#KiwiNRL Braden Uele and Ava Seumanufagai Bolster Cronulla Sharks Forward Pack
#KiwiNRL production line.
Look at Cronulla Sharks' signings for 2018 and you'll see the likes of Josh Dugan and Matt Moylan, look at Australian media's headlines and you'll be filled with hype around these signings as well. The importance of such players can never be slept on, yet Cronulla have an ageing forward pack and require a bit more juice in support of Andrew Fifita, so they called the #KiwiNRL hot-line and picked up a few young bucks.
Ava Seumanufagai hails from Wellington and is a Wainuomata junior, while Braden Uele hails from Auckland (Glenora/Pt Chev) and both have been signed for two-years by Cronulla.
Seumanufagai was signed from Wests Tigers in a move that waltzed in under the radar, with Seumanufagai falling out of favour afterwards. Tigers coach Ivan Cleary opted for more mobile forwards such as Alex Twal and Matt Eisenhuth, meaning Seumanufagai didn't get much of a look in during the back half of the season, plus the Tigers signed Ben Matulino and Russell Packer, so there wasn't much of a future at the Tigers for Seumanufagai.
With Cronulla, Seumanufagai will offer some much-needed size as well as a splash of footwork. The likes of Joseph Paulo and Jayson Bukuya rely more on their footwork and mobility, meaning that after Fifita, Paul Gallen and Matt Prior, there's not a whole lot of oomph coming off their bench. Seumanufagai will have to demand selection on Cronulla's bench, there's definitely a vacant spot there for him and given that the Sharks wanted to sign him, they obviously view him as being capable of contributing from round one.
The Cowboys would have been banking on Uele having a long-term future there after Uele moved up to Townsville from the Roosters to play Under 20s and reserve grade for Mackay Cutters (Uele was scouted by the Chooks). I was excited to see Uele make his NRL debut this season and the prospect of him and Jason Taumalolo playing together had me fizzing, yet I suspect a bigger offer from Cronulla and the Cowboys having a settled middle forward group led to Uele making the move.
1,455 Likes, 25 Comments - Cronulla Sharks FC (@cronullasharks) on Instagram: "One of our new recruits for 2018, Braden Uele! . #UpUpCronulla"
Matt Scott, Scott Bolton, Taumalolo, John Asiata, Coen Hess and Shaun Fensom is a fairly decent crop of middle forwards and the Cowboys have signed Jordan McLean on top of all that. The Cowboys also have Junior Kiwi Emry Pere in their roster as well and he replaces Uele as their #KiwiNRL prospect to keep an eye on.
There's an opportunity for Uele to sneak on to Cronulla's bench next season, possibly early in the season if he plays his cards right. James Segeyaro will likely take a bench spot and I'd have Seumanufagai there as well, meaning two spots up for grabs and Uele, Paulo, Bukuya and Kurt Capewell competing for them.
I don't think it's any coincidence that Cronulla have signed both Seumanufagai and Uele, two lads of similar size and body shapes, giving the Sharks a slightly different vibe to their forward pack. They are both young lads who want opportunities, allowing Cronulla to save some money in signing these two while also getting a big bopper boost. That they are both on two-year deals is also interesting as Gallen's career is likely to finish by then and Paulo and Bukuya have one year left on their deals.
Seumanufagai and Uele bolster Cronulla's forward pack for next season and they are also looking at a chance of establishing a long-term home if they can continue level-up.
Also of note is that Cronulla signed Cruz Topai-Aveai from the Rabbitohs after he was recruited out of Christchurch's 1st XV rugby scene (Shirley Boys' High) by the Bunnies. He was a No.8 in union and was selected in the NZ Secondary Schools squad in 2016 and is a smidge bigger than Uele, plus he's also been signed on a two-year deal. Again, we're seeing a clear trend in the #KiwiNRL forwards Cronulla have signed as they move into a fresh era and look beyond their veteran forwards who won a Premiership.
Hit an ad if you enjoyed the #KiwiNRL yarn. You'll be making a donation and showing your support to the Niche Cache without having to actually do anything. Shout out to you and keep the #KiwiNRL funk alive.
Peace and love 27.