I always find it funny when the media only posts stories like these when Parramatta are doing bad. Olakau'atu has been at Manly since 2017, where was this post between 2019-2022??? Its the same with the Galvin story, they made a huge deal about it earlier in the year, now that Wests have lost eight games straight, not a word about how Galvin was let go by us.
The thing with Olakau'atu as well is he never played juniors for any of the Parramatta representative teams (Harold Matts, SG Ball), he went to the trials and wasn't picked. So the article saying he was somehow part of the Parramatta Eels in incorrect. If he were picked and played Harold Matts, SG Ball, Under 20s and we let him go then fair enough.
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Maybe he wasn't picked because he was gang affiliated, quite a few of the boys from the Guildford area are gang affiliated. I don't know if he was but it could be a reason he never made it at the eels.
I read an article about him once where he said he tried out for Harold Matts and SG Ball but he didn't give it 100 percent and wasn't really focused on rugby league at that time. He obviously didn't get picked but was later convinced by Fainu to try out for Manly and he got in there. Mainly due to the fact the Manly area isn't as big as Parramatta's, so less people trying out means more of a chance of getting selected.
Who could forget steve Ella poached lockyer and he was keen to come to parra.But the eels said thx but no thx we have keith blackett
lockyer was ready to sign but fitzy didnt fax the contract offer,same as not wanting to pay fittler as a junior and kenny had gene miles ready to sign after the 86 kangaroo tour
I know we are known for letting juniors go, but I'm sorry I don't think theres anyone that we could 100% made a difference and directly resulted in that elusive premiership.
Other teams have bigger clangers than us. Just my opinion. It's not like we let a Thurston or Fittler go. I realise there was factors at play regarding fittler. I'm just saying.
I remember doing a list/video awhile ago highlighting 17 players the club has let go or had in the system over the last 20-30 years. 13 of them won premierships at other clubs. Some of the names I remember are Pat Richards, Brett Hodgson, Jamie Lyon, Andrew Ryan, James Maloney, Paul Gallen etc.
All I'm saying is there is no absolute shocker. You could put all those players in Parra jerseys and I don't think it results in a guaranteed premiership. You could argue at the point of them leaving we had an equal or there abouts player in our roster. I'm not wanting to be negative about the team we all follow here, I'm just being a realist, I just straight up don't think they would have made much of a difference looking back.
actually we did let fittler go at 13
I think not having a head coach that was knee deep in the junior system over the last decade will be liberating and quite telling ( from my friends who have had their sons play in the Parra comp over the last decade )
Let's hope so.
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