RIGHT now, cross code gun Joe Lasagavibau is the hottest footballing commodity in Orange.
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And Orange City coach Steve Hamson is confident it’ll be the Lions who retain the services of the Blowes Clothing Cup’s most exciting player leading into the 2016 season, with Group 10 club Orange Hawks also vying for the signature of the versatile Fijian back.
Hawks were confident of securing Lasagavibau, who played with the two blues from 2011 through to 2014 before linking with City in 2015, in the halves for next season.
But that doesn’t appear the case, not according to Hamson.
“We had our jersey presentation not long ago and he made a point of coming over to me and saying he was playing with us,” Hamson said.
“We’ve been madly running around trying to recruit a few guys to fill a few holes, but his [spot] isn’t one of them. He’s guaranteed us of that.”
The news of Lasagavibau’s retention is a welcome present for Lions fans desperate to atone for 2015’s grand final loss against rivals Emus.
Dubbed Joey Lamborghini thanks to the flashy way he plays the game, Lasagavibau is the X-factor needed to compete in the Blowes Clothing Cup and Hamson said with a couple of new props on their way to Pride Park ahead of the looming season the Lions were readying for a big 2016.
“I think so,” Hamson said, the Lions officially beginning training on Wednesday, January 13.
“We’ve got Logan Brockmann’s mother coming to run fitness for us in the pre-season.
“She offered to do it and I think she runs a fitness program similar to the one the All Blacks use as well. We’ll have a month of touch footy and just getting together as a group in January before getting stuck into it in February.”
Aside from Lasagavibau, the Lions are also set to retain skipper Tatafu Na’aniumotu while inside centre Mesui Lemoto has recovered from the broken hand that forced his withdrawal from the back end of last season.
“We’ll probably only lose Sam Coote,” Hamson added.
“He’s off travelling for the first part of the season and Tom Fisher is gone as well, but we get back Mo Amone who was injured last year.
“A few guys up front will help free Logan Brockmann back into the back row too.”
