Fast forward a year. We've let go Feleti Mateo - one of the club's leaders and as nice and generous a player as you will ever meet. And Kris Keating - a local junior who has captained Blue & Gold sides all the way from Harold Matthews through to NYC. One player who was already a leader and a role-model within our club and another who I'm sure would have grown to be one.
And instead we're supposedly chasing Quade Cooper - a prodigious talent but who has more than a few question marks over his character after the infamous stealing incident and Reni Maituia - who's rap sheet I'm sure I don't have to detail.
Now, I'm not opposed to giving blokes a second chance. Or in Maitua's case a third or fourth chance. However, this current recruitment situation just makes it so much harder to stomach those of our own that we're losing. Honestly, when I read that we're chasing Maitua to fill Feleti's shoes I ache.
What's become clear is that all the talk about signing upstanding characters and retaining our juniors because they are the core of the club's culture, was either just lip service - or our recruitment has been screwed up so badly that we're just no longer in a position to uphold those ideals.
Either way, it's fucked.
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You're right Re Maitua V Mateo. In fact, as has been mentioned in one of the other blogs, if we end up signing Maitua and letting young Horo go it will be the death-knell for me. I would be shattered. We need to hold on to some of the promising youngsters we still have on our books before going anywhere near the likes of Maitua. Even after only 2 or 3 games this year, you could tell that Horo belonged in the top grade. He's never looked out of place IMO. It's funny how some players kill it in the lower grades and are trumpeted as the next big thing but can't make the step up to NRL whilst others seem to go through the motions in lower grades but truly flourish once they get a chance in 1st grade. Justin definitely fits in to the latter category.
Maitua has been out of the game for a decent amount of time, but I'm sure he's burning to get back out onto the paddock and in other cases where players have come back from long imposed spells there have been numerous sucess stories eg Tilse, Sailor, Carney.
Saying that I think its a massive risk to be paying him anymore than 70-80k, and would much rather have Horo signed up first.
I think they are waiting for another signing and will do a double announcements - saves paper! haha
From living on the gold coast/brisbane - i've heard another version of the Quade cooper incident and to be honest, i believe it and am not surprised he got off without charge or record.
Matua im not so sure on - once a druggie always a??? I like to give chances but he's had afew. In saying that he would be a good replacement for Mateo at his potential. Given his ban is til about Round 8 - 10 of 2011 - he should come pretty damn cheap
They are supposed to be our saviours from the previous administration!!
Don't get me wrong though, they have done an outstanding job with sponsors and membership (even though it was mainly because of our run to the finals last year, and mainly because Jarryd) but they should get their act together with recruitment and retention, and also need to plug their leaks.. the boat will start to sink eventually!
Also come on eels sign up quade cooper now!!
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