Young players

[Kornstar]

I know we can't rush young players into first grade but i want to know what Wayne Bennett has done to get such fine young players into first grade and get that much out of them????

I know Brisbane lost last night but they played well especially Hunt, Costigan, Thaiday and Costigan, these kids are no older than 19 and you would think they had been first grader's for a while!!!! Hunt is only 17 and he was one of the best on the field.........

My question is what does a player in the parra junior ranks have to do to be a Hunt or a Benji Marshall????? I know you say if your ready you will be called up but can we trust that if a player of Fittler potential was playing so well at 17 he would be promoted to firsts?????? I don't think we could count on BS to do that, he really become's arrogant when it comes to that.

My fear is that we could potentially have that coming through our ranks at anytime, hell we could have it now but we aint gonna see him playing for us, then in a few years we may see them somewhere else and when we play him he will tear us apart........

Just a thought anyway, i watched the young guys last night and was impressed and then i got depressed because that will never happen here at parrra!!!!

 

[Pazza]

Sure Brisbane has some young talent comming though making a splash in first grade but Parramatta has young talent also such as Armit, Tsoulos, Thorman and Moimoi (i think he is young) making a impact in first grade.

I think Parramattas greatest issue is the position of Fullback, Centre and 5/8. Fullback wouldnt be a issue is Graham was fully fit, Centres would be fine if Vaealiki didnt get injuried and Lyon didnt leave and 5/8 seems to be getting closer and closer to getting solved thanks to Smith introducing Thorman into first grade.

 

[strider]

Lyon, Vaealiki, Graham, Witt, Tsoulos, Armit - all got a go as youngsters.

I know what you are saying tho....unfortunately the current trend is for young guys to want/demand everything from the start (not just in rugby league, in lots of sports)....and the risk is, if they don't get what they want, they will get disillusioned and head elsewhere - even to a shitty team where they can at least get a go (and big $s).

There are very few Freddy Fittlers out there tho - even tho some may have a different opinion of themselves....the biggest fear with young guys is burning out too early...I reckon nearly EVERY young guy can have a good 1st game in the top grade - you are young and fearless and go at it hard...but alot can't sustain it....these Broncos guys - have they been wanting a go in 1st at Brisbane for a while? - getting experience in the Qld comp and waiting their chance?

 

[Eelectrica]

It's a tough to find the balance. Put too many youngsters and they lose confidence if the team gets smashed. Put too few and they get dis-illusioned and look elsewhere.
They just have to pick their right time to give someone a shot. A game against a full strength Roosters outfit would not be a good time, but a game against and injury plagues Souths would be for example.
Timing is everything.

 

[Pazza]

didnt michael witt make his debut against the roosters?

 

[Eelectrica]

Yeah Pazza he did, we had 42 points run up against us. I'm sure he would have liked a better debut than that, but we don't always get what we want though.

 

[Hurriflatch]

Graham was actually only a few months past his 17th b-day when he made his debut.

 

[Eelementary]

That's a fairly simple way to approach it.

For mine, it takes more than just great skill to be a good football player.

We look for skill, attitude and loyalty (amongst other things) in our juniors, and some of these take time to unearth.

Some people have complained that we released Clinton - from the horse's mouth, his attitude at Parra was no good, so we let him go. And it was the correct decision at the time.