Your starting lineup for 2011

[roopy]

Zane Tetevano has always been a player that intrigued me, from the 1st time I saw him play in SG Ball. Looked like abit of a beast for a SG Ball player, just real big and athletic. I think with his physical attributes, he'd make be a useful player to have coming off the bench with an idea to the future

I was just thinking that Jeremy Ma'a reminds me of a bigger and meaner version of Zane at the same age.

 

[macavity]

Geez, I thought he was a beast before the off season. Packed on the bulk has he??? Out and out prop material now Mac??

spot on mate.

 

[Jobdog]

I agree with perverse RE: Henry. If he shows enough in the next two trials as he's shown glimpses of already, what's to lose?

 

[roopy]

I agree with perverse RE: Henry. If he shows enough in the next two trials as he's shown glimpses of already, what's to lose?

Throw a rookie into a crucial role when he is unfit and underprepared.
What could possibly go wrong?

 

[aqua_duck]

If he gets through the next 2 trials than I don't think you can say he's unfit and underprepared. I mean the guy did his shoulder so really he should have more Kms in his legs than most of the other guys.

 

[Jobdog]

Throw a rookie into a crucial role when he is unfit and underprepared.
What could possibly go wrong?

So we bought him just so he could sit on the bench did we? Cool.

 

[roopy]

If he gets through the next 2 trials than I don't think you can say he's unfit and underprepared. I mean the guy did his shoulder so really he should have more Kms in his legs than most of the other guys.

The only thing we know about his fitness is the coach wanted to ease him in with 20 minutes against Fiji - but circumstances led to him playing 40 minutes in which he was asked very few questions, fitness wise.

If the coach had named him in the starting lineup this week i'd give him a 50/50 chance of being ready for round one, but his chances are very slim now IMO.
The guy isn't Doogs. He doesn't have 15 years of firstgrade experience and know exactly where he needs to be for round one - he has never played firstgrade. Unless he has at least 60 minutes of firstgrade standard play in each of the next two trials it would be complete folly to throw him in - and even then it would be a massive gamble.

His best chance is a spot on the bench for round one, with a target of 30 or 40 minutes of game time.

 

[roopy]

So we bought him just so he could sit on the bench did we? Cool.

Hopefully we bought him with the next 5 to 10 years in mind.

 

[Bring it home Knights]

The only thing we know about his fitness is the coach wanted to ease him in with 20 minutes against Fiji - but circumstances led to him playing 40 minutes in which he was asked very few questions, fitness wise.

If the coach had named him in the starting lineup this week i'd give him a 50/50 chance of being ready for round one, but his chances are very slim now IMO.
The guy isn't Doogs. He doesn't have 15 years of firstgrade experience and know exactly where he needs to be for round one - he has never played firstgrade. Unless he has at least 60 minutes of firstgrade standard play in each of the next two trials it would be complete folly to throw him in - and even then it would be a massive gamble.

His best chance is a spot on the bench for round one, with a target of 30 or 40 minutes of game time.

That's a good point and I'm leaning towards that way of thinking. I'd be tempted to have Rogers in the run on side for the first week or 2, then if he doesn't perform I'd consider dropping him to the bench as a player that could fill in as a replacement half, centre or backrower. If he doesn't perform from the bench, then drop him to reserve grade.

 

[Pika]

Three trials will tell us if his shoulder and body are up to the game physically.

 

[Jobdog]

So it's fair to say that if he gets through the next fortnight unscathed, he's a better than even money chance of being selected in the run-on side for Round 1?

 

[Pika]

No idea.

If he gets through the next two trials unscathed we can confirm his body is up to the intensity of nrl. No more, no less.

 

[perverse]

i think the question you then need to ask is, does the club and/or Stone have question marks about his ability?

i don't, but i can't speak for Stone.

 

[Joker's Wild]

I tend to agree with roops on this one

He is a rookie with zero 1st grade experience. There will be bigger questions about his mental readiness than his physical right now and deep ending the kid in round 1, at starting halfback/5-8 no less, would just be poor management.

I know we are excited to see what the kid can do but expecting 80min of 1st grade from him straight off the bat is setting the mark too high imo. Give him some time off the bench to dip his toes then see if he can swim.

 

[RABK]

If your good enough then your skills, mentality, toughness etc is all good enough. Especially for a half. Either you belong in FG from the word go or your doomed to be a Jeff Robson quality half.

Props and backs can grow into a career, i'd argue if a half hasn't proven himself in FG by 21/22 then he's a long shot to ever do it.

If he gets through the trials, start Henry round 1. He's not a soccer player converting to RL, he's played league for years and is a big boy. He'll adjust to the pace and intensity. He might not kill it, he might even have a shocker but he is a confident kid and i'm confident he'll be a success as long as we don't fart arse him around between starting, bench and lower grades.

 

[Bring it home Knights]

I tend to agree with roops on this one

He is a rookie with zero 1st grade experience. There will be bigger questions about his mental readiness than his physical right now and deep ending the kid in round 1, at starting halfback/5-8 no less, would just be poor management.

I know we are excited to see what the kid can do but expecting 80min of 1st grade from him straight off the bat is setting the mark too high imo. Give him some time off the bench to dip his toes then see if he can swim.

YEah good point. Even Joey had 3 games off the bench before being in the run on side.

 

[Jobdog]

If your good enough then your skills, mentality, toughness etc is all good enough. Especially for a half. Either you belong in FG from the word go or your doomed to be a Jeff Robson quality half.

Props and backs can grow into a career, i'd argue if a half hasn't proven himself in FG by 21/22 then he's a long shot to ever do it.

If he gets through the trials, start Henry round 1. He's not a soccer player converting to RL, he's played league for years and is a big boy. He'll adjust to the pace and intensity. He might not kill it, he might even have a shocker but he is a confident kid and i'm confident he'll be a success as long as we don't fart arse him around between starting, bench and lower grades.

Pretty much my philosophy too. Give the kid first crack at the halves, give him at least half the season and let's see what he can do. Just whatever you do, if he has a shocker, don't sack him for Round 2.

You're never going to know if someone can swim by not throwing them in the water ...

 

[perverse]

yeah, well said RABK. i think you can instill a fair bit of confidence in a young player by having confidence in them, by believing in them, too.

dropping him if he has a slow start, or a shocker, can do even more harm... regardless of whether he starts or not.

 

[RHCP]

A bench halfback just seems like an odd ploy to me. The only jerseys he should be wearing are 7 or 18 imo.

 

[Joker's Wild]

Its not that unusual.

The dogs used Barba off the bench last season to ease him into a FG spot for this year and it worked a treat.

Hell, the Knights did it with Mullo when he was returning from injury.

I guess time will tell