I don't think we should be worried about anything here. A Victorian junior who obviously has talent has been given a Knights scholarship to further his skills and maybe play with the club one day. I'm all for it. It shows that interstate teams are starting to recognize that we have people who have potential to make it in the NRL. Victorian talent in the NRL!
Peter O'Sullivan has every right to be angry at the Knights. It's his job to recruit young kids for the Storm, and if he wasn't upset about them picking up our juniors he'll be out of a job! The fact that what little talents we have are just starting to show up and being picked up by other clubs isn't much of a concern for me. What's important is the recognition and publicity they receive.
So he has a Knights scholarship. It's their money being spent on developing our junior. We still don't know if the kid is gonna stay with the Knights. They may get first dibs on his signature one day but who knows???
The Tigers had Ryan Hoffman going up their ranks until he decided he liked our offer better. I'm sure there are people still dirty about it either towards him, our club, us supporters, or the whole kit and caboodle. The whole point is, with the current system in place, it doesn't matter who we got in our system until the day they sign their NRL contract. For all we know, he may play with the Broncos on his 1st grade debut!
Going by the Storm's magazine, they already have a local junior in their ranks by the name of Thomas Poteo. This Melbourne boy travelled to england with the rest of AIS rugby league team with four other Storm contracted hopefuls from Queensland and NSW. They were there for a four game tour against various GB Academy teams.
There was supposed to be one other from Melbourne in the team but he was forced to stay put due to a hand injury. Remember that boy who made the Herald Sun pages for saving his nephew/niece/whatever out of a burning house? He was set to go to England until tragedy struck.
The point is, a Victorian kid has been recognized for his talents and he now has more chance than ever of playing in the NRL. It's great for him, great for his current club, and great for the state!