't think we were veer his end game either. Players who truly want to be ABs, great ABs, don't head off as soon as they miss selection for the first time. They go back to the shed and work. I think Fekitoa is a low key James O'Connor. He is more about his brand, social media and "feels" than he is his about playing for the ABs.
Good luck to him I wish him the best. Honestly, he did the jersey no shame and he helped defend a WC. But he's just a footnote now we will soon forget.
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Honestly I don't see much of a loss to the AB's. Its more a loss to the Highlanders.
Fekitoa is a not an improviser or a creator. He's quick and has an ok pass. Kick is passable when he has to. IMO he has lost the ability to beat a man, well at least as well as he could when he initially made the ABs. He's never improved on his ability to link up in broken play and often when a swift pass is needed his "catch and pass" is too laboured and the pay breaks down, usually with him dying with the ball.
I don't think we were veer his end game either. Players who truly want to be ABs, great ABs, don't head off as soon as they miss selection for the first time. They go back to the shed and work. I think Fekitoa is a low key James O'Connor. He is more about his brand, social media and "feels" than he is his about playing for the ABs.
Good luck to him I wish him the best. Honestly, he did the jersey no shame and he helped defend a WC. But he's just a footnote now we will soon forget.
@raznomore said in Exodus 2017:
Honestly I don't see much of a loss to the AB's. Its more a loss to the Highlanders.
Fekitoa is a not an improviser or a creator. He's quick and has an ok pass. Kick is passable when he has to. IMO he has lost the ability to beat a man, well at least as well as he could when he initially made the ABs.
I don't think we were veer his end game either. Players who truly want to be ABs, great ABs, don't head off as soon as they miss selection for the first time. They go back to the shed and work. I think Fekitoa is a low key James O'Connor. He is more about his brand, social media and "feels" than he is his about playing for the ABs.
Good luck to him I wish him the best. Honestly, he did the jersey no shame and he helped defend a WC. But he's just a footnote now we will soon forget.
Nailed it.
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I think he will regret this move. In NZ we try and improve players. In Toulon they pay big money and they want a return on that investment. I don't think they signed Fekitua to progressively improve his game.
No major loss to the ABs there are better options with more long term potential.
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moderate loss to the ABs, big loss to NZ Rugby
Guy has shown what can come from a change of attitude and hard work, and this is the kind of guy we want around our younger MItre 10 Cup & Super players.
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moderate loss to the ABs, big loss to NZ Rugby
Guy has shown what can come from a change of attitude and hard work, and this is the kind of guy we want around our younger MItre 10 Cup & Super players.
@taniwharugby said in Exodus 2017:
moderate loss to the ABs, big loss to NZ Rugby
Guy has shown what can come from a change of attitude and hard work, and this is the kind of guy we want around our younger MItre 10 Cup & Super players.
Yes and no.
Unlike Israel Dagg, who improved his game and got back in the ABs, Fekitoa has moved off-shore at the first hurdle.
I do admire the way he got to where he is in the first place though, via scholarship, move to Highlanders etc.
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@taniwharugby said in Exodus 2017:
moderate loss to the ABs, big loss to NZ Rugby
Guy has shown what can come from a change of attitude and hard work, and this is the kind of guy we want around our younger MItre 10 Cup & Super players.
Yes and no.
Unlike Israel Dagg, who improved his game and got back in the ABs, Fekitoa has moved off-shore at the first hurdle.
I do admire the way he got to where he is in the first place though, via scholarship, move to Highlanders etc.
@Billy-Tell losing players of his calibre is a big loss to Super rugby and MItre 10, and therefore NZ Rugby.
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I think he will regret this move. In NZ we try and improve players. In Toulon they pay big money and they want a return on that investment. I don't think they signed Fekitua to progressively improve his game.
No major loss to the ABs there are better options with more long term potential.
@Billy-Tell said in Exodus 2017:
I think he will regret this move. In NZ we try and improve players. In Toulon they pay big money and they want a return on that investment. I don't think they signed Fekitua to progressively improve his game.
No major loss to the ABs there are better options with more long term potential.
Your first and last comments there are a bit contradictory. The only way you make decent money in rugby in NZ is by first being on an AB contract, then getting regular starting match payments, then becoming a first choice player that can negotiate a decent base salary.
Fekitoa knows he is unlikely to be more than a squad player and has proved a high enough level of quality that he can command decent money overseas. He won't regret that .As for the assumption that players that stick around are doing so for the desire to fight for an AB jersey I reckon that is only a tiny part of the decision. Those players are often either aiming to establish higher credentials for an overseas move (after fulfilling a dream of a black jersey) or have a personal life that they enjoy in NZ and don't want to move overseas. eg want to bring their kids up with their grandparents in support, have made good investments in property or business that they are locking in for the long term rather than chasing short term gain.
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Fekitoa has won a RWC and a Super title so the decision was probably easier to make.
And the circumstances for PI players is often quite different as many are expected to contribute to the well-being of the extended family. He'll defintely be earning more at Toulon.
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We could call a spade a spade.
Fekitoa is primarily Tongan.
I would suggest that may have played in role in all of this in the sense that he may have had less natural affinity to NZ.
Would he have chosen NZ if Tonga was the more glamorous/lucrative option?
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We could call a spade a spade.
Fekitoa is primarily Tongan.
I would suggest that may have played in role in all of this in the sense that he may have had less natural affinity to NZ.
Would he have chosen NZ if Tonga was the more glamorous/lucrative option?
@Billy-Tell said in Exodus 2017:
We could call a spade a spade.
Fekitoa is primarily Tongan.
I would suggest that may have played in role in all of this in the sense that he may have had less natural affinity to NZ.
Would he have chosen NZ if Tonga was the more glamorous/lucrative option?
Of course not and he said as much, he is on record as saying he wanted to be an AB as it paid more then Tonga.
Can't fault his honesty.
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Nothing more than a gut feeling but I suspected he was going ,
Might have it wrong , but Seemed to be playing for Nz over his native tonga as a career move rather than a loyalty thing ,
So suspected a high money offer might see him hit the road , particularly with him dropping down the pecking order this year .
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Phil Kearns could suck the life out of a Wiggles concert.
" .... grumble, grumble, I was questioning whether the lineout was straight ....."
After canes score beautiful set piece try from a perfectly straight lineout in which the pin-point long throw was an excellent piece of technical skill that should be celebrated.
