Relax Falcons fans, Sinoti Sinoti ain't going anywhere
Hot-stepping winger Sinoti Sinoti will be thrilling Newcastle Falcons fans beyond the end of this season after the Samoan star agreed a contract extension to remain at Kingston Park Stadium.
The 32-year-old has become a cult hero on Tyneside by virtue of his tackle-busting prowess and trademark evasion, with defenders up and down the land struggling to lay a hand on the man who has made 62 appearances for the Falcons since joining in January 2014.
Scoring three tries in his nine Aviva Premiership appearances this season, Sinoti joins fellow wing icon Vereniki Goneva in agreeing a new contract, with the Pacific Islands pair regarded among the most deadly double acts in the division.
Newcastle Falcons director of rugby Dean Richards laid clear his delight at retaining the services of Sinoti, saying: “He is a player who gets people out of their seats and puts fear into opposition defences.
“Sinoti has a unique skill set which our supporters love watching, he finds space where other people would not be able to and it’s a huge boost to the club that we are able to plan ahead with him as a key weapon in our armoury.”
The former Toulon, Aironi and Wellington winger greeted news of his new contract with similar enthusiasm, saying: “I’m pleased to have got it sorted and that I’ll be staying with the club.
“It wasn’t a decision I took lightly, I spent a lot of time speaking to my wife first and foremost, and my dad back in New Zealand, but staying just felt like the right thing to do.
? Great news for @FalconsRugby fans
? Bad news for people who value their anklesSinoti Sinoti has committed his future to the club with a contract extension.
A cult hero at Kingston Park ?pic.twitter.com/9CthDIZqZx
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) February 22, 2018
“We absolutely love living in Newcastle, we’ve been here almost five years now and the area and the people are just amazing. It’s an easy city to get around, everything is on your doorstep and the Falcons as a club have been great to me. I just couldn’t see myself anywhere else, and from the moment I first landed in Newcastle I genuinely loved the place.
“We’re not the biggest club but there’s a real family feel. We could do with a bit of hot weather but it’s all good, and I’m fluent in Geordie now as well! I totally love the accent, it’s cool, and even if I can’t do it properly I always take the mickey out of the boys by doing my impersonation!”
Playing down his cult status, the modest Samoan international joked: “I came here as a nobody and I’ll probably leave as a nobody.
“We’ve had some tough times but it all comes down to the hard work that the staff are doing, and the determination of everyone here to really build something together. All the boys are buying into it, we had a better season last year and then we’ve built on it by adding a few new guys who are used to winning things. We have a better understanding of how we’re trying to play, what brand we want to implement and the results are starting to come. I’m just stoked to be doing what I love in a place that I love.
“Another thing that played a factor was the fans up here, and I think we’ve got one of the best crowds in the Premiership. Sure, we’re not the biggest, but by God we make a lot of noise. When you’re out there on the field you can really hear it from the stands, and they can see we’re trying to improve. It was definitely a consideration in staying and I can see only good things for this club.
“The competition here on the wings is incredible when you consider the likes of Niki Goneva, Alex Tait, DTH van der Merwe, Adam Radwan, Zach Kibirige, Beli Agulla and all the young guys pushing through.
“It’s pushing all of us, everyone of those guys offers something different and we know that if one of us goes down there’s top quality to step in. Competition is high, and myself and Niki are old mate so we’re just holding on!”
The Falcons travel to Harlequins in Saturday’s Aviva Premiership assignment, Sinoti hopeful of a first league win at the Twickenham Stoop since 2000.
“We’re really backing ourselves to go down there and win, we truly believe we will do it but also that they won’t make it easy for us,” he said.
Comments on RugbyPass
Super rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
24 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
24 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
10 Go to comments