Official Blayke Brailey

[BurgoShark]

On the nepotism thread, when I was playing in the 90s Barry Russell was one of the scouts for junior sharks teams. He came down to a few of our games and gave me and a couple other players a tap on the shoulder that we were in line for a call up.
I’m the end John Langs son (not Martin) got the call up with a couple of his mates - none had much talent. Still stings.
I will add that after going into the development system these fellas did come out of it significantly better players.

Yep. That's the Pygmalion effect in a nutshell. They end up good and nobody stops to think how good others kids may have been given the same opportunities.

 

[slide rule]

They made me play Rugby at school (GPS) and I absolutely hated it.

Soccer was my game.

Hadn’t quite reached that heights when I was playing mate. But then again it was 100 years ago.

Were you in the same class as William Webb Ellis?

 

[stormshark]

Yep. That's the Pygmalion effect in a nutshell. They end up good and nobody stops to think how good others kids may have been given the same opportunities.

Yep and that's the real shame. And its harder to get in, than be asked to leave cause time and $$$ already being invested within. Think these "Development Programmes" however are a step forward to widen the net, seek inclusiveness and hone skills/basics as a building block for all.

 

[Sir Chadley]

Were you in the same class as William Webb Ellis?

Some days it feels like it.

 

[HaroldBishop]

Were you in the same class as William Webb Ellis?

Thats preferable to being coached by Alan 'toilet block Jones.

 

[egg]

Never hurt the Hurstville Lobsters

 

[Sevshark]

Blayke has agreed to terms on a 4 year deal with us apparently

 

[HaroldBishop]

Blayke has agreed to terms on a 4 year deal with us apparently

Dunno about 4 years. Will be interesting to see the dollar amount.

 

[Gards]

Dunno about 4 years. Will be interesting to see the dollar amount.

I am confident it will be overs and all based on potential not past performance. the club seemed eager and desperate to get him locked in urgently and for a while

club, coach and player need to deliver on this if decision has gone this way

 

[Sparkles]

I am confident it will be overs and all based on potential not past performance. the club seemed eager and desperate to get him locked in urgently and for a while

club, coach and player need to deliver on this if decision has gone this way

I don't think we'd be in a desperate place, but if it is four years it's a massive vote of confidence in the kid

 

[Gards]

I don't think we'd be in a desperate place, but if it is four years it's a massive vote of confidence in the kid

and a massive financial and cap commitment on our part for a kid that is pretty average at this point of time but I do feel he is more likely to improve from here on out than regress or stay the same. I can understand the confidence placed in him, Blayke gives off bit of a vibe that it won't be misplaced even if he hasn't performed consistently at NRL level yet.

he will be in arguably his best sharks squad yet with potentially the best coaching staff behind him

regardless I am glad we have McCinnes not just as backup but to put pressure on Blayke

 

[Gards]

so according to Ricio's telgraph article it's around $625k per season

ouch

great deal for blayke though. I doubt even the bulldogs would have paid him much more than that on the open market

oh wait the bulldogs signed a better hooker for pretty much the same contract

 

[CrazyMatt]

Calling him average is a tiny bit harsh. I feel he was let down massively by his forwards, poor coaching and playing long minutes this past season. I’m confident Blayke will be twice the player next year with Cam and Dale in the pack helping the defence, a better coach guiding him, and now the option of having a bit of a spell on the bench when needed as we have Cam as cover and to keep him motivated for his spot, so he essentially kinda gets a clean slate with me, in saying that I dont know about 4 year deals for anybody but I’m convinced this time next year theres a decent chance we’ll all he saying that we’re glad we’ve got him locked away long term.

 

[HaroldBishop]

so according to Ricio's telgraph article it's around $625k per season

ouch

great deal for blayke though. I doubt even the bulldogs would have paid him much more than that on the open market

oh wait the bulldogs signed a better hooker for pretty much the same contract

FFS that has to be bullshit. Please tell me this is bullshit.

 

[HaroldBishop]

Calling him average is a tiny bit harsh. I feel he was let down massively by his forwards, poor coaching and playing long minutes this past season. I’m confident Blayke will be twice the player next year with Cam and Dale in the pack helping the defence, a better coach guiding him, and now the option of having a bit of a spell on the bench when needed as we have Cam as cover and to keep him motivated for his spot, so he essentially kinda gets a clean slate with me, in saying that I dont know about 4 year deals for anybody but I’m convinced this time next year theres a decent chance we’ll all he saying that we’re glad we’ve got him locked away long term.

4 years on that coin is ridiculous if true.

 

[Jaz]

so according to Ricio's telgraph article it's around $625k per season

ouch

great deal for blayke though. I doubt even the bulldogs would have paid him much more than that on the open market

oh wait the bulldogs signed a better hooker for pretty much the same contract

If this is true we've found our new whipping boy...

 

[CrazyMatt]

4 years on that coin is ridiculous if true.

I might do a quick search to see what other starting 9’s are getting, that is if they’re basic wages are publish somewhere, they might not be. Curious now.

 

[bort]

If this is true we've found our new whipping boy...

If that's the case I'm going to decide to randomly insist it is closer to 1mil for no reason, and hold that against him

 

[Thresher]

We should throw the cheque book at him. See how he likes that.

 

[HaroldBishop]

We should throw the cheque book at him. See how he likes that.

Doubt he'd know what that is.