I agree that young Sironen's transition was rushed and you are right that the club simply bulked him up in the matter of one off season and said...here you go - you're an NRL backrower...go and dominate. This has happened to others as well and it probably also highlights the competition's structure (no proper reserve grade) is not the best, or at least not as good as it once was. It particularly effects a young player who is going to bulk up and move from centre or 5/8 to a back rower. There is nowhere for this apprenticeship to take place as I don't feel that clubs currently think there is much to be gained by playing talented players (who are on good money) in the NSW Cup.
it's not just the physical changes.
It's easy enough to switch from centre to back row, the play is similar, and the mindset is similar
But a half has a completely different and unique mindset to everyone else in the team. And when you've been in that role a long time, it's bloody hard to crack out of it.
Put it this way, what we've done with Sironen would be the same as if we said to Brooks, "Put on 10kilos, you're moving to the back row"
While the physical dimensions may favour Sironen heavily, mentally, they are still both halves.
Going from five-eighth to centre though, is a solid step. You can still be a ball player attacking fringe defenders but you also learn how to run good lines and become a good support player.
This clubs management of Sironen is frustrating. The last time they f**ked up a truly gifted played was with Bronson Harrison. A great back rower and Sheens tried to fatten him up and make him a prop. If he had've been allowed to develop as back rower, he'd still be playing in the NRL as a top line player imo.
Some players, you just don't f**k with. Others have a very obvious developmental path.
We seem to have no idea how to further develop talent.
