Both Leuluai and Meehan are upcoming stars. Meehan especially who was part of the Junior Kangaroos last year. Why would they not be pushing for spots in the 17?
Because there are far better and more experienced players in the 17 ahead of them - including Kane Evans.
Junior Kangaroos means f**k all. It just means a player is better than most 20 year olds. Plenty of Junior Kangaroos don't turn out to be first graders. Some never play a single NRL game. Wenty's own Ben Jones was a Junior Kangaroos captain in 2010.
They pick a Junior Kangaroos team every year and most of the 17 are brand new names. Far more impressive is a player who has played half a season for a club with a strong roster. Like Kane Evans this year.
Leuluai can also play in the backrow.
I know and I said he can also play in the front row to show that he's not just competing with the Roosters' edge forwards for a spot.
Guerra has done a fine job in the 13 jersey, why try and fix something that isn't broken?
Because SBW is leaving, freeing up a spot at edge forward, which is a more important position than lock. The only reason Guerra has been playing in the middle is because Cordner and Williams had the edge forward spots sewn up. Whenever either of them was out this year (or returning from injury) Trent Robinson picked Aidan Guerra in the second row. Aubusson played three games there at the start of the year with Guerra on the bench, and in round ten Aubusson played edge forward with Guerra at lock, but that was due to injury. By mid season Guerra was third choice edge forward (behind Williams and Cordner) and next year he'll be starting with Cordner.
Auberson may be a cheap utility but he was in the top 17 all year round wasn't he? Why would he not be there next year and be likely starting since Jackson Hastings will take the utility spot.
There's no 'utility spot'. There are utility players who start somewhere in your seventeen and there's no reason you can't have two of them. Aubusson plays centre, edge forward and hooker, just like Jamie Buhrer. He'll keep his spot in the seventeen.
Yes FPN has worn the 13 jersey under Robinson, but how often was that?
Sixteen of 23 games last year plus 16 of 26 this year. So, most of the time.
He was mostly used as a bench forward and also FPN is not a specialist prop.
Neither is Dave Tyrell, but from round five this year he started every game in the 8 or 10 jersey, allowing Souths to bring Tom Burgess off the bench.
So 'specialist prop' is meaningless in the sense that every team uses three middle forwards, but at any one time only one of them might be a genuine 'specialist prop'.
Lodge was in the NSW U20's and Australia U20's last year.
Big f**king deal. Junior Paulo is twice the player Lodge is and he was overlooked for Junior Origin last year. Junior rep teams are mostly pretty meaningless. Far more important is NRL experience, especially at a young age.
I agree Lodge will become a first grader but he's got a long way to go before he unseats Keith Galloway.
Alongside players like David klemmer, who now played City vs Country and has established himself in the top 17 at the Dogs. He also played alongside Junior Paulo who has established himself as the top frontrower at the Eels. Why should Matt Lodge be wanting any less then that?
What he wants and what he ends up getting are two different things. But if he does force his way into the Tigers' top 17 it won't be at the expense of Galloway, Woods or Blair - these guys are established.
Kane Evans was in the NSW and Australia U20's 2 years ago, before Paulo and alongside Klemmer yet he's older then both and can't get a spot in the 17 at his club. Is that any good for his development?
The reason is he's not strong enough for first grade. The gym will fix that, not getting smashed in first grade every week. When Evans is ready he will join the Roosters' top 17, and with Casty and SBW gone (and Guerra moving to the edge) that could happen as early as next year. He just needs a big off season, and I bet both he and the Chooks are happy they haven't had to rush him.
If the Chooks didn't intend for Evans to become a first grader they wouldn't have signed him for the next three years.
