Hohepa Puru joins the Sharks

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Hohepa Puru joins the Sharks

Post by greeneyed »

Hohepa Puru linked to a family reunion

Hohepa Puru could be set for a family reunion. The Canberra Raiders lock has been linked with a move to the Cronulla Sharks, where his twin brother Niwhai plays. Puru has an option to stay at the Raiders for 2025 but has yet to exercise it.

Read more: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/ ... la-sharks/

His brother has just re-signed with the Sharks... Also confirmed that Taateo has been extended and on supplementary list for 2025.
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Re: Hohepa Puru exploring a move to Cronulla Sharks

Post by Azza »

Predictable given he has barely been given much of a go here. Disappointing as based on Botman's analysis I was predicting him to be a future immortal.
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Re: Hohepa Puru exploring a move to Cronulla Sharks

Post by Billy Walker »

Azza wrote: October 31, 2024, 12:21 pm Predictable given he has barely been given much of a go here. Disappointing as based on Botman's analysis I was predicting him to be a future immortal.
See based off that same analysis I’d suggest he reached immortal status a couple of seasons ago. I really thought he was our answer at 9. All is forgiven Danny!!
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Re: Hohepa Puru exploring a move to Cronulla Sharks

Post by Azza »

Yeah Puru Jones goes ok. EDIT
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Re: Hohepa Puru exploring a move to Cronulla Sharks

Post by Billy Walker »

I’m using that as my new password
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Re: Hohepa Puru exploring a move to Cronulla Sharks

Post by Northern Raider »

Been impressed with what I saw from Puru in NSW Cup and his short cameo in NRL. Shame we didn't get to see more. Thought he was a good option at no14 in our current squad.
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Re: Hohepa Puru exploring a move to Cronulla Sharks

Post by LimeGreenMachine »

It's a shame if he goes , bigger shame that we haven't played him in FG much.
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Re: Hohepa Puru exploring a move to Cronulla Sharks

Post by greeneyed »

LimeGreenMachine wrote: October 31, 2024, 5:44 pm It's a shame if he goes , bigger shame that we haven't played him in FG much.
I’m not sure why the club didn’t ever really test him in first grade. There were multiple opportunities to do so.
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Re: Hohepa Puru exploring a move to Cronulla Sharks

Post by dubby »

A shame really. I thought he deserved a shot at NRL here
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Re: Hohepa Puru exploring a move to Cronulla Sharks

Post by Botman »

greeneyed wrote: October 31, 2024, 6:45 pm
LimeGreenMachine wrote: October 31, 2024, 5:44 pm It's a shame if he goes , bigger shame that we haven't played him in FG much.
I’m not sure why the club didn’t ever really test him in first grade. There were multiple opportunities to do so.
Never made sense, especially given the poor play we got all year in the 13
Hope he stays, dont think he will and frankly dont think he should and hopefully where ever he lands next is a club that is willing to give him the opportunity he earned here and never really got. I think if someone does give him a shot, they'll get themselves a pretty good footy player.
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Re: Hohepa Puru exploring a move to Cronulla Sharks

Post by Seiffert82 »

Good luck to him. While on the smaller end of the scale for a middle forward, he's a talented footballer, and clearly hard working.

His attacking play in the NSW Cup finals series was a bit underwhelming for mine. It will be interesting to see where his career goes from here. He's got the makings of a handy 14, rather than a starting lock, but he might prove me wrong.

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Last edited by Seiffert82 on November 1, 2024, 4:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Hohepa Puru exploring a move to Cronulla Sharks

Post by BJ »

Definitely got some skill. I’m really concerned about his tackling technique and head positioning when making tackles.
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Re: Hohepa Puru exploring a move to Cronulla Sharks

Post by Seiffert82 »

BJ wrote:Definitely got some skill. I’m really concerned about his tackling technique and head positioning when making tackles.
Yeah, that seemed to improve later in the season (not that I watched all the games) but it certainly wasn't great. Definitely a thing with smaller forwards.

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Re: Hohepa Puru exploring a move to Cronulla Sharks

Post by Botman »

On what grounds though?
How many games did he leave with concussion or head knocks? The Knights semi was one... is there another? Does he have a long history of head injuries in NSW Cup i missed?
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Re: Hohepa Puru exploring a move to Cronulla Sharks

Post by LimeGreenMachine »

Looking at the stats he played 27 matches in NSW cup this year , so if he did get a head knock it wasn't likely to be Cat 1.
He also captained the majority of the matches he played.
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Re: Hohepa Puru exploring a move to Cronulla Sharks

Post by Ilanraiders »

greeneyed wrote: October 31, 2024, 6:45 pm
LimeGreenMachine wrote: October 31, 2024, 5:44 pm It's a shame if he goes , bigger shame that we haven't played him in FG much.
I’m not sure why the club didn’t ever really test him in first grade. There were multiple opportunities to do so.

