I don’t like being critical of any young players as it can always bite you in the backside as sometimes it is just the flick of a mental switch to see them become much improved players very quickly.Where did I say I expect them to be game changers? I'm expecting the bare [This word has been automatically removed]ing minimum. Effort!
Your second paragraph is ridiculous logic. It's not what I can do. It's what they need to do in Flegg, then the step up in NSW Cup, then the step up again in NRL. The sample size might be small, but he has failed in all three Flegg games I've watched so far. Like I wrote, the bad habits were on display from the kick-off.
If he, and all the other players that are name-dropped in the development forum can't consistently show it (or show it at all) in lower grades, what says they can in reserve grade or NRL when the pressure is really on? He's got some skill, but so did hundreds and thousands of other players that never made it before him. Faagatu is the only one of those three mentioned who is NRL development so he should be leading from the front with effort and discipline in basic defensive process at Flegg level, but he is consistently the one letting it down in the games I've seen. In no way is he ready for reserve grade, just as the rest of the kids in reserve grade with Magpies aren't ready for reserve grade.
Looks like the recruiters have also been dazzled by a little sleight of hand and some run with the pill under the arm, but totally ignore defensive and transition efforts.
However I agree with you as I am also yet the see Faagatu have a standout game and o think it’s a similar story with Kit.
I agree that these types of players we seem to keep selecting have very poor defensive work ethic and currently not enough attacking impact to turn a blind eye to their defensive weaknesses.
We talk about our extremely poor line speed and lack of aggression defensively at NRL level, yet do nothing to fix it or select players who demonstrate it in our feeder teams.