NSW 16s and 18s 2013

[KAB]

What is going on with these selections? Please Liam Knight in the team - your kidding. I really cnt believe the NRL / NSWRL allow top players suvh as Milne and others to have contracts Rugby League clubs but be dictacted by managers / schools / rugby. So does this mean players have multiply contracts across codes. Is this allowed , obviously it is. A win in for the managers.

 

[Tucantango]

What is going on with these selections? Please Liam Knight in the team - your kidding. I really cnt believe the NRL / NSWRL allow top players suvh as Milne and others to have contracts Rugby League clubs but be dictacted by managers / schools / rugby. So does this mean players have multiply contracts across codes. Is this allowed , obviously it is. A win in for the managers.

KAB,

IMO it doesn't have anything to do with managers as there is nothing to be gained (financially - at least in the immediate term) by a manager when it comes to schoolboy rugby.

It is has always been the case that NRL contracts are subservient to school commitments, whether they be union or league; especially in the case of Milne and Moeroa where they are on scholarship at Newington where each has a commitment to play school rugby.

The choice to play rep rugby is a personal choice, but unlike other years they can only choose one code as events will clash. Personally Milne and Moeroa would be mad to pass up union for league this year. This year the Australian Schools Rugby Union will be hosting NZ and Fiji (the South Africans have recently withdrawn). And then there is the tour in November to the UK where the Australian schoolboys will play England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

One game of U/18's versus the potential to play six internationals IMO is a no-brainer!

 

[magpie4ever]

HB was on the money! Both lads played for GPS tonight, and were no-shows at the medical. Luke Yates and Liam Knight have been brought into the squad!

Not really knowing this age group well - What clubs are Yates and Knight from? Are they both centres?

 

[ballbag]

Yates is lock from Newcastle
Not sure about Knight

 

[Tucantango]

Yates is lock from Newcastle
Not sure about Knight

Knight is a Manly lad who transitioned from the centres into back row. Played se 20's as of late, but there are some that question his selection. I personally don't think he is a bad player! He does give his all!

 

[Tucantango]

Anyway the team is what it is, so good luck and God bless to all concerned. I wish I had of had the opportunity to represent my State at such a level!

 

[junior fan]

I know there has already been mentioned that Tepai and Taane withdrew from 18s interesting to note in today's paper it says they were forced and that the school wouldn't release them, perhaps the boys wanted to play instead of union.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...ns-resolve-20130620-2oluq.html?skin=text-only

Hard call on youngsters

Roosters winger Taane Milne and Parramatta forward Tepai Moeroa have been forced to withdraw from the NSW Under-18s team because their school won't release them. The pair, who are also highly regarded rugby union prospects, attend Newington College and told officials they couldn't play in the curtain-raiser to Origin II because of school commitments. Moeroa, who is a Penrith junior, holds the NSW Athletics under-13s, -15s and -17s shotput records. Jamal Idris still holds the under-9s record.

 

[R2Coupe]

Tatola and Armstrong were selected.

Penrith were the most consistent team all year and only got one in.

Penrith and the Tigers can consider themselves hard done by but it was the same last year with the Tigers winning the SG Ball.

Good luck to the boys.

 

[s1ng0709]

Penrith and the Tigers can consider themselves hard done by but it was the same last year with the Tigers winning the SG Ball.

Good luck to the boys.

Maybe selectors take too much notice of who plays 20s cause penrith and tigers are going good in the 20s there would be less sg ball players comin up. 4 dragons players made it, did any of their ball teams go good? i know their 20s aint!

 

[Panther_Daz]

They definitely take too much notice of the 20's.

Hastings wasn't that good in SG Ball. He played fullback all year yet gets picked at halfback in the NSW 18's team?

Penrith haven't had the chance to blood any SG Ball players in 20's because they are going too good. Hastings wouldn't make the Panthers 20's but walks into a very poor Dragons 20's.

 

[Tucantango]

They definitely take too much notice of the 20's.

Hastings wasn't that good in SG Ball. He played fullback all year yet gets picked at halfback in the NSW 18's team?

Penrith haven't had the chance to blood any SG Ball players in 20's because they are going too good. Hastings wouldn't make the Panthers 20's but walks into a very poor Dragons 20's.

Daz,

I will have to disagree with you here mate! I actually saw three of Hastings' games in the NYC against quality opposition (i.e. teams who were in the top five) and though saints lost on two of those occasions he individually played brilliantly! He deserves his spot!

There are a fair few players in the team that didn't have the greatest of SGB seasons in teams like the Panthers and Tigers, but playing for a weaker SGB (or NYC) team doesn't automatically detract from individual brilliance.

Unlike the selection of 16's which I personally believe has been pervaded with political selections over the years, the 18's selections seem to be geared more toward a game plan in both attack and defence, and the selection of specialised players to suit this structure!

However I will note that in terms of selections I would have preferred May over Knight as a utility coming of the bench! Perhaps May's outing at NSWCCC is what sealed his fate as far as 18's selection was concerned, but by the same token Knight's last outing for the 20's wasn't perhaps his best performance either! But as I stated earlier; the NSWRL love Manly!

In addition I would have personally preferred Cox over Hastings, however given that the NSWRL selectors are sticklers for discipline, perhaps Cox's run in with a few refereeing decisions during the SGB season sealed his fate, like I believed it sealed the fates of Fonua-Blake and Tevita Pangai in 2011 for the U/16's!

 

[s1ng0709]

They definitely take too much notice of the 20's.

Hastings wasn't that good in SG Ball. He played fullback all year yet gets picked at halfback in the NSW 18's team?

Penrith haven't had the chance to blood any SG Ball players in 20's because they are going too good. Hastings wouldn't make the Panthers 20's but walks into a very poor Dragons 20's.

