Rating our Lower Grade Players - The Challengeg - Eels Blogs

As our season has now ended, the recruitment and retention committee will have most likely made their decision about which players from our lower grades will be retained. By that I'm referring to players from our NYC or Wenty teams who have not played NRL. This is an important part of our planning because we have to make room for incoming NYC players in addition to compiling our squad of senior players who are on track to a future place in the NRL.This would be a most challenging process.Firstly, the retention decision would have to factor in flaws that have been identified in the way that our club has transitioned young players into our senior ranks. We are about to see changes in this process, including the staff involved, but for now we have players who have been subjected to a system that needed overhauling.Obviously we don't want to "throw the baby out with the bath water". So the committee needed to identify the talented players that we may have let down.Secondly, consideration would have been needed for talented players competing in a poorly performing team, how difficult would it be for a particular player to shine if the team is failing to produce on the paddock? Or, should we expect that a talented player will stand out in such a team? I'm no expert, but my thought would be that such considerations may come down to the playing position. For example, a talented winger would have few opportunities to shine in a team that creates few chances for him to show his talents. Therefore, are there any players that we should persist with simply because they are surrounded by an out of sorts team? Remember, as soon as they move past the age of 20, the places available for players within a club are extremely limited.Attitude must surely be a huge factor. The players have an opportunity to stand out through their application and ability to develop on the training paddock. Daniel Álvaro is a prime example of this. Feedback from lower grade coaches would therefore be crucial using this criteria. But what if the coaches themselves will not be retained? Would their feedback be considered as flawed feedback?In my opinion, the current group of young players, including some who played for Wenty this year, must have been difficult to assess. I'll be interested to read the thoughts of blokes like Forty and Ham on these players. How many of the current NYC squad will have a future at the club, even if they are still eligible for NYC next year?

To be honest, not many of the current NYC crop will have a future at the club.

The clear standout throughout the year was Bevan French and it would appear that he is being groomed for the fullback position for 2017, so hopefully he plays out 2016 at Wenty to become accustomed to the physicality and increased skill level of the NSW Cup and NRL.

I'd say after that come Josh Aloiai and Alex Twal. Aloiai especially has already made the step up to NSW Cup I believe, and has performed reasonably well but like all young players, is still learning.
Twal has been a stand-out in our forward pack this year in NYC but he is yet to be untested at the next level in NSW Cup. That in mind, he has the work-ethic, drive and ability to take the next step and make it.

After those two, probably Nathan Davis and Tyrrell Fuimaono.

Davis has all the makings of a talented centre beyond the Holden Cup but can lope around at times and look disinterested. He had an up-and-down year in 2015, IMO, but he's worth investing in. With some development, he can become a very handy player.
As for Tyrrell, he did have some damaging games/runs on the fringes in the centres especially throughout the year and so he too will be one to keep an eye on moving forward, as he could be anything as well.

They're probably the six that really worth sticking with and the ones that I'd like to see us retain, as they seem to be the ones with the most chance of making it beyond the Holden Cup into the NSW Cup and then eventually into first-grade.
As an honourable mention, I'd also put Abbas Miski and Atini Gafa up there but below the previously aforementioned six.

Ham & Forty can no doubt shed some more light on it all.

Replies

TangledAngles September 24, 2015 at 9:07am

"even if they are still edible for NYC next year"

Love it! Ahahahah
- sixtiesboy > TangledAngles September 24, 2015 at 8:52pm
  
  The auto correct certainly produces some interesting results. Thanks for alerting me.
Poupou Escobar September 24, 2015 at 9:10am

I understand that testing them at training is the most reliable way to compare players, due to the ability to control variables. This is also why just 'giving a young bloke a go' in first grade to see what happens is a poor idea and never done by professional coaching staffs. Coaches are rarely, if ever, surprised by the performances of a rookie, and a kid who doesn't perform at training is virtually no chance of performing once he steps onto an NRL field. Where a young player does perform better in a game than at training, that's a major flag for poor attitude, and impending catastrophic failure surely follows such a player. Plus they are a negative contributor to team culture.
Ricky September 24, 2015 at 9:20am

To be honest, not many of the current NYC crop will have a future at the club.

