Junior pathways or the road to nowhere

[Saints Forever]

As a club, our top juniors frequently represent NSW & QLD.

Yet when it comes to transitioning to NRL, the Club has generally failed to get our juniors to first-grade level.

Is it poor selection on the part of Millward?

For instance, Dufty, Field, and Sailor are relatively small, fast, skillful players, none of whom are good defenders. All three of these players are soft.

Is it poor development at CC cup level?

Tackling technique seems to be the most neglected skill.at our club.

How many juniors significantly improve when promoted to CC and or the NRL squad?

The NRL squad and the CC squad both adopt the same game plan. I have previously stated on other threads that Mary and his coaching staff employ a game plan best suited to the under 8s local competitions.

I don't feel the squad has had the necessary stamina and or explosiveness to be competitive this season. The high-performance unit should be given a new name. Tariq Sims has played all season with a groin injury. Groin injuries take a long time to heal. It seems that the players and the coach determine whether an injury is serious or not instead of the medical staff. This has to change. The lunatics are in charge of the asylum!!

Tariq Sims was a shadow of the beast that played for us last year.

Our juniors excel until they reach the senior level.

Mary can't be held solely responsible for this mess.

So far it has been confirmed we have lost Robson. It is rumoured we will lose Field to the Sharks and that Dufty is no longer required. What is the point of a pathways program that leads to nowhere?

I believe Leilua and Host are both excellent young footballers. Luc will improve if given more game time. Host hasn't been utilised properly.

The Pathways program seems to have lead the club to a dead end. Time for change guys. Time to drain the swamp.

 

[Objective View]

Tonight on NRL360, Cooper Cronk made the point that clubs like Melbourne have the ability to 'fast track' junior stars.

That comes down to top quality coaching and systems - which is anathema to the Dragons.

Straight Shooter

 

[Wittenberg]

Read the article about Garrick in today’s paper. It says everything about Mary and the Club’s attitude to our juniors. Rueben was respectful but some pointed comments.

 

[getsmarty]

Read the article about Garrick in today’s paper. It says everything about Mary and the Club’s attitude to our juniors. Rueben was respectful but some pointed comments.

Link please...thanks

 

[Wittenberg]

Link please...thanks

Sorry old fart here don’t know how to link but it is on page 49 of today’s Sun Herald (13/08/19), under the title “ I Needed a Bit of a Change: Garrick “......put simply he says he didn’t think he would get a go at STGI and that he has learnt so much from Des Hasler. Respectful comments but says it all.

 

[ViceVersa]

What else can we complain about?..

 

[hazzbeen]

Tonight on NRL360, Cooper Cronk made the point that clubs like Melbourne have the ability to 'fast track' junior stars.

That comes down to top quality coaching and systems - which is anathema to the Dragons.

Straight Shooter

Melbourne are way way ahead of the Dragons in every department whether we like it or not ..... The board and management need to step out if the bubble they are in and start doing what ever the top teams are doing , whether its finding loop holes in the salary cap as East , seem to be able to sign who ever they want or we just fumble our way as we are never to be a force again.....

 

[Saints Forever]

Read the article about Garrick in today’s paper. It says everything about Mary and the Club’s attitude to our juniors. Rueben was respectful but some pointed comments.

The problem we have is clear to both our juniors and our supporters.

The only people who don't seem to get it is the Board.

As for Mary, I don't expect him to change.

 

[ST Tangles 01]

I was actually humming the tune of The Talking Heads song when reading the title of this thread.

That is what this season has done to my wellbeing.

 

[watatank]

He now lives in the north, but has heard the cries from the south. They're coming from Dragons fans. They reckon Paul McGregor has spun through so many wingers this year he might as well have been operating a Lazy Susan.

And then there's a kid from Gerringong who couldn't crack it at the Red V and is now a Des Hasler diamond.


NRL 2019
Tigers have probably seen back of Farah after broken tibia: top doctor
"I don't know if I would be playing as good a footy if I stayed there because you need that change every now and again to spark yourself up," the 22-year-old said. "With different coaches you learn new things. I would never say anything bad about the Dragons and the way they treated me.

"I was behind a few guys there and I didn't ever see myself getting a go I guess. I needed a bit of a change as well. I was still living at home. I had to grow up a little bit and I think that's brought more maturity and given me more confidence as well."

