Best young props in NRL - where are we?

[shagger]

Luke Douglas. 24 years old, hasn't missed a game of first grade since debuting in 2006. Almost always makes at least 100 metres and 30 tackles a game, aggressive and tough.

Have been saying that for a long time

[Cockadoodledoo]

Luke Douglas. 24 years old, hasn't missed a game of first grade since debuting in 2006. Almost always makes at least 100 metres and 30 tackles a game, aggressive and tough.

Is he off contract? If not, pointless thinking about it.

[BUDDY]

I think Tolman is THE priority signing for us for next year but the dogs will probably get him.

I hope he had a good relationship with POS as too Inglis.

[TheBigFella]

Kade Snowden, Jeff Lima, Luke Douglas, Aiden Tolman. Yes please to any of them.

Adam Blair would be nice & may have to leave Melbourne.. Bit of a rumour.
Sika Manu is also off contract for next season..

[Guest]

Luke Douglas. 24 years old, hasn't missed a game of first grade since debuting in 2006. Almost always makes at least 100 metres and 30 tackles a game, aggressive and tough.

minichiello hadnt missed a game of first grade in years a while back look what happened there

[Guest]

Kade Snowden, Jeff Lima, Luke Douglas, Aiden Tolman. Yes please to any of them.

Adam Blair would be nice & may have to leave Melbourne.. Bit of a rumour.
Sika Manu is also off contract for next season..

I rate Adam Blair highly, but he is a backrower. Plenty of mongrel though.

Sika Manu, who I have actually heard that we are talking to, and Lagi Setu, who is pretty much a done deal, are both no different to the current coconuts we have. Honestly, Manu is just like Paea, a hard running but relatively unfit, short burst style impact prop. And Setu is pretty much the exact same as Nuuausala, a talented prop with ball skills, but has a habit of untimely errors and silly plays.

The props I would take any day:

Russell Packer - 21
Aiden Tolman - 22
Tim Mannah - 22
James Tamou - 22
Trent Merrin - 21

All highly successful NYC graduates, with great workrates, outstanding go-forward, and a toughness that already exceeds most of our forwards.

I would also look at the following players:

Luke Douglas - 24
Kade Snowden - 24
Dan Hunt - 23
Michael Henderson - 26

They are all now established first graders, and even though they are young, they are playing as though they are experienced, and mature beyond their years.

And last but not least, if we need some experience in our pack

Jeff Lima - 28
Shane Tronc - 28
Nick Kenny - 28

All of these players are coming into their 'front row prime' years and I think that especially as a fallback for when Ryles retires, these guys would provide a very strong and stable foundation of experience for the young blokes.

In the long run at the moment, I see our pack looking like:

8.
9. Friend
10.
11. Symonds
12. Aubusson
13. Myles

14.
15. Leilua/Cherrington/Setu
16. Hargreaves
17. Nuuausala

What we need in the number 8, is one of those younger and tougher props, like a Tolman, Douglas, Packer, etc. For the other prop position, we need someone with experience, but if we can't find one in time, we can shift Nate to prop, and Leilua or Setu to lock. Either way, the biggest issue is ONE prop for next year, Paea has done his time with us and we need new blood. I am just not convinced that Kennedy, Masoe or Arona are the answer.

[theGman]

I rate Adam Blair highly, but he is a backrower. Plenty of mongrel though.

Sika Manu, who I have actually heard that we are talking to, and Lagi Setu, who is pretty much a done deal, are both no different to the current coconuts we have. Honestly, Manu is just like Paea, a hard running but relatively unfit, short burst style impact prop. And Setu is pretty much the exact same as Nuuausala, a talented prop with ball skills, but has a habit of untimely errors and silly plays.

The props I would take any day:

Russell Packer - 21
Aiden Tolman - 22
Tim Mannah - 22
James Tamou - 22
Trent Merrin - 21

All highly successful NYC graduates, with great workrates, outstanding go-forward, and a toughness that already exceeds most of our forwards.

I would also look at the following players:

Luke Douglas - 24
Kade Snowden - 24
Dan Hunt - 23
Michael Henderson - 26

They are all now established first graders, and even though they are young, they are playing as though they are experienced, and mature beyond their years.

And last but not least, if we need some experience in our pack

Jeff Lima - 28
Shane Tronc - 28
Nick Kenny - 28

All of these players are coming into their 'front row prime' years and I think that especially as a fallback for when Ryles retires, these guys would provide a very strong and stable foundation of experience for the young blokes.

