Don't reckon it was a mistake, giving him time to develop, it's smart........Assuming that was when he was 16 in 2021. They did the same for Matt Arthur, didn't play up in Matt's at 16's either.
Interesting in 2022 at 17, he played the whole season at second row for Wests in Matt's. His tigers profile has him listed at 85kg, assuming even if he is 90kg now, imagine how light he would have been at 16 when we told him he needed time to develop.
He probably was barely 70kg and on a 6 ft frame at 16. That's dam light to be playing edge in Matt's at 16.....not that he couldn't handle it, but gee it wouId have taken a big physical toll on him. When a lot of the forwards in Matt's are at least 80kg plus and a lot 100kg plus.....it makes sense to sit him out at 16, if he was seen as an edge forward back then....