Juniors - Pathways General Discussion

We are putting way to much hype on these KIDS let them get through a hole season of sg ball and fleg before we judge if they’re gonna be in the nrl team next year. I’m guilty of it aswell since our club has had little success lately it’s easy to pin all our hopes on young players who look promising in highlight packages but the reality is there is so much hard work in front of these guys to even get a shot at playing first grade. I’m excited about all the young players at our club but I’m also very realistic about there chances of changing results of our first grade team
 
Brooks doesn't have a contract for 2024. And based on his 2022 form I can't see him getting one
he was also meant to be gone in 2023 and the other bloke was sent packing...
Given he will be on ask the boss segment, I think it might be likely he will get an offer in 2024 at some point this year probably for 24 and 25
 
@ancient_magpie

Yeah, Oliver Lawry is a junior we’ve just signed from NZ.

18-year-old halfback/five-eighth.

He did a few sessions with the NRL side over preseason, so must be highly regarded.

Will play for Balmain SG Ball this year, and most likely Jersey Flegg once the SG Ball season finishes.


Nice video absolute crap music
 
We are putting way to much hype on these KIDS let them get through a hole season of sg ball and fleg before we judge if they’re gonna be in the nrl team next year. I’m guilty of it aswell since our club has had little success lately it’s easy to pin all our hopes on young players who look promising in highlight packages but the reality is there is so much hard work in front of these guys to even get a shot at playing first grade. I’m excited about all the young players at our club but I’m also very realistic about there chances of changing results of our first grade team
I do kind of see what your saying but in reality if you don't make your NRL debut by 19 as a back or before 22 as a forward you are unlikely ever too. So a young guy like Feledy or Lawry who are 18 are much more likely to debut in the next 12 months then a 21/22 year old back who has been promoted to NSW cup is likely to make their nrl debut.

If you look at the current Tigers squad Douehi, Staines, Klemmer, Nofa, Papalili, Simpkin and Simpkins, Joffa, Tupou, Matamua, Kautonga, Brooks, Blore, Toa, Talau all under 20 when they debut and a few more had just turned 20 - Pole, Stef, Kepoa

Only Naden -23 and Will Smith 22 by about a week were older then 21 when they debuted.
 
Exactly.

Anyone who’s been around junior reps for more than five minutes could name you a truckload of champion 16 year olds who, for whatever reason, never kicked on.

I think we'll see a few 18-20 debute with the crop coming through now. Agreed will be more rare than common.

Some of the blokes in the 15s-16s now look very developed.

If development gets better perhaps younger debuts will be more common.
 
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I do kind of see what your saying but in reality if you don't make your NRL debut by 19 as a back or before 22 as a forward you are unlikely ever too. So a young guy like Feledy or Lawry who are 18 are much more likely to debut in the next 12 months then a 21/22 year old back who has been promoted to NSW cup is likely to make their nrl debut.

If you look at the current Tigers squad Douehi, Staines, Klemmer, Nofa, Papalili, Simpkin and Simpkins, Joffa, Tupou, Matamua, Kautonga, Brooks, Blore, Toa, Talau all under 20 when they debut and a few more had just turned 20 - Pole, Stef, Kepoa

Only Naden -23 and Will Smith 22 by about a week were older then 21 when they debuted.
This all depends on the success of the the first grade side but you do make a good point

these kids might get a debut but there not gonna be solid week to week first graders at the age of 19 or 20.

I prefer the Melbourne system you never see them bring in kids that are to young or not ready for first grade they let them develop into consistent rugby league players in the qld cup then once they earn there debut they are far more ready for it. In order to do this your first grade team has to be doing well in order for this system to work or your kids will just leave for a better club they have to see they will be successful once they receive there jersey
 
This all depends on the success of the the first grade side but you do make a good point

these kids might get a debut but there not gonna be solid week to week first graders at the age of 19 or 20.

I prefer the Melbourne system you never see them bring in kids that are to young or not ready for first grade they let them develop into consistent rugby league players in the qld cup then once they earn there debut they are far more ready for it. In order to do this your first grade team has to be doing well in order for this system to work or your kids will just leave for a better club they have to see they will be successful once they receive there jersey

the success of this upcoming crop of kids hinges on developing them correctly. we need to ensure they’re given enough time in every grade and then allow them to get used to the rigours of first grade.

doesn’t matter how talented they are, if they’re not coached and developed in the correct manner then we’re going to botch it. Large is 15 and is already being spoken about as the heir to Marshall’s throne. there may be a chance we don’t see him play first grade for another 6 or 7 years. i’d be perfectly ok with it if it means he fulfils his potential in the long run. patience is key.
 
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this curren


the success of this upcoming crop of kids hinges on developing them correctly. we need to ensure they’re given enough time in every grade and then allow them to get used to the rigours of first grade.

doesn’t matter how talented they are, if they’re not coached and developed in the correct manner then we’re going to botch it. Large is 15 and is already being spoken about as the heir to Marshall’s throne. there may be a chance we don’t see him play first grade for another 6 or 7 years. i’d be perfectly ok with it if it means he fulfils his potential in the long run. patience is key.
What has changed dramatically in the last 20yrs is the size of the players, the halves have to face some giants today,and welfare is paramount.
 
I do kind of see what your saying but in reality if you don't make your NRL debut by 19 as a back or before 22 as a forward you are unlikely ever too. So a young guy like Feledy or Lawry who are 18 are much more likely to debut in the next 12 months then a 21/22 year old back who has been promoted to NSW cup is likely to make their nrl debut.

If you look at the current Tigers squad Douehi, Staines, Klemmer, Nofa, Papalili, Simpkin and Simpkins, Joffa, Tupou, Matamua, Kautonga, Brooks, Blore, Toa, Talau all under 20 when they debut and a few more had just turned 20 - Pole, Stef, Kepoa

Only Naden -23 and Will Smith 22 by about a week were older then 21 when they debuted.
Quite possibly the most idiotic thing I've read here, which is a big call considering some of the dribble.
So according to this logic the late bloomer is irrelevant? The Cody Walker type player?

It really hits the nail on the head of why the tigers ate crap. This must recruit young stars mentality rarely works, you only need to throw back to Moses Suli for a reminder.
Good clubs recruit hard workers and good characters, like the Storm, when they recruited Ryan Hoffman from under our nose.
The other problem with recruiting young stars is when you make the problem even worse when you constantly refer to them in the media as "the best crop of youngsters we've seen".
The damage is done when you keep putting kids in a higher standing than they deserve.
 
Quite possibly the most idiotic thing I've read here, which is a big call considering some of the dribble.
So according to this logic the late bloomer is irrelevant? The Cody Walker type player?

It really hits the nail on the head of why the tigers ate crap. This must recruit young stars mentality rarely works, you only need to throw back to Moses Suli for a reminder.
Good clubs recruit hard workers and good characters, like the Storm, when they recruited Ryan Hoffman from under our nose.
The other problem with recruiting young stars is when you make the problem even worse when you constantly refer to them in the media as "the best crop of youngsters we've seen".
The damage is done when you keep putting kids in a higher standing than they deserve.
Ryan Hoffman was 19 when he made his debut for the Storm so thanks for backing me up. I didn't say their was no place for them but that it is very rare to debut post 19-20 and the number who do come through after this age and succeed is almost non existent. It's why the Cody walker story is well known because he was so unusual. Which probably re-enforces that the real dribble was what you wrote
 
In fact only Justin Olam and Tui Kamikamika debuted over 21 from the storm squad and that prob comes down more to lack of development given their backgrounds then anything else. Almost all of their best players started at 19
 
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