With the Eels possibly in the market for a quality five eighth I have been thinking about past #6 signings and the huge hopes us fans had . Adam Dykes came to the Eels with massive expectations. Unfortunately it didn't work. Another massive signing was Kieran Foran and for different reasons that didn't go well. I guess we could say the Jason Smith and Jim Dymock signings worked out successful, however, those signings were related to the ARL - Super League war. I have probably missed a few more horror five eighth signings. I guess the times have changed from when I was playing junior league. As a kid, players like Brett Kenny, Wally Lewis and Terry Lamb had most kids wanting to wear the #6. These days you rarely see the best juniors playing five eighth. Half-back, fullback and Hooker have become the glamour positions. From the early 80's and into the 90's your best attacking player was generally your five eighth. Now that player is usually at fullback. Today's five eighths aren't even your best ball players. These players are at half-back and if you have a second ball player he will be either hooker or lock.
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Some players hold out for a year or two longer just to play for a good club, if they can get a 14 spot even longer if there is a chance of a comp.
But look at Penrith, Katoa was behind both Cleary and Luai and deciddd to test himself. Dont blame him. Even media said imagine if Katoa stayed a year or two longer he would be their 6. But Katoa left and they had to buy Talagi.
The best team in the last 6 years missed out on a 6 and had to buy one. It happens.
Katoa would of played many NRL games and won comps by now if he didn't leave.
Path wasn't blocked. If he had his time again he'd have stayed for sure.
Playing for who?
"Path wasn't blocked." Except for the existence of both Nathan Cleary and Jahrome Luai who were nailed on starters and Katoa was never displacing them.
"I would have loved to stay at Penrith, being a junior there, I love the club, love the area, love the people in the club... but at the same time I needed to strip it right back and look at what was going to be the best thing for my own career personally."
Katoa said that when he signed for the Dolphins. He saw staying at Penrith as hurting his long-term career because he'd be playing lower grades for the foreseeable future.
Cogger and Schneider both have rings.
And??? They are not great players. They are 'do a job' players. Cogger left to start, he failed now going back. Schneider now venturing out the same way.
Well as Super said, why would Katoa leave Penrith? Why would Iongi leave Penrith?
Penrith's culture is better than anyone's at the moment.
How is it not if you have 2 players signed til 2029 at least in the position you play? Granted Brown had options but still was signed til 2029 at least.
Pezet stayed despite Munster and Hughes being there he still had clauses if path is blocked which he is exploring now, plus Munster could go in 2027.
Pezet would've left 2 or 3 years ago if he was as misinformed as Sanders was.
Dynasty, let's assume your claim is correct as you have. The idea of "blocked paths" is a lie and a media beat up. You've got two problems 1) Players may perceive otherwise 2) What are you going to do about the media and point one? Seminars? Conventions?
Evidence suggests that players perceive they have paths blocked is a reason they leave a club. The likes of Katoa, Jonah Glover, Luke Metcalf, Sanders, Tallyn Da Silva, Talagi, Iongi, Hopgood. Sure not all. Say, Storm young guns: Pezet and Fa'alogo. They haven't left YET but have "get-out clauses" in their contract activated when Hughes and Papy were resigned — blocking their path to first grade. What does that tell you? It's a genuine concern for them. It's more than just a media beat up.
Even more experienced players leave when they feel their paths are blocked or challenged to first grade. It's pretty commonplace.
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