TRIAL 2: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks vs Newcastle Knights. Sat 18 Feb 7:30PM, Muswellbrook.

[Mark^Bastard]

That argument could be used to justify any ****ty player getting NRL time to prove they're okay.

In reality our team has the worst backline by far and has for years, and our coach is one of the fairest selectors in the NRL, rewarding form.

Leutele will never have an easier path to first grade in Australia.

I personally think he has potential to crack a spot. Now is his time to do it. Best and Pomeroy are off contract at the end of the year and we'll no doubt be recruiting heavily in those positions. Leutele has this year to put his hand up.

 

[CrazyMatt]

I don't care for this "blood the youth" stuff.

I just want the best players we have TODAY playing First Grade. But I'm not certain who that is, exactly.

If the best juniors can't categorically shut out Best and Pom for a starting position, then they aren't ready for first grade.

I agree here, juniors should always have to force their way into a team instead of just being picked because they are young.

 

[Mr Wright]

When I said blood the youth I think it was misinterpreted.

What I meant by that is, we have to give the likes of Mills, Wright, Leutele, Pickerd etc extended time in their preferred playing position. We gave Pommeroy that chance and he has shown next to no development. Why not try a younger option that has potential to grow into a quality NRL player.

 

[Mark^Bastard]

When I said blood the youth I think it was misinterpreted.

What I meant by that is, we have to give the likes of Mills, Wright, Leutele, Pickerd etc extended time in their preferred playing position. We gave Pommeroy that chance and he has shown next to no development. Why not try a younger option that has potential to grow into a quality NRL player.

I have no issue with that.

Mills is the only one of those guys that has had a really good first grade game, and his natural position is centre, so he should get a go at the centre no the wing.

I'm happy for Mills to play centre in place of Pomeroy or Best for at least a few games.

We have no freaking wingers so all the guys that have played grade and haven't show much can fill in at wing whether they like it or not.

Feki and Pickerd I hope are given some game time too to see if they can have immediate impact in first grade like Gardner, Mills and Townsend have in the last couple of seasons. Peachey too.

 

[slide rule]

Fair enough.

My problem is that some players look impressive in under20's/NSW Cup, but when they make the step up, they are out of their depth. Sometimes they are good for a couple of weeks, but then the strain of NRL sets in.

The coach has the luxury of watching these players in training drills, weight training, speed work, skills, etc, which we obviously don't. I think the coach would get a pretty good gauge on where they are at with their development. If the younger guys aren't up to the standard of the incumbent NRL players in these areas at training, then it would be hard for the coach to justify their selection and put his own job on the line just for the sake of an experiment.

Anyhow, in saying that, I hope that Wright and Mills are our centres at some stage this year. But I guess that is a bit different anyway, as Wright has played a substantial number of NRL games now and Mills has played a few too. But while wanting them to play there at some stage, I'm not sure I want them to be there for the full season either.

So, in conclusion, I guess I'm saying that I'm happy for Best and Pom to start the season. If they succeed then that's great. If they fail then the other guys can get a crack and not have the weight of expectation and a full season of first grade on their shoulders.

It's probably not a completely sound theory, but I also worry that if we start with the young guys and they fail, then we really have nowhere else to go but back to the old guys who have been rotting in NSW Cup. I think there is a bit of a mental difference between playing NSW Cup on your way up compared to on your way out.

 

[MattyShArk]

I have no issue with that.

Mills is the only one of those guys that has had a really good first grade game, and his natural position is centre, so he should get a go at the centre no the wing.

I'm happy for Mills to play centre in place of Pomeroy or Best for at least a few games.

We have no freaking wingers so all the guys that have played grade and haven't show much can fill in at wing whether they like it or not.

Feki and Pickerd I hope are given some game time too to see if they can have immediate impact in first grade like Gardner, Mills and Townsend have in the last couple of seasons. Peachey too.

actually he only played fullback growing up...never played centre or wing til TC

 

[Mark^Bastard]

Interesting, I didn't know that.

Weird he was talking about not being comfortable under the high ball.

