@rustycage All good. There are some encouraging talents coming through in my opinion. We mightn’t have superstars but we do have a very good group.

Let’s hope they all keep improving.

@rustycage I don’t think anyone is saying he (or Lee Silva) is the next Blake Ferguson. Yes you need talent but you also need the will to win & they had both. A stock standard winger that does under 11 secs for the 100m, can catch the high ball and tackles and intimidates his opposite number I think will go alright. The try saver v Cronulla caught my eye also and he scored plenty of tries when he did get the chance. I suggest you also take a look at his schoolboy highlights which could be a good pointer of things to come if you want to look at real speed and pretty scary defence even for union which I would normally be very suspect and not a fan of when it comes to league.

He’s not the only one coming through though. Smith, Mavonni, Burey, Cini, Dillon, Stevanovic, Wilson - all have immense talent that sounds like you haven’t watched all season. They did win 6 out of their last 7 with some going up to CC so that must count for something.

I’m an old Wests Tigers supporter, watcher of younger grades and an optimist obviously. Maybe I do have the goggles on about our youth but I’ve watched enough over the years to know we have the ability to bring these young players through very successfully.

@balmain-boy I agree. What I struggle with a bit is that with some of our young talent coming through, we can see they need more time but I think we could support them a bit better.

I realise there are only so many development contracts but we seem to hand them out to the next lot coming through in the hope they will be the goods and leave the ones we already have behind. Some take the opportunity with both hands but there are those who don’t always produce for whatever reason (living off reputation etc) and haven’t had to really fight for it.

We wonder then why the ones showing potential but have the will to succeed get snapped up.

Having been to most Flegg games last year and this year, looked at highlight clips from the net etc, how somebody like Felix Smith, Lee Silva, Scolari and others aren’t being encouraged coming through is puzzling. They have talent and even the mongrel but most importantly the will to succeed so we should be taking these things into account when deciding who needs more development support.

Hell, we might even have a better chance to hang onto them!

@Madge That’s him Mavoni alright Madge!! I really like him and Felix Smith.

@Russell From my JF observations this year real talent should come from a couple of the following and but there were also many others:

Forwards

• Felix Smith - a tireless worker that gives 110% and made metres every single game. Rewarded with a couple of CC games and didn’t disappoint. Worthy award winner as JF player of the year and was definitely my pick of the players this year.

• Michael Fenn - big unit and tough who came across late in the season;

• Mavoni - see below. Came off bench but is a real impact player and belted the opposition many times with hard runs which at times were scary.

Backs

• Burey (5/8) - thought he developed better as the season went along and went well in CC from the games I watched;

• Dillon - exciting player and unlucky with injury and may need some more size. Has acceleration but also needs to know when to pass after he has done all the good work.

• Lee Silver - 2nd year in JF and really improved out of sight this year being a year older and made a lot of good metres. Solid and tried his heart out every week he got a chance.

• Scolari - new to the club this year and from a rugby background but did play league at young junior level in Dubbo. Tough as nails and very quick - has no fear. Looking at some of his YouTube clips he needs to be careful with his ‘hits’ technique or could find himself on the sidelines a bit. Fred is correct in that he’s raw (positioning needs work) and I think he needs to get bigger also. Could transition to an awesome lock with his speed and mongrel and a bit more size over the off season. Got promoted to CC last game and I hear from senior players went very well.

• Wilson - worthy players’ player and tackled well on the right edge with his winger. Again size? but can make it to the top. Showed good speed and also was a leader during a difficult season but helped captain them to a run of 6 wins in a row and almost steal a semis spot which is a good sign.

• Cini - scored a lot of tries at centre and an Australian schoolboy rep so should have something. Again his first year out of school so like some of these it’s amazing what can happen from 19 - 20 over the off season as they develop and train.

There were others who came on really well as the season progressed. I do like Mavoni who is big and a basher up the middle - sadly he was injured with about a month to go.

Yes other clubs have talent also coming through but I think you’ll find that we do too with the right support and pathways.

@balmain-boy Totally understand that the courts wouldn’t allow it due to restraint of trade but surely all this nonsense (and let’s be clear we don’t know what really has happened with Matterson just yet) could be contained if contracts are limited to one or two years only for coaches and players?

Longer term contracts are fraught with danger because they don’t take into account changes over the term (good and bad) and also breed complacency.

No player or coach movement for that period and surely an easier way to manage injuries and the salary cap and also limit the chance from both sides that they wish to renege on an agreed deal?

Three, four and five years is a long time in business and things can change rapidly.

People’s word and signed contracts mean nothing obviously when their circumstances change and yet we persist in allowing these longer term deals to take place where in many cases clubs, players and coaches are unhappy for whatever reason.

I find the ease and ability for a coach, club or player to easily pull out of an agreed deal and the example it sets to the younger players coming through as diabolical.

Certainly I’d be telling my son to be very wary of any long term deal and if you really want to win a comp and get a better deal then you have to be loyal, ethical and do your best to get an upgrade after your contract is up after the 12 to 24 months. I can only go by example. If he’s good enough that will be my advice to him.

Everyone seems to get excited and to secure a contract offer the world but as soon as something doesn’t go one’s way it’s now “I know we had a contract but…”.

I have no time for club, coach or player that wishes to renege on a deal unless it is mutually agreed (which would be rare). If Matterson’s case is different then ok but we will have to wait and see what the situation really is.

@matchball Is it just me but Sailor’s defence doesn’t seem great. Not a bad player but would we be looking at him as a winger or fullback?

If it’s a winger, I like Lee Silver more who has really come on this season in Jersey Flegg - can tackle, catch and runs the ball out strongly. He struggled a little bit last year but in my opinion has developed into an exciting talent and won’t cost us as much?

I just can’t see the upside with Sailor for the anticipated $ and we have talent coming through just as good?

@pawsandclaws1 Is it correct that if an under 20s player is not on a development contract they can’t play NRL?

We had a few play Canterbury Cup this year at 19 years of age who aren’t on development contracts so I assume they are stuck in CC or JF for 2020?

@WT2K Congratulations to Curtis Wilson and Felix Smith - very worthy winners of their awards! I look forward to their development next season.

@balmain-boy Fair comment.