Blocker1963
Well-known member
Anybody got the article in the Daily Telegraph, (Benji's Babes )
Juniors - Pathways General Discussion
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NRL 2022: Rising Wests Tigers stars that could define Benji Marshall’s career as a head coach
Wests Tigers are building a five-year junior pathways strategy to prepare for life under Benji Marshall. See the premiership-winning Harold Matthews stars that could define the club’s future.Fatima Kdouh
The Wests Tigers are building a five-year pathways plan to help ensure the club’s best young talent will be ready for when Benji Marshall takes over as coach.
Marshall will be an assistant and understudy to Tim Sheens over the next two seasons before taking over as coach of the Tigers in 2025.
The club’s head of pathways, Matt Betsey, said the Tigers’ focus on junior development would play a crucial role in Marshall’s success at Concord.
It will start with the development of the joint-venture’s premiership-winning Harold Matthews side, which has some of the hottest rising prospects in the game, including Tallyn Da Silva, Jordan Miller, Jeremiah Leatigaga, Kit Laulilii, Lachlan Galvin and James Folaumoetui.
“We’re looking at the 17 and 18-year-olds, so when Benji takes over in a couple of years he has the best of our local talent, the best on offer to build the roster he needs at the NRL level,” Betsey said.
“The Wests Harold Matthews team that won the premiership this year, they lead that group of players and we have worked hard to lock them in for the next couple of seasons. They will get a taste of NRL training over the next couple of years and be ready to go in two or three years.”
It’s understood Marshall even met with the managers of the club’s rising talent to get guarantees they would commit to the Tigers long-term.
Marshall has also taken a hands-on approach in a bid to foster a relationship with the youngsters as part of the Tigers’ cubs program.
“He went to all their training sessions, he worked with all the players,” Betsey said.
“The halves in particular, just started to build a connection with them and pass on some knowledge.
“He was great. He got in there and was actually active in training sessions with players and jumped into all the drills. They are starting to respond to that. He already has relationships with the younger players that will be part of his group as an assistant coach and then as a head coach.”
Sheens, who helped guide the Wests Tigers to their first title in 2005, has also been proactive in the pathways programs and recently met with junior coaches to outline a club-wide mandate for success.
“He was at a session with our junior coaching staff to outline what the expectations are and what the style of play he is looking for at NRL level, but how we drive that through the whole club,” Betsey said.
The Tigers had a forgettable NRL season, finishing last for the first time in the joint-venture’s history.
The club has made some astute signings for next year – three-time premiership-winning hooker Apisai Koroisau and Isaiah Papali’i – as part of its immediate rebuild.
However, Betsey accepts that the long-term, sustained success the club has failed to deliver can only be achieved through a dedicated investment in junior pathways.
“We have a five-to-seven-year viewpoint as opposed to winning week in, week out,” Betsey said. “It does take time. We started 12 or 18 months ago and we are only starting to see the tip of the iceberg.
“We want to develop them and support them as they come through and have that long- term development plan in place, so once we do get success it’s sustainable, that we have a pipeline of talent for the NRL and NRLW.”
TIGERS’ YOUNG TALENT TIME
JORDAN MILLERPosition: Front row
After struggling to get a look into the Harold Matthews side in the past, Miller finished the season with a man-of-the-match performance in the grand final against Cronulla.
“Jordan is a big front rower with a really good engine for someone his age,” Betsey said.
“He’s the player that would get the team going forward in every game, he leads from the front, literally.
“He’s able to give all of our other players time and space to do what they are good at. He was exceptional. He was called into the Australian Schoolboys side.
“He is a talented middle we want to help progress through junior football into the elite level.”
Jordan Miller is making strides at the Wests Tigers. Picture: Liam Kidston
TALLYN DA SILVA
Position: Hooker
Silva is a wily dummy half, with a strong running and passing game, and an ability to read the game. He has also made strides defensively this year.
“Tallyn is a hooker with all the skills and talent. He is extremely athletic and has a really good game sense,” Betsey said.
“He’s a beneficiary of Miller’s work, with him being able to get in there and do his job and make some good choices about where the attack is going to go.
“He is someone we are looking to develop long term. With Api Koroisau coming in, he’ll learn a lot from him.
“In two or three years whenever Api is done, hopefully Tallyn will be a replacement option for him at NRL level.”
Tallyn Da Silva could be the man to succeed Api Koroisau at hooker. Picture: Jonathan Ng
LACHLAN GALVIN
Position: Backrow
Galvin started as a five-eighth and was moved onto an edge where he has excelled as a back-rower with ball skills. A move back into the halves is a real possibility in his future.
