Local comp connection continues

[roopy]

<H1>Stone's pledge on Newcastle league

BY NEIL GOFFET
21/08/2009 12:37:00 PM
KNIGHTS players will have more of a presence in the Newcastle Rugby League competition next year under new coach Rick Stone.

Former coach Brian Smith's legacy to the Newcastle competition was rubber stamping the Player Placement Program that was introduced this year.

The program was born out of the Knights' decision not to field a reserve-grade team in the NSW Cup.

Players not selected in the Knights' NRL squad or National Youth Competition team were drafted to local clubs, and Stone said the same system would remain in place under his reign as head coach.

"It will definitely happen again next year, and our stance on fielding a reserve-grade side is that we will not," Stone said. "Even though the NSW Rugby League would love us to do that, our budget constraints won't allow us to do that.

"We will have possibly more players out each weekend, I would suggest, and I'm definitely keen to have a trial game against the premiers from the local comp at their home ground to give them a bit of a boost. It's not official, but it's an idea of mine at this point."

There was increased interest in the Newcastle matches this year when internationals Cooper Vuna and Aku Uate played for Cessnock.

Maitland were regularly bolstered by Marvin Karawana and Sione Tovo, and George Ndaira has qualified to play finals for Kurri Kurri.

Stone also plans to delve deeper into local league ranks in a bid to unearth the next Bill Peden or Chris Bailey a late bloomer who might have slipped through the junior representative system.

Peden is the most celebrated player in Knights history to have come from the Newcastle Rugby League's senior ranks at Cessnock and went on to play 190 NRL matches.

More recently Chris Bailey, now at Manly-Warringah, went from Nelson Bay to the Knights, as did centre Craig Hall, and George Carmont played for Raymond Terrace before becoming a Knight.

"Eventually I'd like to be able to offer a part-time contract or, at least, a full-time summer contract to a couple of players from the Newcastle Rugby League," Stone said. "Chris Adams is an example of the sort of player that might benefit from something like that.

"We will be having a close look over the finals series and we are interested in anyone who potentially could convert into a Chris Bailey or a George Carmont, or any of those blokes that have come from the local comp."

Stone said the Knights had already taken steps to increase their involvement with the development of the game in the Hunter.

"We've got a workshop in October with the junior rep coaches from under 12s through to under 16s," he said. "That will involve coaches from the Newcastle, Maitland and Group 21 areas. We just want to get some Knights principles out into rugby league community.
"The more people we can influence, the better our kids will be educated and hopefully that will help them when its time to come and play Harold Matthews or SG Ball."

</H1>http://www.theherald.com.au/news/lo...-on-newcastle-league/1602744.aspx?storypage=0

 

[roopy]

A very positive thing IMO.

 

[roopy]

I'd like to see the trial game against the Newcastle representative side - which would be good for both the Knights and the local rep side.

 

[antonius]

The only thing I dislike is the fact that some of the young guys don't get to experience playing in front of a large crowd (experiencing what it's like to be a Knight if you like) and we the fans don't get to see them unless we make trips to local games and see them individually. Personally I liked watching Premier league, it showcased all our potential first graders together. It also enables them to build on combinations with team mates that have formed through the junior grades, something that is lost if they play for different local sides. It also makes game day much better, Flegg, premier league, First grade.

 

[roopy]

It would be nice to see a game of local league as the third game at EAS on game day.

 

[antonius]

Don't you think though Roopy, that being farmed out prevents the younger players from continuing partnerships/combinations formed through the juniors? They build up a lot of understanding of each others games through the lower grades.

 

[Pika]

Wouldnt it be great to have Kurri V Wests as the curtain raiser to NYC and NRL.

Central V Cessnock as the game before the Penrith match.

 

[roopy]

Don't you think though Roopy, that being farmed out prevents the younger players from continuing partnerships/combinations formed through the juniors? They build up a lot of understanding of each others games through the lower grades.

I think the training sessions are the most important things - and playing in the local comp just lets them gain a lot of confidence and a lot of experience of different types of play.

In a perfect world, i'd like to see the local comp dropped to about 8 wealthy sides who field semi pro sides, but the local comp will never go there.

 

[Karmawave]

Wouldnt it be great to have Kurri V Wests as the curtain raiser to NYC and NRL.

Central V Cessnock as the game before the Penrith match.

Seriously , whats stopping it?

 

[roopy]

Wouldnt it be great to have Kurri V Wests as the curtain raiser to NYC and NRL.

Central V Cessnock as the game before the Penrith match.

Even if just Wests decides to play all their home games as undercard games at EAS, and we all go to cheer for whichever side is playing Wests.

 

[Pika]

Seriously , whats stopping it?

Central having to beat Wyong or Kurri and Cessnock to get to the GF.

I love the Butcher Boys, but last week, like the few weeks before, they completed at 25% for one half.

Early season form has left them I think....

 

[antonius]

Even if just Wests decides to play all their home games as undercard games at EAS, and we all go to cheer for whichever side is playing Wests.

LOL, Maca would be there cheering for the maggots :shock:;-)

 

[Pika]

Maca loves the maggots.

 

[Karmawave]

Central having to beat Wyong or Kurri and Cessnock to get to the GF.

I love the Butcher Boys, but last week, like the few weeks before, they completed at 25% for one half.

Early season form has left them I think....

I meant, why isn't there proactivity in getting the end of year games played at EAS before Knights games?

Whats stopping it.

 

[roopy]

Stone said the Knights had already taken steps to increase their involvement with the development of the game in the Hunter.

"We've got a workshop in October with the junior rep coaches from under 12s through to under 16s," he said. "That will involve coaches from the Newcastle, Maitland and Group 21 areas. We just want to get some Knights principles out into rugby league community.
"The more people we can influence, the better our kids will be educated and hopefully that will help them when its time to come and play Harold Matthews or SG Ball."

That's the other big thing from the article.
The Knights taking an interest in kids from 12 year on is a good thing, and i'd go as far as saying we should be trying to get these kids to think they are part of the Knights - even if it is only for public relations reasons.
Imagine how many fans for life we will create by giving kids a blue and red jersey at age 12 - all the kids and all their families - even if they never play another game.

 

[Mad Goanna]

Wouldnt it be great to have Kurri V Wests as the curtain raiser to NYC and NRL.

Central V Cessnock as the game before the Penrith match.

The Real NRL have pencilled in the Preliminary Final for Sept. 6 so it will be interesting to see what happens.

I think Real NRL level is above NYC as well although Michael Beuttner or Gus Gould would not like that.

 

[Gene Krupa]

Go the Butchers!

 

[Bring it home Knights]

The only thing I dislike is the fact that some of the young guys don't get to experience playing in front of a large crowd (experiencing what it's like to be a Knight if you like) and we the fans don't get to see them unless we make trips to local games and see them individually. Personally I liked watching Premier league, it showcased all our potential first graders together. It also enables them to build on combinations with team mates that have formed through the junior grades, something that is lost if they play for different local sides. It also makes game day much better, Flegg, premier league, First grade.

I could not agree more!!!

 

[Newie is God's Country]

With Stone's QLD cup connections and a good level of insight into the Toohey's cup, The Knights certainly have plenty of players to watch develop, especially by putting NRL level footballers into their comp. It would be a great idea for the RNRL coaches to allow the NRL players to give input into how they train and who they believe is good enough for a trial at NRL level. Ironically Smithy will prove to be the catalyst for the local nursery being reborn once more. Talent is everywhere in the Hunter. What Smith did was remove the Knights snobby attitude towards local clubs. We will find some nice talent locally if we look close enough. Young Adams would be a handy backup to Isaac.