Obscene Assassin
First Grade
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- 6,320
A fair arguement although some are absolutely ready at a younger age. That said, they are probably not as common in how the game is played now days. I think the current thinking of increasing the fatigue in the game is a good thing. Hopefully those decision makers are smarter than the coaches. On second thoughts forget that arguement.
Absolutely there are players ready at a younger age, going back a bit Sonny Bill Williams, Jarryd Hayne, Greg Inglis were all ready for first grade but, correct me if I'm wrong, all three spent a considerable amount of the then Premier League and the QLD equivalent.
Reserve grade is an important step in a player's pathway to first grade, and I think that has been forgotten in recent years. We expect young players, especially the best of the best, to make a quick transition from 20s to first grade. And in the case of Brisbane's David Fifita making the transition from 18's to the first grade reserves bench without ever being formally named in their 20s or ISC comps.