Tommy on NRL on Fox

[innsaneink]

I can't see how you can claim Ellis just yet. Yet to play for us and Super League is alot different to the NRL - He's a small in stature backrower - Is that really what we need? I'll reserve my judgement.
I remember an article in the paper last year on Hayne and i think 3 others indicating they were all from the Minto area and now all playing first grade yet not one for the Tigers. These guys are meant to be your beloved Wests boys yet they are slipping through the net.
I think Inu was another (not 100%) I guess Ronald can't have too much competition for Junior!

You really need to get over the Wests Balmain crap, only a few fossils here still cling to that garbage.

 

[simon says]

4 Line breaks in 12 games - not exactly setting the world on fire. Look i think its a good if not interesting signing. His shape and game is similar to Heighno but whether he can do it in the NRL is a gamble.

No offense......but they are nothing alike in body or the way they play.

Have you seen Ellis play????

First you say he isnt big,and now that he plays like Rhino???And they have the same bodies???

Im confused.......

 

[Tiger Hawk]

It`s quite simple, "MONEY".
The Wests Magpies don`t have a lot of money to pour into their juniors, other clubs such as the Roosters (Paea brothers etc) and Parramatta (Hayne, Inu etc) know this and do their best to poach any promising young Wests juniors. Any 14-15 year old who is offered a couple of grand to jump ship will jump at the opportunity, the Wests Magpies aren`t in a financial position to regularly do this, hence the reason the Wests Magpies need to keep a close eye on the situation.
Another to escape the net is Michael Greenfield who is now starting to show his potential despite playing in the under achieving Souths side.

On Gareth Ellis, I too am reserving my judgement, but my gut feeling is that he`ll be a hit in the NRL, I just hope it doesn`t mean we lose either Heighington or Te`o because of it ?

I'm confused. I thought Wests were the cashed up side of the joint venture, what with all the talk recently of Balmain Leagues going under and all the old Wests boys suddenly getting wet down below with the thought of the license reverting to WS - how would they field a FG side if they can't even hold onto a few juniors when all it would take, according to you, is a couple of grand?

 

[innsaneink]

Ellis is similar in stature to Ben Kennedy isnt he?
Heighno...LOL

 

[chopsy_05]

Where have I started the wests/balmain debate Ink? I think you're reading too much into it. I want Wests to retain there juniors probably more so than Balmain only cause of the talent pool that is out there.
Heighno 187cm - 100kgs
Ellis 191cm 100kgs
Pretty similar to me.

 

[chopsy_05]

Yeah Ive seen Ellis play a few games, 100kgs on a 191cm bloke is not big - well not in this day and age it ain't. The Ellis - Heighno game comment comes from the fact they both make alot of tackles play a lot of minutes etc. Both workhorses I should've said.

 

[simon says]

I dont see Ellis as a workhorse type.....more of a Kennedy impact player,and the same kind of build too.

More rangy than Rhino.

 

[chopsy_05]

Kennedy I hope not. The games I've seen I haven't seen Ellis run at wingers all day.

 

[madunit]

4 Line breaks in 12 games - not exactly setting the world on fire. Look i think its a good if not interesting signing. His shape and game is similar to Heighno but whether he can do it in the NRL is a gamble.

In the first 5 games this year, 5 Wests Tigers starting forwards made 1 line break all up.

His line break average sh*ts on the 5 Wests Tigers forwards average.

One man bettering 5 men.

One thing we need more than anything is strong defensive players. If Ellis can provide some stronger defence, then we are moving in the right direction.