Eels Blogs

Qld spirit missing in u19s

I watched the u19s and was wondering where that famed qld spirit was.  It is apparently something all qldrs have and are born with but must go missing for years in late teens as NSW have dominated u19 formerly u20s for years

Personally i dont think it is qld spirit that makes qld better in state of origin.  It comes down to how players are developed and parts of it could be seen in the 19s game.   NSW have dominated the junior origin series most years so it got me thinking why it doesnt translate at top level.

One thing that stood out was size of nsw players vs qld.  NSW had lot bigger players across the field except for couple massive qldrs. They dominated in physical aspects of the game.  As the eels have done for a long time, Sydney NRL clubs tend to sign kids to school scholarships and keep kids who dominate at young age but most who dominate at early ages do so due to size or early maturity.  Is Sanders really that good or just look good playing well behind forwards with momentum.  As seen in younger games defences aren't great and teams regularly make massive metres so easy for halves to look better then they are. How does he go when things against him. He was good in support but didnt really see any running or passing plays to mark him as future superstar.

Will U19 Qld players have better success as they get older and raise through the grades.  There was quality in both sides but who will graduate and have a successful origin career.

NSW waste too much effort and time investing in young players who dominate due to size where qld invest in skilful players with more drive. Part of this is due to country footy in NSW which has struggled for years and lot of NSW greats in past were country players. Country kids are tougher then city kids and seem to have better work ethic. But now NSW country footy is dying and most good NSW juniors move to city NRL clubs and school scholarships very early due to amount of clubs and opportunities. They are then treated like rockstars at their school and lose that country boy work ethic.  NSW also has massive islander and Polynesian number of players.  They have the size and strength at young age so junior NSW players develop a physical game early as seen in U19 SOO when NSW dominated physical side of game.  Unfortunately Polynesian players are explosive and not known as the hardest workers especially when compared to country boys generally so a lot of the Polynesian boys fall out of game as they get older due to level of commitment of training required and the pull of friends in Western Sydney attached to party or gang culture etc.

Qld meanwhile doesnt have as many opportunities with less clubs and top line schools so young players stay in their country or coastal regions living real life instead of insulated future footy star life. As more kids develop and mature, the qld schools will recruit more players who have had longer to instill country values in regards to training etc and they have lived normal life not being pegged as furutre nrl star through a scholaship program. Then most of the qldr junior players attend one of a handful of league schools or play qld cup instead of the aged based nsw club aligned competitions, so future SOO players know and have played with with future SOO teammates or against men at earlier age compared to NSW players who at different clubs and schools competing against each other instead of building bonds which will help in future years or developing game against older more experienced players.

The Sydney clubs also seem to ignore recruiting playmakers from outside the Sydney NRL club development systems and schools instead choosing to steal and trade from each other instead looking for untapped talent. Maybe because it would expose the favouritism and dare I say Nepotism that has plagued junior league. They also dont want to admit they may have missed some junior talent instead preferring to think they didnt get someone else cause another club got them first.

No doubt some of NSW players will get NRL developmental contracts or even full contract off performances tonight and be fast tracked into NRL.  You can find various stories of Sydney nrl clubs paying massive money for a junior yet to play NRL.

The young players will join emerging NSW player camps and become coaches and commentator favourites who will remember their potential from when they were younger and after a good season or even few good games at the right club or being a friend of someone important, they will get an origin start.  Even if only for a game or 2 before they fail and become another NSW 1 or 2 gamer.