Re: O/T Jonah Lomu : Wed Nov 18, 2015 4:33 pm  

Desperately sad news, tragic and all the more meaningful when a name you grew up with passes. No one should go so early. For those of us of a certain vintage we can always dream of what might have been if Jonah had decided to take a chance with League, I still think Leeds would have been his club of choice. I had no reason to know him, but given his age and links to Leeds it seems all the more poignant. God bless Jonah, thanks for the memories...

Re: O/T Jonah Lomu : Wed Nov 18, 2015 4:51 pm  

Playing Jona Lomu Rugby and hes about 3 times bigger than all the other players, and the commentator just keeps saying "LOMU............LOMU.............LOMU" as you fend everyone off running down the wing. Great memories. Great player!

Re: O/T Jonah Lomu : Wed Nov 18, 2015 5:06 pm  

batleyrhino wrote:

Desperately sad news, tragic and all the more meaningful when a name you grew up with passes. No one should go so early. For those of us of a certain vintage we can always dream of what might have been if Jonah had decided to take a chance with League, I still think Leeds would have been his club of choice. I had no reason to know him, but given his age and links to Leeds it seems all the more poignant. God bless Jonah, thanks for the memories...

If Union had not turned pro around that time, i reckon we more than likely would have got him.

Re: O/T Jonah Lomu : Wed Nov 18, 2015 5:33 pm  

Biff Tannen wrote:

If Union had not turned pro around that time, i reckon we more than likely would have got him.

A friend of mine who was a Wigan director at the time told me that they were trying to sign a player and it would be the biggest signing in Rugby history. A lot of people don't realise that Lomu was actually an RL player as a junior.

A truly amazing athlete and Rugby player
A very sad loss and taken far too young R.I.P.

Re: O/T Jonah Lomu : Wed Nov 18, 2015 7:07 pm  

batleyrhino wrote:

Desperately sad news, tragic and all the more meaningful when a name you grew up with passes. No one should go so early. For those of us of a certain vintage we can always dream of what might have been if Jonah had decided to take a chance with League, I still think Leeds would have been his club of choice. I had no reason to know him, but given his age and links to Leeds it seems all the more poignant. God bless Jonah, thanks for the memories...

Wasn't there some very juicy rumours about us going for lomu and sailor at the same time? Some wing pairing that would have been!

One of only a handful of ru players who could have made it in both codes. A real shame at only 40.

Re: O/T Jonah Lomu : Wed Nov 18, 2015 8:22 pm  

The then Alf Davis at the time was once in conversation with my father , he told him , they thought the had him , a package in place , he stayed up all night awaiting a call from Jonah agent ,
needless to say the call was he had decided to stay in union , what a sight that would have been to see him running down in front of the southstand

Re: O/T Jonah Lomu : Wed Nov 18, 2015 8:32 pm  

Every sport has its legends but he's in a very evils ice club of guys who changed the landscape of their sport. Article on BBC lists Muhammad Ali, Isain Bolt, Tiger Wopds and Michael Jordan as others that did and Lomu deserves to be in their league.

Not only changed RU wingers but would we see the likes of Hall and McGilivery as England's wingers in RL (and what Big Les did at the Bulls) if it wasn't for him?

Re: O/T Jonah Lomu : Thu Nov 19, 2015 4:00 pm  

Very sad. A truly awesome athlete and a tremendous entertainer. I think it could be a long time before we see someone that powerful, fast and balanced playing rugby anywhere. I used to watch a lot of Super Rugby when it started and some of the things he did on the pitch were rediculous.
His career was cut short far too early and now his life.

Re: O/T Jonah Lomu : Thu Nov 19, 2015 7:17 pm  

ThePrinter wrote:

Every sport has its legends but he's in a very evils ice club of guys who changed the landscape of their sport. Article on BBC lists Muhammad Ali, Isain Bolt, Tiger Wopds and Michael Jordan as others that did and Lomu deserves to be in their league.

Not only changed RU wingers but would we see the likes of Hall and McGilivery as England's wingers in RL (and what Big Les did at the Bulls) if it wasn't for him?

You're forgetting one certain Eric Grothe!!

Not to take anything away from Lomu, but he's not the first I remember for his bulk combined with speed steamrolling opponents.

Either way it's a real tragedy for him to pass away so young.

Re: O/T Jonah Lomu : Sat Nov 21, 2015 12:10 am  

nantwichexile wrote:

You're forgetting one certain Eric Grothe!!

Not to take anything away from Lomu, but he's not the first I remember for his bulk combined with speed steamrolling opponents.

Either way it's a real tragedy for him to pass away so young.

How many 6'5, 19 stone wingers have you seen who can run 100m in 10 seconds, with a side step, and a body swerve?