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JOSH RAKIC
April 4, 2010
Brisbane Broncos football manager Peter Nolan says the freakish Rabbitohs prop is playing far below his best and needs a solid stint in Premier League if South Sydney are to get the best out of him this season.
The 21-year-old Broncos recruit was dumped to Queensland Cup by Brisbane coach Ivan Henjak after an ordinary start to 2009. He burst back onto the scene mid-season, a shadow of his former self, and inspired Brisbane to go within one game of the grand final.
''Dave spent a lot of time at the Comets for the first half of last year because he had a few issues with his fitness. And because he had issues with his fitness, it was affecting how he could play,'' Nolan told The Sun-Herald.
''He wasn't getting a lot of game time for us coming off the bench, so we sent him up there to play some full games and got some match fitness behind him and his weight sort of got under control. And as he got fitter, well, he just got better - you saw what he did in the back half of the year. But he needs to be fit to do that sort of stuff.
''He's a big man and he took a lot of getting right.''
Nolan stressed it was not an attitude issue that had the 120-kilogram enforcer relegated to Queensland Cup but immaturity in terms of preparation. He said Souths needed to show their star signing some tough love to ensure he would reach his potential.
''There were no issues with him from a behavioural point of view or anything like that, it's just he was coming off the bench for us and wasn't doing a hell of a lot and he was really struggling with his condition and needed to play 80 minutes every week,'' Nolan said.
''And when he got to the Comets he got that. He needs plenty of hard work, Dave. Plenty of time and plenty of hard riding.
''Dave's a guy, and he will tell you this himself, who needs hard riding. I could look him in the eye and say that. You need to stay on top of him and you really need to keep your foot on him.
''He's only 21 so like any kid his age, he hasn't really matured in the mind yet and he doesn't know how to prepare properly. That's not about him as a bloke, that's just a maturity thing.
''You don't want to treat him badly, you've just got to be into him the whole time to get him going.''
Nolan said if South Sydney wanted any proof they need only look to the Broncos' late-season charge to the NRL finals.
''Dave was much more beneficial for us in the back half when he was fit. He was one of the best players in the comp,'' Nolan said.
''Souths made him an offer like he was a master builder but he was still a first-year apprentice with us.
''He'll get there. He just needs some working.''
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...or-if-you-want-him-to-fire-20100403-rkow.html
April 4, 2010
Brisbane Broncos football manager Peter Nolan says the freakish Rabbitohs prop is playing far below his best and needs a solid stint in Premier League if South Sydney are to get the best out of him this season.
The 21-year-old Broncos recruit was dumped to Queensland Cup by Brisbane coach Ivan Henjak after an ordinary start to 2009. He burst back onto the scene mid-season, a shadow of his former self, and inspired Brisbane to go within one game of the grand final.
''Dave spent a lot of time at the Comets for the first half of last year because he had a few issues with his fitness. And because he had issues with his fitness, it was affecting how he could play,'' Nolan told The Sun-Herald.
''He wasn't getting a lot of game time for us coming off the bench, so we sent him up there to play some full games and got some match fitness behind him and his weight sort of got under control. And as he got fitter, well, he just got better - you saw what he did in the back half of the year. But he needs to be fit to do that sort of stuff.
''He's a big man and he took a lot of getting right.''
Nolan stressed it was not an attitude issue that had the 120-kilogram enforcer relegated to Queensland Cup but immaturity in terms of preparation. He said Souths needed to show their star signing some tough love to ensure he would reach his potential.
''There were no issues with him from a behavioural point of view or anything like that, it's just he was coming off the bench for us and wasn't doing a hell of a lot and he was really struggling with his condition and needed to play 80 minutes every week,'' Nolan said.
''And when he got to the Comets he got that. He needs plenty of hard work, Dave. Plenty of time and plenty of hard riding.
''Dave's a guy, and he will tell you this himself, who needs hard riding. I could look him in the eye and say that. You need to stay on top of him and you really need to keep your foot on him.
''He's only 21 so like any kid his age, he hasn't really matured in the mind yet and he doesn't know how to prepare properly. That's not about him as a bloke, that's just a maturity thing.
''You don't want to treat him badly, you've just got to be into him the whole time to get him going.''
Nolan said if South Sydney wanted any proof they need only look to the Broncos' late-season charge to the NRL finals.
''Dave was much more beneficial for us in the back half when he was fit. He was one of the best players in the comp,'' Nolan said.
''Souths made him an offer like he was a master builder but he was still a first-year apprentice with us.
''He'll get there. He just needs some working.''
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...or-if-you-want-him-to-fire-20100403-rkow.html
