Sitaleki Timani

[Joe Blow]

At 6"10 I reckon he should specialise at Lock.

Most likely.
He looks to have a good skill set and could probably play anywhere in the back 5.
The RWC may be too soon for him in the Wallaby squad in which case he will be lost to Tonga.
It's hard to see Robbie Deans selecting him ahead of Vickerman and his established Wallaby locks right now.

 

[Skippy]

Well if I was Timani, I'd be tempted to give this WC a miss (assuming he is not selected) and stick with the Waratahs, commit to Australia, get an ARU contract, focus on playing for Aus especially with the British Lions in 2 years time and get maybe two World Cups in. Out of all the locks Vickerman and Sharpe won't be around for the next WC so that would leave Horwill with Wykes/Timani/Simmons and Pyle in the mix. Or play for Tonga, earn bugger all for it, have to move overseas....
Yes the lure of playing in a WC this year might be hard to turn down but in the context of the next 8 years of his career... I think he'd be foolish to make a short term decision over a long term potential career that could be very succesful, financially lucrative etc.

 

[International Badboy]

exactly what i was thinking, hope someone tells the kid to think long term, then again ARU have to do the right thing by him and let him know where he stands

 

[Ruggo]

From a strategic standpoint he is valuable to Australian Rugby. Big unit with youth on his side that plays THL. From a personal stand point he should play for Tonga. Horwill has quite a few years ahead of him and Timani will only serve as his replacement. It is clear that Simmons is being groomed as Sharpe's replacement and he and Horwill will most likely pack down for the Wallabies for quite a few years to come. The other factor is Kane Douglas. He has the second year syndrome wobbles at the moment but the does not mean he is not a long term prospect and a big contender for Wallaby honours in the future.

Absolute credit to Tamani that we are having this conversation.

 

[Joe Mac]

Controversial but personally I would take him as our 4th lock in the squad. Sharpe, Horwill, Simmonds & Timani... His size and physicality (and newly acquired ball skills) are too hard to ignore.

Realistically, they should put him in the extended squad so that he realises that he has a future here and doesn't do something crazy like playing for Tonga this year...

With one more year at the Tah's he will be our version of Courtney Lawes... Just in time for the Lions tour.

 

[Moses]

Has he signed with the Tahs for next year? I thought he was off somewhere...

 

[Blue]

Has he signed with the Tahs for next year? I thought he was off somewhere...

I heard to comms saying he is off to Japan but comes back in March in time for Super X.

 

[Gagger]

Has an amazing work rate and athleticism for a guy that tall. Where Douglas looks like a tall guy running (dorky legs), Timani seems totally in proportion and is fast.

Is he a jumping option though? Don't remember the tahs using him much

 

[Cutter]

He plays a different game to any of our other locks. Much more brutal and imposing. It's been a long time since we had a lock like that. It's a pity he qualifies for Tonga but, I'm sure, that is where his heart is. I hope he plays for Tonga, has a successful overseas career and sets himself and his family up for life. Good luck to him.

Interestingly, if the international transfer system that is being discussed were in place, the ARU (I assume) would earn some money from his departure to Japan. Perhaps someone (again) is reading G&GR as we've suggested that previously.

 

[Jets]

I hope he plays for Tonga and has a long career for them. He is just the sort of player they could use in their pack. It would also mean that he can play in France and not be counted as a foreigner so becomes a lot more valuable to the clubs there.

I hear that he is off to Japan so it doesn't look like he sees Australia as his future.

 

[DPK]

Didn't we learn from the last time one of our locks got injured? Remember Dean Mumm starting in a test match? I'd like to see this stop happening.

 

[topo]

Pretty sure he's committed to Tonga for the RWC.
His form this year is no accident, he trained the house down in the pre season. And he's got a "little" brother, Lopeti, who plays a similar type of game and is about the same size. He's been playing no 8 for Southern Districts in the Shute Shield and looks pretty good on the odd occasion that I've seen him play. Has trouble with his hands, but so did Sita earlier in the year and he seems to have overcome those problems.
Sita is a good guy and a hard worker who seems to have found the game to match that monstrous frame. The Brumbie's and Force's loss was the tahs gain. I hope we get him back next year.

 

[Scarfman]

That's the weird thing topo - Timani's hands were terrible the last couple of years. What happened? And the rest of his game has transformed as well. At the Brumbies, all he was good for was run runs at the ball where he would drop it cold. All credit - the biggest improver of 2011, no doubt.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I'd certainly like to see him back in sky blue next season if possible. I'll also be interested to see what he decides to do with his international career, because I reckon he could have a good one in front of him.

 

[Viking]

Its a real shame if doesn't play super rugby again or attempt to get into the wallabies. If he had another season to prove himself im sure he would be be high contention for a spot. Maybe we should post-pone the RWC for one year?

 

[topo]

That's the weird thing topo - Timani's hands were terrible the last couple of years. What happened? And the rest of his game has transformed as well. At the Brumbies, all he was good for was run runs at the ball where he would drop it cold. All credit - the biggest improver of 2011, no doubt.

Foley showed a bit of faith in him by picking him for the first game and he got his confidence.

 

[Bruwheresmycar]

Did this guy used to play for the Force? If he is the guy, he is very talented. I'm not sure what he should do. He is a long term option for the Wallabies, but if he is going to Japan next year? He should look seriously at Tonga as his national team.

 

[qwerty51]

Yes Force then Brumbies

 

[The Mayor of Perth]

Did this guy used to play for the Force? If he is the guy, he is very talented. I'm not sure what he should do. He is a long term option for the Wallabies, but if he is going to Japan next year? He should look seriously at Tonga as his national team.

See Scarfman post above, he couldn't catch when he was with the Force, didn't seem to improve much with the Brums.

 

[Bruwheresmycar]

Yea, his handling skills are not great. But can go on some storming runs, and is a decent forward to have in your team.