Probably doesn’t bleed green enough… we will be rebuilding rebuilding again n again!!
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Re: Hohepa Puru exploring a move to Cronulla Sharks

Post by BJ »

Botman wrote:On what grounds though?
How many games did he leave with concussion or head knocks? The Knights semi was one... is there another? Does he have a long history of head injuries in NSW Cup i missed?
I don’t know if he had to leave the field with any concussions, but he definitely has some issues with his head positioning in tackles.
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Re: Hohepa Puru exploring a move to Cronulla Sharks

Post by Seiffert82 »

He's not a big body and tackles low against the biggest middles. I'm not sure it's a technique thing, but when he misses tackles or drops off it usually because he's making contact at the hip or thigh. For a smaller bloke he's always at risk of getting his head in the wrong position against players with a bit of footwork.

It will be interesting to see how he goes at the Sharks. I'm not convinced he's quite an NRL starter, but he could prove me wrong. I think people watch Penrith and are just desperate to have a guy with a passing game at 13 these days. Puru has that and can tackle, but he won't ever make big metres.


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Re: Hohepa Puru exploring a move to Cronulla Sharks

Post by Postman Pat »

Seiffert82 wrote:He's not a big body and tackles low against the biggest middles. I'm not sure it's a technique thing, but when he misses tackles or drops off it usually because he's making contact at the hip or thigh. For a smaller bloke he's always at risk of getting his head in the wrong position against players with a bit of footwork.

It will be interesting to see how he goes at the Sharks. I'm not convinced he's quite an NRL starter, but he could prove me wrong. I think people watch Penrith and are just desperate to have a guy with a passing game at 13 these days. Puru has that and can tackle, but he won't ever make big metres.
He made just over 100m on debut in 38mins, so not too bad for a first attempt. I do feel like he left the field in that game for a HIA as well and getting knocked out again the Knights the next week in his second game.
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Re: Hohepa Puru exploring a move to Cronulla Sharks

Post by NoMan »

His running game is his strength and I thought improved a lot this year. He has good footwork and is quick, which is more transferable across grades than if youre relying on strength.

Pretty sure he doesn’t get picked because he misses too many tackles for Ricky. Which isn’t unreasonable if he was consistent.
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Re: Hohepa Puru exploring a move to Cronulla Sharks

Post by Ilanraiders »

Has Smithies ever recorded a line break?
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Re: Hohepa Puru exploring a move to Cronulla Sharks

Post by Battered Savage »

The pack is love to see:

8. Horsburgh
10. Tapine
11. Young
12. Nicholson
13. Puru

15. Hosking
16. Papalii
17. Mooney / Mariota


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Re: Hohepa Puru exploring a move to Cronulla Sharks

Post by NoMan »

Ilanraiders wrote: November 2, 2024, 5:07 pm Has Smithies ever recorded a line break?
Yes, 1 in Superleague in 2023.
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Re: Hohepa Puru exploring a move to Cronulla Sharks

Post by Riaan »

Battered Savage wrote: November 2, 2024, 5:15 pm The pack is love to see:

8. Horsburgh
10. Tapine
11. Young
12. Nicholson
13. Puru

15. Hosking
16. Papalii
17. Mooney / Mariota


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Interesting choice to play him at lock ahead of a SOO rep and an international.
Horse when fit and not on his period is by far our best option at 13.
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Re: Hohepa Puru exploring a move to Cronulla Sharks

Post by BadnMean »

Riaan wrote: November 2, 2024, 6:36 pm
Battered Savage wrote: November 2, 2024, 5:15 pm The pack is love to see:

8. Horsburgh
10. Tapine
11. Young
12. Nicholson
13. Puru

15. Hosking
16. Papalii
17. Mooney / Mariota


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Interesting choice to play him at lock ahead of a SOO rep and an international.
Horse when fit and not on his period is by far our best option at 13.
The idea that Hors can manage as a lock but would be better suited- and the pack better rounded- with Horse bringing his game to prop and a genuine ball playing lock with slightly better mobility is one I think has credibility.

