Some years back after a Barcelona FC visit, the club decided going forward to implement and professionalise the Rooster pathways/academy system.
Last year we entered a Rooster team in the NSW Cup this team contained many young academy players
Let me speculate
Robo calls a meeting to discuss the team for 2025 and beyond, with many of our players having left the club .
Two long term injuries to Sam Walker and Brendon Smith have changed the original plan.
Robbo said he got Townsend (1 year) for his leadership and experience and as a back up to Walker and Sandon Smith if required
Robbo bought Nawaqanitawase to replace Sua'ali'i and Manu (after failing to buy Gagai)
On the whiteboard he has a picture of the R1 team and a picture of say the team 1 month out from the finals which might /or might not include Sam Walker and Brandon Smith
From the meeting a plan is agreed which includes which players are part of the plan and which are not
Positions that are vacant will be filled from internally if possible and if not, see if quality is available on the open market
Imagine Robbo has a wave of young players ready to play at NRL level and behind them are another batch ready for NSW Cup (and so on)
If we intend to use the academy players now they are ready, we will need to make positions available at the top.and pay them accordingly. Else we will lose them to other clubs.
The salary cap will mean we have to be ruthless on who we keep and who we let go.
To win a premiership one likely built around Sam Walker, he will need the creme de la creme of players around him to compete with the likes of Penrith
A team that can match it man for man if not better it.
Last year we entered a Rooster team in the NSW Cup this team contained many young academy players
Let me speculate
Robo calls a meeting to discuss the team for 2025 and beyond, with many of our players having left the club .
Two long term injuries to Sam Walker and Brendon Smith have changed the original plan.
Robbo said he got Townsend (1 year) for his leadership and experience and as a back up to Walker and Sandon Smith if required
Robbo bought Nawaqanitawase to replace Sua'ali'i and Manu (after failing to buy Gagai)
On the whiteboard he has a picture of the R1 team and a picture of say the team 1 month out from the finals which might /or might not include Sam Walker and Brandon Smith
From the meeting a plan is agreed which includes which players are part of the plan and which are not
Positions that are vacant will be filled from internally if possible and if not, see if quality is available on the open market
Imagine Robbo has a wave of young players ready to play at NRL level and behind them are another batch ready for NSW Cup (and so on)
If we intend to use the academy players now they are ready, we will need to make positions available at the top.and pay them accordingly. Else we will lose them to other clubs.
The salary cap will mean we have to be ruthless on who we keep and who we let go.
To win a premiership one likely built around Sam Walker, he will need the creme de la creme of players around him to compete with the likes of Penrith
A team that can match it man for man if not better it.
Comment