Polyneysians In the Junior Ranks

[Raider_69]

Get Guinness on the horn Raidey my old sparring partner, cause this may just be the only time we've ever agreed.

By the law of averages, it had to happen eventually :lol:

Get em around the hips and slide down, standard stuff and brings the pricks down like a red wood, the only issue then is if one of your boys gets caught between them and the ground

 

[Big Time]

You're an idiot. This is not a racial issue, so why turn it into one???

The OP displayed a concern showed by many that quite frankly polynesian children are a lot larger than others at their particular age, which affects other youngsters participating in the great game of rugby league, and also affects their performances and skill levels.

These comments by everyone are not being rascist whatsoever, merely attempting to work out a solution to help the game of rugby league in general for the future development of players and interest in the game.

Neck up belter.

 

[Ulysseus]

If a kid is blessed with an absence of a birth certificate

Funny how that seems to happen a bit.
Maybe a new hardline rule, no birth certificate, no play.

Stanley Gene anyone?

 

[The Engineers Room]

The problem is in the junior ranks they tend to pick the more dominating physical players and the others that haven't developed get left out. They often give up before they can mature.

 

[Tigger Madness]

Not sure if this idea has been floated before, but how about capping the weight division for a TEAM?

Assume an average weight of 60kg for a 12 year old for example. (I'm 22 and only 72 kg - I was never that big as a 12-year-old)

So if you have two giant islander kids who weigh 120kg each, thats fine, but all your other players are going to be tiny.

Weight divisions for players is too simple a solution - many areas just don't have enough teams for separate divisions, and it would mean that the white kids never learn to tackle properly and the Islander kids find themselves way out of their depth playing with guys 3-4 years older than them.

With a total of 780 kg split between the 13 kids on field, that gives you maybe a couple of 90kg props, maybe an 80 kg backrower or centre and 10 other kids between 45 and 60 kg. Thats a weight differential not unlike most NRL teams. Having one or two big boppas won't give too much of an advantage, but having a team of 100kg-plus giants is a MASSIVE advantage.

Maybe this is a reason why we've been producing plenty of good backrowers and big outside backs recently, but very few skilled halves?

This is a great idea.

Personally, I was going to suggest that each team is limited to 4 players (forwards) who are over 85kg, but this idea is better.

 

[mean_maori_mean]

This bloke is elegible for the Indigenous Team. Does he look like he has ever even SEEN an aboriginal? Just because your great grandmother was part maori/aboriginal/white/black/purple doesn't mean squat. Jones is mostly white. Benji has some white in him too - he's not pure polynesian.

In all seriousness though, the ethnicity thing DOES seem to come into play. Aboriginals seem to make excellent outside backs. White guys make great playmakers and Polynesians make powerful forwards.

NZ has failed to produce any decent halfbacks since jones through the league system and has had to rely on touch footy to produce decent playmakers - probably, as a few people have already said, due to the over-representation of polynesian kids in the junior grades, and the focus on developing big, hard-running players and not quick, skillful players.

Australia is starting to go the same way.

Thanks I really need help from somebody from North Queensland to help me re: guidelines around maoriness.

Doesnt mean squat- I cant speak for Aboriginal Culture. But Maori unite together over the special bond they have - that is a combined genealogical link and heritage to . Some which people can trace right back to an actual person on those boats. Jones grandfather Munga Emery is a former kiwi and he built like artie beetson but much darker- even jones is dinstinctly maori as is his wife and kids.

This idea of purity is bs - if he has maori heritage and identifies sweet as. If has knowledge of maori culture and his specific geneology even better.

also dont some - And have you heard stories of Convict of European/Australian heritage having kids and leaving their indigineous family behind. I know it happened in my family.

Back to the NZ halves - again I dont need australians telling me why NZ doesnt have any talented halves. I have lived in NZ most of my life and played footy at various grades in Auckland.


"In all seriousness though, the ethnicity thing DOES seem to come into play. Aboriginals seem to make excellent outside backs. White guys make great playmakers and Polynesians make powerful forwards."

I admit some ethinicties often have genetic tendencies to be suited to different but unfortunately it is conceptions like these which are detrimental to the game.
Polynesians have proved they can excel at ALL POSITIONS.

First of all maori definately have the ability be great halfbacks - they have many of the attributes required - again most of nz best halves over the past 20 years have been maori. Friend, Marshall, Jones, Filipaina and some average ones lol Kemp, leulauai, smith, etc.
Even if you relate to the addage they are 'mostly white' why if they are mostly white can be good halfbacks - or was that the 25% they missed out on .
This also applies to islander australians many of whom are now of joint island and skippy heritage. re: Jarryd Hayne etc.
They have a good understanding of the game - maori kids generally are grown up in league with parent & grand-parents etc.

I dont blame some island kids not having - since their parents did not grow up with the game.

Its not PURELY BECAUSE OF TOO MANY POLYNESIANS - because again maori and pacific islanders have just as much to offer as euorpean/indian, chinese in the halves position.
Some of the best halves in NZ over past 10 years in juniors have been
They are there - this issue is with development/pathways for these players.
Currently NZ relies on Aussie NRL sides/ Junior Clubs to scout players and develop them - generally they are not really interested in NZ halves. They generally want you guessed BIG POLYNESIANS.

THE NYC will help develop halves - if the Warriors Management are on to it.
However they havent taken advantage of it recently.
eg. Jody Henry was one of the best kiwi junior halves (maori) for a while and warriors didnt do much with him.
Instead moving a lock to 6 and a 6 to 7.
EG BAD COACHING - ITS EAST TO PUT LOCK AT 6 - INSTEAD OF TAKING TIME TO DEVELOP A PLAYER.

 

[Scarves]

There should be weight divisions for u/12's and all the ages lower than that age group. Essentially at this age we are about teaching kids the skills of the game, while having fun, being actively engaged and feeling positive about playing and not frightened of getting smashed. This last point is especially important for that age group.

If we train and target our skillful kids from an early age to become our half backs, playmakers and quality tacklers, upon reaching u/13's they should be able to hold their own against any bigger dudes. Concentrate on technique on not merely winning.

Our problem is that we put too much emphasis on winning in the younger age groups instead of developing skills and good will.

 

[elbusto]

yes but smaller slower developing kids need a chance and not be bashed out before they hit puberty. Case in point. Nick Riewoldt of the AFl. Major drawcard gun player etc. Say what u want about the AFL in general
but at 192cm and 98kgs he couldve been a good rugby league backrower with his speed and endurance.
Born and bred gold coaster. PLayed league early but was bashed to pieces by Bigger faster maturing kids and many (not all) id assume would be islander. If we dont change this we could be hearing this story more and more.

Riewoldt's pedigree is Tasmanian. His father and all his family were born and lived here. I played touch with his old man in the early 80s in Hobart. They are a huge AFL family. Riewoldt was always destined for AFL.

 

[shinobi]

This bloke is elegible for the Indigenous Team. Does he look like he has ever even SEEN an aboriginal? Just because your great grandmother was part maori/aboriginal/white/black/purple doesn't mean squat. Jones is mostly white. Benji has some white in him too - he's not pure polynesian.

Im sorry but who are you to proclaim the purity of someones Polynesian blood? This isnt the Aryan nation its already stated that Jones is Maori and Benjis Tuhoe as far as i know and theyre pretty much as staunch as it gets when it comes to there Maoritanga.