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Sport Nation
Top four front rowers for the Perth Bears to target
Sam Kosack • June 22nd, 2025 5:56 pm
Justin Horo has identified Titans’ captain Tino Fa’asumaleaui as the number one front rower for the Perth Bears to target when they enter the competition in 2027.
Fa’asumaleaui had another standout performance in Origin Game II after a strong start to the season for the struggling Titans.
Under the pretense that all players are available and money isn’t an issue, Horo and SEN 1170 Afternoon host Jimmy Smith have ranked their top front row targets.
“My rankings would be changed if it was for the Perth team because then age becomes a factor as well,” Horo stated on Sunday NRL Crunch Time.
“My number one becomes Tino (Fa’asumaleaui)... because Joseph Tapine and Tino tick pretty much every box that I see with leadership.
“Start off with leadership, what they do off the field, the way they present themselves, on the field, the way they communicate before and after games. I always love what they say
“I don't really see that at that level with Payne (Haas) and Addin Fonua-Blake, not to say I don't think they've got that in their game.
“Now you start going to the stats, and Addin Fonua-Blake and Payne Haas dwarf all the rest of them… but then Joseph Tapine can also chip in offensively with 20 carries and 250 m if you ask them to.
“If you are gonna ask all the front rowers to shoot out a line and bash someone, Fish (James Fisher-Harris) then takes the lead in that category… but Tapine and Tino can do that as well.
“So in terms of the full package, and also big ticks being their captains over the last couple of years as well, I lean towards Joseph Tapine… (he) would be my pick to win a game tomorrow.”
SEN 1170 Afternoon host Jimmy Smith had a Broncos' enforcer as his number one and surprise selection in his top four.
“I’ve got, number one, Payne Haas,” Smith said.
“He's 25 and everything we hear about him coming out of the Broncos… he's a strong leader, he's incredibly mentally strong and people follow him.
“Number two is Tino (Fa’asumaleaui)... number three is Keaon Koloamatangi.
“The reason Joseph (Tapine) is four, Addin (Fonua-Blake) is five, and James (Fisher-Harris) is six is age and how much I'm gonna get out of them at the Perth Bears.”
Koloamatangi has enjoyed a resurgence since moving from an edge to the middle, a move that earned him a call-up to the Blues extended squad.
Horo wasn’t so sure on the Koloamatangi pick.
“I like the Keaon shout, he's further down the list but what's he done in the last month… he's climbing that ladder.
“For me, he hasn't played enough time at that position and dominated at that position over the past 24 months, like the other five.”