“Lachlan is a really strong back-rower. He played really well for Wests but also in the Cubs program,” Betsey said.
“We took him on a tour to New Zealand, where he played against the Warriors over there, and he produced a really strong performance. He can find space on the edge. He has a bit of growing to do physically but once he grows into his body and builds a bit of muscle, he’ll be a really good option for us going forward on the edge.”
Lachlan Galvin is a versatile ball runner. Picture: Jonathan Ng
KIT LAULILII
Position: Lock
Laulilii has been the side’s captain for the last three years, where is leadership ability and come to the fore.
“Kit played lock this year and he is just a really strong runner of the ball and is really good in defence,” Betsey said.
“He’s a very strong kid with a really bright future if he continues on this track. He was also the captain of the side. Kit is a genuinely good person, and is a great leader on and off the field.”
Kit Laulilii is growing into a leader at the Wests Tigers. Picture: Richard Dobson
TAJH COLQUHOUN
Position: Wing
Colquhoun is on the club’s most versatile backline prospects, the youngster can play at fullback, on the edge and even in the halves.
“Tajh scored a heap of points for us as goal kicker and on the wing, he’s a great finisher. He played with the Patrician Brothers Fairfield that won the Schoolboy Cup this year. He’s certainly a player to watch for us,” Betsey said.
WILLIAM CRAIG
Position: Centre/Fullback
Craig had mostly played at fullback before moving to centre this year, where he excelled on the edge.
“Will performed really well in the centres, he really came along this year. He went really well defensively but he’s also a young lad that can break some tackles on the edge there. He’s another one of our really solid players out wide,” Betsey said.
Just posted mate.
Tiger_Fanatic3
Well-known member
balmain boy
Well-known member
Given the talent in the Matts squad this year I guess there just wasn't room for him too...
trentrunciman
Well-known member
Please stay at the tigers
Bus 2 Terrigal
Well-known member
The strong Camden Rams club are/have created some interesting pathways. The junior club of Trent Robinson & James Tedesco. Also boom outside back prospect Lachlan Dooner (Rooster Matt’s Cup). Tom Fisher now heads to Bulldogs and I notice two other Camden Rams have bobbed up in the 2023 Canberra Raiders junior rep squads.
balmain boy
Well-known member
So signing Navren Willet from the Knights on a 4 year deal. That's a long deal for a kid, anyone know much about him?
C
Cobarcats
Guest
Theres stuff out there but nothing intense. He is on facebook apparently but I don't have it. Your right, 4 years is a show of faith hey.
6 tries in 7 games for Newcastle Harold Matt’s this year. Played centre.
Looks like he only really kicked on this year as he was playing for North Coast in Andrew Johns Cup last year (usually the gun juniors play two years of Matt’s/Ball rather than playing Johns/Daley Cup in between).
Think he turns 18 in 2023.
Tigers_Wests
Well-known member
Must have shown something that impressed Sheens/McDonnell/Benji. 2 years of SG Ball and assuming 2 years of Flegg (with a chance to prove himself for higher honors in the later years).
Wonder if he aligns with what will be another very strong Wests team or with Balmain.
Tigers_Wests
Well-known member
Just tracked down and watched his tries through Knights highlights. 3 were simply catch the ball and put down. 2 required him to take a bomb to score and 1 he used a show of strength at the line to get the ball to the ground. Looks very tall....but none of his tries showed off his speed (if he has any), so can't comment on that.
Good luck to him! Hope he kicks on and kills it for us!
pawsandclaws1
Well-known member
Bula, Ngutlik and Willet are all tall athletes. It's good to see we are recruiting players who also have athletic attributes.
Balmain mate, named in their summer SG Ball squad.
Wests/Macarthur Junior Rep Trials 🔥
Kirkham Oval, Elderslie.
BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
Finally some good weather. @KingRobbie do you know when the Magpies will announce their summer train-on squads?
Not 100%.
I do know that the majority of the squads trialling today have already been picked.
The best players from next year’s Matt’s, Ball etc. have already been picked out, contracted and aren’t trialling today.
Today is mostly to ID possibly unseen talent and then fill the remainder of the squads with those who aren’t yet officially contracted to the club.
I assume the squads will be picked not long after they assess today’s games, so probably sometime next week?
Tigers_Wests
Well-known member
Any standouts that you spotted today mate?
A few, but didn’t know their names.
Like I said, most of the best talent has already been contracted/selected and told not to trial.
I was only there for a bit, supporting some of my younger brother’s teammates who were trialling.
Ali Karnib and a few of the other kids who’ll play their first year of Matt’s next year were there watching.
