OFFICIAL Harold Matthews Cup

We've always been pretty competitive. Boys from holy cross, and a number of other talented kids, many of whom islanders.
The rumours that they're not selecting or recruiting based primarily on talent appears true sadly. If you're Lebanese, you're in. If your 170cm and 70kgs you're in. If you don't know how to catch a ball you're in.

22-10 with 13 to go
Let’s hope Richo identifies this power bloc & squashes it before Balmain sadly fade away into obscurity.

Are there any diamonds in the rough @balmain boy apart from Kanaan?
 
Another walk in the park victory for our Wests Magpies team this morning over the North Sydney Bears.
How long before you upload your game report V?
Who were the stand outs, who were the sit ins?
 
We've always been pretty competitive. Boys from holy cross, and a number of other talented kids, many of whom islanders.
The rumours that they're not selecting or recruiting based primarily on talent appears true sadly. If you're Lebanese, you're in. If your 170cm and 70kgs you're in. If you don't know how to catch a ball you're in.

22-10 with 13 to go
Interesting perspective.
Assuming this has substance, how did this come about?
 

5:50 onwards.

this team has better shape and technique than our first grade side. that ball from Ashton Large to Isdale (who looks excellent this season) for that first try is world-class. Onitoni was bouncing around a lot and throws a gorgeous right to left a couple times.

great to see Karnib involved in scoring and setting up a couple tries up by squaring up and holding up defenders to create opportunities. Makasini's quick hands as well very classy. nice little pass from Havea (15) to set up Mailo (16) as well.
 
UNE Harold Matthews Cup - Round 5 vs. Raiders

Saturday, March 2 - 1:00 p.m. AEDT
Kirkham Oval, Camden

WESTERN SUBURBS MAGPIES

1. Ali Hicham Karnib
2. Tyson Walker
3. Glassie Glassie
4. Heamasi Makasini
5. Tyler Volcov
6. Onitoni Large
7. Alex Isdale (c)
8. Maddax Fui
9. Ashton Large
10. Christian Taupau-Moors
11. Tomasi Tavui
12. Pheonix Godinet
13. Lorima Cosgrave

14. Brooklyn Milford
15. Siotame Havea Jr.
16. Leviticus Tovia
17. Mase Hillcoat

18. Teancam Epati
19. Peter French
Coach: Stephen Isdale
 
UNE Harold Matthews Cup - Round 5 vs. Raiders

Saturday, March 2 - 1:00 p.m. AEDT
Kirkham Oval, Camden

WESTERN SUBURBS MAGPIES

1. Ali Hicham Karnib
2. Tyson Walker
3. Glassie Glassie
4. Heamasi Makasini
5. Tyler Volcov
6. Onitoni Large
7. Alex Isdale (c)
8. Maddax Fui
9. Ashton Large
10. Christian Taupau-Moors
11. Tomasi Tavui
12. Pheonix Godinet
13. Lorima Cosgrave

14. Brooklyn Milford
15. Siotame Havea Jr.
16. Leviticus Tovia
17. Mase Hillcoat

18. Teancam Epati
19. Peter French
Coach: Stephen Isdale
shuffled the pack again. last year we only ever made changes unless there were injuries. gotta be a call from the top to rotate the squad to give everyone a crack and find the winning formula.
 

5:50 onwards.

this team has better shape and technique than our first grade side. that ball from Ashton Large to Isdale (who looks excellent this season) for that first try is world-class. Onitoni was bouncing around a lot and throws a gorgeous right to left a couple times.

great to see Karnib involved in scoring and setting up a couple tries up by squaring up and holding up defenders to create opportunities. Makasini's quick hands as well very classy. nice little pass from Havea (15) to set up Mailo (16) as well.
You do realise that the shape and technique is institutional? Dictated from the nrl coaching structure down through the pathways ?
And the reason there’s space available to perform this shape is because you know , they’re 16 year old kids and not 27 year old nrl players . There’s no space in nrl .
And even less when the opposition coach deploys cynical tactics like perpetually offside , calling the refs bluff on whether extreme measures are used . They’re smart tactics , and I have no issue with them , but they contribute massively to limited space available especially in the red zone . The amount of offloads simply arnt there at nrl level , and the skills defences have with wrestling techniques and tactics is night and day .
I find this type of commentary sensationalist .
 
You do realise that the shape and technique is institutional? Dictated from the nrl coaching structure down through the pathways ?
And the reason there’s space available to perform this shape is because you know , they’re 16 year old kids and not 27 year old nrl players . There’s no space in nrl .
And even less when the opposition coach deploys cynical tactics like perpetually offside , calling the refs bluff on whether extreme measures are used . They’re smart tactics , and I have no issue with them , but they contribute massively to limited space available especially in the red zone . The amount of offloads simply arnt there at nrl level , and the skills defences have with wrestling techniques and tactics is night and day .
I find this type of commentary sensationalist .
so you're telling me that an additional 10-15 centimetres in width per player is enough for a team to run out of room on a 100x68 metre wide field? how ridiculous. look at the way teams like North Queensland and Cronulla fan out when they swing to their edges. there is always space on a rugby league field, you just have to exploit it.

look at the depth and width these boys have when running their shapes. look at the intent of each player, irrespective of whether they're getting the ball. look at the quick hands from Makasini and Karnib's use of the hips to square up his defender. sure NRL tactics are well advanced in comparison, but these kids move like NRL players. that's what you want in a side that is five grades below the top.

of course it stems from first grade, and of course first grade runs it better, it was a tongue in cheek comment. if an exclamation mark was all you needed in order for you to avoid this then I would've provided it.
 
