Onitoni Large to Manly

The NRL scrapyard is littered with many outstanding talents boasting great schoolboy scrapbooks and even more that accompanied them at representative level that never got a look in.

We can only hope that our latest administration and it's recruitment team can identify the ones that will transition to the top level and retain most of them, and if WT had a chance to keep him, that Large won’t be turn out to be the best.

Forwards remain the biggest issue.
 
I guess it's all perspective on why Large left but I was reading the story of a football player who left Barcelona to join Arsenal at 17 years old and finished his career playing 3rd division in Spain via Portugal 2nd Division and China. Not everyone makes no matter how good the judges say they are!
 
Betterdays22 said:
Where did you hear this? Awful if true
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Michael Caryannis. Not sure how accurate it is. Although i do remember a while ago his manager being quoted saying that Larges future with the club was uncertain because when they signed the initial 5 year deal Tim Sheens assured them he'd be still involved with the club during that time and that Tim had provided them a clear pathway through to be 1st grade halfback so it wouldn't surprise me if its true.
 
Nonotmeagain said:
I guess it's all perspective on why Large left but I was reading the story of a football player who left Barcelona to join Arsenal at 17 years old and finished his career playing 3rd division in Spain via Portugal 2nd Division and China. Not everyone makes no matter how good the judges say they are!
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There are two lists of players who were touted future super stars when in their teens. The ones who made it and than ones who didn’t, and the later was ten times longer
 
Nonotmeagain said:
I guess it's all perspective on why Large left but I was reading the story of a football player who left Barcelona to join Arsenal at 17 years old and finished his career playing 3rd division in Spain via Portugal 2nd Division and China. Not everyone makes no matter how good the judges say they are!
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Wouldnt wish ill on the kid and he may end up being a huge loss,but the list of superstar teenagers destined for greatness in all sports who dont live up to the billing far outweighs those who actually make it. Hope he has the right people in his ear helping him make decisions for the right reasons.

To me and im guessing most associated with the club, this decision smacks of disloyalty and entitlement. But, that perspective restrospectively shifts if he lives up to the potential
 
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J.T said:
Michael Caryannis. Not sure how accurate it is. Although i do remember a while ago his manager being quoted saying that Larges future with the club was uncertain because when they signed the initial 5 year deal Tim Sheens assured them he'd be still involved with the club during that time and that Tim had provided them a clear pathway through to be 1st grade halfback so it wouldn't surprise me if its true.
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Heard that too…
 
weststigers said:
Do you have some knowledge about the deal that we don't? There's a lot of assumptions here.

The reports were Seibold offered him a debut next year, yet you are confidently spouting he did not leave for a first grade spot.

Everything aside, he is 18 next year and wants to play 5/8. How would you have handled the situation to guarantee him a path to first grade in his position?

Who were you going to move on? Galvin? Fainu? But if we lost either one of them, that would be a balls up by the club too right? So I guess they need to find new positions AND be happy with it? Ok...so if the answer is to change Galvin and Fainus position, what position would they play and how are you going to make them really pumped about it? How would you have managed that? Let us know so we can learn for next time.
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My only assumption is that he believes Manly will better develop him than Tigers. I see no other reason for him to be leaving.

Correct me if I'm wrong but does he not turn18 until the end of the season? Meaning he is ineligible for 1st grade next year. Additionally the only 'report' of him being offered 1st grade is someone else making that assumption on here.

Like others have suggested I'm trying to convince him to stay 1 more year, not forever. I'm arguing to him that spending a season learning from Luai will better his game for the future. Spend one more year playing with his mates, promise him a taste of senior footy once he is 18 qnd that he can then revisit his release request in 12 months time, once he is eligible for first grade. We're not trying to stall his career by keeping him but nurture it. Convince him his next contract if he leaves will most probably be more if he is leaving 1st grade ready, rather than a year early.
Meanwhile in that 12 months the picture will be clearer as to the futures of Galvin and Fainu. Galvin may continue his own release demands and Fainu continue to struggle with injury. Then suddenly 1st grade opportunities might look more likely here than Manly where he is behind two established halves.
If Galvin stays, Fainu fires and Large wants out in 12 months then you let him go when all their futures look a lot clearer.
 
