The curse of the up-and-coming Raiders junior

[thickos]

Was just thinking about this the other day - all the young guys that we've lost over the past few years, all of whom who have looked the goods with us but have fallen apart at another NRL club.

Brett Finch is the first one. Young talented half, coming through the grades as Lozza was nearing the end of his career. I must admit i was pretty gutted when he announced he was leaving as I thought he was young and full of potential, and we hadn't seen the best of him yet. Four seasons at the Roosters and he's become the most criticised, vilified player in the NRL and (especially the past two seasons) his form has been horrible.

Joel Monaghan. It was wrist-slitting time when he announced his defection, as it seemed we had lost the first try-scoring centre we had developed in a long long time. His 2006 was wiped out by injury, but in 2005 he seemed unfit, disinterested and slow. TBH I didn't miss him.

Ryan O'Hara. Not a Raiders junior but played approx. 100 games with us, got a rep jersey. His departure seemed like it would leave a big void in our front row, but his form has IMO gone downhill since leaving and we've got some prospects that will do even better than he ever did.

There are others, but it seems to be a common trend... we develop a young guy, they play 50-60 games with us and we all get excited that they're gonna be a future superstar. They then attract the attention of a rival club, we can't compete with the $$$ or the lure of rep jerseys so they leave, our development time wasted... but the players do not kick on!

So do these guys just get complacent when they get a nice fat contract, or do we have over-inflated opinions of them when they are wearing the green?

Personally I think the only guys who have left and done well are the guys who left looking for an opportunity.. Mick Monas and Robbo come to mind.

Thoughts?

 

[Rohan]

Maybe Matt Elliott has done a better job than most people here think - getting the most out of nuffy players!

 

[dubby]

Finch isnt really a Raiders junior, he was a Newcastle junior.

I agree that all the players you mentioned were all hyped a bit, (like Todd Carney or Zillman now).

Maybe when they wear a green jumper we see potential, but when its another jumper we see what they really were. Crap.

 

[edabomb]

Monaghan was definately overrated. He did very little work for most of his tries in 03 and 04, they were mostly finishing jobs.

Still a hundred times better than Frawley though.

 

[thickos]

I honestly think, because we've been success-starved for so long, that we cling to any young kid with a bit of promise coming through the grades... and yet they don' have much going for em at all :?

 

[edabomb]

Did you see Skeepe saying Zillman is going to be better than Johns in the NRL forum :lol: :lol: :lol:

Stupidest prediction ever, even if it winds up being right.

 

[skeepe]

I make a lot of stupid predictions. ;-)

 

[Mal Meninga]

Monas lacks motivation. Even during his Canberra games I can remember people here saying that he'd need extra fitness work and speed training as he was not committed without the watchful eye's of the coaches. I still think he can be a good player but he lacks alot of intrinsic drive.

Is O'Hara 100%? At his best he's a genuine NSW player... problem was they chose him in the wrong year. In 2003 he was outstanding but 2004 he was wrongly picked.

 

[legend]

Too many androtops for O'Hara and almost looks undersized now.

 

[dubby]

I honestly think, because we've been success-starved for so long, that we cling to any young kid with a bit of promise coming through the grades... and yet they don' have much going for em at all :?

Thickos, that has to be the best comment in this forum all year. (Only because it is exactly how i feel!);-)

That is what got me so annoyed at other guys who were making youngsters like TC and Zilly out to be the NBT.

Seriously mate, I agree 100% with you. We are desperate for success. As Bonnie Tyler sang...."I'm holding out for a hero..."

 

[Tokyo_Raider]

Exactly. It doesn't help anyone to pile the hype on so high.

 

[Edwahu]

Of course it does. It helps us enjoy the game. It doesnt hurt anyone though, except maybe the feelings of some of the disagreeables around here.

 

[Raider_69]

none of the hopeful's we've pinned our hopes on have had 1/8th the talent William Zillman and Todd Carney have

that is all

 

[TiTTieS_[CNTDN]]

Thickos, that has to be the best comment in this forum all year. (Only because it is exactly how i feel!);-)

Agreed.

That is what got me so annoyed at other guys who were making youngsters like TC and Zilly out to be the NBT.

Carney is the next best thing, imo. He can't win the game by himself, but he does put the team in a good position to score points. It is simply a question of whether or not the outside backs finish it off. I have often been critical of Mogg for taking the wrong option and wasting the good lead up work of our halves.

 

[Mal Meninga]

And on the flip side... the Bulgarelli of 03... Tyran Smith 04.... Howell 05... Purtell 06.... how bad must they be going if we're giving it to them non stop!!

 

[Raider Jack]

haven't seen bugger all of Zillman, but Carney is just what we need, out of all the losses we've had this year Mogg hurts the most. We lack depth on the wings, Scif was always going to go if the money was right, but if (and don't get me wrong i haven't seen PL almost at all this year) Goodwin has as much potential as what people have been saying about him then we're fine as far as FB. Fowards we will kick arse. In terms of speed i think Graham should go to the wing, so we have at least one strong attacking wing. I don't know, f**k it i'm pretty trashed it's godamn 4.30am and i should be in bed, feel free to shoot me down. Meh, i think we can do really well given that Titans have sucked a lot out of most teams, but not us; there are advantages to our juniors not being well known. From first impression Henry looks like a good coach, and not a godamn joker like Elliot, to quote Nicky boy: "that is all"
Good night, good morning and GO YOU MIGHTY GREEN MACHINE!!

 

[Raider_69]

Jack being smashed at 4-30 in the morning... boyo that brings back some memory

 

[thickos]

Thickos, that has to be the best comment in this forum all year. (Only because it is exactly how i feel!);-)

That is what got me so annoyed at other guys who were making youngsters like TC and Zilly out to be the NBT.

Seriously mate, I agree 100% with you. We are desperate for success. As Bonnie Tyler sang...."I'm holding out for a hero..."

I think we may be onto something with this current crop though. Management have been smart and recruited the best young talent from other clubs, as well as nurturing our own.

Relying on juniors rather than buying superstars is a gamble, but if it works it'll feel like we got there 'the right way.'

Agreed on the comment though that Carney/Zillman etc have much more potential than some we've lost. There are guys when you see them play PL that you know they'll be good first graders. A guy like Mick Monas springs to mind. But Zillman... he is the most exciting lower grader i've ever seen. He is something else entirely and 2007 will be a joy to watch

 

[Raider Azz]

Jack being smashed at 4-30 in the morning... boyo that brings back some memory

haha, i wonder if he shared his chips this time

 

[Raider Jack]

pah, who took the jam out of your doughnut Azz