That’s not true at all . These kids are identified as young as 12 years old , and are groomed to eventually play first grade , otherwise what’s the point .
A kid who makes schoolboys , would 💯 be looking at playing first grade . They would have all kinds of people in thier ears , and a good manager would have thier pathway mapped out for them . Eg. Galvin . His pathway is clearly defined . It’s there for all of us to see .
Nasser I dunno . But if the club has prioritised other juniors it’s for a good reason . How many of our top juniors from 2012-20 call manly and Melbourne and the roosters home .
Many were wests juniors . I have no skin in the game as of Balmain v wests , Fulton v Marshall . If it means we keep the very best of talent .
I will say this there’s been heaps of nassers mentioned in the past . Guys like Hill , there was another young Lebanese kid a few years back , who people with connections to the Balmain district swore were going to be elite first graders , and none made it past KOE cup , and most are playing Ron massey or lower .
I think we tend to over value our juniors . And whilst I do think Fulton is probably prickly , he is the guy who snatched the best of our juniors for a long time . Kids who a lot of the time we valued someone else . So if our valuations are being streamlined , and we are better decisions , then for me I’m happy to lose a Nasser every couple of years . As long as we have prioritised someone better . And I guess that proof will be in the pudding .
