Tom Symonds: A Rare Breed

[supermario]

Rooster Tom Symonds a local junior
By James Phelps | June 10, 2009 12:00am

TOM Symonds' Bondi United teammates call him IGA.
"Yeah because the slogan of IGA (Independent Grocers of Australia) is 'Your Hometown Hero'," Symonds said.

"And they reckon I am the Eastern Suburbs hometown hero because I am a local junior."

Yep that's right, it's not a misprint. The 189cm redhead who made his NRL debut a fortnight ago is a fair dinkum Roosters junior. A product of the Eastern Suburbs Junior Rugby League, the rarest of rugby league creatures.

"We only had a couple of teams so we played in a combined competition with Souths," Symonds said.

"And I have gone for the Roosters my whole life. My dad (Peter) used to take me to the SFS all the time to watch them."

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In fact, cut Symonds open and he just might bleed red, white and blue. His grandfather Yooka founded his junior club, Bondi United.

"I don't know why he did it," Symonds, 20, said. "I don't know the history of it, I think he just wanted somewhere to play."

The Eastern Suburbs junior league is the smallest of any NRL club. Boasting just 727 players from Under-6 to A-Grade, it is dwarfed by competitions like Penrith which has more than 6000 registered players.

At least there is one !

[Pass the Ball]

Question..

When this guy comes on, is he playing in the second row or does he push Anasta to lock and play 5/8...???

Or is there no difference these days..??

I am just not sure what position he plays..

[Guest]

Gotta love our local juniors. They should be encouraged as much as possible.

[Pass the Ball]

Gotta love our local juniors. They should be encouraged as much as possible.

Do you know what position he plays..??

[Guest]

Do you know what position he plays..??

I know he isn't the orange peeler.

[Guest]

Do you know what position he plays..??

He's a 5/8 isnt he ? The problem is that spot is pretty much sewn up as i doubt the kid can oust Anasta or especially Carney next year from that spot. I havent actually seen him play yet, so can someone out there recommend a spot he'd be good at for the future ? What about centre ? Christ knows we need one of them real quick.

[TheLoneRooster]

He's a 5/8 isnt he ? The problem is that spot is pretty much sewn up as i doubt the kid can oust Anasta or especially Carney next year from that spot. I havent actually seen him play yet, so can someone out there recommend a spot he'd be good at for the future ? What about centre ? Christ knows we need one of them real quick.

Yeup, he's a 5/8. That's what he plays in the NYC and that is all I've ever seen him play in the NYC. Given his build, he could play centre.

[novice chook]

I've seen him play lock in the NYC as well, and he's certainly big and strong enough to play in the forwards.

I suspect that's where he plays when he comes off the bench at the moment, a forward who occasionally interchanges with Anasta.


NC

[Pass the Ball]

So, is it safe to say, none of us fans know what position he is playing when he is on the field...??

Do you think Fittler knows what position he is meant to be playing..??

[melon....]

So, is it safe to say, none of us fans know what position he is playing when he is on the field...??

Do you think Fittler knows what position he is meant to be playing..??

If hes a 5/8 then Freddy would probably expect him to play fullback.

[novice chook]

So, is it safe to say, none of us fans know what position he is playing when he is on the field...??

Do you think Fittler knows what position he is meant to be playing..??

I don't think the players know the position they are meant to be playing. They appear to be on a rotation system. You spend a certain amount of game time in each position on the field.

That's Fittler's idea of a game plan.

NC

[supermario]

Should we start a book on what players are playing where?

4/1 shreck is at full back !

[Guest]

Should we start a book on what players are playing where?

4/1 shreck is at full back !

No, he's the bell ringer.

[Kingbilly]

I have talked to a couple of people that have coached Symonds as a junior and this is one guy we need to keep.
He can play but he is also a leader.
He has fitted into the first grade squad quickly and its like he belongs there

[TheLoneRooster]

I have talked to a couple of people that have coached Symonds as a junior and this is one guy we need to keep.
He can play but he is also a leader.
He has fitted into the first grade squad quickly and its like he belongs there

That is really encouraging news. Go Tom!