Jett Cleary is the same age as Da Silva but hasn't played any first grade at all. He was in Jersey Flegg up until 6 weeks ago. They're gradually exposing him to higher grades, developing consistency and combinations with the players around him which assists his development. There is progression in his development.
I think the impatience with Da Silva was that he played NRL regularly at 18, now he's 20 and he was playing reserve grade at the club for 6 weeks, and an NRL game just before he left. Supporters are saying that he should develop in the lower grades but that should've happened in 2023 and 2024!
The development of the young players at Wests Tigers is atrocious. They're signed to top 30/dev as sg ball players, train with the NRL squad all week, then sent back like mercenaries to play SG Ball. They then play a game or two in flegg or reserve grade and make their debut in NRL, then sent back to a lower grade a for a week, then play two NRL games, then back to Flegg/reserve grade again, etc.
Sheens and McDonnell did most of these players, and the club itself, a disservice by signing so many 18 year olds to top 30 and development deals. It has been managed extremely poorly. Most of them should've been train and trial, with a focus on development rather than NRL training and games. You could imagine the standard and intensity of NRL training itself when 1/4 to a 1/3 of the players are under 20. Is it a surprise the club is still struggling to compete?