Mafi signs for Leicester
Leicester Tigers have signed Sitiveni Mafi just days before their opening Premiership match of the season this weekend.
Mafi has signed a long-term deal with the club but is unlikely to feature in their opening game of the season on Sunday. He has been brought in as cover for the injured Geoff Parling but Richard Cockerill insists he could have a big future at the club.
Mafi arrives at a side with huge expectation and pressure before the season has already started. A few pundits in the game have said that these are reasons why Leicester should have gone for a more experienced option.
However, Mafi has many attributes that could see him get on the score sheet when he is given a chance to play by the Tigers. The club will also need to protect him well as he'll be playing in a very physical area of the pitch.
Mafi's attributes
Mafi is a very fast player for a person that plays at lock. He carries the same physical appearance as many other locks but he is just a bit quicker to the ball and this often makes the difference. It will enable him to steal position and set-up a counter attack in no time.
He will be full of ambition and desire to do well. He becomes one of the very few Tongan players to have ever graced the Premiership and at 20-years-old he will be chomping at the bit to make the most of the chance he has been given.
This means he is likely to raise his performance levels and do anything he can to make sure he leaves a lasting impression on any game. Raised performance will become vital late in a game when other players are starting to get tired.
Cokerill said: "He is a quality player and there's no reason why he can't do exceptionally well. You look at him and he is not the typical rugby athlete you would probably like to see. But his engine, fitness-wise, is as good as you will see, and his ball-carrying, ball-playing and footwork are world class."
Cotton wool
Mafi does not have the typical physical appearance that you would expect with a lock. The club will have to wrap him up in cotton wool because opposition sides will try and force him out of any game early on.
This could result in Mafi picking up one or two injuries over the course of the season but this may just be something that Leicester have to cope with. Any small lock will be targeted because it is seen as a chance to create a gap to score.
The coach added: "The balance with him and Jordan Crane will be really good for us. He has got to fight for his place with Crane, although sometimes they will play six and eight. Reputations count for nothing, they have to earn their spot. We saw that last season and the season before and we will see it this year."
Betting advice
Leicester are the favourites to win the Premiership this season and retain their English crown. Very little will change in the betting market because of this news. It may seem like a bit of a gamble to one or two but Mafi should play well if he is given a chance by Cockerill.
Back the Tigers to win the league and you can also back them to win comfortably in any game. This will allow you to take advantage of each match as it comes but also the long-term potential of the club in different competitions.
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