This blog expands on some pathways and development issues raised in Hoe's Pezet blog through a brief dialogue between Angry, HOE and NOS.
In principle, it revolves around holding juniors back from first grade, which, in essence, is what the Pezet deal does as the "bridging players," a stop-gap before the rookies and juniors are ready.
It raises obvious questions. Should we be developing players more through first grade than we are? Why is Parramatta stuck in the concept of longer-term development in the minor grades, specifically Reserve Grade NSW Cup?
In principle, I support the “you are ready when you’re good enough” theme supported by the likes of Angry and LB; rather than holding back players from first grade experience.
We’ve seen plenty of players leave for that "blocked pathway" reason: Sanders, Talagi, Stefano. Pezet, ironically, is also a case in point.
Image: Papali’i (above), 21, played 13 first-grade games (4 at five-eighth, 4 at fullback and the rest off the bench, wing, or rake).
What is Joash Papali’i’s future, now?
He was the post-Dylan “Future is Now” project and beat Hawkins for the six, who subsequently left on account of falling further down the first-grade pecking order.
Although Papali’i is a work in progress, he has proven he’s up to the task and probably could do with more development work at first grade. Playing against better players will make him a better player.
He certainly missed a mountain of less tackles than Boy Wonder, Blaize Talagi who misses 6-10 per game recently, and was a weak-link on Panthers' vulnerable left-edge that was part of their undoing this year.
But what is Papali’i's future role moving forward after he was supposedly the ‘six in the making,’ albeit a work in progress? Back in reserves to hone his playmaking skills? Then what of Lorenzo, another budding six? Or is he being groomed as a Wishardian utility: jack of all trades, master of none?
How far back is Lorenzo?
And if Papali’i isn’t ready for Ryles’ ideal vision for six moving forward, will Lorenzo be given a go sometime this year, or held back? A point made by Angry et al.
The curious thing is you’d think Papali’i is more “ready” having had a fair crack at first grade.
Image: Lorenzo Talataina (19), a skillful ball-runner, seen as a potential long-term NRL six but not yet ready — debuting at Cup level in August 2025. He’s extended on an NRL development squad for 26-27 before an NRL contract in 2028. We may see tidbits of him at NRL (26-27) if Ryles sees he’s ready.
Mental and Physical Maturity, yes, but...
Now let’s assume the physicality aspect is addressed: It’s a good point that Hoe and Nos make with regard to mental maturity.
On that, Hayne was handled badly! He needed a senior player to mentor him off the field. We’ve seen Reece Walsh in recent years in a similar bracket. Walsh, for all intents and purposes, as an early starter, has only now learnt the maturity required.
So back to the thrust of me writing this post, with regard to young players and their development.
Reserve Grade football no longer provides a healthy background for development unless you have the right process, structure, and coaching.
Parramatta’s record in Reserve Grade has been atrocious (this year past being an exception with some green shoots). Cayless may have learnt something, though I have previously not had any respect for his coaching ability. I do accept, just the same, that everybody with a depth of intelligence can improve and correct errors. We will see in the next 12 months whether Cayless is that (learnt-by-experience) person.
Too many people here seem to think there is a necessity for players to experience Reserve Grade before being ready for FG.
That may be the case with clubs like Penrith, who have proven that necessity somewhat. They didn’t hesitate to put Casey McLean straight into first grade... first lesson... if you are good enough, you will just teach them bad habits playing with numb nuts in Reserve Grade.
Parramatta being a basket case with little vision (up until now) is an example, and in my opinion, the reason we have not brought juniors through proportionate to our overall junior base.
So to reinforce the theory of developing through Reserve Grade is, in my opinion, a subjective exercise, and one we (Parra) need to spend a lot more effort on in our pathways.
It seems we can get them through JF and Ball etc., but the real results need to be written in Reserve Grade.
These comments leave plenty of room for discussion, and I have not presented any “how to do this” exercise.
Replies
Imagine J.Hayne being responsible for a culture? Lolz
Not even as an assisstant...or an assisstant's assisstant
It is always all about Jarryd
He should go help the PNG Cannibals
We all grow up, have kids a family, settle down from being just one of the boys. We are usually different people in our mid 30,s then our 20's. I'd like to think Jarryd has some very very good lessons to pass onto youngsters starting their journey. Good and bad .
Wise, Bluey. He made some regretable choices. Paid a lot for it.
I don't know JH, other than brief chats in airports, but he doesn't strike me as a monster. Maybe aloof. Intuitive. In his own world.
He can still do some good in his life now that most of the witch-hunt seems over.
I agree that he can still do some good in his life, but why does it have to be us that takes the punt. He is not a monster but is he what we need in any way. Maybe he should try coaching NFL
Good question, Randy. I suppose it's to do with an outdated notion of not giving up on your own when they hit rock bottom. We celebrated him when he was flying high. Should we discard him as a useless non-PC leper? Not our problem.
We owe him nothing. I just don't see him as an answer to anything. Great player on his day and in his day. but that's about it.
Blue, it's not just about " he expresses his footy brain very well". It's about understanding others and making them better individually them binding them together around a plan.
Yeah very true. Coaching is more then seeing. I'm seeing a more mature Hayne of late, accross media, accross social media, even when he vists our little part of the world on the mid coast he appears to act more mature. Just what I see.
I am happy for him
Well kids can do that, he has 2 of them. Seems to be with them all the time. Nice to see.
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