tsjonathan
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SINCE it’s inception in 2008 the National Youth Competition has been the preferred breeding ground for young talent in the NRL.
Some of the modern day greats of the game cut their teeth in the Under 20s and a number of clubs have built their success on the back of powerful junior sides.
With that in mind, we’ve taken a look at every club in order to figure out which team has gotten the best value from their Under 20s graduates, ranking them from 16th to 1st.
Programming note: Players are counted for the club with whom they made their Under 20s debut, not their NRL debut. For example — Peta Hiku played Under 20s for the Warriors but made his first grade debut for Manly, so he is counted as a Warriors graduate…
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**WESTS TIGERS
Graduates: 38 (2nd)
Hits: Underrated with their junior development and talent identification, the Tigers have been consistent contenders in the under-20s, winning the competition in 2012 and making the grand final in 2009\. James Tedesco, Luke Brooks and Mitch Moses are the most-hyped players to come through their system and Aaron Woods is the most decorated but names like Rob Lui, David Nofoaluma, Curtis Sironen, Sauaso Sue and Marika Koroibete have all become consistent first-graders. The flow of talent is still continuing to trickle through with the likes of Mania Cherrington and Kyle Lovett getting their first taste of NRL in 2015.
Misses: In seven seasons of the under-20s, nobody has ever had a year quite like Jake Mullaney in 2009\. The Eaglevale-St Andrews junior swept all before him on the way to an incredible total of 29 tries and 103 goals for a ridiculous tally of 322 points as he led the Tigers to a grand final berth. Lightning quick and adept at breaking tackles, Mullaney was let go by the Tigers as the club opted to instead commit to James Tedesco. However, Mullaney made his belated NRL debut for Parramatta in 2012-13 and served ably as Jarryd Hayne’s backup before heading to England where he’s had stints with Salford and Bradford.\
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They definitely should have kept: The Tigers had a potential all-Origin front row on their hands when Andrew Fifita came through the ranks but despite his obvious promise he was allowed to leave at the end of 2011 in order to create salary cap space for Adam Blair. The Tigers also would like to still have the services of giant Fijian winger Taqele Naiyaravoro, who has since joined the Waratahs and was recently named in the Wallabies squad for the Rugby Championship.**
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NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Graduates: 47 (1st)
Hits: The undisputed champions of the under-20s, the Warriors have three premierships to their name and have produced more players than any other club. The hits are almost too numerous to mention — Shaun Johnson and Ben Matulino are probably the two best but they’ve also cultivated Elijah Taylor, Konrad Hurrell, Solomone Kata, Sam Lisone, Albert Vete, Russell Packer, Tuimoala Lolohea, Ben Henry, David Fusitu’a and Glen Fisiiahi, just to name a few.
Misses: The story of Omar Slaimankhel is well known. The son of refugees from Afghanistan, Slaimankhel was a try-scoring machine in his three seasons in the under 20s, running in 47 from 51 games and playing in back-to-back premiership teams in 2010-11\. A dual code star at schoolboy level, Slaimankhel made his first-grade debut in 2012, playing five games on the wing, but then opted to join Japanese rugby club Canon Eagles. Slaimankhel returned to rugby league midway through 2015 when he signed for the Roosters.
They definitely should have kept: There’s only so much room in New Zealand and a steady torrent of ex-Warriors have travelled across the Tasman to fill out NRL squads around the country. Peta Hiku, Sosaia Feki, Sio Siua Taukeiaho and Isaac John are the best of the expats.
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http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/which-club-has-gotten-the-best-players-from-their-under-20s-teams/story-fndv2us0-1227445333134
Some of the modern day greats of the game cut their teeth in the Under 20s and a number of clubs have built their success on the back of powerful junior sides.
With that in mind, we’ve taken a look at every club in order to figure out which team has gotten the best value from their Under 20s graduates, ranking them from 16th to 1st.
Programming note: Players are counted for the club with whom they made their Under 20s debut, not their NRL debut. For example — Peta Hiku played Under 20s for the Warriors but made his first grade debut for Manly, so he is counted as a Warriors graduate…
\
\
**WESTS TIGERS
Graduates: 38 (2nd)
Hits: Underrated with their junior development and talent identification, the Tigers have been consistent contenders in the under-20s, winning the competition in 2012 and making the grand final in 2009\. James Tedesco, Luke Brooks and Mitch Moses are the most-hyped players to come through their system and Aaron Woods is the most decorated but names like Rob Lui, David Nofoaluma, Curtis Sironen, Sauaso Sue and Marika Koroibete have all become consistent first-graders. The flow of talent is still continuing to trickle through with the likes of Mania Cherrington and Kyle Lovett getting their first taste of NRL in 2015.
Misses: In seven seasons of the under-20s, nobody has ever had a year quite like Jake Mullaney in 2009\. The Eaglevale-St Andrews junior swept all before him on the way to an incredible total of 29 tries and 103 goals for a ridiculous tally of 322 points as he led the Tigers to a grand final berth. Lightning quick and adept at breaking tackles, Mullaney was let go by the Tigers as the club opted to instead commit to James Tedesco. However, Mullaney made his belated NRL debut for Parramatta in 2012-13 and served ably as Jarryd Hayne’s backup before heading to England where he’s had stints with Salford and Bradford.\
\
They definitely should have kept: The Tigers had a potential all-Origin front row on their hands when Andrew Fifita came through the ranks but despite his obvious promise he was allowed to leave at the end of 2011 in order to create salary cap space for Adam Blair. The Tigers also would like to still have the services of giant Fijian winger Taqele Naiyaravoro, who has since joined the Waratahs and was recently named in the Wallabies squad for the Rugby Championship.**
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\
\
NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Graduates: 47 (1st)
Hits: The undisputed champions of the under-20s, the Warriors have three premierships to their name and have produced more players than any other club. The hits are almost too numerous to mention — Shaun Johnson and Ben Matulino are probably the two best but they’ve also cultivated Elijah Taylor, Konrad Hurrell, Solomone Kata, Sam Lisone, Albert Vete, Russell Packer, Tuimoala Lolohea, Ben Henry, David Fusitu’a and Glen Fisiiahi, just to name a few.
Misses: The story of Omar Slaimankhel is well known. The son of refugees from Afghanistan, Slaimankhel was a try-scoring machine in his three seasons in the under 20s, running in 47 from 51 games and playing in back-to-back premiership teams in 2010-11\. A dual code star at schoolboy level, Slaimankhel made his first-grade debut in 2012, playing five games on the wing, but then opted to join Japanese rugby club Canon Eagles. Slaimankhel returned to rugby league midway through 2015 when he signed for the Roosters.
They definitely should have kept: There’s only so much room in New Zealand and a steady torrent of ex-Warriors have travelled across the Tasman to fill out NRL squads around the country. Peta Hiku, Sosaia Feki, Sio Siua Taukeiaho and Isaac John are the best of the expats.
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http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/which-club-has-gotten-the-best-players-from-their-under-20s-teams/story-fndv2us0-1227445333134
