Who is getting the best NZ Juniors?

The Money Box Man · Feb 20, 2006

There's really two parts to this question:

1. Is rugby league or rugby union getting the best junior talent in NZ? In recent years we have seen a massive influx of junior talent from NZ into the NRL and a few cross code tug o' wars between junior players.

2. Which NRL clubs are getting the best juinor kiwi talent? It doesn't seem to be the Warriors, so who is it, and why?

Shagsta · Feb 20, 2006

Tigers and Roosters seem to have a few kiwi kids coming through the ranks.

Goleel · Feb 20, 2006

The Eels generally grab a few NZ juniors every year, can't remember the last who actually took a permanent spot in the top grade, but the junior ranks are filled with kiwis.

The Bulldogs seem to have a fair few NZ juniors too, although after SBW they've had their share of kiwi talent for about 10 years i reckon.

The Colonel · Feb 20, 2006

As Gol says, the Eels have a number of Kiwis in their lower grades who should start to filter through. I'd say there are about 20 kids in PL, Flegg and Ball at the moment.... some very good footballers among them.

ozjet1 · Feb 20, 2006

The Money Box Man said:
2. Which NRL clubs are getting the best juinor kiwi talent? It doesn't seem to be the Warriors, so who is it, and why?

this is something i've thought about, not just in relation to young Kiwi talent but young RL talent as a whole.

year after year, it appears the same clubs get the best young juniors coming through the ranks - usually the cashed up clubs. i suppose these clubs are the ones that can afford to pay good money for good quality scouts.

was wondering though, with the whole Terry Hill "I want to play with Wests" debacle 15 years ago, and the ruling that the player draft is an illegal restraint of trade, would you think the draft could be re-introduced for the good of the game as a whole, and promote and fairer distribution of young talent to clubs? more importantly, can it happen? there is a precedent i the game afterall. The draft is technically illegal in other sports that adopted it too but it is accepted for the benefit of the game.

Inferno · Feb 20, 2006

Around half the sharks top 40 squad were eligible to play for the Kiwis.

*edit

Here we go

colonel_123 · Feb 20, 2006

The Money Box Man said:
2. Which NRL clubs are getting the best juinor kiwi talent? It doesn't seem to be the Warriors, so who is it, and why?

The Tigers have Sam Moa, Rangi Chase, Dene Halatau, Bronson Harrison, Benji Marshall all at different stages of development.

Marshall, Chase and Moa have all come through Wests Keebra Park connection.

OVP · Feb 20, 2006

The Roosters have always had a strong Kiwi connection. Some of the young kids already there and coming through are scary ... Sia Soliola and Sa will both play for their country. Sia is only 19 and Sa is 17 ... both are already extremely good. We've got a few Tongans in the forwards playing good footy too ... would they be eligible for NZ ?

Cockadoodledoo · Feb 20, 2006

OVP said:
The Roosters have always had a strong Kiwi connection. Some of the young kids already there and coming through are scary ... Sia Soliola and Sa will both play for their country. Sia is only 19 and Sa is 17 ... both are already extremely good. We've got a few Tongans in the forwards playing good footy too ... would they be eligible for NZ ?

Sa will be a freak..

sooperdooper · Feb 20, 2006

its not the amount of players you have but the quality.

alot of clubs have a few:
tigers
roosters
parra
sharks

as a parra fan i know we have alot of younger guys in flegg and PL whom we have brought over here and will help them develop and hopefully play nrl one day for us.
im not talking about the kiwi kids born here but have kiwi parents...

ali · Feb 20, 2006

I saw Cronulla's Flegg side demolish Canberra in a trial the other day. I believe Canberra's team won the corresponding under 17 comp 3 years a go. It was brilliant. It reminded me of watching the Warriors in 02 and 03. The flair was great. A couple of backs had steps like Benji and Hunt, and our forwards were huge. The best news for NZ fans, in that both our halves looked like decent prospects. 17 year old 5/8 Bracken Henry, then stepped up to play in the Premier League trial last weekend.

Hopefully we'll unearth a couple of quality first graders in that lot.

Robster · Feb 21, 2006

Certaintly not the Warriors.

Mighty Tiger · Feb 21, 2006

Who gets the best?

For this year I would say the Roosters have got a heap of the best kiwi talent from last season recruited

The majority of NRL clubs have recuitment scouts over watching the junior ranks however at the moment I think the best NZJRL programe running around which is based in Australia for League is at Keebra Park which the Wests Tigers have a large influence in as do the Broncos at the moment.

Regarding NRL ranks well the Wests Tigers have the following

Harrison, Halatau, Marshall. Harris, Lolesi, Fatts, Chase, Moa, Cameron, Teo and the list goes on of players we currently have in our ranks that are from NZ or are eligable to still play for NZ

braz · Feb 21, 2006

Mighty Tiger said:
Who gets the best?

For this year I would say the Roosters have got a heap of the best kiwi talent from last season recruited

The majority of NRL clubs have recuitment scouts over watching the junior ranks however at the moment I think the best NZJRL programe running around which is based in Australia for League is at Keebra Park which the Wests Tigers have a large influence in as do the Broncos at the moment.

Regarding NRL ranks well the Wests Tigers have the following

Harrison, Halatau, Marshall. Harris, Lolesi, Fatts, Chase, Moa, Cameron, Teo and the list goes on of players we currently have in our ranks that are from NZ or are eligable to still play for NZ

Don't forget Dean Collis - gun player

simon says · Feb 21, 2006

I think its a bit of a copout to say that the Warriors dont get the best of their juniors,they still have most of the NZ team in their side,and they have a few blokes that have just stepped up that loke pretty good(llike Vatuvai).

Of the non Wwarriors,you would have to say that the Tigers have a very nice chunk of Kiwi......current test players,Marshall,Harrison,Lolesi,Fatts,Halatau.

Nice work Tiger recruiters.

The Colonel · Feb 21, 2006

simon says said:
I think its a bit of a copout to say that the Warriors dont get the best of their juniors,they still have most of the NZ team in their side,and they have a few blokes that have just stepped up that loke pretty good(llike Vatuvai).

They do seem to get the bulk but they do also let a hell of a lot of players slip through their fingers. The Junior Kiwis and New Zealand A sides had a lot more players from outside the Warriors system that they have let go. Many clubs are picking up Bartercard Club players that have either been cut or were missed by Warriors recruiters.....

Parramatta have signed three Junior Kiwis that will play this year in blue and gold - Iwi Hauraki, Duane Poneki and Josh Davis.

playdaball · Feb 21, 2006

IMO ... the best NZ RL juniors are going to .... RU.

A look through the S14 RU Teams supports this.

carlnz · Feb 21, 2006

ali said:
17 year old 5/8 Bracken Henry, then stepped up to play in the Premier League trial last weekend.

He will be a star no doubt about it....from Canterbury Bulls too

carlnz · Feb 21, 2006

The Colonel said:
Parramatta have signed three Junior Kiwis that will play this year in blue and gold - Iwi Hauraki, Duane Poneki and Josh Davis.

Josh Davis has come back home to Wellington.

The Money Box Man · Feb 21, 2006

carlnz said:
Josh Davis has come back home to Wellington.

do you know why? Parra fans have big hopes for him

Who is getting the best NZ Juniors?

Juniors

Juniors

Juniors

Immortal

Guest

Coach

Juniors

Coach

First Grade

First Grade

Bench

Bench

Bench

Juniors

First Grade

Immortal

Bench

Bench

Bench

Juniors