Juniors - Pathways General Discussion

Rumour out there that Conti has signed with the Bulldogs effective immediately. Apparently he wanted too much cash and a top 30 spot, which is a shame. But with the lack of halves around and we've signed up Latu and Galvin long term, along with Sullivan, and with Large coming through the ranks with potentially a future NRL contract already part of his deal we can only fit so many in our top 30 at a time.

It would be a very sad loss, as I believe he's the only genuine halfback currently at the club in any grade below NRL. We have a lot of these running playmaker types (Fainu, Sullivan, Galvin, Large) but no one who likes to do the less flashy stuff, the organising, kicking to the corner or 40/20s to get us field position etc. The lack of balance in playmakers is a little troubling, however the guys we have secured are seen as generational talents with outstanding skills and elite level ceilings.

Maybe Galvin can become the largest halfback in NRL history one day.

And yes the rumour was from a guy on twitter who knows his junior footy, dogs offered him training with the NRL squad over the summer and a top 30 spot in 2025. A shame he wasn't happy to play Flegg next year and then go on to a Dev contract. I see him as an NRL player in 2-3 years time. Dogs do like stockpiling young halves though.
 
balmain boy said:
Rumour out there that Conti has signed with the Bulldogs effective immediately. Apparently he wanted too much cash and a top 30 spot, which is a shame. But with the lack of halves around and we've signed up Latu and Galvin long term, along with Sullivan, and with Large coming through the ranks with potentially a future NRL contract already part of his deal we can only fit so many in our top 30 at a time.

It would be a very sad loss, as I believe he's the only genuine halfback currently at the club in any grade below NRL. We have a lot of these running playmaker types (Fainu, Sullivan, Galvin, Large) but no one who likes to do the less flashy stuff, the organising, kicking to the corner or 40/20s to get us field position etc. The lack of balance in playmakers is a little troubling, however the guys we have secured are seen as generational talents with outstanding skills and elite level ceilings.

Maybe Galvin can become the largest halfback in NRL history one day.

And yes the rumour was from a guy on twitter who knows his junior footy, dogs offered him training with the NRL squad over the summer and a top 30 spot in 2025. A shame he wasn't happy to play Flegg next year and then go on to a Dev contract. I see him as an NRL player in 2-3 years time. Dogs do like stockpiling young halves though.
Click to expand...
it really does hurt because, as you say, he was the purest 7 in the pathways. very talented but ultimately he's not ready for top 30. best of luck to him at the Dogs.

as for who's still in the system that is an out and out 7, it's probably Alex Isdale, but I don't rate him as highly as I do Conti. Galvin has it in him but I think he'll be moved due to his size, and Large barely talks. Sullivan most certainly has the inside running, but I do believe Latu is also potential 7 candidate.

one of Isdale, Sullivan, Latu and a youngster by the name of Jonas Peni (one to watch out for) will be our future 7.
 
balmain boy said:
Rumour out there that Conti has signed with the Bulldogs effective immediately. Apparently he wanted too much cash and a top 30 spot, which is a shame. But with the lack of halves around and we've signed up Latu and Galvin long term, along with Sullivan, and with Large coming through the ranks with potentially a future NRL contract already part of his deal we can only fit so many in our top 30 at a time.

It would be a very sad loss, as I believe he's the only genuine halfback currently at the club in any grade below NRL. We have a lot of these running playmaker types (Fainu, Sullivan, Galvin, Large) but no one who likes to do the less flashy stuff, the organising, kicking to the corner or 40/20s to get us field position etc. The lack of balance in playmakers is a little troubling, however the guys we have secured are seen as generational talents with outstanding skills and elite level ceilings.

Maybe Galvin can become the largest halfback in NRL history one day.

And yes the rumour was from a guy on twitter who knows his junior footy, dogs offered him training with the NRL squad over the summer and a top 30 spot in 2025. A shame he wasn't happy to play Flegg next year and then go on to a Dev contract. I see him as an NRL player in 2-3 years time. Dogs do like stockpiling young halves though.
Click to expand...
Shame. But the old adage of 'can't keep them all' will continue to apply to our club provided our junior base keeps expanding.

For the record, I think that both Sullivan and Fainu have the capacity to develop into their own version of unique halfbacks. Not out of the box Adam Reynolds types, but more of a build-as-you-go Jarome Hughes types.

Time will tell.
 
balmain boy said:
Rumour out there that Conti has signed with the Bulldogs effective immediately. Apparently he wanted too much cash and a top 30 spot, which is a shame. But with the lack of halves around and we've signed up Latu and Galvin long term, along with Sullivan, and with Large coming through the ranks with potentially a future NRL contract already part of his deal we can only fit so many in our top 30 at a time.

It would be a very sad loss, as I believe he's the only genuine halfback currently at the club in any grade below NRL. We have a lot of these running playmaker types (Fainu, Sullivan, Galvin, Large) but no one who likes to do the less flashy stuff, the organising, kicking to the corner or 40/20s to get us field position etc. The lack of balance in playmakers is a little troubling, however the guys we have secured are seen as generational talents with outstanding skills and elite level ceilings.

Maybe Galvin can become the largest halfback in NRL history one day.