so you're telling me that an additional 10-15 centimetres in width per player is enough for a team to run out of room on a 100x68 metre wide field? how ridiculous. look at the way teams like North Queensland and Cronulla fan out when they swing to their edges. there is always space on a rugby league field, you just have to exploit it.

look at the depth and width these boys have when running their shapes. look at the intent of each player, irrespective of whether they're getting the ball. look at the quick hands from Makasini and Karnib's use of the hips to square up his defender. sure NRL tactics are well advanced in comparison, but these kids move like NRL players. that's what you want in a side that is five grades below the top.

of course it stems from first grade, and of course first grade runs it better, it was a tongue in cheek comment. if an exclamation mark was all you needed in order for you to avoid this then I would've provided it.
Are you ok ?
The fact I even have to quantify that the space , time , shape is night and day between u17s football and the nrl is ridiculous !
Of course there’s space , and of course well drilled teams who have a simpatico relationship with each other will be way more adept at finding that space .
But to say that because a 16 year old can exploit space in u17s , so therefore somehow that’s a blight on the nrl team or even that they’re somehow intrinsically linked is just beyond me .
If the structures are there in sg ball then they’re there in nrl . The playing group is either a level above in sg ball (we all know they are ) or they’re not up to scratch /zero synchronicity at nrl level ( we all know they are) .
If you put the large brothers in nrl , you reckon they carve up ? Not likely my guy … you reckon that the systems they’re playing at sg ball arnt the same as nrl ? Not likely my guy .
I don’t even understand why I have to say this . The wrist cutting and negativity around the nrl team from a trial is beyond pathetic .
Some of you guys almost love the constant drama . What you’re going to do when/ if we ever get good is beyond me .
 
What is the point of this conversation ?
The whole point of junior pathways is to try and develop and retain the best performed players.
Some who are stand outs and have elite levels of performance in certain area such as size, speed, agility, fitness levels, toughness etc are of course going to get more attention than the ones without any standout features.
 
UNE Harold Matthews Cup - Round 5 vs. Warriors

Sunday, March 3 - 8:00 a.m. AEDT
Navigation Home Stadium, Pukekohe

BALMAIN TIGERS

1. Leroy Petelo
2. Isaac Anjoul
3. Filipe Huahulu
4. Michael Boustany
5. Antonio Harb
6. Jonathan Zoghaib
7. Christian Azzi
8. Zane Farr-McKay
9. Amram Paita-Pepo
10. Felise Taufa'ao
11. William Stone
12. David Pritchard
13. Hayden Elkris (c)

14. Zeke Edmed
15. Jezakia Leau
16. James Baranowski
17. Kayden Kanaan

18. Moses Lewadromodromo
Coach: Tony Bazouni
 
Are you ok ?
The fact I even have to quantify that the space , time , shape is night and day between u17s football and the nrl is ridiculous !
Of course there’s space , and of course well drilled teams who have a simpatico relationship with each other will be way more adept at finding that space .
But to say that because a 16 year old can exploit space in u17s , so therefore somehow that’s a blight on the nrl team or even that they’re somehow intrinsically linked is just beyond me .
If the structures are there in sg ball then they’re there in nrl . The playing group is either a level above in sg ball (we all know they are ) or they’re not up to scratch /zero synchronicity at nrl level ( we all know they are) .
If you put the large brothers in nrl , you reckon they carve up ? Not likely my guy … you reckon that the systems they’re playing at sg ball arnt the same as nrl ? Not likely my guy .
I don’t even understand why I have to say this . The wrist cutting and negativity around the nrl team from a trial is beyond pathetic .
Some of you guys almost love the constant drama . What you’re going to do when/ if we ever get good is beyond me .
I'm fine mate. you told me "the reason there’s space available to perform this shape is because you know , they’re 16 year old kids and not 27 year old nrl players". I took that as you indicating that the size and speed of the player makes for less space. if that's wrong then I'm sorry but that's how I took it.

there is no "blight on the NRL team" here. look at what I said before. of course the NRL side are well advanced in comparison. that's not up for debate here. it's like you think that I believe that these 17 year olds wouldn't look out of place in the NRL. that's not the case either. all I was trying to make a point of is that this is a well-structured, well-drilled football side and our entire franchise will benefit from their development in the long run.

as for wrist cutting and negativity, have a look at my posts after the Dragons game. there is none of the sort here. if you're going to throw me in with all the doomsday preppers at least do your homework. I'm more of the optimistic type. not sure why you've got me in your crosshairs.
 
I'm fine mate. you told me "the reason there’s space available to perform this shape is because you know , they’re 16 year old kids and not 27 year old nrl players". I took that as you indicating that the size and speed of the player makes for less space. if that's wrong then I'm sorry but that's how I took it.

there is no "blight on the NRL team" here. look at what I said before. of course the NRL side are well advanced in comparison. that's not up for debate here. it's like you think that I believe that these 17 year olds wouldn't look out of place in the NRL. that's not the case either. all I was trying to make a point of is that this is a well-structured, well-drilled football side and our entire franchise will benefit from their development in the long run.

as for wrist cutting and negativity, have a look at my posts after the Dragons game. there is none of the sort here. if you're going to throw me in with all the doomsday preppers at least do your homework. I'm more of the optimistic type. not sure why you've got me in your crosshairs.
Maybe I misread what you said or misinterpreted.
My issue was with the doomsday preppers and constant negativity . Maybe that’s not you , if so I apologise , but man I’m tired of reading it . Every single discussion turns into how quickly guys want to neck themselves . And it’s a trial …. It’s going to be a long season ..
 
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