In the long run at the moment, I see our pack looking like:

8.
9. Friend
10.
11. Symonds
12. Aubusson
13. Myles

14.
15. Leilua/Cherrington/Setu
16. Hargreaves
17. Nuuausala

What we need in the number 8, is one of those younger and tougher props, like a Tolman, Douglas, Packer, etc. For the other prop position, we need someone with experience, but if we can't find one in time, we can shift Nate to prop, and Leilua or Setu to lock. Either way, the biggest issue is ONE prop for next year, Paea has done his time with us and we need new blood. I am just not convinced that Kennedy, Masoe or Arona are the answer.

Can't believe nobody has mentioned young Fifita from the Tigers.

Still raw, tough & has plenty of potential. Makes good yards and hard to stop especially close to the line. I know i'm drawing a long bow but he reminds me of a young Artie Beetson just starting out.

His twin brother who hasn't debut yet could be a smokey.

[theGman]

Tinaru Arona

Kennedy is too much like Conn for mine, no frills player who plays tough and hard. Every club needs them in fact they're crucial to clubs but two in the one side in the same position?

Personally I think we need to go hard out for Tolman, he's the best young prop in the game and Ryles (our only prop who actually goes forward on a consistent basis) isn't far from retirement. No one in our junior ranks from what I can see bar probably Arona could replace his workload.

Does anybody know.....
How has he been going for the Jets?
How far off is he from debuting in 1st grade?

Thanks

[Headless Chook]

Keep your eyes out for a young fromt rower/back rower playing for the Raiders by the name of Josh Popali. His figures have been pretty strong for a replacement forward. He's another one who played SG Ball this season but has now stepped up to NYC

[Guest]

Problem is having 4 young front rowers is a little like watching grass grow.

I'm not sold on JWH being a prop yet, still reckon he's more suited to being a wide runner. Haven't seen him bend the line once yet off a hitup.

I actually reckon Jason King (who we were linked to in the off season) would be a decent signing for the bench. Good go forward, experienced and still probably got another 3-4 years left in him. Much better than spending big money on someone like Graham who is untested in the NRL anyway.

Are you for real??
You musnt be watching the same game as me!

[Guest]

Tolman is off the market

http://www.bulldogs.com.au/default.a...splay&id=25783

Bulldogs Sign New Young Prop
18/05/2010 1:00:00 PM

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have secured the services of one of the best young props in the game with Aiden Tolman signing a three year deal – 2011-2013.

Just 21 years old Tolman has already started in a winning Grand Final side and will bring a strong work ethic and plenty of go-forward to the Bulldogs.

“Aiden is widely regarded as one of the most talented young props going around. He’s on the verge of playing representative footy and, importantly, everyone who knows him says he’s an outstanding human being,” said coach Kevin Moore.

“He’s got a good decade of first grade footy ahead of him and will be a major asset for the Bulldogs.”

[Guest]

What's up with recruitment? We are in need of a young promising prop,,why didn't we make a play for this guy?
We are lacking in Forwards depth,yet are not doing a thing about it,we missed out big time with Tolman...

[Guest]

Sounds like we are clearing the ranks for somebody. Who that is I don't know

[TheLoneRooster]

Tolman is off the market

http://www.bulldogs.com.au/default.a...splay&id=25783

Bulldogs Sign New Young Prop
18/05/2010 1:00:00 PM

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have secured the services of one of the best young props in the game with Aiden Tolman signing a three year deal – 2011-2013.

Just 21 years old Tolman has already started in a winning Grand Final side and will bring a strong work ethic and plenty of go-forward to the Bulldogs.

“Aiden is widely regarded as one of the most talented young props going around. He’s on the verge of playing representative footy and, importantly, everyone who knows him says he’s an outstanding human being,” said coach Kevin Moore.

“He’s got a good decade of first grade footy ahead of him and will be a major asset for the Bulldogs.”

DAMN IT !!!!!
He would have been a great buy.
As much as it pains me to say it, the 'dogs have done well there.

[Guest]

What's up with recruitment? We are in need of a young promising prop,,why didn't we make a play for this guy?
We are lacking in Forwards depth,yet are not doing a thing about it,we missed out big time with Tolman...

Who says we didn't?