Green is back where career began: in Sharks blue

[Poss]

Green is back where career began: in Sharks blue

JON Green, 26, returns to the Cronulla Sharks in season 2012, no longer a fringe player but a proven first grader.

A few years in Wayne Bennett's teams at St George Illawarra saw to that.
From mid-way on last season, in fact, Green was one of the first forwards Bennett named in his squad, whether it was in the run-on side or playing off the bench.
"We didn't make the grand final but 2011 was definitely my best year," said the no-nonsense Green, who helped control the middle of the ruck in defence for the Dragons.
"Wayne Bennett simplified my game for me and so I made sure I went out and did my job each week. I enjoy defending."
Green is a real journeyman, too, with a strong family tie to the Sharks. Green's mother Carmel was the Cronulla Sharks "house mother" for a couple of years for young players who lived together in a Sharks house, and she ran a tight ship.

Green was born in Southport, Queensland, and played for Beenleigh in junior league before his parents took him to Perth as an 11-year-old, before he was lured into the NRL system when he was scouted playing for the South Perth Lions.

Upon moving to Sydney, Green played for the Sharks in lower grades, had a year with Newtown and then made his first grade debut with the Canterbury Bulldogs in 2006.
Then it was off to the Dragons (four seasons), at first with feeder club Shellharbour in 2008, before he slowly made his mark back in grade.
Last season he really impressed in the second half of the year for Bennett's Dragons, making 13 appearances while averaging 73 metres a game along with 24 tackles.

Then he got another opportunity back at Toyota Park.
"It is a totally different Sharks squad to the one I knew back in 2004," he said.
"Gal [captain Paul Gallen] is the only one around from then, but it looks a very strong Sharks squad."
Green believes he could be weighing a fair bit more than the 105-106 kilograms he played at the Dragons last season — and is a bit stronger too.
"Elk [trainer Trent Elkin] has been trying to bulk me up," he said.
"Suits me, too. I don't mind my food."Green joins fellow props Ben Ross, Bryce Gibbs, Andrew Fifita, Josh Cordoba and back rowers/props captain Paul Gallen and Mark Taufua at the Cronulla Sharks for 2012.

http://www.theleader.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/green-is-back-where-career-began-in-sharks-blue/2430939.aspx

 

[newman]

Elkin. *FACEPALM*

 

[coolumsharkie]

haha wtf?

 

[Mr Angry]

Cordoba. *FACEPALM*

 

[Madsharkie]

"Elk [trainer Trent Elkin] has been trying to bulk me up," he said.

WTF Elf! Hope you'ves got him running for more than 15mins at a time...

I don't see Green starting for us, unless we have injuries. What does everyone think of him?

 

[Plastered]

Reliable, looked OK for the Stains last year. I'd pick him in front of Cordoba and Taufua. My prop pecking order:

Gibbs
Ross
Fifita
Green
Taufua
Cordoba

 

[newman]

haha wtf?

He was in career best form and weight under a premiership winning system. But Trent Elkin knows better. Trent Elkin thinks he needs to be 110kg plus. He does this with all f**ken props, beefs em up as much as he can so they get slow and lose lateral movement.

 

[Quigs]

I think we all agreed last year that the new age prop needed to be a lot more mobile and having big monsters was a thing of the past.

Oh well.... it's a sharks thang I guess.

Have a look what the stinking stains did with Cuthbertson. Dropped about 10kg off him when he left us to them. The Creepin had him playing exactly how he was told to play, and now we have half the stinking stains supporters threatening to cut off one of their two dicks because the club let him go.

Arrrhhhhhh what do I know?

 

[carinashark]

Waste of money.

 

[coolumsharkie]

He was in career best form and weight under a premiership winning system. But Trent Elkin knows better. Trent Elkin thinks he needs to be 110kg plus. He does this with all f**ken props, beefs em up as much as he can so they get slow and lose lateral movement.

Nah I got him mixed up with the other guy that left for the Stains

 

[newman]

Waste of money.

So we shouldn't have back up props or NSW Cup players? You suck Carina.

 

[Frenzy.]

I expect Green to have a good year. He has matured a lot as a player at 26 is coming into "props peak". Potentially the Sharks can get his best years out of him.

Might not play origin or internationals but is a good solid NRL standard prop. Here's a comparison. Plenty of people on here were down on Craig Stapleton as a prop but he proved everyone wrong and was missed when he left. IMO Green is better than Stapo

 

[Weaponhead]

Good solid player. Significantly better than Cordoba and will add stability to our prop rotation. We have much better prop depth this season. Last year it was all on the shoulders of Douglas and Snowden. We can cover an injury or two and not lose too much quality.

Has played in important games and is used to winning. Green and Fifita are a good bench prop combo. A tight defender with a strong runner.

 

[Special K]

Is Coates still in the 20s? He looked very good last year in the 20s.

Having a guy like Green allows us to use 4 legit props for big teams such as manly. I can't remember the last time we went into a game with 4 legit props bar the last game of Nutleys career when we had Nutley, Ross, Douglas and Snowden in 2008.

 

[Windy70]

He has a bit to offer. His defense seems good. But just drives me up the wall when cash goes to forwards instead of outside backs.

But anyway, welcome back.

 

[carinashark]

Hit a nerve? Better to spend money elsewhere , younger players that may turn out good uns.

 

[Dragon Slayer]

It's anyone's guess how a lot of the new signings are going to go for us this season.

We've read the write ups now we need to see some track work.

 

[Ronnie Dobbs]

Elkin. *FACEPALM*

I agree. I can't believe I just read that Newms.

Jonny Green struggled because he was too big early on. Had nought lateral movement and would get caught out badly in the middle.

He's a solid benchy who I have a lot of time for as he busts his gut every time he'son the field, but, truth be told, he only got so much time last year because we'd lost Poore, Saffy, Costigan and Smith over the previous two off seasons.

He was also part of a pretty decent squad at the Dragons just quietly, so he only had to do his job.

In fairness, the Sharks forwards are very good this year too.

I just can't believe what Elkin has him doing. IT will hurt his input and in turn the Sharks performance.

Good luck Jonny. I'll never forget the Marshall grubber you caught off your shoelaces in the 2010 prelim. Big part of getting us into the GF.

 

[carcharias]

wish he dropped it.

 

[cb4]

He is in my 17. Good solid player.