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National Under-20s Signings for 2008

girvie

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The Mitsubishi Electric Bulldogs have signed 18-year-old Liam Roach, the son of former Australian prop Steve “Blocker” Roach.

Liam played in the front row for the Balmain Tigers’ 2007 SG Ball team (U/18).

Bulldogs recruitment manager Keith Onslow said, “Liam has loads of potential and I believe he will grow under the Bulldogs training regime.”

http://www.bulldogs.com.au
 

girvie

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The Mack said:
Girvie, any idea when the Roosters will name their squads?
No idea. I'm hoping most other clubs will name squads before the end of the month. But i think many won't ever name a squad until Round 1 next year (or trials).

You should contact them and try and get the squad list.
 

girvie

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Melbourne have signed Vili Faingaa, a second rower from Canberra Jersey Flegg

And Cronulla have picked up Balmain second rower Troy Adams.
 

girvie

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The Mitsubishi Electric Bulldogs have recruited promising halfback Rhys Jack to their National Youth Competition side (U/20s - NYC) for 2008 and 2009.

Rhys Jack, the son of legendary Balmain and Australian fullback Garry Jack, represented the NSW Catholic Colleges in the Australian Championships this year.

Rhys is 18 years-old and played with the Balmain Tigers SG Ball side in 2007.

He joins his former Tigers team mate Liam Roach who also recently signed to play in the Bulldogs NYC team for two years.

http://www.bulldogs.com.au/main.php?page=article&id=1380


I heard that Newcastle picked up Byron Fruen (centre/lock) from the Western Suburbs Magpies Jersey Flegg/ SG Ball.
 

Taniwha

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And Cronulla have picked up Balmain second rower Troy Adams.

Not doubting your statement just interested if there was a source/link on it. He goes alright too don't he?
 

girvie

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There was some speculation earlier in the year that Cronulla had signed Rory O'Brien from the Dragons, but it appears it didn't happen with O'Brien named in the Dragons fulltime squad along with young backs Dean Whare and Travis Roche.



Taniwha said:
Not doubting your statement just interested if there was a source/link on it. He goes alright too don't he?
I read about it on a Tigers forum. he started almost the whole year in Balmain's second row. I was a bit surprised that Wests didn't keep him for their squad.
 
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There was an article earlier this year saying O'Brien signed with Sharks? Guess its off.
 

Dogaholic

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Big Mick © said:
Rhys Jack...good signing for the Dogs.

Really making good moves for their future.

Hope so. A lot of people are saying that he is a dud signing.

ALSO,
Adrian Davis > Bulldogs from Gimbisi Valley Warriors
 

Swamprat

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Dogaholic said:
Hope so. A lot of people are saying that he is a dud signing.

ALSO,
Adrian Davis > Bulldogs from Gimbisi Valley Warriors

Jack was up against some stiff opposition for the halfback position at the Tiges, he's a fairly honest sort of player but I wouldn't be expecting him to be the next Mitchell Pearce.
 

Smiley

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http://www.qrl.com.au/display.php?pg_id=3505

The new affiliation sees the Tigers join the Dolphins, Norths and Wynnum-Manly as official nurseries for the rebuilding Broncos, who last week announced a new major jersey sponsorship deal with WOW Sight and Sound.

It also signalled Brisbane's intention to keep blooding promising players primarily in the state league even after March's unveiling of the under-20s comp.

"We rate the state league very highly and so our preferred position for our more established players to be is there," Broncos coach Wayne Bennett said.

"Our under-18 guys will play in the under-20s, our older guys who are ready to go on to play NRL will be in the state league predominantly, that's our preferred position."

While seeing the positives of the colts model, Brisbane's coaching hierarchy is mindful of ensuring up-and-comers – particularly forwards – continue to serve their apprenticeship against hardened campaigners.