Horse is the best lock out of Smithies, Hors and Elliot or whoever else was played this year. But Puru might be a better option for the pack.

We struggled for width almost all season- stats bear it out. Our attack sputtered. The lack of ball players showed.

Our bench made no impact, in fact usually went backwards. We needed one more punch in the prop bag after Papa/Tarps.

At times we were a bit slow and cumbersome as a pack. Horse as a prop and a mobile lock improves the composition a bit, imo. If it's Smithies, Mooney, Papa out there it's all a bit same same.
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Re: Hohepa Puru exploring a move to Cronulla Sharks

Post by LimeGreenMachine »

Horse has to be in the prop rotation.

We used to play Havili off the bench in that lock/dummy half role.
Perfect way to play Puru.
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Re: Hohepa Puru exploring a move to Cronulla Sharks

Post by Riaan »

BadnMean wrote: November 2, 2024, 9:04 pm
Riaan wrote: November 2, 2024, 6:36 pm
Battered Savage wrote: November 2, 2024, 5:15 pm The pack is love to see:

8. Horsburgh
10. Tapine
11. Young
12. Nicholson
13. Puru

15. Hosking
16. Papalii
17. Mooney / Mariota


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Interesting choice to play him at lock ahead of a SOO rep and an international.
Horse when fit and not on his period is by far our best option at 13.
The idea that Hors can manage as a lock but would be better suited- and the pack better rounded- with Horse bringing his game to prop and a genuine ball playing lock with slightly better mobility is one I think has credibility.

Horse is the best lock out of Smithies, Hors and Elliot or whoever else was played this year. But Puru might be a better option for the pack.

We struggled for width almost all season- stats bear it out. Our attack sputtered. The lack of ball players showed.

Our bench made no impact, in fact usually went backwards. We needed one more punch in the prop bag after Papa/Tarps.

At times we were a bit slow and cumbersome as a pack. Horse as a prop and a mobile lock improves the composition a bit, imo. If it's Smithies, Mooney, Papa out there it's all a bit same same.
Our pack is fine. We suffered a bit with injuries and form from certain players that meant we had to play two rookies, who struggled which is fair enough.

As S82 keeps saying- you don’t need a ball playing lock. It’s nice to have but they are far and few between. Most of them transition from the back line or halves later in their career - Wade Graham, Luke Lewis, I think Yeo started as a centre. Our problem is the spine, we are too weak and inexperienced in nearly all spine positions.
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Re: Hohepa Puru exploring a move to Cronulla Sharks

Post by Finchy »

Well our spine last year was Rapa, Wighton, Fog, Levi. Plenty of experience and we still sucked. This year was Rapa, Strange, Fog, Levi, with Weekes filling in at 1 and 7 for periods. We still sucked.

I don’t think the lack of spine experience is the whole problem, I think our spine quality is a massive issue as well.

Our spine against the likes of players like Edwards, Tedesco, Trbojevic, Luai, Cleary, Munster, Hughes, Grant, etc - we can’t compete.

You need elite spine talent in at least 3/4 spine positions to challenge for a premiership. The 7 needs to be elite.

We simply won’t and can’t win anything until that happens. Which is realistically never, but we live in hope…
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Re: Hohepa Puru exploring a move to Cronulla Sharks

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Re: Hohepa Puru exploring a move to Cronulla Sharks

Post by Kermit »

It’s done 😢

Hohepa Puru joins the Cronulla Sharks

Hohepa Puru, twin brother of talented half/five-eighth Niwhai, has joined the Sharks' full time NRL squad for the 2025 season. With the ability to play lock, hooker or in the halves, the 22-year-old Hohepa played alongside his brother in the Panthers' premiership-winning Jersey Flegg Cup team of 2022, earning man-of-the-match honours in the competition decider.

Puru transferred to the Raiders in 2023, performing strongly in the NSW Cup before making his NRL debut in round 27 of that season, ironically in a match against the Sharks. He would go on to also play a finals series match for Canberra in 2023.

In 2024 he captained the Raiders NSW Cup team which was knocked out in the preliminary final by brother Niwhai's Newtown Jets one game before the Grand Final.

https://www.sharks.com.au/news/2024/11/ ... he-sharks/
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Re: Hohepa Puru exploring a move to Cronulla Sharks

Post by Roger Kenworthy »

Finchy wrote: November 3, 2024, 8:46 am Well our spine last year was Rapa, Wighton, Fog, Levi. Plenty of experience and we still sucked. This year was Rapa, Strange, Fog, Levi, with Weekes filling in at 1 and 7 for periods. We still sucked.

