NYC to NRL

[Sonic Star]

First off. It is usually a lot easier for a back to make NRL rather than a forward.
Forwards take more time to mature.

The players that have impressed me the most this season in NYC

Centres
Both our centres are weapons in attack.

Junior Vaivai - age 19

12 games
13 tries - 5th in the comp over all, 2nd at centre
19 line breaks - 1st in the comp over all, 1st at centre
3 try assists - 8th at centre
2 line break assists - 7th at centre


Dylan Farrell - age 18

11 games
10 tries - 6th in the comp, 3rd at centre
12 line breaks - 3rd in the comp, 2nd at centre
3 try assists - 8th at centre
2 line break assists - 7th at centre

Junior came off a serious leg injury which kept him out of footy for all last season. At the start of the season it was obvious he wasn't playing at 100% and was still having problems with his leg.
It hasn't stopped him from being the most dominating centre in attack this season.

Farrell is very versatile.
He will play for NSW tonight at centre and deserves the call up.
He's like a young Justin Hodges.
He can play five-eighth as well.

Winger

Kane Morgan - age 19

games 13
15 tries - 3rd in the comp, 2nd as winger
11 line breaks - 4th in the comp, 3rd as winger
2 line break assists - 1st as winger
2 try assists - 3rd as winger

Kane isn't a big winger but he's a lot stronger than he looks and very strong in defense
Very good under kicks and can read the play well.

If any backs were to make to NRL this season.
Would have to be those players.

Forwards

At his current time there would be no forwards ready to make the jump to first grade this season.

Jacob Nansen - would be the closest prop forward but still needs more time to develop and I wouldn't use him this season.
Remind me a lot of Eddie Pettybourne. Still pretty raw. Needs to work on his size.

Brad Takairangi - has plenty of skills and the size but he doesn't use them often enough or runs often enough. He needs to get more involved in the second half of the season.

Jason Clark - Would be my pick out of any other forward to play NRL this season.
Lock forward who could be used as a hooker in NRL or as a second rower/lock.
He gives 100%

6 tries - 1st at lock forward
6 line breaks - 1st at lock forward
2 line break assists - 3rd at lock forward
1 try assist - 4th at lock forward
15 offloads - 2nd at lock
27.2 average tackles per game
5.2 average misses per game.

Clark needs to improve in some areas of his game to make it to NRL. He's half way there.

Attack

Average 7.5 runs for 59.8 metres are pretty decent as it's about 8 metres per hit up.
Needs to improve his work rate a bit here to play NRL.
Needs to try and average 12 runs or more per game.
Average 90 or higher metres per game.
That would be very decent for a lock forward at NRL level.

Defence

27.2 tackles per game average.
Needs to build this average up to around 35 or higher. Souths are looking for a strong defensive lock with a big work rate.

5.2 misses per game.
Of course this needs to come down big time. anything under 2 misses per game is acceptable for a lock forward.

Don't be too alarmed about the missed tackles being as high as it is.
Watching Clark defend in the line he's awesome.
Those missed tackles are more off kick chases. When Souths kicks down field Jason is always the first player down there to tackle the fullback or winger. Problem is a lot of the time he will slip off the tackle or get beaten in this situation. Something he can work on.

I have faith in Jason Clark that he will become an NRL football player. As I said I think he's half way there at the moment and just needs to work on some elements of his game and increase his work rate.

 

[African Monkey]

I do feel that Vaivai deserves a go in first grade with what I've seen of him. I don't buy into this he's not ready bullsh*t. If guys are performing, then put them in first grade.

 

[coach]

Our Toyota Cup team is not doing that well this season. While some of our players have stood out to a certain degree I am not sure that any of them have played well enough to warrant promotion.

In the forwards, outside of Jason Clark I think most have been disappointing. The problem with Clark is that he is on the light side and his game is built around defense. Not the impact type player we really need. We really need one of the props to be performing well and pushing for promotion. But that is not happening.

The back I like a lot is Kane Morgan. He really knows how to score tries and has good speed. Needs to add a bit of size though. With Merritt and Talanoa wing is not a position of need.

I think our situation shows the problem with the NSW Cup. It is not a strong enough for a feeder competition to the NRL.

 

[thehattrickrabbit]

I do feel that Vaivai deserves a go in first grade with what I've seen of him. I don't buy into this he's not ready bullsh*t. If guys are performing, then put them in first grade.

I think he is dangerously close to a call-up. If he performs on monday, I believe he is a genuine shot to get the debut next week.

I do understand that JT perhaps blooded Sandow or Capewell a little too early and he could have the same worries with Vai Vai. But the thing is Vai Vai is making any other centre in the NYC look very very ordinary like Dugan was in the fullback stakes. I just feel if we leave his debut a little too long he could start getting offers from other clubs.

 

[Appin Rabbit]

I think he is dangerously close to a call-up. If he performs on monday, I believe he is a genuine shot to get the debut next week.

.

It's ok bringing these kids up but who is going to give them the right guidence remember JT is no Bennett or Brian Smith we've found that out