balmain news

[bonstonker]

http://www.tigers.org.au/Football_club/index.htm


this link will let you know about the balmain training squads and other info.


Tim Sheens has invited some of the Balmain Tigers players to train with the WESTSTIGERS NRL squad in the off season to give them the experience of training full time and showing them what it takes to develop into an NRL player. These players include, Bronson Harrison, Luke Thompson, Brock Hunter, Jeff Lima, Danial Harris, Jamie Small, Simon Greally, Jamie Nowland & Michael Harper. Also included in Tim's squad are those players who made their NRL debut last season, which includes Dene Halatau, Chris Heighington and Robert Farah.
_________________

 

[BJ]

have they reduced the Wests tigers training squads down yet?
originally they reported there was up to 50 players training under various people ie Sheens, Simmons, Mescia and that the squad would then be reduced down to 30 and then the 25 man squad would be selected from those 30..

 

[brook]

Tim Sheens has invited some of the Balmain Tigers players to train with the WESTSTIGERS NRL squad in the off season to give them the experience of training full time and showing them what it takes to develop into an NRL player. These players include, Bronson Harrison, Luke Thompson, Brock Hunter, Jeff Lima, Danial Harris, Jamie Small, Simon Greally, Jamie Nowland & Michael Harper. Also included in Tim's squad are those players who made their NRL debut last season, which includes Dene Halatau, Chris Heighington and Robert Farah.

some great news here!

I wasn't sure if we'd re-signed lima, small or nowland as neither have been mentioned before now - lima and small are key to balmains chances and nowland is showing he could become that way too so the fact that they are still around is great news...the fact that sheens has his eye on them for bigger things even better news for the wests tigers.

I am also glad to see jaime smalls name there for a different reason, I was begining to think he would be the forgotten man of the wests tigers forward prospects - he has been probably THE most important man in balmains team over the last couple of years and he deserves his chance to show what he can do...we are a vastly better team when he is on the field.

As for the young kids mentioned - they all have big futures ahead of them and I think Bronson will certainly play first grade next year and possibly a few of the others as well (harper really looked the goods at the end of last year)

 

[brook]

A few other thoughts from the list of players training for positions across the grades

notable omissions of luke milton (yay), charlie farah (thank god!), Michael Hawkins (a bit neutral on this, he could be awsome but seemed to go missing on occasion too), sam obst (I don't think I need to comment on this!) and Adam Tippett (far too inconsistant and too old to change him ways imo).

Matty Gillard has returned back to tigertown although I presume he will be trialling with the hawkes

Beau Mundine is trialing, once again this is probably for the hawkes though not balmain.

There is going to be a lot of competition for spots once sg ball finishes, several of the more talented ball players are also listed in the jersey flegg squads - I expect that they will keep a lot of the flegg players held back until after ball but many will get a call-up to PL afterwards with the likes of Pangai, Cameran, Wara and Caldwell to take their place.

It also mentions that every coach this year is a local junior - lets hope they work hard to keep the tiger spirit alive in these kids

 

[brook]

Wednesday 21st January Balmain Premier World Sevens Trials St Mary's

And comfirmation that balmain will be entering a sevens team!

Good Stuff!!!!

 

[Magpie Nick]

Any way someone can dig up a full list of the squad.

 

[Mighty Tiger]

Any way someone can dig up a full list of the squad.

Here we go Nick

http://www.tigers.org.au/Football_club/2004_TrainingSquads.html

On Balmain great to see that Nowland has been retained as I really do feel we will see him be a regular first division player mid way through this season, and who knows he might even impress Sheens as much as he has me and gain a spot at some stage in first grade in 2004

Harper on the other hand I think will make his first grade debut during 2004, sure its a big rap on the kid but going from what I have seen of him he has really impressed.. I think when he does make his first grade debut though he will be used as a back rower/ front rower off the bench. Sure he is young for a forward with that size and no doubt in 5yrs time he will even get better but I feel a player with his size, agility and youth it should be used especially considering he already appears to know how to use these to his best advantage.

On the players Balmain let go add Balin Cupples to that list with Issaka, O'Halloran, and NBQ

 

[Magpie Nick]

I meant the full Wests Tigers squad Phil. I want to see which Wests boys have been included.

 

[brook]

On the players Balmain let go add Balin Cupples to that list

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How dare they let go of Balin???

he's the gutsiest player they have!

