Who goes if Smithy "gives the kids a go".

[parra pete]

What players are left out of the starting lineup if Brian Smith decides to give the "kids a go". Do you bring them in against Penrith, Roostersd Canterbury or St George?
Name your lineups.
Me, I say DON"T throw them to the Wolves while they are still growing physically and mentally.

 

[Hurriflatch]

Not quite understanding your question but if you mean a all Youngesters team (excluding those who have played 1st grade in 2004) then I'd go with

1. Joel Reddy
2. Matt Gruska
3. Ben Smith
4. Ashley Graham
5.
6. Michael Witt
7. Chris Thorman
8. Jim Curtis
9. Jeremiah Pai
10. Josh Cordoba
11. Jack Afamasaga
12. Ryan Hinchcliffe
13. Feleti Mateo

14. Tim Smith
15. Peter Ellis
16. Weller Hauraki
17. John McKie
18. Brett Delaney

 

[Chipmunk]

Mateo in at Centre, Langi Out
Thorman in at Five-Eighth/Half, Wagon to Lock or maybe Centre, with Widders to the Bench (specialist bench players are ineffective when in a starting team. Smith is a specialist at giving specialist bench players a full game!!).

I would also get Graham and Muckert into the team when they are fully fit, but at this stage that is probably another game away (should see both of them in after the Bye). For these two I would drop McKinnon and Petersen. Burt or Graham to play either Full-back or Wing (in either order, I am not fussed). Wagon to Centre, Hindmarsh to Lock (so he could rove around the field and not get marked up by the defence - but he has been roving this year anyway, so wouldnt be a big different to him) and then Muckert at Left side Second Row. This would be my team;

1. Graham or Burt
2. Burt or Graham
3. Wagon
4. Mateo
5. Grothe
6. Thorman
7. Dykes
13. Hindmarsh
12. Cayless
11. Muckert
10. Peek
9. Morris
8. Stapleton

14. Witt or Muspratt
15. Widders
16. Vella
17. Moi Moi, Tsoulos, Kaufusi

Cannings on the bench for one of the Front-Row interchanges when he is back to full fitness.

There might be some other impact forwards in PL that I have not seen that could be worth a go, but I have not seen them so I dont think it is right to comment.

 

[Hurriflatch]

If it is just some players then I'd go with

1. Burt
2. Petersen
3. Graham (Wagon until Ash is ready)
4. Mateo
5. Grothe
6. Thorman
7. Dykes
8. Cannings (Stapleton until Cannings comes back)
9. Morris
10. Vella (Peek until Vella comes back)
11. Hindmarsh
12. Cayless
13. Wagon

14. Witt/Webster/Muspratt
15. Armit (Peek once Vella returns)
16. Widders
17. Tsoulos (Stapleton once Cannings returns)

 

[parra pete]

Thats the idea.

 

[yy_cheng]

I think the youngster should be given a go if (a) their form in PL justifies it (b) when there are injuries to the regular 1st graders (c) when a regular first grader is out of form.

I would blood them against the weaker teams and not name them until match day as then the opposition cannot build a match plan against him.

However, if it is against a good side, I wouldn't blood him just yet and maybe shift a current first grader to that possie unless there is no first grader able to fill that possie.

As for this week against the Cowboys, if Mateo's performance has been good enough over the last 3 weeks (I haven't watched him play), I would blood him and thorman.

Hurri, what about our favourite son FUI FUI????

 

[Hurriflatch]

damn how could I forget Fui

I'd have him on the bench somewhere

who drops out will depend on form/other injuries.

 

[Stagger eel]

Feleti, without putting the mock on him, reminds me of a young Fittler, however my concern on the kid is he's concentration through out the match, he'll do one brilliant thing and then clock of for about 20 minutes, I guess that comes with matuarity and will come good in time, I don't know wether I'll throw him in this year!!

 

[Jake the snake]

Sorry guys but feleti is no center he is a Lock or Second rower not fast enough to be in the 3/4 line.

 

[parra pete]

Feleti, without putting the mock on him, reminds me of a young Fittler, however my concern on the kid is he's concentration through out the match, he'll do one brilliant thing and then clock of for about 20 minutes, I guess that comes with matuarity and will come good in time, I don't know wether I'll throw him in this year!!

Hear Hear. They are KIDS, not mentally tough enough, at this stage, for NRL. That is EXACTLY my POINT.

 

[Chipmunk]

Sorry guys but feleti is no center he is a Lock or Second rower not fast enough to be in the 3/4 line.

I think putting Mateo in the forwards at such a young age may not be the way to go and that is why I went for the option of 'easing' him into NRL in the Centres. Let me tell you, Junior Langi is not that quick.

On someone elses post that he can lose concentration during a game, well there are heaps of players who have had 10 years NRL experience that are like that and some of these guys have played State of Origin and Australia, so although not ideal, he could still offer more than some of what is already there.

 

[Hollywood Jesus]

Hear Hear. They are KIDS, not mentally tough enough, at this stage, for NRL. That is EXACTLY my POINT.

Yeah but the problem there is you can't wait until they are 24 or something to blood them anymore. 19 is a very acceptable age for a first grader nowadays, and sometimes you just have to roll the dice and chuck a kid with potential to the wolves and see if he can fend them off and survive.

My preferred way of doing it would be a quick and short stint in firsts, followed by a run back in PL. If you can notice a big difference in PL then itmeans they were able to take something from first grade and add it to their game. That's a sign that they might have the head for a regular position up there.

I wouldn't be against aomeone like Mateo getting a run, as a matter of fact I actually had a dream on Friday night about him in firsts. (Wierd cause I never have dreams about footy). Unfortunately I can't remember the details so can't tell anybody how he went

 

[Y2Eel]

1 – Luke BURT
2 - John Williams
3 - Ben SMITH
4 – Ashley GRAHAM
5 – Eric GROTHE
6 – Chris THORMAN
7 – Michael WITT
8 – Chris ARMIT
9 – John MORRIS
10 – Justin TSOULOS
11 – Nathan HINDMARSH
12 – Nathan CAYLESS ©
13 – Luke O'Dwyer

14-Dean WIDDERS
15-Aaron Cannings
16-Jeremiah PAI/Feleti MATEO
17-Fuifui Moimoi

 

[parralight]

Yeah but the problem there is you can't wait until they are 24 or something to blood them anymore. 19 is a very acceptable age for a first grader nowadays, and sometimes you just have to roll the dice and chuck a kid with potential to the wolves and see if he can fend them off and survive.

This is it EXACTLY...

Karmichael HUNT - 17 years of age.
If he was playing at Parra where would he be playing ? Jersey Flegg and thats it. DONT DENY IT !!!

IMHO If a player is good enough - hes old enough - surely the coaching officials have the experience to see when a player in Jersey Flegg is - outstanding- and will give them a go despite their age ?

 

[parralight]

Also - I think the last 'kid' that we gave a go was Luke BURT and he said recently that the main reason he stayed at Parra for less money was because Parra give him a start.

Hate to think someone like Reddy or Mateo would ply their trade elsewhere to get a start (like McGuire and Witt etc etc )

The best time to give them a run is when there are injuries in the team - you never know .. they might just be able to handle it.