Looks like the Broncos wil struggle in U20s and miss seeing the likes of Joel Moon, Dave Taylor, Rodney Davies, Nathan Strudwick and Troyden Watene-Edwards.
 

girvie

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From The Age 8th December

Local talent is Storm's aim

mbs_storm_wideweb__470x356,0.jpg

Storm hopes (from left) Will Naitoro, Petera Tamarua, Laurence Nathan, Gareth Widdop, Russell Webber, Malo Feterika, Pulou Vaituutuu.
Photo: John Donegan


Stathi Paxinos
December 8, 2007

MELBOURNE Storm is expecting its under-20s team, which will take part in next year's national competition, to provide it with things that would make this year's premier side even stronger.
Greater back-up to the main squad is one, a more seasoned younger list is another, but most encouragingly for the club, which was set up in a rugby league wasteland a decade ago, it could produce the first dinky-di Victorian to don the Storm's jersey.
The closest the Storm has come to boasting a local product has been former back Jake Webster and back-rower Jeremy Smith, who both spent time in Melbourne before moving to northern states. But that could change, as players such as Laurence Nathan and Petera Tamarua, who were born in Melbourne, have earned spots in the inaugural under-20s squad.
Even more encouraging for the Storm is that there are among eight teenagers who have come through the club's academy system - whose players have been competing in the local leagues - to claim their spots, and while some are relative newcomers to the scene, such as Malo Feterika, who is from New Zealand, and Gareth Widdop, from England, others have come through the junior ranks in Melbourne.
So the race is on to become the Storm's first local product and Nathan and Tamarua are keen to claim the title. "It would be my best achievement ever, I reckon," Tamarua said to Nathan's immediate agreement.
The pair both have parents who have come from New Zealand, a bastion for rugby union, but they said they withstood pressure from friends to remain in league. "When we were growing up our mates were telling us to change to rugby union because there was more competition but we stuck to league," Tamarua said.
And Storm's general manager of development Greg Brentnall, who oversees the academy program, said he was hopeful the current group of graduates in the under-20s squad, which also includes Russell Webber, Darcy Etrich, Will Naitoro, Pulou Vaituutuu, could become first-graders.
"I would like to think that one of these boys is going to get through . . . I would think we're as close as two or three years to bringing a player through the academy program and to the NRL level," he said.
"When the 20s were first mooted we were looking at maybe two players coming out of our local system to being in the squad and we've ended up with eight," Brentnall said. "So from that point of view it's a good indication that through the academy program we've been able to develop these players a bit quicker than we thought we were going to."

He said the under-20s competition would provide a pathway to the NRL that had previously been missing in Melbourne.
"The thing with having the 20s is that there's always been a bit of a void in our development pathway for the young kids coming through the Victorian system. They've always had to go away once they finished school to stay in the system," Brentnall said.
"They didn't see the local competition as part of the pathway to get through to the NRL but . . . we've now got a legitimate pathway where if they're good enough they're going to be able to get through the system here and be able to play in our 20s and hopefully go through and play in the seniors."
He said the under-20s team would also provide a path for those who have not made the squad who are playing in the local league. Storm officials would be keeping a close watch on local leagues as the squad members who were not named in the match-day teams and were not sent to the Storm's Premier League team on the Central Coast, would play locally.
"Last year in the academy program we had four kids that came out of the 18s who decided they had to leave Melbourne if they wanted to improve their rugby league," Brentnall said.
"This year we've got 14 over that age but now we've got a 20s squad and the fact is (even) if they are not in the squad there's still going to be opportunities for our Victorian kids. What we are trying to show them is that there is still a pathway for them, that they can be involved here.
"There's going to be injuries and whatever in the under-20s squad during the year and if they're playing good, strong, competitive league in the local competition they are going to be in prime position to getting a position in the under-20s."
Under-20s coach Brad Arthur said the academy players would not be out of place in the squad dominated by players from rugby league heartlands.
"To be honest, they were a little bit behind the eight-ball when we first came together, but it's just hard because Melbourne does not have a rugby league culture. But to the boys' credit they have really trained hard and picked up and they're back 'even stevens' with the other blokes now so it hasn't taken long," Arthur said.
 

roopy

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Knights training squad from today's Newcastle Herald.

