The problem I have is that there are so many stages in a career Ups and downs A backup at one club can get an opportunity at another club It doesnt mean the new team is the maker
For the most part the top teams start with better players Broncos Storm Bulldogs Dragons were the strongest last year and they were all filled with top level juniors
There was a list of Bulldogs players Most were top level juniors Patten (Australian Schools) Lolesi (Junior Kiwis, QSS) Tonga (NSW 19s) O'Meley (?) Armit (NSW 18s 19s) and Holdsworth (WA)
How did the Bulldogs make Holdsworth Penrith have had the biggest hand by bringing him over and the Dragons brought him up to first grade standard The Bulldogs didnt have much choice but buy and play Holdsworth He played the way Penrith thought he could when they brought him over That purchase came directly after the Bulldogs couldnt keep control of Thurston who is a much bigger talent
Much easier to define teams who break careers When you look at Souths under 16 and 18 year olds over the years they should have been at least a mid table team and the Sharks even higher consistently but the top juniors left those clubs once they saw they were going backwards
I think an interesting one is Parramatta who have also wasted talented over the years They have a good structure but other teams like Penrith Newcastle and Canberra have won
Dragons (with Illawarra) and Cowboys may be heading down the same path but they are both still forming their structures
For the most part the top teams start with better players Broncos Storm Bulldogs Dragons were the strongest last year and they were all filled with top level juniors
There was a list of Bulldogs players Most were top level juniors Patten (Australian Schools) Lolesi (Junior Kiwis, QSS) Tonga (NSW 19s) O'Meley (?) Armit (NSW 18s 19s) and Holdsworth (WA)
How did the Bulldogs make Holdsworth Penrith have had the biggest hand by bringing him over and the Dragons brought him up to first grade standard The Bulldogs didnt have much choice but buy and play Holdsworth He played the way Penrith thought he could when they brought him over That purchase came directly after the Bulldogs couldnt keep control of Thurston who is a much bigger talent
Much easier to define teams who break careers When you look at Souths under 16 and 18 year olds over the years they should have been at least a mid table team and the Sharks even higher consistently but the top juniors left those clubs once they saw they were going backwards
I think an interesting one is Parramatta who have also wasted talented over the years They have a good structure but other teams like Penrith Newcastle and Canberra have won
Dragons (with Illawarra) and Cowboys may be heading down the same path but they are both still forming their structures