Some of the best coaches going around say it can kill a kids career. The best development coaches bring kids in slowly over a few seasons. Yes...there are exceptions to every rule where you get that one in a million talent, but we aren't basing this discussion on outliers are we?
I don't think being ready is subjective at all. You train, you learn and you get tested to standards that emulate the conditions you'll be playing in. Then your physical and emotional characteristics play a part. The list goes on...
There is already. Take a look at our current squad - I can count 13 players that would be on the minimum $120k per season or very close to. How many more are you looking to include before you look to recruit from outside?
You can't compare Penrith's junior pathways, which has been nurtured for 10-15 years to get to this point with ours that has been neglected over the same period and is only now a major focus. Things don't happen overnight.
Melbourne are not stacked with rookies playing NRL week in, week out.
Who said anything about recruiting like the Roosters? I'm talking about plugging holes in the positions that we have no talent in and judiciously buying quality. Not recruiting a team of superstars at whatever cost.
We ARE focusing on junior development. The ones that were talented enough to get a game or two were promoted already (Dias, Matamua, Kautoga, Pole, Freebairn).
One of them showed more promise than the others by far (Pole). Next season, those same juniors except for Pole will be in and out of first grade to cover for injuries while they serve their apprenticeship. It will be 1-2 years before they are playing regular first grade let alone being first picked. Most probably won't even make it as regular first graders.
We already have 13 players I can count on around minimum wage...we don't need MORE cheapies...we need to get rid of deadwood and invest that cap money in better players while our junior pathways have time to build.
Yes. These guys were bad...Don't forget Matulino.
Ivan was a muppet...he was looking for quick wins and killed us in the process. How those players got the money they did is beyond most in rugby league.
It seems the club is being more conservative in their recruitment approach now. I mean we got IP for $600K and AK for $700K - good deals if you ask me and in positions where we need it most. More astute purchases like this and paying overs for a few key players and it all balances out anyway.
Maybe we just see the world differently...