Departing Matt Toomua gets mixed response from Tigers' fans
With one game left of the season, Leicester Tigers today announced that centre Matt Toomua will be leaving the club immediately to return to Australia.
Toomua is set to play for the Rebels, in a bid to boost his hopes of making Michael Cheika’s World Cup squad later this year.
After this news was announced, Leicester fans have given their opinion on Twitter over Toomua’s departure from the club and their verdict on his time with the English giants.
Many fans have wished the 29-year-old the best, thanking him for what he has done over two years. Toomua has been part of the club during one of their most difficult periods in recent history, and has gone above and beyond at times to help the team. The fact that he played as a fullback for the Tigers this season is emblematic of what he did for the team, and some have accused the Tigers of managing him poorly.
Some feel that he will not receive the send off he deserves, with Leicester hosting Bath this weekend, with the threat of relegation no longer looming over the team.
This is what the fans have said:
https://twitter.com/Tigersultras/status/1127928732394696704?s=20
https://twitter.com/julian_haywood/status/1127936928932945920?s=20
https://twitter.com/mabush1986/status/1127935199843631104?s=20
https://twitter.com/HarryGoward/status/1127927708552519680?s=20
https://twitter.com/markduz/status/1127925075611738113?s=20
https://twitter.com/william_morriss/status/1127921926897377280?s=20
https://twitter.com/mabush1986/status/1127934722292748289?s=20
Has Matt Toomua really left us @LeicesterTigers? Don't blame him to be fair but the fans would have like to of said goodbye I think.
— Jake Gilbert (@jakegilbert77) May 13, 2019
However, there are some fans that have been slightly more critical of the Australian. Toomua famously received abuse online from Tigers fans earlier in the season after his performance against Northampton, and while these fans have not been abusive, they have been critical of his performances.
Many feel that Toomua has wanted to leave the club all season, and ever since his departure was announced, his mind has been elsewhere. This is compared to his form last season for the Tigers, where he was a star performer.
These fans do no look like they will miss Toomua next season:
https://twitter.com/BrunoLpez/status/1127890127106314241?s=20
https://twitter.com/KatEasthope/status/1127871416630747137?s=20
Probably more popular than if he stayed- not a fan's favourite
— Jonathan Raimondi (@johnny5raimondi) May 13, 2019
With Leicester’s future in the Premiership secure, there is ultimately nothing for them to play for this weekend. Due to the fact that this is a dead rubber for them, it makes sense that he is given as much time as possible to impress at Melbourne.
While some seem glad to see him go, the majority have appreciated that he was at Leicester during a very difficult time, and do not blame him given the way he was treated by some and the fact that he wants to compete at the World Cup.
Comments on RugbyPass
1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
54 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
54 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
54 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to comments