This was inspired by reading about our second grade performance in the elimination semi final yesterday. It was mentioned that the captain coach idea was a failed experiment.
I don't think the player coach was an experiment as much as a convenience with Ryan Carr moving to first grade and replacing Kidwell.
This side has been imperfect all year, I think Rankin has done an amazing job because he again shown those guys he is still streets ahead in organising ability, and that includes JA. Even yesterday what I saw of the highlights package he probably saved 3 tries at fullback.
Do not blame the coach for the inability of the cattle to perform outside of their capabilities in these circumstances.
Observing other team's in the comp I see players brought up from reggies seem to perform at first grade level (make that lift) whereas we do not have that type of player, JA being a good example of not being at the level. Let's use the O'Sullivan and Madden type replacements as examples for being at the level. JA is not in their league to step and take a team around the park.
That Penrith reserve grade side that played the Cows last night being a good example, if our equivalent side played them I would not back us with 100 start.
The culture of our reserve grade side needs a lot of work, not the least being the development of young players blended with genuine older more experienced players like Rankin, in the halycon days we would have had 6/8 ex first grade players passing on their experience.
No answers to this but it is something we need to address, i.e. can we recruit ex First Graders from other clubs and have the Leagues Club Sponsor/pay them outside of the top 30 cap. i.e. pay them decent dollars say 150k to do a job (subject to KPI's and not being eligible for FG unless they were up graded by necessity) and help bring through development players, its obvious we have no one teaching them on the field other than Rankin (example of no FG ambitions) and I assume Rein but I guess Rein is still interested in FG. Those ex first graders I am referring to would be players that would alternatively retire from the game because they cannot or do not want play at that level and intensity, but would for a decent wage and an opportunity to teach.
It could be an opportunity for that transitioning out period to become involved in a different alternative's to what ever they do now. My guess is we (the competition) have quite a few players that would be early 30's that meet that bill. The choosing of same would still be an important part of recruitment and even an incentive for currentplayers under the cap to have a post career endowment.
It is no doubt a fact of life that the incentives to play back in the 80's were mainly for the love of the game. I think most of that love has gone now and dollars and cents could make up for a lot of love!
What do you think is a way to further "develop" "the development club" ???
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I think disrting the team at the last moment by bringing in jake to half didn’t help with their preparation .
Of note panthers reserve grade still won their semi final with something crazy like 16 replacements in it.
The results of Reserve Grade shouldn't matter in my opinion but should more be measured in how many players are developed from here into 1st Graders.
Reserve Grade should solely be used as a stepping stone to develop young players into 1st Graders, for this to happen it should be a very youthful side with a sprinkling of smart, well respected old heads.
Maybe an old lock and an old half to steer them in the right direction.
Reserve Grade is there to develop First Graders. End of story. I watch Reserve Grade not to see if we win, but to see if anyone is putting their hand up. I only watched the first half yesterday and no one really stood out for me.
Something I did notice was Hands into Hooker and without realising who he was I thought he look very at home there. He's the right body shape and has a decent delivery. I'm not sure what his plans are but he could be a possibility for future 9 imo.
Rodwell and ElZackam will definitely get their chances in 2023.
However the big surprise for me was watching Hopgood vs Cowboys. He's already FG quality and will definitely be in our 17 next year. Great pick up by the club......now sign up that massive Panthers front rower who ran down Feldt.
I must not have explained it well enough.
The whole concept is about developing First Graders from reserve grade with appropriate experience....its not so much winning reserve grade as learning how to win at any level......something we are not doing regulary enough.
Do you believe for a minute that Penrith don't want to win everything they go in! WE need to develop the winning mentality all the way through from 16's and up.
I am surprised at your comment Mutt's "end of story" yes watching to see us win should be a result of putting their hand up!
A few of the old heads on here will tell you never had a finer day than watching all the grades win.That is just a by product of all our greats of the 80's came through a winning process....albeit Price and Cronin from other codes or areas.
I remember going to the finals and watching all our grades playing.
Penrith are not going through a stage of success, they have built this up with a mentality of an empirical empire that will last for as long as the game. We are the only Sydney based club that can match them and that plan to have a development club is at the moment only rhetoric.
I believe we will see Brisbane emerge within the next 5 years to rival Penrith.
We might win next week or even the premiership, but it will mean nothing if we sink back like Canberra and Cronulla after their rises and inevitable falls.
How Riff are developing and there mentality around it is where every club worth there salt wants to get to.Obviously through locality some clubs are going to be in a more advantageous position then others.
Where we have to start is in the coaching/Teaching and recruitment stakes this is where we can make some large leaps very quickly.
Yep, I was focusing on the how in relation to the need.