Do we really miss Crusher

[Twizzle]

This is not about the Lyon affair.

This has been our worst year in the lower grades for a long time.

When Crusher was here we won 7 club championships in a row.

Now that he is gone, our flegg team is not only getting beaten, but thrashed. I believe won won of the Ball/ HM trophies, from memory.

We used to be the yardstick as far a strength and depth goes, our only problem was, we could not hang onto them, when they matured.

I'm not saying we dont have depth in our juniors but, we are not as we used to be when Crusher was here.

I dont know enough about how our juniors and now run and managed, so I was wondering if you guys in the know, could fill me in.

 

[Stagger eel]

the only way to answer that question is to ask it again in 2 years time!

 

[The Colonel]

Our Ball went one game short from memory, Harries beat Penrith in the final. We haven't had as many juniors selected in rep sides as we have had in the past however we are still doing quite well based on the final outcome of the Ball and Harry squads. Hayne, Keating, Hodgkinson, Green, Williams, Marzella etc will make up the bulk of our Flegg side next year and are held in very high regard.

I think we are starting to be a little smarter in our junior recruiting - chasing the likes of Backo, Sorenson Jr, Russ etc (Rod Reddy's new job) - much like the Roosters have done. By building up our Flegg sides with the good milk and we are able to let the cream rise to the top and keep that. Our top grade squad for next season will be younger than this year by a long way so the core of the side - with any luck can stay together while this other young players move up.

 

[Twizzle]

so has Rod Reddy taken over from Crusher with the junior recruiting

 

[The Colonel]

so has Rod Reddy taken over from Crusher with the junior recruiting

I think so - I should have put an ? in the brackets because I'm not sure but it seems he did have something to do with Backo coming down.

 

[1eyedeel]

If you look at our JF side when the season started, it was absolutely awesome. If you think of the JF team we could have put on the park:

1. Reddy
2. Anderson
3. Graham
4. Smith
5. Lantry
6. Green
7. Smith
8. Cordoba
9. Jones
10. Tsoulos
11. Afamasaga
12. Huaraki
13. Mateo

14. Brett Delaney
15. Brendan Oake
16. Ben Taia
17. Nathan Armit

Let's put that team up against the Roosters JF side and see if they're stil undefeated.

 

[Stagger eel]

thats not a bad side!

I think you'll find that Mark Horo also recruits for the club and it appears he concentrates in NZ. but in saying that I'm also not sure of the set up.

just on a side note, Matt Lantry is going back to Newcastle next year and Jeramiah Pai has signed with the storm.

 

[strider]

I don't think junior recruitment is any one person's job any more....I've heard of Reddy and Horo being involved with young guys coming to Parra - and I'm willing to be there are others.

 

[strider]

Yeah I forgot to actually say something about the question....Crusher - yeah I reckon we miss him - its no necessarily that he "brings young talent to the club" cos anyone can do that - its more that he "relates well to them" cos he went through it himself and that makes them feel comfortable once they get here and play to their potential.

I wouldn't give Crusher or Jamie the time of day after what has happened, but there's obviously a bond there which helped Jamie along....Crusher does well with the young guys.


Also - on our depth in lower grades....from reading this board this season, you'd think we were as deep as the Pacific Ocean - because people rave over the young guys coming through - "put em in NRL"....are people getting a bit carried away with our young guys??? - as pointed out we have done worse this season than in recent seasons in PL and Flegg......maybe injuries and players moving from side to side has played a part in making it a disjoint season for alot of guys???

 

[PB]

Perhaps the lower grade coaches will be a little worried about their jobs.....

 

[stuke]

the only way to answer that question is to ask it again in 2 years time!

that will be the true indication.

this years sides still would have been heavily influenced by the players that cleal identified and had already signed. the next few years, especially in comparison to manly, will be interesting to see the true worth of cleal to the club.

 

[Glenn]

Well can't say Cleal had much of a influence on Manly this season.
Just out of curiosity can anyone list who Cleal has brought to the club in terms of juniors and are still with the club

 

[Eelementary]

Pft!

No way!

He's just a talent scout. Anyone with half a brain could do his job.

Grated, Cleal did a great job.

But in all honesty - how hard is it to go to the bush, watch some kids play a few games and say, "Right - you'll be the next Mal Meninga!"?

 

[strider]

I think you'll find in the NRL, most the people titled "talent scout" don't actually do alot of scouting - they get tips from people who see youngsters and believe they are good - they then follow up the tips.....people like crusher are very well connected (ie have alot of contacts) in the bush and hence are seen to be spotting alot of talent.....not saying he does nothing, thats just the way it works.

 

[half]

honestly, i don't really care how our younger teams perform. for me it's not so much about them getting results, but us moudling some youngsters into future first grade stars

winning the club championship incites even less excitement than winning the sevens

 

[ParraMatt]

Haven't missed the fat hairy bastard at all.

BTW, Ben Taia has a huge future with us, Plays a bit like Alex Chan i believe. Watched him close this year, Rate him as a big prospect next season.

 

[Eels Dude]

honestly, i don't really care how our younger teams perform. for me it's not so much about them getting results, but us moudling some youngsters into future first grade stars

winning the club championship incites even less excitement than winning the sevens

I think I agree with you there. I'd rather see individual talents coming up and playing well in these lower grades than them playing well together as a side. The individual talents are the ones that are going to get their shot at NRL level.

 

[Forum Idiot]

Pft!

No way!

He's just a talent scout. Anyone with half a brain could do his job.

Grated, Cleal did a great job.

But in all honesty - how hard is it to go to the bush, watch some kids play a few games and say, "Right - you'll be the next Mal Meninga!"?

yeah thats not hard but the hard part that he did was look after them like a father figure. they lived with him and he helped them mature.
i dont wanna become a juniorless drain like the roosters are. im proud of our great juniors even if they all get rorted. at least we can say we arent the roosters.

 

[Hurriflatch]

Parramatta will still produce a number of juniors

The Cayless brother,s Pat Richardsm Michael Vella, Michael Buettner, WAde McKinnon, Daniel Irvine and ERic Grothe Jnr are all locals so they don't need a father figure or in Jamie's case a Suger Daddy figure.

Mark Horo who has sent Jack Afamsaga, Weller Hauraki and Josh DAvis in Parra's direction and it wouldn't surprise if he had some hand in Marcus Perenara and Kurt Sorsensen jnr

and their are bnound to be others helping aswell.

Sure, there may well not be as many coming as their was with Cleal, but there will still be more then enough to help with the future.

Parramatta have a local junior district so they'll never become like the Roosters

Rod Reddy who got Daniel Backo signed

 

[Eelementary]

Pft!

No way!

He's just a talent scout. Anyone with half a brain could do his job.

Grated, Cleal did a great job.

But in all honesty - how hard is it to go to the bush, watch some kids play a few games and say, "Right - you'll be the next Mal Meninga!"?

yeah thats not hard but the hard part that he did was look after them like a father figure. they lived with him and he helped them mature.
i dont wanna become a juniorless drain like the roosters are. im proud of our great juniors even if they all get rorted. at least we can say we arent the roosters.

And look how far the father figure got us?

HE screwed us (or we screwed him). Whatever - he's gone and he's now going to do evrything he can to screw our club over.