Jack Buchanan moves a step closer to his NRL dream

[Guest]

Courtesy of the official Wests Tigers website:

Jack Buchanan moves a step closer to his NRL dream
Wayne Cousins, Twitter: @cuzzo_1

Monday 18 February 2013 5:26 PM
Jack Buchanan moves a step closer to his NRL dream
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Prop Jack Buchanan moved a little step closer to achieving every young player’s dream of competing in the NRL at Campbelltown Sports Stadium last Saturday night.

Originally named in the Wests Tigers NSW Cup team for the trial against Wentworthville Magpies, Buchanan was a last minute call up to the NRL side following the withdrawal of prop Matt Bell through illness.

Having played NYC for St George-Illawarra last season, Buchanan’s only other experience of playing against grown men was in the combined Wests Tigers team for the trial match against Penrith a week earlier where he turned in a strong performance.

Wests Tigers Captain and hooker Robbie Farah said he has been impressed with Buchanan’s commitment at training.

“Jack is a young kid who has trained really well all pre-season. He has got a big future ahead of him,’’ Farah said.

“Being called up to replace Belly was a big occasion for him but he can proud of his effort. He held his own.”

Buchanan said the speed of the NRL trial had caught him to begin with but quickly settled into his normal pattern.

“It may have only been an NRL trial but for me, it was a great opportunity,’’ Buchanan said.

“Adam Blair and Keith Galloway took me under their wing and kept talking to me in the warm up and during the game. They certainly made me feel comfortable.

“I suppose I am one step closer to achieving my dream of playing an NRL premiership match now following the trial but I still have so much to learn. I was reasonably happy with my performance but there are a few areas I need to work on.

“It was a great experience. Hopefully I can get another crack in the NRL trial against the Sydney Roosters this Saturday night.”

 

[LaT]

Should get his chance sooner with our current front row stocks. Can't wait to see how he goes.

 

[BenjiMagic96]

Would be happy with Buchanan and Woods in the front row and Keithy coming of the bench as an impact forward. Would be good to have a really good forward on the bench.

 

[LaT]

Buchanan hasn't played a single first grade game though. There is no way he is ready for that kind of responsibility.

 

[fulleightyminutes]

Good luck to him but in all fairness I hope we don't have to call on him too early in the season. Matt Groat had a torrid time when asked to do too much, too early in his career.

 

[fulleightyminutes]

Would be happy with Buchanan and Woods in the front row and Keithy coming of the bench as an impact forward. Would be good to have a really good forward on the bench.

96, from what Willow wrote, the impact player might turn out to be Bodene Thompson

 

[Guest]

Would be happy with Buchanan and Woods in the front row and Keithy coming of the bench as an impact forward. Would be good to have a really good forward on the bench.

Buchanan isn't ready yet. Like Groat when he first came into FG, when he hits the line he gets stopped. He still needs to develop more strength and leg drive, which is what will really see him kick along. He has a good motor, but I'd only have him coming off the bench if he gets a gig in FG.

I'd use Bodene Thompson ahead of him at this stage. Not as tall as Buchanan, but stronger and showed very good leg drive against the Eels. He hit the line and kept driving forward and will get better yet.

My front row rotation for round 1 would be to have Woods and Kilo starting, with Thompson and Bell coming off the bench, along with BMM and Fulton as backrow options.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

Good luck to him but in all fairness I hope we don't have to call on him too early in the season. Matt Groat had a torrid time when asked to do too much, too early in his career.

Yep. Poor ol' Matty copped quite a few lashings on here simply for trying to fulfil unrealistic expectations from a former coach.

Hope Jack is given a quite a few games in State Cup to test himself against men before starting in FG.

 

[max_smart]

look Buchanan looks an upgrade from Groat. I've only seen him play a few games but he looks like a bloke with a great head on his shoulders, high work rate, good running lines and good metres after contact (to use an NFL term ha). I don't think he could start in front of woods, keith or bell but there could be a bench spot for him. I feel he might be really good in the 20-30 minute point in matches when he can use his line speed to great effect against bigger, tireder blokes.

it's exciting to have at the club. we're in a weird stage this year with LOTS of young talent but a seeming big gulf between our leaders and our youth so will be interesting to see who of the young kids can stand up. I think Buchanan may be one of them.

 

[Masterton]

I'm hoping this year we might see 4 forwards on the bench, allowing some of these young fellas (whether it be Buchanan, Groat, Gavet or whoever) to have some short spells to get some confidence and see which one steps up.

 

[851]

I'm hoping this year we might see 4 forwards on the bench, allowing some of these young fellas (whether it be Buchanan, Groat, Gavet or whoever) to have some short spells to get some confidence and see which one steps up.

I hope so too,and with Thompson we have a fill in centre if one of our centres goes down during a game.

 

[foreveratiger]

All the best Buchanan , take advantage of any oppotunity that comes your way , good luck mate.