 

[B_Tiger]

I'm far more dissapointed with the loss of O'Hall. He will be missed by balmain and the wests tigers. He played out of position in first grade most of the season and managed to perform well. At Balmain he was really starting to become a star in the centre position. It is pretty obvious that Sheens liked him (putting him in first grade most the season) so it is a mystery to me why he wasn't kept. The roosters match where O'hall injured his knee but played on and made a significant impact typifies the type of player he is.

Great news about small making the training squad. He definately deserves the opportunity. Last year he really started to dominate up front and this year he continued that form and has proven himself to be one of the elite forwards in the NSWRL comp.

Lima also is a top performer on his day. When will he become consistant though??? One minute he is busting three tackles and getting off a terrific offload, the next play he knocks on a simple catch. I don't get him. He definately has NRL talent though.

I'm glad Gillard is back. I hope he'll play for Balmain. The finals of 2002 really was the pinnacle of his career so far. he dominated the opposing teams with pace and strength and great awareness. I'm suprised he under performed at parra this year (only making the jim bean side). I really thought he was bound to be an NRL player. The injury he suffered in 2002 may have contributed to his poor form this season. Still, I wouldn't be suprised to see him play first grade this season if he plays anything like he did back in '02.

I think Bronson will be the first of the young balmain players to play first grade (besides farah, of course). What can't be taught to players is understanding and seeing weaknesses in the opposition. I think bronson has that. I thought Galea was a bit like that when he first came into first grade.

 

[brook]

I think Bronson will be the first of the young balmain players to play first grade (besides farah, of course). What can't be taught to players is understanding and seeing weaknesses in the opposition. I think bronson has that. I thought Galea was a bit like that when he first came into first grade.

This I agree with

The thing that sets Bronson apart from most players his age is he really does look comfortable no matter what the level of footy he's playing

where a lot of the others (greally the perfect example) were world beaters in flegg but shakey in premier league bronson hardly seemed to notice the difference - and he's been playing PL since he was 16!

He also looks ready physically for first grade which most of the rest don't, harper needs to bulk up, thomo is still carrying puppy fat and most of the rest could do with some more weight on them but bronson just looks like an athlete.

on lima his consistancy is improving - his biggest problem is ball skills - he looked better at the end of last year once he realised that being a backrower rather than a prop does not mean he has to try and throw the ball around.

 

[Bald Tiger]

Lots of good news there with the fantastic young players we have. But I really liked the sign off by Paul Heptonstall and David Kelly:

For the first time since I've been associated with the club, every coach in charge of a side is a Balmain Junior and has played for the Balmain Tigers!!! What a great example for our players to follow. Loyalty is one of our Clubs' best attributes.

Well put. Hep and David Kelly really seem to be building a great spirit in the club.

 

[Bald Tiger]

Given the depth of the Wests Tigers squad and the talent at the Magpies as well I reckon the only younger player with a real chance of making his first grade debut is Bronson Harrison. Like others I would really like to see Jamie Small get a chance.

 

[Magpie Nick]

You can add Issac DeGois to that list Bald Tiger. He won PL Best and Fariest and plays hooker and lock real well. Brett'O would of got a run this year for sure. I'm still really upset about losing him. He was pissed about leaving aswell. Broke down after losing the game agaisnt St George. The forwards were dominating and would of beaten any forward pack in the game. There wasn't a tackle where they need less than 3 to bring down them. The spot we were killed in was the halves. Dean Byrne ripped us apart. Duffy was also broken but know where near as bad as Brett'O. You would of though his wife had died or something.

 

[westie]

You can add Issac DeGois to that list Bald Tiger. He won PL Best and Fariest and plays hooker and lock real well. Brett'O would of got a run this year for sure. I'm still really upset about losing him. He was pissed about leaving aswell. Broke down after losing the game agaisnt St George. The forwards were dominating and would of beaten any forward pack in the game. There wasn't a tackle where they need less than 3 to bring down them. The spot we were killed in was the halves. Dean Byrne ripped us apart. Duffy was also broken but know where near as bad as Brett'O. You would of though his wife had died or something.

Flegg

 

[LiL_MiSs_TiGeR_BaBe]

bronson is definatly ready...ive been trying 2 tell a few ppl that 4 a while but they think otherwise!