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gregjm87 said:
My only assumption is that he believes Manly will better develop him than Tigers. I see no other reason for him to be leaving.

Correct me if I'm wrong but does he not turn18 until the end of the season? Meaning he is ineligible for 1st grade next year. Additionally the only 'report' of him being offered 1st grade is someone else making that assumption on here.

Like others have suggested I'm trying to convince him to stay 1 more year, not forever. I'm arguing to him that spending a season learning from Luai will better his game for the future. Spend one more year playing with his mates, promise him a taste of senior footy once he is 18 qnd that he can then revisit his release request in 12 months time, once he is eligible for first grade. We're not trying to stall his career by keeping him but nurture it. Convince him his next contract if he leaves will most probably be more if he is leaving 1st grade ready, rather than a year early.
Meanwhile in that 12 months the picture will be clearer as to the futures of Galvin and Fainu. Galvin may continue his own release demands and Fainu continue to struggle with injury. Then suddenly 1st grade opportunities might look more likely here than Manly where he is behind to established halves.
If Galvin stays, Fainu fires and Large wants out in 12 months then you let him go when all their futures look a lot clearer.
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It's not that complex mate. The Large brothers were appointed by Warren McDonnell who's now at Manly & they (his management) were upset when him & Sheens got punted. It's been a rocky relationship ever since.
 
The only paths available for Large would have been to shift position, or outplay not only Galvin, but Luai & Latu Fainu in order to get a crack in the halves.

Manly- DCE is a year away from being done.

For those looking for a 'reason'...there it is. Path of least resistance.

Is it annoying to lose a talented player? Yes. But if there is ANY position at the Tigers where being a development player isn't in your best interests as it stands today, it's in the halves with significant long term investments made already. Maybe #9 is on that list too, considering the depth at the club. Which could be the catalyst for Large's brother to move too. Again- opportunity at Manly is greater.

It's very one-eyed to dismiss the loss of Large as inconsequential. You don't WANT to lose that type of youth player. But, in the grand scheme, he was 5-6 years away from being given a shot in the halves anyway. By the time that rolls around, chances are- we are touting some other future Sterling.

There will be significant howling if the club loses Galvin after next season. And that is also understandable. But again, if we DO lose him...Luai & Fainu are locked up for 5 years. 3 into 2 doesn't work. Someone needs to shift position or we ARE going to lose one of them. That's the harsh reality of it. You don't pay Latu Fainu $500k or so a season to play KOE for 5 years. Not when Bud Sullivan is already taking up residence in that role already.
 
gregjm87 said:
My only assumption is that he believes Manly will better develop him than Tigers. I see no other reason for him to be leaving.

Correct me if I'm wrong but does he not turn18 until the end of the season? Meaning he is ineligible for 1st grade next year. Additionally the only 'report' of him being offered 1st grade is someone else making that assumption on here.

Like others have suggested I'm trying to convince him to stay 1 more year, not forever. I'm arguing to him that spending a season learning from Luai will better his game for the future. Spend one more year playing with his mates, promise him a taste of senior footy once he is 18 qnd that he can then revisit his release request in 12 months time, once he is eligible for first grade. We're not trying to stall his career by keeping him but nurture it. Convince him his next contract if he leaves will most probably be more if he is leaving 1st grade ready, rather than a year early.
Meanwhile in that 12 months the picture will be clearer as to the futures of Galvin and Fainu. Galvin may continue his own release demands and Fainu continue to struggle with injury. Then suddenly 1st grade opportunities might look more likely here than Manly where he is behind to established halves.
If Galvin stays, Fainu fires and Large wants out in 12 months then you let him go when all their futures look a lot clearer.
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Ok...and what if we did all that and he still wants to go? What then?
 