 

[happy_tiger]

Look at full strength he is probably realistically option 5-6 in our front row stocks , but can't wait to see him and a few others against the Roosters even off the bench

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

look Buchanan looks an upgrade from Groat. I've only seen him play a few games but he looks like a bloke with a great head on his shoulders, high work rate, good running lines and good metres after contact (to use an NFL term ha). I don't think he could start in front of woods, keith or bell but there could be a bench spot for him. I feel he might be really good in the 20-30 minute point in matches when he can use his line speed to great effect against bigger, tireder blokes.

it's exciting to have at the club. we're in a weird stage this year with LOTS of young talent but a seeming big gulf between our leaders and our youth so will be interesting to see who of the young kids can stand up. I think Buchanan may be one of them.

To be fair, Groat could be anything under Potter. Hopefully he carries at least two props a game every game this year and manages Woods better than Sheens did. I feared all last season that he would burn out playing the best part of 60 minutes a game.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

As if you'd start him in front of our most senior prop. The bench will do him just fine this yr, bring him on slowly. Wouldn't surprise to see him on the bench in round 1

 

[bonstonker]

I'd use Bodene Thompson ahead of him at this stage. Not as tall as Buchanan, but stronger and showed very good leg drive against the Eels. He hit the line and kept driving forward and will get better yet.

i see sheens has left his imprint on alot of you.

 

[max_smart]

look Buchanan looks an upgrade from Groat. I've only seen him play a few games but he looks like a bloke with a great head on his shoulders, high work rate, good running lines and good metres after contact (to use an NFL term ha). I don't think he could start in front of woods, keith or bell but there could be a bench spot for him. I feel he might be really good in the 20-30 minute point in matches when he can use his line speed to great effect against bigger, tireder blokes.

it's exciting to have at the club. we're in a weird stage this year with LOTS of young talent but a seeming big gulf between our leaders and our youth so will be interesting to see who of the young kids can stand up. I think Buchanan may be one of them.

To be fair, Groat could be anything under Potter. Hopefully he carries at least two props a game every game this year and manages Woods better than Sheens did. I feared all last season that he would burn out playing the best part of 60 minutes a game.

yep fair point re: Groat. Given the circumstances he has played in over the last two years I have nothing but respect for the guy. not easy jumping into first grade as a 19/20 year old prop.

I think with the Gavet injury we will see Buchanan on the bench with Bell and potentially Bodene/Fulton/Pettybourne taking the other two spots in the second rowe. here's hoping to never having another winger on the bench!

 

[Guest]

I'd use Bodene Thompson ahead of him at this stage. Not as tall as Buchanan, but stronger and showed very good leg drive against the Eels. He hit the line and kept driving forward and will get better yet.

i see sheens has left his imprint on alot of you.

Really? How do you figure Bon? You see, I was at the game last Saturday night and the difference between Buchanan and Thompson was quite apparent. When Buchanan hit the line, he pretty much got stopped on the mark. He didn't get driven back, but he didn't continue to surge forward like Galloway and Woods do. Thompson on the other hand did continue to push forward when he hit the line and was surprisingly impressive for his second game in a long time and may prove to be better at prop than in the backrow.

So next time please spare me the Sheens crap. I'm more than capable of forming my own opinion and I'm happy Sheens is gone.

 

[Goose]

Look at full strength he is probably realistically option 5-6 in our front row stocks , but can't wait to see him and a few others against the Roosters even off the bench

Id have him a bit higher up the list, was very impressive in NYC last year, problem is we have a number of blokes all abnout the same, they look talented and have potential to be very good , but are a little bit short of NRL or at the very least unproven.

Ive heard contrasting views on Buchanan's game on the weekend, it seems most are saying he has good work rate, Willow (and a couple of others) have said he did not take the ball forward very well, a good judge i spoke to said he carried the ball nicely and was impressed with his speed of the play the ball. Also commented he was impressed he took first hit (or early hit ups after backs) up a number of times. obviously the hardest hit up to take. Fair to say the jury is still out.

 

[bonstonker]

I'd use Bodene Thompson ahead of him at this stage. Not as tall as Buchanan, but stronger and showed very good leg drive against the Eels. He hit the line and kept driving forward and will get better yet.

i see sheens has left his imprint on alot of you.

Really? How do you figure Bon? You see, I was at the game last Saturday night and the difference between Buchanan and Thompson was quite apparent. When Buchanan hit the line, he pretty much got stopped on the mark. He didn't get driven back, but he didn't continue to surge forward like Galloway and Woods do. Thompson on the other hand did continue to push forward when he hit the line and was surprisingly impressive for his second game in a long time and may prove to be better at prop than in the backrow.

So next time please spare me the Sheens crap. I'm more than capable of forming my own opinion and I'm happy Sheens is gone.

centre turned backrower now prop.
isn't that the type of thing you complained about with sheens.

a guy who can cover centre or prop.
something wrong in that picture.

playing prop isn't about leg drive.