Gould and Penrith Juniors

[CC_Roosters]

Gus has wrote a lot of articles in fairfax in recent years about the problems regarding the size of polynesian juniors v european kids at certain ages.

Given the role Gus now has as head of footy out west is there any noise yet about him shaking the junior system up and introducing the much vaunted weight divisions he talks about on a regular basis?

 

[Panther_Daz]

He is having control over Under 6's all the way up to First Grade.

The handling of the Juniors will be a main focus of his IMO.

 

[CC_Roosters]

He is having control over Under 6's all the way up to First Grade.

The handling of the Juniors will be a main focus of his IMO.

Good to hear, he is passionate about the game and generates the odd brilliant idea. Hopefully that results in improvements at penrith that the rest of the junior districts can learn from

 

[Fibroman]

Gus can't fix the fact that these kids come out here fresh off the boat from NZ at 3 years of age with a birth certificate that says they are only 6 months old.

 

[mighty red and whites]

Gus can't fix the fact that these kids come out here fresh off the boat from NZ at 3 years of age with a birth certificate that says they are only 6 months old.

Youve nailed it...

 

[Johns Magic]

Gus can't fix the fact that these kids come out here fresh off the boat from NZ at 3 years of age with a birth certificate that says they are only 6 months old.

Haha, blunt but spot on.

 

[Fibroman]

The sheer numbers of the pacific islander kids in the junior league in the western suburbs IMO is definately affecting the number of quality halves in the game. Alot of the smaller kids with high skill level are going to other sports.

 

[kanga]

Even if a kid wants to play, which parent wants their kid getting smashed and injured by a kid who looks like they should be 5 years above his grade.

 

[franklin2323]

I think it will happen as early as next year. Feltis & Gould both wanted it now both are in power positions it can.

In reality it could only happen upto under 14's at the latest. That's the time when the talent identification begins & for the top kids that's tackling bigger guys.

 

[APRIL BELLE]

The sheer numbers of the pacific islander kids in the junior league in the western suburbs IMO is definately affecting the number of quality halves in the game. Alot of the smaller kids with high skill level are going to other sports.

It isn’t just half backs that are being missed. Forwards who succeed in NRL are usually the late developers.

These late developers are not being scouted or identified because they struggle to compete against the bigger earlier maturers.

What to we do about this ?

From Under 13 up for the highest graded comp in each age group, we should bring in limited interchange to reduce the effectiveness of the obese unfit players. This would serve as a warning sign for these bigger players.

NRL clubs should be trying to identify the players who have the right attitude to succeed as senior football players. By the age of 16 if boy is serious about playing footy he should be fit enough to play a full game of footy. This year even in SG Ball there were some players who were buggered after 10 minutes.

If Penrith made it known policy, that to make a junior rep team you needed a good level of fitness, then you would find which kids have the right attitude to make it. It would reduce the number of spots to time wasters who don’t have the commitment to be successful senior footballers.

 

[Spot On]

The sheer numbers of the pacific islander kids in the junior league in the western suburbs IMO is definately affecting the number of quality halves in the game. Alot of the smaller kids with high skill level are going to other sports.

100% spot on.

 

[Fibroman]

It isn’t just half backs that are being missed. Forwards who succeed in NRL are usually the late developers.

These late developers are not being scouted or identified because they struggle to compete against the bigger earlier maturers.

What to we do about this ?

From Under 13 up for the highest graded comp in each age group, we should bring in limited interchange to reduce the effectiveness of the obese unfit players. This would serve as a warning sign for these bigger players.

NRL clubs should be trying to identify the players who have the right attitude to succeed as senior football players. By the age of 16 if boy is serious about playing footy he should be fit enough to play a full game of footy. This year even in SG Ball there were some players who were buggered after 10 minutes.

If Penrith made it known policy, that to make a junior rep team you needed a good level of fitness, then you would find which kids have the right attitude to make it. It would reduce the number of spots to time wasters who don’t have the commitment to be successful senior footballers.

Weight for age up to age 15, but only 1 age group either way, and consider April's suggestion about reducing the number of interchanges. Should go part of the way of fixing the problem.