And yes the rumour was from a guy on twitter who knows his junior footy, dogs offered him training with the NRL squad over the summer and a top 30 spot in 2025. A shame he wasn't happy to play Flegg next year and then go on to a Dev contract. I see him as an NRL player in 2-3 years time. Dogs do like stockpiling young halves though.
Click to expand...
Interesting…
I couple of things I noticed in the media are starting to make sence now.
when mentioned by Buzz on NRL360 that Tigers are looking to secure Latu as a long term half it was met by absolute opposition by Anasta. Scoffed at the idea and downplayed Latu’s potential and the validity of that signing saying the Tigers need a organising half. This was also around the time of seemingly looking to sign Sezer which was met with a better response.
I’ve heard Conti is one of Anasta’s few clients.
Being that he is probably a year younger or not much more than Latu it appears that both client and manager have moved on.
Hopefully that also puts to death the assumption that it was Galvin and Mason that was angling for a release due to signing both Sullivan and Latu.
Hopefully that leads to keeping Mason long term. I feel he is a huge talent.
 
Needaname said:
Interesting…
I couple of things I noticed in the media are starting to make sence now.
when mentioned by Buzz on NRL360 that Tigers are looking to secure Latu as a long term half it was met by absolute opposition by Anasta. Scoffed at the idea and downplayed Latu’s potential and the validity of that signing saying the Tigers need a organising half. This was also around the time of seemingly looking to sign Sezer which was met with a better response.
I’ve heard Conti is one of Anasta’s few clients.
Being that he is probably a year younger or not much more than Latu it appears that both client and manager have moved on.
Hopefully that also puts to death the assumption that it was Galvin and Mason that was angling for a release due to signing both Sullivan and Latu.
Hopefully that leads to keeping Mason long term. I feel he is a huge talent.
Click to expand...
The Bulldogs already have Michell Woods who is the same age as Alex Conti and won the player of the year award as a halfback in the Bulldogs 2023 Harold Matthews winning side.
I believe he goes to the same school as Conti and is more highly regarded, so it won’t be smooth sailing for Conti at the Bulldogs either.
In addition to that the Bulldogs also have Joseph O’Neill who although about 4 years older has long been regarded as a future NRL halfback prospect and he too just won the 2023 Jersey Flegg comp with the Bulldogs.
 
Vicious said:
The Bulldogs already have Michell Woods who is the same age as Alex Conti and won the player of the year award as a halfback in the Bulldogs 2023 Harold Matthews winning side.
I believe he goes to the same school as Conti and is more highly regarded, so it won’t be smooth sailing for Conti at the Bulldogs either.
In addition to that the Bulldogs also have Joseph O’Neill who although about 4 years older has long been regarded as a future NRL halfback prospect and he too just won the 2023 Jersey Flegg comp with the Bulldogs.
Click to expand...
That’s ok, we pouched their reject Iverson Matai and opened up a development contract for them to add someone else on…
 
Needaname said:
That’s ok, we pouched their reject Iverson Matai and opened up a development contract for them to add someone else on…
Click to expand...
Conti is no doubt a quality rising young talent, but so far he’s not on the same level as the likes of Fainu, Galvin or Large in what they have accomplished in their young careers, so he can’t expect the club to offer him the same luxuries they have been given.
If he was smart he would have hung around in hope of playing alongside of them at NRL level within the next 2-3 years.
 
Vicious said:
The Bulldogs already have Michell Woods who is the same age as Alex Conti and won the player of the year award as a halfback in the Bulldogs 2023 Harold Matthews winning side.
I believe he goes to the same school as Conti and is more highly regarded, so it won’t be smooth sailing for Conti at the Bulldogs either.
In addition to that the Bulldogs also have Joseph O’Neill who although about 4 years older has long been regarded as a future NRL halfback prospect and he too just won the 2023 Jersey Flegg comp with the Bulldogs.
Click to expand...
Yeah the dogs have a lot of young talent pushing through all the junior and senior grades in their halves. Seems a very sideways move in terms of opportunity making 1st grade in the next few years. However, if they offered top 30, the $$ would be too enticing.
 
Vicious said:
The Bulldogs already have Michell Woods who is the same age as Alex Conti and won the player of the year award as a halfback in the Bulldogs 2023 Harold Matthews winning side.
I believe he goes to the same school as Conti and is more highly regarded, so it won’t be smooth sailing for Conti at the Bulldogs either.
In addition to that the Bulldogs also have Joseph O’Neill who although about 4 years older has long been regarded as a future NRL halfback prospect and he too just won the 2023 Jersey Flegg comp with the Bulldogs.
Click to expand...
This is why I don't get why they'd go for him. Or why he'd want to go there. If he's leaving us for a better opportunity then he's got just as much competition over at the dogs, with both players older and younger than him.

Or maybe this opens an opportunity for us to get someone like O'Neill who may not see a future there if others are getting prioritised, but would be accept a non NRL contract...?
 
balmain boy said:
This is why I don't get why they'd go for him. Or why he'd want to go there. If he's leaving us for a better opportunity then he's got just as much competition over at the dogs, with both players older and younger than him.

Or maybe this opens an opportunity for us to get someone like O'Neill who may not see a future there if others are getting prioritised, but would be accept a non NRL contract...?
Click to expand...
I heard that 3 of the best Balmain locals coming through, Nassar, Conti & Langi had no intention to leave until they were forced out by Fulton. Fulton getting rid of players that have been at juniors since 5 years old happened at Manly now happening at Tigers.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Staff online

Members online

Total: 300 (members: 2, guests: 298)
Back
Top