(comments are mine)

Joel Brown - halfback/hooker - a guy with plenty of ability, but i don't think halfback is his thing. He is a bit of a clone of older brother Riley, and i could see him as a bit of a ball playing lock.

Matt Burnham - second row/centre - new signing from Canberra - haven't seen him play

Joel Burraston - halfback/hooker - son of our CEO - was being talked about as the new Joey 5 years ago - has done the Newcastle Institute of sport programme 2 years ago - played for Aus at under 14 level - played a bit for north Sydney last year but didn't get many runs - the year before that he was a matchwinner for Central Charlestown in firstgrade.

Scott Dobbins - second row - has played for NSW in two age groups. He is a no frills hardworking and really solid second rower - a bit of a young simmo clone.

Joel Edwards - prop - brilliant young prop. best defender we have produced in years

Jared Edwards - centre - a decent sized centre who does the job with few mistakes.

Byron Fruean - hooker/utility - new player from wests magpies

Blake Gallen - prop - big kid who played a fair amount of Flegg last season - a bit more fitness and he will be very good.

Mitch Garbutt - second row - from our ball team last season - a big guy with plenty of power

Trent Hilton - second row/centre - a new player from Gunnedah

Todd Hurrell - hooker/lock/five-eight/half - a chunky guy who filled all sorts of roles in flegg last season and showed he has plenty of game, but not sure where he will end up.

Daniel Issac - centre - new signing from Burleigh Bears

Joseph Iosefo - second row/centre - new signing from Souths

Jacob Jenkinson - fullback - our best last year and a true firstgrader in the making. a robbieO clone.

Ryan Lamb - winger - steps up from Ball - former NSW rep - tall and elusive winger

Angus McHatton - prop - new signing from Tamworth

James McClory - prop - stepping up from Ball - never really noticed him.

George Morseau - second row - stepping up from Ball - big kid from the torres straight.

Tyren Mundine - fullback/winger - flashy guy who does plenty of good things but has brain explosions on regular occasions. If he can learn to take some good options he has plenty of running skill. Very elusive.

Keven Naiguama - winger - younger brother of Wes - signed from Saints

Jack O'Brien - second row - stepping up from Ball

Tyne Owen - hooker - our only NSW rep last season i think - will battle to hold his spot against Brown/Burraston/Hurrell, who are all better IMO.

Marty Paulson - fullback - new signing from Burleigh - will need to have some game to force out Jenko.

Callan Richardson - centre - hopefully a big year for Richo. He could play firstgrade if he plays to his full potential.

Ryan Sainty - prop - stepping up from Ball

Jason Schirnack - second row - a kiwi kid who was close to our biggest improver last season - he started last year in Ball and worked his way up to being one of our best in Flegg. If he keeps improving he will star this year.

Ryan Stig - halfback - started last season in Ball and finished as starting half in Flegg. Not a great playmaker yet, but a hardworking and tough little rooster who defends well.

Sione Tovo - prop - new signing from Souths

Simon Williams - centre - another who started in Ball last season and was one of our best in Flegg by the end of the year. An Anthony Quinn clone who could play firstgrade with a great off season.

Ben Wyborn - 5/8 - big and classy 5/8 who started in Ball last season and was fistchoice in Flegg by the end of the year.
 

girvie

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I think Tovo and Fruen are 2 very good signings. Daniel Isaac is also a good prospect.


Meanwhile, Melbourne have signed former Knight Kruize Wilson along with Mack Fawcett from the CC Storm.
 

APRIL BELLE

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ISAAC & SAMAU were the 2 titans players who switched to the titans in exchange for Steve Turner - ISAAC mustn't thought much of them
 

roopy

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girvie said:
Meanwhile, Melbourne have signed former Knight Kruize Wilson
good. They can have older brother Wendal as well, but the youngest boy, Winston, might make a decent player i think.
 
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