2011 wild predictions

[roopy]

You aren't seriously comparing Sione Tovo and Neenan Simpson to Josh Dugan and Ben Matulino are you?

They were equal or ahead of them in their first year of NYC - some NYC stars make it - some don't.

 

[roopy]

What more does Henry have to do to get some respect and encouragement Roopy & Coastbloke.

Same as every other young player - earn a spot and play well.

 

[rnb11]

Same as every other young player - earn a spot and play well.

Obviously, but when "someone" is saying they don't want him in the team fullstop, where do you go from there. Its bizarre the way some people think.

 

[perverse]

Same as every other young player - earn a spot and play well.

... but you respect and encourage nearly all of our local juniors before they achieve either of these things?

 

[roopy]

... but you respect and encourage nearly all of our local juniors before they achieve either of these things?

If I say something good about a Matts, Ball, or NYC player it is because i think they are doing well at the level they are playing. Same with the Centurions i suppose.
I see Henry as a guy who should be playing trials and probably for the Centurions as one of their better players.
If he does better than that, i'll be impressed.

To put it another way, I think he is about a 100k a year player. If he proves to be a 120k a year player, good for him.

 

[Alex28]

Here is the thing... Coast Bloke and Roopy are writing Henry off before he is even given a chance to earn it - whether that be through training, or in the trials, or even through the early rounds.

However... If Henry was a local Roopy would have been calling for him to be playing first grade in 2008.

I don't know Coast Bloke's beef with him... Caught him in bed with his mother?

The important thing that nobody is considering is we gave the guy our word that he would be given a chance. If we don't do that, our word is useless in seeking anybody else to the club in the future.

 

[Whats Doing]

Give Henry every chance but you still need to put the best team on the paddock from round 1. Whether that includes Henry or not will depend on his pre season form and trials. I don't believe he should be guaranteed a first grade spot, he needs to earn it like every other player.

I didn't see much of this year's NYC but Henry was the best player in 2009 but didn't seem to get the same raps this year. Anyone know how he actually went this year?

 

[Joker's Wild]

He got a shoulder injury in 2010 and never really fired after that, at least not to the level of his 2009 form.

If Beau is going well in the preseason trials then I will trust in our coaches judgment, whether he plays him or not.

 

[Alex28]

He cut the season short by having a reco...

 

[aqua_duck]

Josh Dugan's toe nail has more ability than Tovo and Simpson combined

 

[aqua_duck]

Neenan and sione came here as NYC hopefuls, both were signed as part of the NYC squad and both hardly stood out even at that level intact Neenan played half a season if that. Beau Henry is coming here as part of the NRL squad, signed for NRL after already proving himself a step above at NYC level

 

[aqua_duck]

I don't know the full details of all those guys, but all the ones i do know were in and out of firstgrade for at least half a season, and many are still no sure things to be named every week after a season or two.
They aren't examples of instant firstgraders, they are examples of guys who made the transition - and i'm sure someone who followed all teams in NYC could do up a list of guys who looked equally talented who we have now forgotton - guys like Tovo and Neenan Simpson who were guys who came to our club with big reputations who are now 'exploring their options'.

Josh Dugan has looked like an instant 1st grader since his debut, same with Coote, Foran and others. I'm curious to know which players you're referring to that have struggled, because I'll bet you they weren't at the same level in NYC as Beau Henry

 

[macavity]

They were equal or ahead of them in their first year of NYC - some NYC stars make it - some don't.

Tovo and Simpson were "equal to or ahead of" Dugan and Matulino in Roopy's eyes.

That will do me.

 

[Newie is God's Country]

Two things with Dugan. First ,he will barring injury, be the best fullback of his generation. Tough and fearless and has positional play like a military satellite runs his game. Secondly it will be a travesty if he misses origin in 2011. The kid was born to play origin.

 

[aqua_duck]

Tovo and Simpson were "equal to or ahead of" Dugan and Matulino in Roopy's eyes.

That will do me.

Yep, it's why Neenan Simpson could barely get a game for the dogs and had to come here looking for an opportunity whilst at the same time Josh Dugan had already dominated in NYC as an 18 year old and was being touted for origin

 

[Pete Cash]

Josh Dugan from memory beat the Sharks basically on his own in his debut, got put back down to NYC after a few games so not to overwork his body and literally destroyed the side he played in one of the most dominant performances I have ever seen, the Raiders then sent him to Souths Logan so he could learn to deal with fully grown adults. He played a handful of games for Souths Logan where he was compared to Greg Inglis and then he moved back into the Raiders first grade side where he went on a run of 10/10 games and has been the first or second player selected every week since.

Hardly in and out of first grade. He was put back into NYC as a planned move (they planned to play him a few games in firsts at a time) and was literally too good for that competition upon his return that they had to send him to Souths Logan where he was also too good.

 

[Serc]

We have 3 of the most likely to make that jump next.

This is a good comment - 'most likely' is the key here. Some of them may make it, some may not. I guess the way to think about it is that we have signed these 3 to replace the 20-23 year olds that haven't come through since Pato/Aku/Jimmy etc came through a few years ago. And hopefully we will have our new batch of players come through in the next few years following (Cook, Ailaomai, Roberts etc)

I didn't see much of this year's NYC but Henry was the best player in 2009 but didn't seem to get the same raps this year. Anyone know how he actually went this year?

Saints didn't get too many games on Fox this year, but from what I saw of him (2-3 games I think) he still had it. In particular I remember watching Saints vs Cronulla, where he scored a try, set up a few others, and made one or two line breaks along the way...in this game he reminded me of how Peter Wallace (especially when he was in form in 08/09) seems to have a lot of time on his hands to do stuff.

There was also another game where it was effectively him vs the Broncos, scored all their tries (3) and kicked all the goals.

Looking at his stats...he lines up very well (even better in some areas - especially when allowing that he only played 17 games) than guys like Aiden Sezer and Carlos Tuimavave who both had awesome seasons (comparing with 5/8ths here as thats where he played all year)

Given he and Pato are the only two left in the rehab group come January (both shoulder recos), I can see him struggling to tick all the boxes in order to play NRL from round 1. But may come up to speed sometime during the year and have a fair crack at the halves - then we'll see how he goes!

Edit: So in summary I am excited about Henry (and the other 2, and all our other guys that have impressed in NYC for that matter) BUT I have lower expectations of him in the short term because he is not getting much of an off season.

 

[roopy]

I remember Dugan as being in and out of firstgrade and mixing up some great and some ordinary games - pretty much how all the best players go when they step up from NYC.

 

[Pete Cash]

He won the Mal Meninga medal for Raiders player of the year in 09 and played 14/24 games after debuting in round four.

In his debut season he played in rd: 4,5,6,7,8. He was then sent back to NYC over concerns of his body where he was too good, he was then sent to Souths Logan to get used to playing against Adults. He returned to first grade in rd 16 where he stayed to the end of the year.

He played in 14/24 games I am pretty sure and was dropped once.

 

[Frederick]

I remember Dugan as being in and out of firstgrade and mixing up some great and some ordinary games - pretty much how all the best players go when they step up from NYC.

So when did you find out you had Alzheimers?