Well you would assume he's got a role at the Club if he's at an expensive AIS conference in a new Sharks polo. I was hoping the club would put on another recently retired player in a development role like the AFL clubs do. I was actually hoping for Brett Hodgson who is coaching over in the UK and who I think will make an excellent senior coach one day. But Holdsworth it is.
Whatever his role I'm glad to see the Club investing in its staff and its development pathways. To me, on average we've probably produced one first grader and a few reserve graders each year. That's from a relatively limited player pool.
I think there's a big opportunity for improvement. Clubs like the Roosters, Broncos, Warriors fill most of the departures from their top squad each year with guys from their (usually good) NYC teams. Paying less for their fringe first graders allows them to go out and sign genuine top line players. Obviousky it is also a lure for their junior players - hang around and a NRL deal is a good chance.
They do that partly by having surplus talent - either through money or the size of their drawing area.
We dont have that but if we could develop them better - pick them better, coach them better, integrate them in to the top squad better - then we could achieve the same effect.
In particular I don't think our best NYC guys have been brought up to NRL standard quickly enough. If that gap could be bridged better then the coach has more confidence in playing them and the player feels like the pathway is clearer. Hopefully Morris' role will be helping these 19 and 20 year olds identify and address the main flaws in their games and learn how to prepare like a professional.
There's heaps of other stuff to take care of too but I think that would be a good place to start.