 

[josh11223344]

everyone in our backline is bar gards

i would rather a 22 year old leutele making mistakes in the team than a 29 year old making worse ones

:good:

Interesting, I didn't know that.

Weird he was talking about not being comfortable under the high ball.

From what I have seen fullbacks don't get tested at all with bombs until they hit the rep footy, club footballers never seem to use the bomb. So wouldn't of gotten much practice in his fullback days.

 

[A.Snowden]

:good:



From what I have seen fullbacks don't get tested at all with bombs until they hit the rep footy, club footballers never seem to use the bomb. So wouldn't of gotten much practice in his fullback days.

What absolute dribble. You have got to be kidding right?!

 

[josh11223344]

Why would I be kidding from all the games I have played and watched in the local comp no one ever gets tested with the bomb. The players get to SG ball etc and struggle.

 

[Hughesy215]

Its true... i play a grade on the wing and I dont remember being bombed last year at all... Its all about grubbers into the in goal building pressure and scoring through the hands.

 

[deano the p]

I think that is funny... I see bombs used all the time in our local comp. Infact I got found out big time when I played half a game at full back.

 

[Mr Wright]

Fair enough.

My problem is that some players look impressive in under20's/NSW Cup, but when they make the step up, they are out of their depth. Sometimes they are good for a couple of weeks, but then the strain of NRL sets in.

The coach has the luxury of watching these players in training drills, weight training, speed work, skills, etc, which we obviously don't. I think the coach would get a pretty good gauge on where they are at with their development. If the younger guys aren't up to the standard of the incumbent NRL players in these areas at training, then it would be hard for the coach to justify their selection and put his own job on the line just for the sake of an experiment.

Anyhow, in saying that, I hope that Wright and Mills are our centres at some stage this year. But I guess that is a bit different anyway, as Wright has played a substantial number of NRL games now and Mills has played a few too. But while wanting them to play there at some stage, I'm not sure I want them to be there for the full season either.

So, in conclusion, I guess I'm saying that I'm happy for Best and Pom to start the season. If they succeed then that's great. If they fail then the other guys can get a crack and not have the weight of expectation and a full season of first grade on their shoulders.

It's probably not a completely sound theory, but I also worry that if we start with the young guys and they fail, then we really have nowhere else to go but back to the old guys who have been rotting in NSW Cup. I think there is a bit of a mental difference between playing NSW Cup on your way up compared to on your way out.

Great post. I think we will see Mills play 5-10 games this season at centre. Pending injury that is.

 

[ABshark]

Some more highlights of the game can be found here:

http://soulstream1.sptel.com.au/NBN_News/knightsgym200212.wmv

and here:

http://soulstream1.sptel.com.au/NBN_News/knightssharks190212.wmv

Some photos are here:

http://www.marathonstadium.com/showthread.php?11393-Trial-vs-Cronulla-Sutherland-Sharks

All thanks to Marathon Stadium Forum and NBN Television.

 

[ABshark]

A couple of things I've noticed from that footage:

- Lovely delayed pass from Townsend to send Taga over
- Ike got turned inside out badly for McManus' try (McManus looks to be in great shape btw) but it was good play by Mullen to spot Pomeroy at marker and attack the short side

 

[A.Snowden]

I see it all the time as well. I got tested all the time. And I put plenty up myself.

 

[Mark^Bastard]

Cheers for that AB.

Looks like or their first try Pomeroy rushed up on the dummy half, stranding his outside men, and there was a very stacked shortside too. Then yes Ike got turned inside out. That was some really soft **** and the Knights weren't really anywhere near the try line.

Snowden's try was off a De Gois error.

That short ball and strong run from Taga for the try was great.

 

[puma1355]

Pommorey has not learnt a thing during the offseason. I fear for our season. We have a great forward pack and halfs however to be honest we just dont have the backs. Our centres and wingers are weak defensively. Turn back your memory to the dragons monday night game when cooper destroyed pomeroys side....

 

[Mark^Bastard]

What is your involvement with the club puma?

 

[josh11223344]

Damn those links won't work on my pc.