Alot of people are going on about how hard done by Rankin has been.
I don't get all the love for him he has been playing professionally since 2008.
Across 6 clubs he has put together 164 games never established himself in any of those 6 clubs. The bulk of his 1st grade was played on the wing for the tigers.
We are in a position where we are sitting good on the comp our 1st choice 5/8 is suspended the 1st choice back up is injured.
Why not give young Arthur chance we can only get upside down the track from 3 weeks experience at the top of the game as opposed to a journey man who excels in reserve grade.
I dare say part if the reason Rankin was signed was to add experience for the reserves to help develop players like Arthur and Russell for a NRL minimum wage and get to keep playing at his age I think Rankin is doing alright.
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Mate true enough, but thought Rankin was the logical choice, more experience, older head. But all kudos to Jakob, hope he plays the house down
If Rankin is so crap, why would you want him around the juniors to help develop them?
Not crap
Just not a 1st grade player.
A player like him and oldfield in reserve grade they play vital roles in mentoring and development.
One thing Offside the argument here is the first choice back up (will smith) is that JA is next in line.
Now all the rhetoric about Jordan's role as a journey man etc is fine but the argument is the first choice backup any different to Rankin's in position on the totem poll.....i.e. I would have Rankin over Will because I think he is a better player (subjectively).
Now I would play JA ahead of Will even if Will was available, but I think people can see where I am coming from in terms of hipocrisy.
My question to anybody interested would you be playing Will Smith this weekend if he was available?.....my guess is you would think so, given everything that he has been backed with this year....Will Smith that is.
I would still have JA for all the reasons everyone has said about blooding a younf player!
Some of the best coaches and trainers have been average players .
Good question
I think it really answers itself though Monto . It's like asking if BA was an average player why would you want him coaching blokes thatve played for NSW and Australia ?
Simple answer, dumb question!
Add in Trant Robinson with his 4 games
Rankin was signed specifically for Reserve Grade to help the development of players like JA. Rankin himself has confirmed this.