Eels Blogs

Replies

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  Poupou Escobar November 20, 2015 at 9:18pm

  It's become a meaningless term since clubs started buying kids at 14.
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    Slippery. > Poupou Escobar November 20, 2015 at 9:23pm

    I agree. But, if 1 day, the NRL brings in a local junior discount on salary caps, enticing clubs to put more into there juniors, it could then become far more relevant.
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  Ricky November 20, 2015 at 9:22pm

  Personally, I think it's anyone that has played both SG Ball & Harold Matts for a team, then in NYC & then made their first-grade debut with them. 

  But with players from all over the country now, the juniors conundrum is blurred. 
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    Slippery. > Ricky November 20, 2015 at 9:25pm

    Im not sure if Jamie made junior rep sides at Parra. Maybe someone may know if he did or not.
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  Ricky November 20, 2015 at 9:30pm

  Seems like he may have been on our SG Ball bench and Manly approached him & signed him because they thought he was to good to be on the bench in SG Ball.
  
  At least according to this article: http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/news/how-jamie-buhrer-slipped-parr.... 
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    Slippery. > Ricky November 20, 2015 at 9:32pm

    So surely, someone like Buhrer would be considered a Parra junior?
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      Ricky > Slippery. November 20, 2015 at 9:38pm

      If he was indeed in our SG Ball side at some point, bench or not - which I can't 100% confirm with a team list or whatever - then yes, he'd be considered our junior. 

      I know guys like Taulima Tautai, Tony Williams, etc. were. 
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  Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown November 20, 2015 at 9:34pm

  Its an interesting question slippery, i tend to agree with your viewpoint, i just think it depends on how old they come to the club, he can hardly be called an Eels junior if he played all his junior footy in manly, but i think that if they come to us in their early/mid teens they can probably be considered as eels juniors if they stick around.
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  1Eyed Eel November 20, 2015 at 9:44pm

  It's very much how long is a piece of string. I've been coaching some of my kids since they were four. Some of those same kids hate Parra. I keep saying don't say that, because if you want to play junior reps you'll be playing for Parra. To me, in this day and age, I think you can only take the position that if you've invested a player during any of the junior competitions, you can count them as local juniors. I make that comment on the basis that if you get them even during the NYC you've had the opportunity to put your stamp on them in terms of culture and attitude. 

  But yes, Jamie being a Hills player is absolutely a Parra junior! But Manly probably can also claim him to. So he's a bitzer.
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  Ham Sammich November 20, 2015 at 9:47pm

  Local junior would imply they've played in the local competitions let's say the Parramatta District Rugby League as an example. That's what I'd consider a local junior. But locality is irrelevant now. So a local junior is pointless, better off trying to get who you believe will turn out to be a first grade player.
  
  As for getting a discount for local juniors, no club would agree to that. Teams are selecting juniors from all over the country to bring into their junior rep teams. As for these juniors I'd consider them as a Parramatta junior if they spend most of their development in our junior systems. Take Rodney Baird for example, we've signed him from the NT but he's never played a game in an Eels jersey but seeing as we've signed him up as a 15 year old and he's in our system I'll be considering him an Eels junior.