The Telecrap have a click bait juniors rant.
THE Parramatta Eels are paying the penalty for too many quick-fix signings and the neglect of their giant junior rugby league nursery over the last decade.
While their western Sydney rivals Penrith keep pumping out stars on their NRL production line, not one outstanding local product has emerged in recent times from the Eels’ junior base of 6000 participants, the second biggest nursery in the country.
Kieran Foran was a big expense for Parramatta. (Matt Blyth/Getty Images)
Instead of investing in local juniors, the Eels have instead forked out huge dollars for the likes of Beau Scott, Kieran Foran, Anthony Watmough, Michael Gordan, Michael Jennings, Frank Pritchard, Corey Norman and Mitchell Moses looking for short-term success.
Only three local products were in the 17-man squad against the Panthers on Sunday — veteran Tim Mannah, Tony Williams and Tepai Moeroa.
Over the years they have allowed James Maloney (Wentworthville), Luke Keary (Hills Bulls), Dave Klemmer (All Saints Toongabbie), Paul Gallen (Wentworthville) and Blake Green (Hills Bulls) to drift away to rival clubs among other stars.
Where is the next Tim Mannah? (Phil Hillyard)
It’s an area chief executive Bernie Gurr turned his attention to when he first arrived nearly 18 months ago.
“We’ve rededicated our club to the junior programs in 16s, 18s and 20s and our academy teams,” Gurr said, “the main focus is re-engaging with the 6000 junior players participating.
“We’re the second biggest junior club and other clubs fish where the fish are. You’re always going to lose a couple.
“Our philosophy is we want out junior players to be aspirational to come through to the NRL level and Brad (Arthur) is absolutely committed to the program.”
“I’d like to think in five years you’ll find a very liberal sprinkling of players who have come through the junior program playing NRL for Parramatta.
“Our big thing is stability and having a very clinical and professional approach to our recruitment and retention.”
While disappointed after five straight losses, Gurr insists Arthur is still the man for the job.
Outside the embarrassing loss to the Manly Sea Eagles they have been competitive and there are no blame games.
Gurr insists the coach is coping with the pressure.
“We’ve got basically the same squad as last year when we finished fourth and won 16 games,” he said, “we had a good off-season and thought we were in good shape.
“We don’t have excuses and the key to fixing any problem is to understand why it’s happening.
“We’ve had penalty problems, mistake problems, dropping balls. We’ve been averaging about 40 per cent possession and making 80 tackles a game more than the opposition.
“In a very even comp, that’s costly. On Sunday we competed ferociously and it was one try all.
“There’s no substitute for hard work and smart work and that’s what Brad’s doing.”
They play the Raiders, Sea Eagles and Wests Tigers in the next three weeks.
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/teams/eels/parramatta-eels-suffering-stems-from-neglecting-their-juniors-and-producing-local-products/news-story/c9fb565e668c28be17b78d74a20f6764&memtype=anonymous
