It appears the answer to Parras problems is signing players from other clubs whether they are over the hill or not. We apparently want replacements in the backs. Have you seen our NYC side this year. You can't tell me that the likes of Faurimo, Lavaka, Foloau, Davis, Matterson and ZDC can't make it.
I realise they are young, but you have got to blood them in first grade, which you can't do if you have already a full contingent in your salary cap.
We only missed out on the semi finals by 2 points. We should persevere with our local juniors or otherwise they will be grabbed by the likes of Bulldogs,Manly Cronulla as is the normal practice of this club.
Also play ALL your home games at Parramatta Stadium instead of giving them and the competition points that go with them away.
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You really don't want to be debuting anymore than 3-4 players each season. You upgrade their contracts and ensure that they're happy at the club. Some of those guys may debut next year. There are big wraps on a lot of those guys but remember that with the size of our catchment we do have to let go some juniors on occasion in order to ensure that our first grade side remains as strong as possible.
All those guys are going to be with the club next year...
Unfortunately only a small proportion of NYC players will make fg & we have to let go the rest. What we need to do is ensure only the best are retained & not let go the likes of Tupou that were probably always going to play fg.
We as fans cry out when we continue to release our popular juniors but also whinge when we consider pulling them up to 1st grade to early. It's hard to define when the time is right for the young bloke to debut. Who amongst us was not pleasantly surprised when the coach called up Tepai this year? I looked at that possible promotion before the event, compared him to Hindy of '98' and recalled that Nathan had a great pack to look after him where'as Moeroa never had that luxury. So I thought "give him another year in holden cup."
We see our juniors usually as too in-experienced to succeed but like Cagey I hate to see our deserving juniors cast out of the club without the chance to prove themselves. Especially when "experienced players like Norman, Jo Paulo and Vai remain in the side and add little to our team. We don't have to blood them at the same time but we need to find out if Matterson and Lavauka, to name a few, can improve on the incumbents in 1st grade.
Folau isn't quite ready for first grade this year. He's certainly a strong runner with the ball and he can sometimes put on a big hit in defence but a few times he can be caught out in defensive positioning. I reckon if we give him another year in NSW cup to learn this sort of stuff he'll be better for it. It's what we had to do with Semi and we can't just give young players a shot at first grade so quickly because they've shown some promise in the NYC.
It certainly isn't a matter of keeping them down just for the sake of keeping them down, but unless they show they're capable in both attack and defence, like Tepai Moeroa did this year, then imo we shouldn't be putting them into first grade whilst there are first grade ready players. Another way to give rewards for good play is by putting them into NSW cup, we gave a few shots at NSW cup this year to: Fabian Goodall, Ryan Matterson, and John Folau. For me this is a much better option than just putting them in first grade because they've shown promise, it is still a reward but as a club it isn't such a greater risk as playing them in first grade.
Hayne certainly wasn't an unknown. He'd been fantastic in what was then called Premier League, and was a stand out in Jersey Flegg and in district reps as a young kid. Smith was tempted to play Hayne in first grade but said he was unsure about his attitude even though many critics were wondering why Hayne was being kept in reserve grade.
Exactly, that's why I like the idea of us using the NSW cup more and more for our better Under 20's players. A few of the players there have either played first grade or are closer to first grade than most NYC players. In a few years, hopefully we'll see NSW cup teams that have the same ability as the Panthers and Wenty earlier this year so that we can continue the progression of our younger players.
The only way I can see that happening though is by increasing squad size, so instead of having a Top 25, you have a Top 32 or even 35.
As you say Brett with Matterson looking the goods in the 20's it guarantees nothing when it comes to him playing 1st grade. But with the, let's call a spade a spade, ordinary form of both Norman and Seph Paulo i don't consider it to be a huge risk to eventually give Matto his chance. If he and Lauvaka are found short of the mark, fair enough, but at least have a look at them in the higher grade. Let's not cast them out untested.
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