This blog generates itself through a discussion on Hoe's blog (An optical Illusion) and a thread within commented by Angry, Hoe,Nos and LB.
The Thrust is about developing player's and why is Parramatta stuck in the concept of longer term development in the minor grades, specifically Reserve Grade.
Themes of when are they ready ?....I agree with Angry and LB who imply play them if they are good enough.
Now lets assume the "physicality aspect" is addressed before the process is excelerated, and some good point's that Hoe and Nos make with regard to mental maturity.....Boy! was Hayne handled so badly! he needed a senior player to mentor him off field and I would argue the regimen of the time for him was just "give him anything he wants", we have seen Reece Walsh in recent years in a similar bracket. Walsh for all intents and purposes and as an early starter has only now learnt the maturity required. he has had just the same of experiencing different clubs in his development.
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. Penrith have mastered this situation and should be the model we follow!........
Parramatta's record in Reserve grade has been atrocious (this year past being an exception with some green shoots). Cayless may have learnt something, I have previously not had any respect for his coaching ability, I do accept just the same that anybody with a depth of intelligence (with his background) 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 long stints in Reserve Grade before being ready for FG.
That maybe cases like Penrith who have proven that necessity somewhat, with different courses for different horses. They didn't hesitate to put Casey McLean straight into first grade..... first lesson, if you are good enough don't fcuk them around in Reserve playing with inferior players, you will just teach them bad habits playing with numb nuts.
Players like Ilongi and Hopgood being examples with us recruiting players who have been developed through a much more mature system.
Parramatta being a basket case with little vision (up until now) an example and IMO the reason we have not brought succesful juniors through (and stayed) proportionate to our overall junior base.
So to reinforce the theory of developing through Reserve Grade is IMO a subjective exercise and one we (Parra) need to spend a lot more effort on in our pathways. I suspect this is starting to happen already in the "Ryles era".
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 do this exercise.
Maybe we need to lend some players out for 1 and 2 year deals with a view to them gaining more experience. new Clubs such as Perth and PNG being examples.....practicalities of doing this needs plenty of discussion and how the retention i.e. buy back occurs.
Replies
Life is full of risks, we have to be prepared to take some. My take on angry's comment from the other blog is our overall reluctance to give young players an opportunity. Citing individual instances where young players have either succeeded/failed on their arrival in first grade for the most part is pointless. There's a whole host of players from our district that have gone on to success at other clubs. Our odds of success improve with increased opportunities. Also delayed gratification is important, for the most part they're not going to be world beaters immediately but they might if we give them a chance.
Beautiful rhetoric Adam, so we don't have a problem and if we do, we can't do anything to help it!
"Citing individual instances where young players have either succeeded/failed on their arrival in first grade for the most part is pointless"
"These comments leave plenty of room for discussion and I have not presented any how do this exercise".
I'd argue that reserve grade is a better place to learn than the NRL, and the only reason to play a youngster in the NRL (rather than NSW Cup or Qld Cup) is because you have to, i.e. he is in your top 17 players and is being paid accordingly.
Remember, the NRL is only 80 minutes each week, and bench players (and many starters) play fewer than that. Most of the learning occurs at training through the week. Then on game day this is tested rather than learned. There is even the risk that the player will learn the wrong lessons on game day, when mistakes are punished and stakeholders (e.g. media, fans and even administrators) apply external pressure. This can make young players risk averse when what you want is to teach them how to take calculated risks. Reserve grade is the place for this because nobody really gives a fuck if the team loses. Its purpose is for players to practice skills, demonstrate their ability and acquire match fitness. Winning in the lower grades is a low priority, unlike the NRL, where winning is the top priority and player development is secondary to that.