When Garrick rocked up at the Sea Eagles and the old Canterbury coach Hasler walked through the door a multi-year deal the winger was negotiating with Manly was pulled from the table. Hasler said he could have just one season to prove himself.

I don't know if I would be playing as good a footy if I stayed there because you need that change every now and again to spark yourself up.

Reuben Garrick

It took Garrick all of a few months to convince the NRL Coach of the Year contender and he has a new two-year deal sorted and a finals series in offing.

Recently Manly players have been each talking about an individual sacrifice they will make until the end of the season. Garrick has given up alcohol until Mad Monday, which will be later than the party the Dragons can already start planning.

RELATED ARTICLE

NRL 2019
'Soft? Try playing 5 minutes': Annesley hits back at sin-bin accusers
Still, he's trying to stop pinching himself with how good this year has been which has him trailing only Latrell Mitchell, Jarrod Croker, Cameron Smith and Mitchell Moses on the NRL pointscoring tally.

"Every now and then I'm looking at stuff, it might be Instagram and I'm like, 'why am I looking at social media?' But my family base is good with that," Garrick said.


"Coming into finals now we're all sacrificing something to put our best foot forward to give us the best shake we can. I'm not going to have any alcohol for the rest of the season until Mad Monday now. We haven't spoke about it collectively, [but] you realise how close you are and it can't hurt to give up something to gain something."

The Sea Eagles can strengthen their push for a top-four finish when they host a depleted Tigers at Lottoland on Thursday night. He'll more than likely play well again – like he has all season – and won't want or expect praise from Hasler. The groans from the other side of Sydney may grow a little louder.

"I knew I had a good pre-season and was ready," Garrick said. "I was in a good head space. I knew I wasn't going to let [Manly] down."


https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/i-...-had-to-quit-the-dragons-20190812-p52gcu.html

 

[Wittenberg]

I was actually humming the tune of The Talking Heads song when reading the title of this thread.

That is what this season has done to my wellbeing.

Loved Talking Heads! “Same as it ever was.....” a Mary lyric

 

[hazzbeen]

The problem we have is clear to both our juniors and our supporters.

The only people who don't seem to get it is the Board.

As for Mary, I don't expect him to change.

It can't keep going as it is , if it does IMO this club will fold .... Or be relocated ......

 

[redandwhite4evr]

As a club, our top juniors frequently represent NSW & QLD.

Yet when it comes to transitioning to NRL, the Club has generally failed to get our juniors to first-grade level.

Is it poor selection on the part of Millward?

For instance, Dufty, Field, and Sailor are relatively small, fast, skillful players, none of whom are good defenders. All three of these players are soft.

Is it poor development at CC cup level?

Tackling technique seems to be the most neglected skill.at our club.

How many juniors significantly improve when promoted to CC and or the NRL squad?

The NRL squad and the CC squad both adopt the same game plan. I have previously stated on other threads that Mary and his coaching staff employ a game plan best suited to the under 8s local competitions.

I don't feel the squad has had the necessary stamina and or explosiveness to be competitive this season. The high-performance unit should be given a new name. Tariq Sims has played all season with a groin injury. Groin injuries take a long time to heal. It seems that the players and the coach determine whether an injury is serious or not instead of the medical staff. This has to change. The lunatics are in charge of the asylum!!

Tariq Sims was a shadow of the beast that played for us last year.

Our juniors excel until they reach the senior level.

Mary can't be held solely responsible for this mess.

So far it has been confirmed we have lost Robson. It is rumoured we will lose Field to the Sharks and that Dufty is no longer required. What is the point of a pathways program that leads to nowhere?

I believe Leilua and Host are both excellent young footballers. Luc will improve if given more game time. Host hasn't been utilised properly.

The Pathways program seems to have lead the club to a dead end. Time for change guys. Time to drain the swamp.

 

[redandwhite4evr]

Part of the problem is players not being selected in positions where they have the body type and skill set for that position. Matt Dufty for example should be told in no uncertain terms that he will not be selected for full back again as he is too light and his defence, positioning and security under the high ball is simply not up to scratch- however, he would make an excellent half/five eighth- and then help him to make this transition with people like Andrew Johns doing short and long kicking drills with him. Jai Field has similar issues.

 

[j0nesy]

Timm can’t get a game despite being named in the CC team of the week for the 12th time this season and leading all the forwards stats. The management of young blokes transitioning into the first grade team is abhorrent. They just don’t get a decent go. Nothing can be done about it. I’m ambivalent now.