I don’t think the lack of spine experience is the whole problem, I think our spine quality is a massive issue as well.

Our spine against the likes of players like Edwards, Tedesco, Trbojevic, Luai, Cleary, Munster, Hughes, Grant, etc - we can’t compete.

You need elite spine talent in at least 3/4 spine positions to challenge for a premiership. The 7 needs to be elite.

We simply won’t and can’t win anything until that happens. Which is realistically never, but we live in hope…
Yup well said. It isn't as simple as saying you don't need a ball playing lock unfortunately. You need to generate doubt in the defensive line and 9 times out of 10 that is done through your spine. We had our time being an anomaly where Joey, Rapa and Johnny B did a big chunk of that for us, but we still had the second best hooker in the world.

If you are trotting out some combo of Weekes, Levi, Starling, Fogarty and Strange for your spine there just isn't a great balance of ball playing. That line up isn't going to test the premier defences in the NRL.
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Re: Hohepa Puru exploring a move to Cronulla Sharks

Post by Seiffert82 »

Roger Kenworthy wrote:
Finchy wrote: November 3, 2024, 8:46 am Well our spine last year was Rapa, Wighton, Fog, Levi. Plenty of experience and we still sucked. This year was Rapa, Strange, Fog, Levi, with Weekes filling in at 1 and 7 for periods. We still sucked.

I don’t think the lack of spine experience is the whole problem, I think our spine quality is a massive issue as well.

Our spine against the likes of players like Edwards, Tedesco, Trbojevic, Luai, Cleary, Munster, Hughes, Grant, etc - we can’t compete.

You need elite spine talent in at least 3/4 spine positions to challenge for a premiership. The 7 needs to be elite.

We simply won’t and can’t win anything until that happens. Which is realistically never, but we live in hope…
Yup well said. It isn't as simple as saying you don't need a ball playing lock unfortunately. You need to generate doubt in the defensive line and 9 times out of 10 that is done through your spine. We had our time being an anomaly where Joey, Rapa and Johnny B did a big chunk of that for us, but we still had the second best hooker in the world.

If you are trotting out some combo of Weekes, Levi, Starling, Fogarty and Strange for your spine there just isn't a great balance of ball playing. That line up isn't going to test the premier defences in the NRL.
And Puru was the answer to that issue? Seems like a stretch.

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Re: Hohepa Puru joins the Sharks

Post by NoMan »

Best of luck to him. I really hope he makes it as a regular NRL player. I do think he deserved more of a go at the Raiders but it would've been even tougher next year with players like the Myles and Noah Martin also coming into the squad.
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Re: Hohepa Puru exploring a move to Cronulla Sharks

Post by Roger Kenworthy »

Seiffert82 wrote: November 6, 2024, 5:04 pm
Roger Kenworthy wrote:
Finchy wrote: November 3, 2024, 8:46 am Well our spine last year was Rapa, Wighton, Fog, Levi. Plenty of experience and we still sucked. This year was Rapa, Strange, Fog, Levi, with Weekes filling in at 1 and 7 for periods. We still sucked.

I don’t think the lack of spine experience is the whole problem, I think our spine quality is a massive issue as well.

Our spine against the likes of players like Edwards, Tedesco, Trbojevic, Luai, Cleary, Munster, Hughes, Grant, etc - we can’t compete.

You need elite spine talent in at least 3/4 spine positions to challenge for a premiership. The 7 needs to be elite.

We simply won’t and can’t win anything until that happens. Which is realistically never, but we live in hope…
Yup well said. It isn't as simple as saying you don't need a ball playing lock unfortunately. You need to generate doubt in the defensive line and 9 times out of 10 that is done through your spine. We had our time being an anomaly where Joey, Rapa and Johnny B did a big chunk of that for us, but we still had the second best hooker in the world.

If you are trotting out some combo of Weekes, Levi, Starling, Fogarty and Strange for your spine there just isn't a great balance of ball playing. That line up isn't going to test the premier defences in the NRL.
And Puru was the answer to that issue? Seems like a stretch.

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I don't believe so but it would have been good to see him given a shot when it became apparent how one dimensional Smithies is.
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Re: Hohepa Puru joins the Sharks

Post by Botman »

Good career decision
I’ll be rooting for him and hope he gets his opportunity at the sharks
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