Juniors - Pathways General Discussion

Vicious said:
Shaun Mielekamp recently made a very good point regarding questions as to why the club is not doing a lot more in providing information, discussing and highlighting our promising players.
Like many others, my nitrous are we should be doing a lot more as it could make our younger and emerging players feel good about themselves and hopefully make them feel more attached to the club by seeing articles about themselves from within the club.
Shaun pointed out that he feels by highlighting our best younger and emerging players, although it would be good communication and reading for our fans, it also highlights them to our rival clubs and potentially makes them a bigger target.
Our club gets heavily criticised by myself included when we lose promising young or emerging players such as Cooper Clarke to rival clubs, so it does make a bit of sense to limit their exposure as much as possible.
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That's absolute rubbish. SM cannot possibly be so naive.

Scouts are at or watching all these games. The people that need to know who the best players are know who the best players are. Whether we promote them or not.

Choosing to ignore our young talent only makes them feel unappreciated.
 
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putting large money into scouts is a waste of money ,just listen to trusted staff in the local comps , x players out n about ,then in a blue moon send a club rep-S Gallant as an example to NZ England QLD and the island , for 6wks,
 
balmain boy said:
That's absolute rubbish. SM cannot possibly be so naive.

Scouts are at or watching all these games. The people that need to know who the best players are know who the best players are. Whether we promote them or not.

Choosing to ignore our young talent only makes them feel unappreciated.
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That’s what I always thought as well, but until Shaun mentioned it I never really thought about the added exposure it brings when highlighting and putting your clubs best rising stars on a pedestal.
I can now see the pros and cons.
Yes other clubs will certainly be well aware of them regardless, but I can also see it could create added demand when their own club really highlights them and puts them on a pedestal.
 
Vicious said:
That’s what I always thought as well, but until Shaun mentioned it I never really thought about the added exposure it brings when highlighting and putting your clubs best rising stars on a pedestal.
I can now see the pros and cons.
Yes other clubs will certainly be well aware of them regardless, but I can also see it could create added demand when their own club really highlights them and puts them on a pedestal.
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Definitely don't put them on a pedestal, but having player profiles, occasional interviews, match previews and reviews, highlights or live streams of all matches isn't doing that. We have a lot to learn from clubs live the Panthers, Souths, and even Parra, Knights and Canberra...
 
What are peoples thoughts about the club putting all the best players in the Magpies Matts and Balls teams and the remaining players in the Balmain teams? Essentially habing an A and B team.

For me, i see it as plain stupid. If they are going to do that, then just have one team. Why enter "B" teams only to get flogged every week.

That being said, maybe this move will help with the stupid myth some have that this is a Balmain oriented merger, although im sure they would still complain
 
king_sirro said:
What are peoples thoughts about the club putting all the best players in the Magpies Matts and Balls teams and the remaining players in the Balmain teams? Essentially habing an A and B team.

For me, i see it as plain stupid. If they are going to do that, then just have one team. Why enter "B" teams only to get flogged every week.

That being said, maybe this move will help with the stupid myth some have that this is a Balmain oriented merger, although im sure they would still complain
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Just BS politics that plagues this club
 
New opportunity on the horizon for Campbelltown juniors
Tuesday 3 November 2026

NSWRL and Wests Tigers Macarthur District Junior Rugby League (WTMDJRL) are working towards the formation of a new club in the area for the 2027 season to ensure more than 300 local juniors are not disadvantaged following the collapse of Campbelltown Collegians Junior Rugby League Football Club.

A meeting was held recently involving NSWRL officials including Chief Executive David Trodden, WTMDJRL officials, representatives from Campbelltown Catholic Club, who had supported Collegians in the past, and a working group for the new club.

The outcome of the meeting was extremely positive with NSWRL and WTMDJRL now assisting a working group to form a new club complete with a name, logo and constitution before an Expression of Interest (EOI) is put towards the district for consideration for the 2027 season.

“It was great to have all key stakeholders in the room and on the same page working towards an outcome to ensure local juniors have an uninterrupted access to Rugby League in exactly the same environment that they have previously enjoyed,” Trodden said.

“The Campbelltown district has always been a tremendous nursery for Rugby League players, and it is strategically one of the most important areas in the game. We are committed to working towards solutions to improve and nurture the sustained growth in this region.

“I’d especially like to thank the Campbelltown Catholic Club for not only hosting the meeting, but for being a key driver in supporting the positive outcomes of the meeting, and for the continued support of the WTMDJRL Board and their Chair Daniel Draper.

“Our staff will continue to support the WTMDJRL Board and the club working group to hopefully bring a favourable outcome.”

WTMDJRL Chair Daniel Draper said: “As a board WTMDJRL will continue to work with NSWRL and the club working group in a positive manner towards the formation of a new club.

“It is great to see that there is a real passion and investment in ensuring local kids can continue to play Rugby League for a local club.”

Spokesperson for the Club Working Group Andrew Thornton said: “We have been provided with a conceivable way forward to form a new club to allow the local kids to continue to play together.

“There is plenty of hard work to do but we are optimistic that with the support we have already garnered we are heading in the right direction.”
 
king_sirro said:
What are peoples thoughts about the club putting all the best players in the Magpies Matts and Balls teams and the remaining players in the Balmain teams? Essentially habing an A and B team.

For me, i see it as plain stupid. If they are going to do that, then just have one team. Why enter "B" teams only to get flogged every week.

That being said, maybe this move will help with the stupid myth some have that this is a Balmain oriented merger, although im sure they would still complain
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Has this been proposed or going to happen?
 
king_sirro said:
I believe its going to happen
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We will end up losing some of our best talent from the Balmain junior district as they will be able to join and play at clubs much closer to their home addresses, rather than travelling to Campbelltown.
I don’t mind the idea of having one strong team, but it should be called Wests Tigers and at least mix training and games between Campbelltown and Concord.
I’m not sure what would be achieved by having a B Team that would be lambs to the slaughter in most games they play.
 
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king_sirro said:
What are peoples thoughts about the club putting all the best players in the Magpies Matts and Balls teams and the remaining players in the Balmain teams? Essentially habing an A and B team.

For me, i see it as plain stupid. If they are going to do that, then just have one team. Why enter "B" teams only to get flogged every week.

That being said, maybe this move will help with the stupid myth some have that this is a Balmain oriented merger, although im sure they would still complain
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They've been doing this for years. Nothing new

Just look at balmains roster and results in 2025. All the best from sw play for the pies, the best from inner west go to Balmain, nearly all external recruits go to Wests
 
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