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Just needs proper coaching.
Never been our strong suit...let's hope that changes under Webster.
Is there anything coming through our pathways that is worth looking at instead?
My point exactly, my friend.
Unfortunately that's a long way from happening. You say we should be because of our player base, the potential in the Maori/Polynesian kids, the ones who get missed and go over the Tasman etc. Totally get it. But forget the player base, it's the coaching base that is the issue. The juniors that don't go to Australia and are developed over here, just have massive holes in them in terms of their skill set and preparedness to be quality NRL players. I can't see that ever changing until we get it right at the Warriors, and it's going to take someone with a lot more acumen than Cameron George and Mark Robinson to oversee that. Until we get these kids into a good system where they come in at 12-13 and have quality coaching and meaningful experience week in week out (as exists in Australia) we are no show. Until then, we have to take Hail Marys in terms of people like Jackson Ford, or we sign people like Reece Walsh who inevitably drift back where they came from.
The Upper Volta of the NRL I love that analogy!
I know it's the ARL's job and not the Warrior's but over the Xmas break how about a joint Training course for coaches. Get the coaches of the appropriate grades and school teams. Identify what is required. How it is taught etc. Bring over a couple of Australian assistants or ex-NRL players. Start a register of players worth promoting.
I was actually thinking of PNG (in mining terms, not football ones)
