wstigers11
Well-known member
Our pathways need desperate work and sufficient funding
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- Thread starter ancient_magpie
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Tiger Stripes
Well-known member
I think, in context, he meant spending TOO MUCH on too many.
But you must invest/spend something, but be more be selective. That's the hard part, getting that right.
Tigers_Wests
Well-known member
Good to see Magpies get the win after a stop start game due to a storm. Came out strongly and were up 10 nil with all the momentum when they were forced off due to lightning. Over an hour and a half later when they resumed, it was all the Dragons for a while for them to lead 18 to 10. Two tries gave us a 22 to 18 victory ( which included a try in the last 4 minutes to Christian Taupau-Moors).
PrattenParkMagpie
Well-known member
Good win, on face value you could look at the competition table and think the Steelers were are poor side languishing near the bottom on 1 point from 4 games but all 4 games have been against sides still undefeated including a 1 point loss to the Roosters and a draw against the strong Eels side last week so a great result for the Magpies.
balmain boy
Well-known member
The only way we could do that is to charge players to join us to lose
I found it to be a strange comment.
I think he was saying that unless they are on a development contract they should be playing for free.
Good in theory, but when we know every other club are paying at least some of their better players to stay with them, it’s hard if you are not doing the same to compete.
He mentioned kids 13-15 I believe. At that age a junior rep jersey is a honour and a privilege. If kids and parents are chasing dollars and not development at that age I say goodbye.
I understood it as not only limited to kids 13-15y.o he was referring to, but if he stipulated that was the only age bracket we are no longer paying, that is fair enough as they need to at least show us something when playing Matts or Ball to earn any sort of payment.
I took it as we were blowing a lot of money on the wrong kids, he was inferring that the money needs to go to the real keepers. Obviously that’s a skill (identifying them) in itself.
Yes I agree it is easier said than done identifying the best young talent between 15-19y.o as not many of them are consistently good at that age.
I’ve now watched a good portion of all our 6 junior rep teams games from yesterday and geez there was some very good individual performances, at least 1 or 2 standouts from each team.
Very difficult thing to do, yet the best clubs are miles ahead in it. I think the trick is to look for the athleticism first, the attitude second and the performance third.
You can fix up skills but god given stuff, not so much.
As a follower of our juniors, who are the most athletically gifted players coming through?
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Rock Hopper Steve
Well-known member
That's what we want to hear V, hopefully when they're out of nappies it starts to flow into depth in the higher grades.
Realistically if our large junior machine starts producing one or two gems for 1st grade every 2 years or so we should be in a good place and rapped, looks like we may have one at the moment, Makasini is looking very promising.
I’d say we have woken up and now mainly look for players who have something out of the ordinary in way of size, strength, speed, athleticism, aerobic capacity, toughness and aggression etc.
Taupau-Moors has the size, aerobic capacity and aggression. Godinet has the aerobic capacity in spades, good strength, athleticism and toughness. Havea Jr has plenty of skill, strength, toughness and aggression and his aerobic capacity looks decent. I really like the move for him alternating between hooker and lock and it seems to be working very well. I think the versatility of being able to fill 2 different, but important roles could prove the difference in helping him become a genuine NRL player within a couple of years.
Van Drie has unfortunately been out injured for the past month, but he seems to have plenty of skill, a good aerobic capacity and toughness.
I often go back to the example of Craig Fitzgibbon. From what I’m told he was a tall gangly winger who could not catch but his attitude and work ethic was second to none. Ended up one of the best back rowers of the modern era. Sometimes you have to look outside the box when watching juniors.
Oscar Martinez
Member
Not to be pedantic but I'd think a scout would be more interested in anaerobic capacity rather than aerobic.
I'm the most unathletic person you'd find , but I manage to run 3hr marathons by building my aerobic capacity. It's very trainable. You could train Richo to have it if he was willing to put in the work.
Anaerobic on the other hand, the ability to have explosive speed and strength and athleticism time after time while still making good decisions is rare.
That's what we lack.
Great post. And often in footy it’s hiding in plain sight. You don’t look at a Liam Martin or early years Jake Turbo and think great athlete. But the will and desire is next level.
That’s why investing in pathways should be more focused on coaching, high performance and talent identification.
You want someone watching closely to see who’s the first and last in the gym.
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