Some News About Our Future

[TomRedVRiver]

Thought I might share some interesting news I discovered today.

So I caught up with one of the members of the 20s squad today through work and we were having a chat about our younger players. I asked him about Jai Field moving to fullback in the Under 20s side and he said it's thrown the team out of balance.
He believes Jai should be in the halves and that he's not a fullback at all and Steve Marsters was unfairly shifted to the wing. However, he also said that the NYC Head Coach Wayne Collins is really close family friends with young halfback Jackson Willis and his family, which is the reason why they're not playing Jai in the halves and keeping Jackson there. He said it's the reason why they've lost their last couple of games.

He also seemed to think that the club has gone cold on Matt Dufty and he will NOT be our fullback next year. He thinks its the club's plan is to play Kurt Mann at fullback next year and then transition Steve Marsters into the fullback role from 2019 onwards.

Thoughts guys?

 

[BennyV]

Why would they drop Willis? He's been very impressive.

 

[TomRedVRiver]

Why would they drop Willis? He's been very impressive.

Agreed. They won't drop Tristan Sailor as well because he's been even better.
I think it's a case of people up the food chain at the club (probably Millward and co) have said to Wayne Collins that Jai needs to be starting in the team somewhere and fullback was the only place they could fit him.
Marsters has been killing it too. It's a hard one.

 

[Bests Golden Boots]

My thoughts are most of them will soon realise there's no realistic prospect of moving forward with thier carrers at the Dragons and leave.

 

[coast_dragons]

Exactly what i thought Field to fullback has completely thrown the balance of the team out.

On the Dufty comment i doubt an under 20's player would know what future he has at the club I know Millward has an opinion of him maybe its Mary that doesn't and that drop kick wouldn't know a good player if he fell over him.

 

[saintm]

Thought I might share some interesting news I discovered today.

So I caught up with one of the members of the 20s squad today through work and we were having a chat about our younger players. I asked him about Jai Field moving to fullback in the Under 20s side and he said it's thrown the team out of balance.
He believes Jai should be in the halves and that he's not a fullback at all and Steve Marsters was unfairly shifted to the wing. However, he also said that the NYC Head Coach Wayne Collins is really close family friends with young halfback Jackson Willis and his family, which is the reason why they're not playing Jai in the halves and keeping Jackson there. He said it's the reason why they've lost their last couple of games.

He also seemed to think that the club has gone cold on Matt Dufty and he will NOT be our fullback next year. He thinks its the club's plan is to play Kurt Mann at fullback next year and then transition Steve Marsters into the fullback role from 2019 onwards.

Thoughts guys?

I think that is all speculation and that it is pretty unfair to say that the half back jackson willis is there based on a friendship. As far as Dufty goes I don't believe it.... I know for a fact that he was offered a contract with another club last year and asked for an early release.. which the club refused. I believe it will be Dufty and Mann that fight it out for the full back spot and which ever one is unsuccessful will play the utility role off the bench. The only reason Jai was pushed to fullback was because of the resigning of Widdup and Hunt's arrival, I do agree he is better in the halves than at fullback.

 

[Dennis Papaioannou]

Thought I might share some interesting news I discovered today.

So I caught up with one of the members of the 20s squad today through work and we were having a chat about our younger players. I asked him about Jai Field moving to fullback in the Under 20s side and he said it's thrown the team out of balance.
He believes Jai should be in the halves and that he's not a fullback at all and Steve Marsters was unfairly shifted to the wing. However, he also said that the NYC Head Coach Wayne Collins is really close family friends with young halfback Jackson Willis and his family, which is the reason why they're not playing Jai in the halves and keeping Jackson there. He said it's the reason why they've lost their last couple of games.

He also seemed to think that the club has gone cold on Matt Dufty and he will NOT be our fullback next year. He thinks its the club's plan is to play Kurt Mann at fullback next year and then transition Steve Marsters into the fullback role from 2019 onwards.

Thoughts guys?

Assuming all you suggest in your post is true then the announcement of Field as the FG fullback for 2018 way back at the beginning of the season by Millward is proving to be even more ridiculous than ever.
As for the club going cold on Dufty, I find it hard to reconcile.
So they've gone cold without testing him in FG??
I like Kurt Mann as a player a lot. He has plenty of upside but he is not a specialist FB.
We continue to select players out of position and expect them to perform and compete against specialists in those positions.
What is worse is that McGregor dumped Mann out of that position after 2 games and never tried him again even though there were plenty of opportunities to do so because of injuries.
So to sum up.
Recruitment, Team Selection, Junior Pathways into FG and Man(n) Management - an absolute shambles.

 

[Como Connection]

Mann deserves first go at fullback.
Trust he shines there.
CC

 

[dragonssamy61]

Agreed. They won't drop Tristan Sailor as well because he's been even better.
I think it's a case of people up the food chain at the club (probably Millward and co) have said to Wayne Collins that Jai needs to be starting in the team somewhere and fullback was the only place they could fit him.
Marsters has been killing it too. It's a hard one.

From what I been told.
There is 2 reasons why.
Jai Field is playing fullback.
1) He is out of form and they fell playing kids his own age will help get it back quicker.
As the u20s is much more stable than illawarra team that is change every week.
2) They are trying to see how he will handle fb in 20s and how dufty goes as well.
They think that Dufty's body is handling playing against men better than field.
They are hoping that field can build up his body and add a few kg with a full of season.
By the way they want to keep playing kurt as mr fix it type.
Thats why he is 17 again.

