Parramatta Eels Holden Cup & Junior Reps Thread Part III

[Joshuatheeel]

He's not an outside back, he is a playmaker. Also not very big. Matterson dominated NYC and is big and he's nowhere near first grade. He turns 21 this year. French is only 19 this year.

Big enough for fullback with his body still developing. Almost 6ft and 90kg, not exactly small for a fullback and considering has only been in the system for a year or so will probably be close to 95kg in another year.

Matterson struggled to even make the 20's at 19.

 

[Obscene Assassin]

Seriously?

We cannot find an outside back to save ourselves at the moment and a kid who turns 20 next year isn't getting a look in?

Is he really going to be this superstar player that people are making out he is?

Daly Cherry-Evans didn't debut until he was 22. Plus there's no reason he can't be a superstar yet, just because we rate a player at a young age doesn't mean they're currently ready for first grade. Players need to develop their skills and mental toughness, they could be superstars in their early-20's like Hayne was or they could be good first grade players making their debut at 25, the year they turn 26 like Manu Ma'u.

All depends when the coach believes they are ready for first grade. Bevan is definitely a talent, but is he ready for first grade yet? I don't think he is.

 

[Chipmunk]

So he is a 1, 6 or 7 type of player then?

Could he be compared to Alex Johnstone or Dylan Walker as a player?

 

[Obscene Assassin]

As a general rule, lower your expectations of our juniors by approximately 75% of the hype they receive on here.

I don't see why. Forty has seen more than enough footy, both first grade, reserves, 20's and lower. Speaking to him I agree with the assessments he has on players, if you ask him where he rates certain players he'll give you one of the best responses and you can put your money that it is accurate.

 

[Obscene Assassin]

So he is a 1, 6 or 7 type of player then?

Could he be compared to Alex Johnstone or Dylan Walker as a player?

In my opinion he's a fullback. Why do we have to compare him to other players?

 

[Obscene Assassin]

Loko was dominating NYC the year he turned 19 but is also very big, which makes the transition to first grade easier. Even then, he was a terrible defender.

Loko is the prime example of being thrown in first grade too early. He was a beast in the 20's but he was never given time to fine-tune his skills. And we saw a player who was one of the best tackle-breakers in the game when he was on the field but at the same time he didn't look to his winger much, and he struggled to carry the ball in his left hand which would have helped him a lot given he was a left side player.

And as Pou said he was a terrible defender.

 

[Chipmunk]

In my opinion he's a fullback. Why do we have to compare him to other players?

Because I'd like to know what sort of player he is.

If you had to compare him to a current NRL player, in playing style, who would it be?

 

[Chipmunk]

Daly Cherry-Evans didn't debut until he was 22. Plus there's no reason he can't be a superstar yet, just because we rate a player at a young age doesn't mean they're currently ready for first grade. Players need to develop their skills and mental toughness, they could be superstars in their early-20's like Hayne was or they could be good first grade players making their debut at 25, the year they turn 26 like Manu Ma'u.

All depends when the coach believes they are ready for first grade. Bevan is definitely a talent, but is he ready for first grade yet? I don't think he is.

Manu Ma'u is probably not the best example. After all even if a coach wanted him in the first grade team at 20 years old he was probably going to find it difficult to get to the games...

 

[Obscene Assassin]

Because I'd like to know what sort of player he is.

If you had to compare him to a current NRL player, in playing style, who would it be?

None, he's his own player and I find if you compare at a young age people expect that exact sort of player and if he doesn't live up to play exactly like that player people will assume he's a bad player. Better off refraining from comparisons I've found.

He's very light on his feet, by far his running game is the best part of his play, very elusive. He's also quick off the mark and over a distance, he caught up pretty quickly to ZDC and Davis earlier this year when they made breaks. He can finish off a backline movement too and has a nice passing game, hence his time spent in the halves. He could also probably play centre if we wanted him to focus entirely on his running game.

 

[Noise]

Because I'd like to know what sort of player he is.

If you had to compare him to a current NRL player, in playing style, who would it be?

Barba

 

[Obscene Assassin]

Manu Ma'u is probably not the best example. After all even if a coach wanted him in the first grade team at 20 years old he was probably going to find it difficult to get to the games...

