With Fifita, Dwyer and Lui all making a successful transition to the NRL, Wests, Balmain and WTs must all get credit.
It is the identification, retention and recruitment at the junior level where the club will get the most value.
This is one of the clubs strengths and where we have a significant advantage over teams like the Roosters and Bulldogs.
Id like the club to retain the best of the 2009 and 2010 NYC teams. There is no reason why Jackson, Shirnack, Mullaney, Hyland, our two NYC wingers, the Clarkes, Begovich and a few others cant progress to the NRL.
Developing our juniors involves less risk and is significantly cheaper than buying from another club.
The identification at junior level has improved over the last couple of years. Wests Tigers Recruitment Manager Warren McDonnell has given up going to games in his area and finally discovered the best way to identify talent is to go to Western Suburbs Magpies Harold Matts and SG Ball games every week.
Wests Magpies Harold Matts (under16) and SG Ball (under18) both made the semi finals this year.
This years Magpies SG Ball team led the comp all year but dropped out in the major semi losing by one point to the eventual winners the roosters.
Last year as 16 year olds they where again one win away from the Grand Final.
Some of the junior Wests Tiger cubs who will play in the Australian Schoolboys Championships in July are
Jay Bonnell : St Gregory's College Campbelltown
Matthew Groat : St Gregory's College Campbelltown
James Tedesco : St Gregory's College Campbelltown
David Nafoaluma : John Therry College Rosemeadow
Sebastian Sell : Chevalier College
Ben Saunders : Gilroy College Castle Hill
Matthew Groat and David Nafoaluma will both be playing for NSW under 18's against Qld this Wednesday in the curtain raiser before origin. Matthew made the Australian schoolboys last year and David is still only 16 !
Wests Magpies have tremendous young talent coming through.
18 year old front rower Matthew Groat is a very very dedicated footballer and will play NRL in the future that's a certainty.
David Nafoaluma and James Tedesco are only 16 -17 and will be backing up again next year in the under 18's comp.. they may even get a run in under 20's....look out for these young guys in a couple of years.