 

[Dennis Papaioannou]

From what I been told.
There is 2 reasons why.
Jai Field is playing fullback.
1) He is out of form and they fell playing kids his own age will help get it back quicker.
As the u20s is much more stable than illawarra team that is change every week.
2) They are trying to see how he will handle fb in 20s and how dufty goes as well.
They think that Dufty's body is handling playing against men better than field.
They are hoping that field can build up his body and add a few kg with a full of season.

Field's fall from grace can be directly attributed to the way they trialed him in FG.
7 minute cameo once and some extra minutes the second time.
Then they dumped him cold even though Widdop was out for 5 weeks.
You can't tell me that that did not affect the kid's confidence and subsequently his form.

 

[dragonssamy61]

Mann deserves first go at fullback.
Trust he shines there.
CC

I agree but I hope that the power that be also can see that.

 

[dragonssamy61]

Field's fall from grace can be directly attributed to the way they trialed him in FG.
7 minute cameo once and some extra minutes the second time.
Then they dumped him cold even though Widdop was out for 5 weeks.
You can't tell me that that did not affect the kid's confidence and subsequently his form.

It would not have help that is for sure.
You nailed it dennis

 

[Saints Forever]

We have a lot of very talented U/20s & Illawarra backs.

Dufty
Field
Garrick
Herbert
Lomax
Sailor
Johns
Morris
you can probably name another 4-5

Very few of them will successfully transition to FG for a variety of reasons.

Millward's mistake was to laud Field as our FG full back for 2018.

His comment could only cause disharmony.

Mary's refusal to give Dufty a run whilst Duges was out has been another massive mistake.

Mary is a safety first I gotta hang on to my job guy. Even so, the kids don't appear to be ready yet.

The Pathways Director needs to better prepare these kids for the transition both physically and mentally.

So many of these guys are NSW/QLD & NZ representatives.

If they fail to transition, the failure rests largely on Millward/Mary/Board.

The kids have the talent. Simply don't have anyone good enough to mould that talent to FG status.

 

[Life's Good]

Thought I might share some interesting news I discovered today.

So I caught up with one of the members of the 20s squad today through work and we were having a chat about our younger players. I asked him about Jai Field moving to fullback in the Under 20s side and he said it's thrown the team out of balance.
He believes Jai should be in the halves and that he's not a fullback at all and Steve Marsters was unfairly shifted to the wing. However, he also said that the NYC Head Coach Wayne Collins is really close family friends with young halfback Jackson Willis and his family, which is the reason why they're not playing Jai in the halves and keeping Jackson there. He said it's the reason why they've lost their last couple of games.

He also seemed to think that the club has gone cold on Matt Dufty and he will NOT be our fullback next year. He thinks its the club's plan is to play Kurt Mann at fullback next year and then transition Steve Marsters into the fullback role from 2019 onwards.

Thoughts guys?

Not questioning your post at all but if it's true then it is another example that there are too many chiefs. Recruitment to team selection is not consistent and reflects a seemingly fractured vision for what will deliver us victories. Something has to change otherwise we will remain in this cycle of sh*t for a while longer.

 

[TomRedVRiver]

Just let me make it abundantly clear... I am constantly calling out people in this forum for dodgy "news" and "rumours".
I am not one for spreading speculation at all, it's not my style. You can take my word on this guys, it was straight from one of the player's mouths.
Now of course an under 20s player would not know EVERYTHING going on with the club, but it more or less gives you an idea of the dynamic between some of the players right now... At least the dynamic of the 20s team.

 

[saintm]

Just let me make it abundantly clear... I am constantly calling out people in this forum for dodgy "news" and "rumours".
I am not one for spreading speculation at all, it's not my style. You can take my word on this guys, it was straight from one of the player's mouths.
Now of course an under 20s player would not know EVERYTHING going on with the club, but it more or less gives you an idea of the dynamic between some of the players right now... At least the dynamic of the 20s team.

Understood...however, if you think an U20s player has any idea on who is in favour and who is not you are kidding yourself. That is an U20s players opinion and that is it. The first grade players don't even know who is player each week and in what position. So a nobody from the lower grades thoughts hold very little weight. The only comments that he would have insight over would be field dropping back and taking over the fb position.

 

[blacksafake]

From what I been told.
There is 2 reasons why.
Jai Field is playing fullback.
1) He is out of form and they fell playing kids his own age will help get it back quicker.
As the u20s is much more stable than illawarra team that is change every week.
2) They are trying to see how he will handle fb in 20s and how dufty goes as well.
They think that Dufty's body is handling playing against men better than field.
They are hoping that field can build up his body and add a few kg with a full of season.
By the way they want to keep playing kurt as mr fix it type.
Thats why he is 17 again.

If they wanted him to regain some form would it not be sensible to at least play him in the halves where he is more comfortable, instead of throwing him to the wolves.

 

[Crush]

Dufty needs to be given a shot. I fear that he is too small and will struggle defensively but until he is played in the 1st grade team for a couple of months we won't really know.
It won't happen this year unless Dugan, Mann and nightingale all get injured at the same time.

 

[Como Connection]

If they wanted him to regain some form would it not be sensible to at least play him in the halves where he is more comfortable, instead of throwing him to the wolves.

They did exactly the same with Mann.
CC

 

[2010]

Basically the management of the three grades is becoming a three ringed circus.
We have signed our juniors yet we don't give them the opportunity to progress through the grades.
If it is true Dufty wanted out that is a worry. He had been penciled in as the first grade fullback to replace Dugan. The club has not even given him the opportunity to test himself in any position in first grade.
Given half a chance from another club him and his likes will go where they feel there a way to first grade.
I don't have a lot of confidence in how the club is treating Dufty and Co.