Juniors - Pathways General Discussion

The Club must be commended for the retention of our best 16-18yos in the Cubs squads announced yesterday.

The players missing from Cubs - Tallyn Da Silva, Solomone Saukuru, Kit Laulilii, Jordan Miller, Chris Faagutu, Tony Sukkar & Oliver Lawry are all on NRL Train & Trial full or pre-season contracts this season so they must supersede Cubs contracts.

The only ones who have been highly rated and are missing aside from Tajh Colquhoun who has been mentioned are Zak Clarke (Wests SG Ball 2nd rower), Elijah Mataale (Balmain SG Ball Best Forward), William Malloy (Balmain SG Ball B&F), Zac Gibson (Macarthur LDC Captain), Noah McKenzie (Macarthur LDC Best Back) & Luke Prebble (Macarthur LDC B&F).

I wonder if it's because they are too old for Cubs & will be moving up to Jersey Flegg anyway next season particularly Clarke, Mataale & Malloy. @KingRobbie do you know?
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
The Club must be commended for the retention of our best 16-18yos in the Cubs squads announced yesterday.

The players missing from Cubs - Tallyn Da Silva, Solomone Saukuru, Kit Laulilii, Jordan Miller, Chris Faagutu, Tony Sukkar & Oliver Lawry are all on NRL Train & Trial full or pre-season contracts this season so they must supersede Cubs contracts.

The only ones who have been highly rated and are missing aside from Tajh Colquhoun who has been mentioned are Zak Clarke (Wests SG Ball 2nd rower), Elijah Mataale (Balmain SG Ball Best Forward), William Malloy (Balmain SG Ball B&F), Zac Gibson (Macarthur LDC Captain), Noah McKenzie (Macarthur LDC Best Back) & Luke Prebble (Macarthur LDC B&F).

I wonder if it's because they are too old for Cubs & will be moving up to Jersey Flegg anyway next season particularly Clarke, Mataale & Malloy. @KingRobbie do you know?
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Not 100%, I originally thought all the Cubs - Black players were first-year SG Ball from this year, but then I saw Ofele Lene which confused me.

I do know that in Mataale's case, he's already been moved up to the Flegg squad and is training with them now, which is why he's not included.

Might be the same for some of the others.
 
Does anyone know when this year's State Of Origin U19 game is being played?

Last year it was the night after SOO2.

Josh Feledy, Solomone Saukuru, Tony Sukkar (NSW) & Chris Faagutu (QLD) must be in contention as our leading 19yos.

Maybe Tallyn Da Silva, Jordan Miller & Kit Laulilii if they consider 18yos.
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
Does anyone know when this year's State Of Origin U19 game is being played?

Last year it was the night after SOO2.

Josh Feledy, Solomone Saukuru, Tony Sukkar (NSW) & Chris Faagutu (QLD) must be in contention as our leading 19yos.

Maybe Tallyn Da Silva, Jordan Miller & Kit Laulilii if they consider 18yos.
Click to expand...
I'm pretty sure it's the same this year in Sydney
 
weststigerman said:
Coming back to something Sheens said last year about knowing who the spine will be in a few years time. It was vague at the time, but is it becoming clearer?

1. Bula
6. Large
7. Conti
9. Da Silva
Click to expand...

I have no idea regarding 7 and 6 but Bula is getting it done now in first grade and Da Silva appears to be next on the list to get promoted.

Things are looking up.
 
weststigerman said:
Coming back to something Sheens said last year about knowing who the spine will be in a few years time. It was vague at the time, but is it becoming clearer?

1. Bula
6. Large
7. Conti
9. Da Silva
Click to expand...
I reckon you’re on the money.

For clarification on their age as of 2023:

1. Bula (U/21)
6. Large (U/16)
7. Conti (U/17)
9. Da Silva (U/18)
 
weststigerman said:
Coming back to something Sheens said last year about knowing who the spine will be in a few years time. It was vague at the time, but is it becoming clearer?

1. Bula
6. Large
7. Conti
9. Da Silva
Click to expand...
there's been a lot of conjecture as to who fills the fullback and halfback positions of Sheens' 'future spine'. for a long time, it was thought that the fullback was either Luke Laulili'i or Ali Karnib, and the halfback role was split between Alex Conti and Alex Isdale.

the rise and rise of Jahream Bula has almost certainly made him the 1 for the next decade. the week before he debuted, Sheens said he was "a decent chance of being our fullback long term". given how he's taken to first grade it would take something truly special to unseat him.

Laulili'i is ahead of Karnib for mine but they're 17 and 16 respectively and a long way away from firsts. two very different styles of fullback. Laulili'i is the more traditional type, utilises his physical gifts and sniffs around the middle, but has worked hard on his passing game. Karnib the more skilful type and can easily transfer his skillset to the centres.

Onitoni is Onitoni. club has him locked away and he will push his way into first grade by 2025. if he continues on this trajectory then the sky is truly the limit.

Alex Conti for mine is far and away the best halfback prospect at the club. owns the big moments, brilliant short kicking game, throws an excellent right to left pass and is only going to get better. union is the big worry.

