finding it hard to beleive the negative comments about Blake he has more talent than the majority of our forward pack right now.You are not going to win a comp or even make the 8 on fringe first graders simple fact
The 5 year plan is flawed if we lose the very players who will be there in the 5 years time.Do we keep buying second rowers and hope they turn into skillfull players
Exactly.
I'm filthy because the club has treated him like shit., He was our next big thing, looked pretty good in his limited first grade time. Looked like a f**king machine at NSW Cup level. But some how was behind the likes of Humble, John, Simpkins, Smith, Ciraldo, Newton etc. even when healthy.
While he was fit, he was a better option then atleast 2 or 3 players each week. But he was overlooked despite being the best at Windsor, and our team losing games with multiple blokes nowhere near first grade worthy, and certainly not worthy of being ahead of him in the pecking order.
Blake Austin isn't the first promising player to be treated this way. To get a crack at first grade, and look like they are more then capable of playing there. Then suddenly thrown on the scrap heap and having next to no chance at making it back there at our club. Why the hell would we re-sign Kevin Kingston ahead of Blake Austin? Why would we select all those Knights rejects ahead of him?
I don't think he would be part of our full strength line-up in 2014... but only because he hasn't be given a decent chance to prove himself in first grade and fully develop into the player he was capable of being. I would have much rathered keep him around next season and given him a fair crack when we almost certainly pick up an injury or 10. He would easily be as good as any of our 5/8 options next season. Would be one of the first depth players for a backrow spot.
It might seem a bit extreme to suggest the same could happen to Bryce Cartright. But 2/3 years ago everyone would think it was crazy to think Blake Austin could end up being treated this way and being behind so many shit players.