The clear standout throughout the year was Bevan French and it would appear that he is being groomed for the fullback position for 2017, so hopefully he plays out 2016 at Wenty to become accustomed to the physicality and increased skill level of the NSW Cup and NRL.

I'd say after that come Josh Aloiai and Alex Twal. Aloiai especially has already made the step up to NSW Cup I believe, and has performed reasonably well but like all young players, is still learning.
Twal has been a stand-out in our forward pack this year in NYC but he is yet to be untested at the next level in NSW Cup. That in mind, he has the work-ethic, drive and ability to take the next step and make it.

After those two, probably Nathan Davis and Tyrrell Fuimaono.

Davis has all the makings of a talented centre beyond the Holden Cup but can lope around at times and look disinterested. He had an up-and-down year in 2015, IMO, but he's worth investing in. With some development, he can become a very handy player.
As for Tyrrell, he did have some damaging games/runs on the fringes in the centres especially throughout the year and so he too will be one to keep an eye on moving forward, as he could be anything as well.

They're probably the six that really worth sticking with and the ones that I'd like to see us retain, as they seem to be the ones with the most chance of making it beyond the Holden Cup into the NSW Cup and then eventually into first-grade.
As an honourable mention, I'd also put Abbas Miski and Atini Gafa up there but below the previously aforementioned six.

Ham & Forty can no doubt shed some more light on it all.
- Poupou Escobar > Ricky September 24, 2015 at 2:01pm
  
  Davis and Aloiai are too old for NYC next year. Do you know if they are contracted for 2016?
Ricky September 24, 2015 at 10:03am

Gafa, Miski, French & co. will be even better players, if they're given extended game-time in the NSW Cup.
At least during the regular season.
To help them learn, develop and grow as players and to hone their skills further.

I'd say it's quite possible that Gafa & French will make up two of the Auckland Nines squad, for sure.
Braeden Kelly September 24, 2015 at 10:33am

Does anyone know where the club sees Gafa? Is he in the future plans of the club? Don't forget we still have Lavaka who played in the 9's last year and played good.

But for me the players coming through are same as above

1 French

2 Aloiai

3 Twal

4 Fuimaono

5 Davis
- Hamish > Braeden Kelly September 24, 2015 at 12:57pm
  
  The problem with Lavaka is he went backwards in NSW cup this year and was out of the team at points during the season, which was not good considering injuries to both first grade and NSW cup.
  
  Would like to see him have a solid season in 2016 in the NSW cup, but for the moment he hasn't taken that next step.
  
  The smoking gun will be our backup winger next year, with Falou behind him, and Lavaka possibly behind them both
Ricky September 24, 2015 at 1:11pm

He certainly did to some extent but that aside, I personally don't think that was down to ability as much it was due to:

1. Our cap situation. Once we'd played another 2-3 wingers/centres tops, our cap issues meant we had to stick with them. If there weren't any issues, Lavaka would have gotten the nod for at least one game, IMO.

2. Perhaps most importantly, the Magpies side almost didn't know what to do with him. They shifted him around far too much between NSW Cup & RM Cup, despite all the things I heard from others and collated in stats, had him performing well on a few occasions when he ended up being dropped.

But with Lavaka re-signed for 2016 and finishing this last year strongly, it is a big year for him. If he performs well enough, he could really push for a first-grade spot if there's injuries or suspension. And he is capable of doing so.
- Hamish > Ricky September 24, 2015 at 1:34pm
  
  Agree Ricky. Injuries across the club had a devastating impact on certain players, especially if you're a winger with constantly changing, centre and second rower inside you.
  
  I hope he cracks first grade as well. He is still young, has speed, and talent.

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