Same could be said about the nsw 20's even though they got the job done there are alot of good 20s players who could have made the nsw side but some players were chosen just cause they've played 1st grade. Some of those guys who would've played 1sts already would be lucky to be in other 20s teams let alone 1st grade!

 

[ranga]

Same could be said about the nsw 20's even though they got the job done there are alot of good 20s players who could have made the nsw side but some players were chosen just cause they've played 1st grade. Some of those guys who would've played 1sts already would be lucky to be in other 20s teams let alone 1st grade!

Which players are you talking about

 

[s1ng0709]

Which players are you talking about

Parra is a prime example i might have been over zealous in saying they would be lucky to make other 20s teams but vai toutai's stats in 20s are far less impressive than players like john sila, david nofoaluma even keiran moss(if he's from nsw) they also had tanginoa and paulo make it and all have played a fair bit of 20s yet their 20s AND 1sts are pretty ordinary.

 

[supermums]

They definitely take too much notice of the 20's.

Hastings wasn't that good in SG Ball. He played fullback all year yet gets picked at halfback in the NSW 18's team?

Penrith haven't had the chance to blood any SG Ball players in 20's because they are going too good. Hastings wouldn't make the Panthers 20's but walks into a very poor Dragons 20's.

PantherDaz

you obvioiusly have it in for Hastings every team he has ever made you have critised his selection...Yes he had to play fullback in the SG ball team for your knowledge he was named player of the year. The kid has represented NSW IN NUMBERS 6,7 & 9 he can play and thoroughly deserves his selection in the team... Do you think he wants to play all over the shop unfortunately no he doesnt but whatever position he plays he gives 100%...Cox v Hastings I would pick Hastings every time..Cheers

 

[Forty20]

Parra is a prime example i might have been over zealous in saying they would be lucky to make other 20s teams but vai toutai's stats in 20s are far less impressive than players like john sila, david nofoaluma even keiran moss(if he's from nsw) they also had tanginoa and paulo make it and all have played a fair bit of 20s yet their 20s AND 1sts are pretty ordinary.

I'm not going to defend Vai Toutai over the other players you listed, all of whom are fantastic young prospects and likely deserved the gig more but Tanginoa was 100% worthy of his U/20's Origin selection and backed it up with a dominant effort. Parra's NRL squad is awful but that shouldn't reflect on Tanginoa who has been one of the few good things about our club in 2013. Unlike Toutai, debuting in the NRL would have played no part in his selection as he is simply an outstanding young player and would have earned selection even if he played out the season in the NYC (IMO of course) .

Junior Paulo was a contentious pick (he has played very well for our NYC team but wasn't dominating every game) but he wasn't picked on the basis of having played in the NRL as he didn't debut until Rd.10 against the Dragons (18/05/13) while the U/20's Origin was played on the 20/04/13. Paulo has come on extremely well post-Origin and is currently one of the few standouts in an otherwise ordinary Wenty squad (meaningless information in relation to his selection, I know).

 

[supermums]

Good luck to all you boys tomorrow night especially the four from Illawarra Jacko Hastings (captain) go you good thing Jack Bird to come back after all you have been thru you are a true champion & gun Drew Hutchison keep kicking that ball and Euan Aitken use all those skills you have and score a few and too all the rest off you give your best hope you bring home the trophy...all you parentsd must be proud.

 

[magpie4ever]

Heard it was a big win for the boys. Any game reports?

 

[Forty20]

Heard it was a big win for the boys. Any game reports?

NSWRL have a write up.

NSW Under 18s set the tone for the night at Suncorp
Adam Kidd
NSWRL Media
26/06/2013 8:00:00 PM
The NSW Under 18s produced a master class performance to thrash Queensland 56-6 at Suncorp Stadium tonight.

The Blues were in complete control from start to finish and silenced the parochial home crowd with a stunning 11 tries to one victory.

Dallin Watene Zelezniak was a standout for New South Wales with a three try effort that stamped the Penrith Panthers fullback as player of the future.

The Blues could not have gotten off to a better start with Sione Mata?Utia scoring two tries within the opening five minutes of play.

Although Queensland hit back almost immediately, it was the Blues who stamped their authority on the opening stages with quick fire tries to Michael Morgan and Watene-Zelezniak extending the Blues lead after 20 minutes.

Jackson Hastings produced a wonderful passage of play when he scored a try and executed a perfect cross-field kick for Watene-Zelezniak to score his second in only a matter of minutes to send the Blues into the break with a 28-6 lead.

Queensland needed to score first to keep themselves in the match, but it was New South Wales hooker Zac Dockar-Clay who burrowed over for the first points of the second half to open up a Blues blitzkrieg over the following 25 minutes.

From the ensuing set of six, Jackson Bird split the Queensland defence through the middle to link up with his winger Alex Johnston to score. New South Wales were rolling through the Maroons defence at will and a brilliant team try to Hastings silenced the Suncorp Stadium crowd.

Further tries to Morgan and Watene-Zelezniak put the icing on a brilliant victory and Blues Coach, Todd Payten admitted the final score line took him by surprise.

?I wasn?t expecting that at all,? Payten said.

?I?m over the moon. I thought we were physically dominant and I?m really pleased that we had 17 contributors out there tonight.

?We had a really great week and the players really knuckled down when they needed to and it?s a credit to them to get the result.?

NSW 56 (D Watene Zelezniak 3, S Mata?Utia 2, A Johnston 2, J Hastings 2, Z Dockar Clay, M Morgan tries; J Hastings 6 goals) def. QLD 6 (E Alick try; D Paiaaua goal)

Clicky

 

[Panther_Daz]

Watene-Zelezniak's first try was apparently an absolute beauty!!!