The Academy....

[DP1990]

Here is a hypothetical question:

What if the guys in the academy aren’t that good , what do we do then?

Open the cheque book and go shopping !

[rcptn]

They won 9 games all year and fluked wins in the last 3/4 weeks when the season was dusted these guys are shit they've been blown away in the trials, the broncos and Penrith next week

NSW Cup and Flegg have won there trials SamKerrFraud

[Schooner]

The cup team had a lot of injuries last year. At the end they won 6 games (I think) including against the best teams. They had Toia back for those games and brought in some of the best kids from S G Ball and Flegg. Most of the players from those last games are now in our NRL squad or close to it. They were all very good at the lower level but it's going to be painful playing several of them at once in NRL. I think we should write this year off and start playing the young guys for big minutes in the positions they should be playing next year. We had 6 halves/five eighths play in the trials and most of them played in the back row or at hooker. I'm happy to support them if they are losing as long as they are putting in. We might have to rest them some weeks if they find constant NRL too intense.

[Billy Gunn]

It is fair to say that the Academy is producing good quality players, but you can't throw them all in together and expect instant results.

Overall I think the Academy works but not buying a few experienced players to fill the void of those who left.

[caz]

you can throw players in too early. not all experience is good experience. hard to get the balance right. also, bit early to be writing the season off after one game

[TumutChook]

They've been completely out of their depth in 3 matches against NRL opponents this year besides Toia that's all I care about. We are ****ed.

What a flog comment & it shows 0 knowledge of not just League but sport in general. As mentioned they did have a great back half when fit, but not sure how you can then leap to the conclusion they must be crap as we lost to the Broncos & and hat they will get beaten by the Riff next week. Over the last few years the riff have pumped us every time, Broncos did a number on us as well when we had Manu,JWH,Keary etc, so therefore they all must be crap. They’re now playing against men who have played Origin & Internationals yet you expect them to step up & be at that level?
Absolute moron.

[Lockie]

I agree to extent although hard to fault tonight given we did debut Toia, Foketi & Losalu… which to be honest I actually all 3 held their own and showed some signs of promise.

Love the shot Foketi up on Haas even if it was 2nd man in, this kid can hit!

Foketi has some real mongrel in him and Losalu still has some growing to do but his technique in defence is really good . I’m loving watching them come through , including Toia and Steep ,both of who will be 10 year players for this club .

These guys are just the first of many coming through the junior bases that the club has started building , which one day will be the strongest in the league . First grade isn’t winning the comp this year and they are not winning next year either . But our time will come again . In the meantime I’m going to sit back and enjoy watching the side develop . Strap on ,it’s going to be a fun ride .

Love the Roosters weather they win or lose .

[SamKerrSimp]

They are the first grade squad now. Whyte sucks, Wong sucks, these other academy guys sucked in the trials and in 3 years time Toia will be the only one still playing regular first grade here.

Dumb dumb dumb. Whyte was immense so was Wong. Choking on humble pie this week up the academy!

["gaz"]

An Academy video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPZbh7ujvbM

[TumutChook]

If this year is about developing the young players then put them in! Admit the year is a write off and let them play. If they are as good as everyone says they are then age should not be an issue

Townsend should never be in First Grade again. Give a young half a crack!!

There’s a fine line with doing that though. Imagine a team of kids getting belted every single week, they wouldn’t learn anything, develop in any way & their confidence & x X factor would be destroyed. No team has ever just thrown all untried players in just because it’s a wasted year, you still need experience to lead, guide & protect the kids & their futures. We also have sponsors, members etc that the club is trying to keep, so they would rather win 8 games than 2 or 3. I agree if someone is ready, but sprinkling a few in at a time & giving blokes 3 or 4 games exposure across the year is a far better long term outcome for all the youngsters,plus the club.

[Rooster_6]

An Academy video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPZbh7ujvbM

Eating minute steaks in the Eastern Suburbs? Criminal behaviour.

Great video and good insight, looks like a decent set up. Lachlan Dooner the guy presenting the video is a very promising edge backrower/centre.

[Thirteen]

Eating minute steaks in the Eastern Suburbs? Criminal behaviour.

Great video and good insight, looks like a decent set up. Lachlan Dooner the guy presenting the video is a very promising edge backrower/centre.

Why edge backrower? If there a difference between edge backrower and backrower? Or is this the new woke way of saying backrower?

Welcome To Country…

[Rooster_6]

Why edge backrower? If there a difference between edge backrower and backrower? Or is this the new woke way of saying backrower?

Welcome To Country…

Yes the backrow of the scrum (which is where the term backrower originates) was traditionally made up of your two second rowers and the lock forward. The front row, your props and hooker.

A second rower is your edge backrower and the lock is your mid-field backrower. If anything the terminology is outdated, from an era when scrums were actually formed with forwards.

But I respect your role as the language police and will conform to whatever terminology you would deem acceptable.

Can you please let me know which nouns a number 11 and number 12 player would identify as and/or are acceptable for me to use? I hope the irony isn't lost on you.

[roosterproud]

If this year is about developing the young players then put them in! Admit the year is a write off and let them play. If they are as good as everyone says they are then age should not be an issue

Townsend should never be in First Grade again. Give a young half a crack!!

they are. Hugo in the 17

[Thirteen]

Yes the backrow of the scrum (which is where the term backrower originates) was traditionally made up of your two second rowers and the lock forward. The front row, your props and hooker.

A second rower is your edge backrower and the lock is your mid-field backrower. If anything the terminology is outdated, from an era when scrums were actually formed with forwards.

But I respect your role as the language police and will conform to whatever terminology you would deem acceptable.

Can you please let me know which nouns a number 11 and number 12 player would identify as and/or are acceptable for me to use? I hope the irony isn't lost on you.

Thanks for the clarification R6. Are we still allowed to call a 9 ‘hooker’ as they don’t hook anymore?