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gregjm87 said:
My only assumption is that he believes Manly will better develop him than Tigers. I see no other reason for him to be leaving.

Correct me if I'm wrong but does he not turn18 until the end of the season? Meaning he is ineligible for 1st grade next year. Additionally the only 'report' of him being offered 1st grade is someone else making that assumption on here.

Like others have suggested I'm trying to convince him to stay 1 more year, not forever. I'm arguing to him that spending a season learning from Luai will better his game for the future. Spend one more year playing with his mates, promise him a taste of senior footy once he is 18 qnd that he can then revisit his release request in 12 months time, once he is eligible for first grade. We're not trying to stall his career by keeping him but nurture it. Convince him his next contract if he leaves will most probably be more if he is leaving 1st grade ready, rather than a year early.
Meanwhile in that 12 months the picture will be clearer as to the futures of Galvin and Fainu. Galvin may continue his own release demands and Fainu continue to struggle with injury. Then suddenly 1st grade opportunities might look more likely here than Manly where he is behind to established halves.
If Galvin stays, Fainu fires and Large wants out in 12 months then you let him go when all their futures look a lot clearer.
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Or at least look to use the request as an opportunity to swap in a player (position) we need strengthening in. This may well be happening but not announced. Would like to think highly touted players being released only comes with a new highly touted or first grade ready player in return.
 
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The Chad said:
The only paths available for Large would have been to shift position, or outplay not only Galvin, but Luai & Latu Fainu in order to get a crack in the halves.

Manly- DCE is a year away from being done.

For those looking for a 'reason'...there it is. Path of least resistance.

Is it annoying to lose a talented player? Yes. But if there is ANY position at the Tigers where being a development player isn't in your best interests as it stands today, it's in the halves with significant long term investments made already. Maybe #9 is on that list too, considering the depth at the club. Which could be the catalyst for Large's brother to move too. Again- opportunity at Manly is greater.

It's very one-eyed to dismiss the loss of Large as inconsequential. You don't WANT to lose that type of youth player. But, in the grand scheme, he was 5-6 years away from being given a shot in the halves anyway. By the time that rolls around, chances are- we are touting some other future Sterling.

There will be significant howling if the club loses Galvin after next season. And that is also understandable. But again, if we DO lose him...Luai & Fainu are locked up for 5 years. 3 into 2 doesn't work. Someone needs to shift position or we ARE going to lose one of them. That's the harsh reality of it. You don't pay Latu Fainu $500k or so a season to play KOE for 5 years. Not when Bud Sullivan is already taking up residence in that role already.
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Get the reasoning for him wanting to leave, but the Tigers should be able to leverage the release of a contracted player for something in return. Otherwise hold him to his contract until we can.
 
WestsEffTheRest said:
It's not that complex mate. The Large brothers were appointed by Warren McDonnell who's now at Manly & they (his management) were upset when him & Sheens got punted. It's been a rocky relationship ever since.
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Fair enough mate. 8 pages of dribble (me included) before I get to this post. Seems the most simple explanation. Pretty much the same story as how we got the Fainus.
 
weststigers said:
Ok...and what if we did all that and he still wants to go? What then?
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then if we did all that and he still wants out then there is clearly reasons to be concerned as to why he wants out so badly. Which was my original post. Contracted players not wanting to be here is a concern. A bigger concern than players uncontracted elsewhere not wanting to come here.
I'd be tempted to say to him/Manly we will consider a release in terms of a trade and hold him for 12 months if no trade offered. Or if he is the type to let his situation affect the rest of the playing group just let him go but try to work out what the problems are and address them so we don't lose more players in the future.
 
My guess is he has been offered the 6 jersey when DCE retires . Or a shot at it . It will be interesting to see him come into first grade next to Luke brooks .
 
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