Isdale had a massive U15s Aus Schoolboys tournament and having Large outside him may help his prospects, but I thought his first year of Matts was a little underwhelming. to prise him away from Parramatta we would've signed him on some sort of incentivised contract, so I'd expect him to be given every chance to prove himself.

we all know about Tallyn. very very exciting.
 
jrtiger said:
there's been a lot of conjecture as to who fills the fullback and halfback positions of Sheens' 'future spine'. for a long time, it was thought that the fullback was either Luke Laulili'i or Ali Karnib, and the halfback role was split between Alex Conti and Alex Isdale.

the rise and rise of Jahream Bula has almost certainly made him the 1 for the next decade. the week before he debuted, Sheens said he was "a decent chance of being our fullback long term". given how he's taken to first grade it would take something truly special to unseat him.

Laulili'i is ahead of Karnib for mine but they're 17 and 16 respectively and a long way away from firsts. two very different styles of fullback. Laulili'i is the more traditional type, utilises his physical gifts and sniffs around the middle, but has worked hard on his passing game. Karnib the more skilful type and can easily transfer his skillset to the centres.

Onitoni is Onitoni. club has him locked away and he will push his way into first grade by 2025. if he continues on this trajectory then the sky is truly the limit.

Alex Conti for mine is far and away the best halfback prospect at the club. owns the big moments, brilliant short kicking game, throws an excellent right to left pass and is only going to get better. union is the big worry.

Isdale had a massive U15s Aus Schoolboys tournament and having Large outside him may help his prospects, but I thought his first year of Matts was a little underwhelming. to prise him away from Parramatta we would've signed him on some sort of incentivised contract, so I'd expect him to be given every chance to prove himself.

we all know about Tallyn. very very exciting.
Click to expand...
Well summed up. Having transferrable skills to play another position (wing/centre) for Laulili'i and Karnib will help their chances of making it in the NRL. Not too many players jump out of the grades straight into a starting NRL fullback role like Bula has done. Can find a place for them if they continue progressing through the grades.

Knowing that Conti is managed by Braith Anasta makes me uneasy. The kid is definitely talented but will he be steered down a different path..
 
Tigers_Wests said:
Well summed up. Having transferrable skills to play another position (wing/centre) for Laulili'i and Karnib will help their chances of making it in the NRL. Not too many players jump out of the grades straight into a starting NRL fullback role like Bula has done. Can find a place for them if they continue progressing through the grades.

Knowing that Conti is managed by Braith Anasta makes me uneasy. The kid is definitely talented but will he be steered down a different path..
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Karnib had some excellent moments on the wing for Wests but he's a long way away and there's guys ahead of him in the queue for mine. been reported in a few places that Laulili'i will do his first preseason with WT in November which will be huge for his development.

the Conti/Anasta thing doesn't worry me too much. Anasta was reportedly very impressed by Sheens and Marshall when they rolled out the red carpet for Munster and he also has a good relationship with the pair of them, given he was signed by Sheens and played with Marshall. as long as we look after his client and ensure that there is a path to first grade for him, which I believe has been made crystal clear, then it will be fine.
 
jrtiger said:
Karnib had some excellent moments on the wing for Wests but he's a long way away and there's guys ahead of him in the queue for mine. been reported in a few places that Laulili'i will do his first preseason with WT in November which will be huge for his development.

the Conti/Anasta thing doesn't worry me too much. Anasta was reportedly very impressed by Sheens and Marshall when they rolled out the red carpet for Munster and he also has a good relationship with the pair of them, given he was signed by Sheens and played with Marshall. as long as we look after his client and ensure that there is a path to first grade for him, which I believe has been made crystal clear, then it will be fine.
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Oh yeah, long way to go for them both for sure. Just saying that even the most highly touted fullback juniors tend to start on a wing/centre in NRL first. If they get there and showcase that talent, we could still try and accommodate them. Good that we have lots of talent in the pipeline. The more high quality ones we have, the better chances of a few going on to make it. A lot to play out in this space, but certainly exciting to see who can kick on over the coming years!

I hope you're right about Conti/Anasta.
 
jrtiger said:
Onitoni is Onitoni. club has him locked away and he will push his way into first grade by 2025. if he continues on this trajectory then the sky is truly the limit.
Click to expand...
I think it will have to be 2026 at the earliest unless we seek an exemption, I wouldn't want to rush him. He isn't 18 until 2025 and turns it after the regular season finishes.
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
Does anyone know when this year's State Of Origin U19 game is being played?

Last year it was the night after SOO2.

Josh Feledy, Solomone Saukuru, Tony Sukkar (NSW) & Chris Faagutu (QLD) must be in contention as our leading 19yos.

Maybe Tallyn Da Silva, Jordan Miller & Kit Laulilii if they consider 18yos.
Click to expand...
www.nrl.com

NRL confirms Under-19s State of Origin at Redcliffe

The Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) has confirmed the 2023 Under-19s male and female State of Origin matches will be played on Thursday, July 13 at Kayo Stadium, Redcliffe.
www.nrl.com www.nrl.com
 
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