But DCE is the perfect example then. I don't see what's wrong with the Manu Ma'u example. He didn't make his debut until 25 and is one of our best forwards every week. It just goes to show that he wasn't mentally tough as a 20 year old and as such wouldn't have been picked for first grade (unless the coach was forced), but now he's matured as a person and he's killing it each week. It also disproves that you have to debut as a 20 year old, or younger, to be a good player.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Because I'd like to know what sort of player he is.

If you had to compare him to a current NRL player, in playing style, who would it be?

Probably Barba or Coote, who both made their first grade debuts as teenagers. They both dominated the under 20s as well, which French is yet to do.

 

[Chipmunk]

Probably Barba or Coote, who both made their first grade debuts as teenagers. They both dominated the under 20s as well, which French is yet to do.

Hmmm, interesting.

 

[hindy111]

Barba is only 174cm.French is 181 and might even have a little bit of growing left.
taller than-slater-tedesco-coote-barba-tomkins-gidley.
And if he grows another 2cm be simmilar to guys like Moylan-sheck-boyd.

Not doubt he will end up around 94/95kgs so size isn't not an issue.As far as style goes he is very attacking.I wouldnt say like Barba, he has a better passing game.
More of a flamboyant type of player, has excellent speed. His game is fairly complex as has a high skill set(think Moylan) so it may take him an extra few years than the normal style fun at hole type of fullback before he gets to his full potential.

Guys like Moylan wont be complete players untill there 25. I reckon Bevan may be in first grade in 2017 thou. Seems like a guy who likes to get involved.
Davis the few times i've seen lately has dissapointed.He shows moments of great but also seems a little lazy.

 

[Obscene Assassin]

I think with Davis he's struggling behind what the forwards and halves are offering. imo the only forwards who look damaging in attack are Alex Twal and Tyrell Fuimaono and at times so is Tom Amone but not as much as the first two. The marker defence is also lazy and has been spotted by a few teams already. ZDC and Izzard/French haven't lit the world on fire either. I think a move to dummy half for ZDC would ignite this team a little bit but then we would have to bring in another half and I'm not sure if that would help or hinder the team.

 

[Delboy]

By any measure the halves are a big issue for the NYC team, having said that coaching is possibly an issue. The side is playing with less structure and commitment than they should this far into the season, maybe moving ZDC to hooker will reignite his game. Not sure who can step up to play 6 & 7 as the current halves don't seem to have that much

 

[hindy111]

I liked Twal and Fuimano(from what i saw)

 

[Chipmunk]

I think with Davis he's struggling behind what the forwards and halves are offering. imo the only forwards who look damaging in attack are Alex Twal and Tyrell Fuimaono and at times so is Tom Amone but not as much as the first two. The marker defence is also lazy and has been spotted by a few teams already. ZDC and Izzard/French haven't lit the world on fire either. I think a move to dummy half for ZDC would ignite this team a little bit but then we would have to bring in another half and I'm not sure if that would help or hinder the team.

What do people who watch the Under 20s think our plans will be for ZDC at the end of this season. Is he probably more suited to the 9?

By any measure the halves are a big issue for the NYC team, having said that coaching is possibly an issue. The side is playing with less structure and commitment than they should this far into the season, maybe moving ZDC to hooker will reignite his game. Not sure who can step up to play 6 & 7 as the current halves don't seem to have that much

Do you know how much input the actual Under 20's coach has in the picking of the actual team? I would've thought the NRL coach would have a massive input into the selections of the Wenty and Under 20s team.

 

[Eelementary]

My 2 cents:

* Davis is playing in an inconsistent side one week at fullback, the next at centre. He's still getting used to being the NYC team's go-to guy

* French is a sublime runner of the ball; he's fast, agile and has great footwork. He has a slick pass on him, too. Defensively, he still needs work (positioning and tackling), but he's tough and has footy smarts.

* Twal is a machine. Tall and with a good frame, he easily makes 10 metres plus per run and usually is near the top of our tacklers. A genuine talent.

 

[Eelementary]

What do people who watch the Under 20s think our plans will be for ZDC at the end of this season. Is he probably more suited to the 9?



Do you know how much input the actual Under 20's coach has in the picking of the actual team?

I think ZDC is better suited to 9, but lack of size might be an issue.

However, lack of size certainly hasn't hindered Pritchard.