Eels U20's hooker Dean Blackman signs with the Roosters

[theGman]

Source: This weeks Big League, page 30. In summary:

The Rockhampton junior has signed a 2yr deal which he hopes will see him through to 1st grade next season."I've got one more year in the U20's. I've seen a crack there so i'll just be trying to take the most of the opportunity there now." he said.

It goes on to mention Blackman has been solid in his 21 NYC games this year. Coincidentally , he has been dropped to the bench against our boys this week.
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Effectively, that means our U20's squad will have three hookers in 2012 - Dumbrell, Clarrie Moore & Blackman unless Dumbrell is off somewhere else which i hope is not the case.

Has anyone seen Dean play? Wonder how he goes?

[Guest]

Never seen him play, but i know alot of Eels fans always talk him up and say he is the future in the 9, very very good player apparently.

Dont understand the signing though, seeing as we have alot of hookers now.
Well thats a change i guess then usually.

[Yak]

If we've signed this bloke and let go of Dumbrell that would be absolutely idiotic. Dumbrell has been alongside Kurt Baptiste and Slade Griffin as the best dummy halves in the competition. He is so dynamic out of dummy half and very Jake Friend-like with his tackling. I thought by 2013 he would have overtaken Mitchell as the bench hooker.

[Spanner in the works]

Can't hurt to have some depth. Keeps the pressure on and all things being equal the cream should rise to the top. Won't have cost a pretty penny so I think that's a good thing.

[mightyrooster]

Makes you wonder if someone is being let go doesn't it. With Friend, Mitchell, Dumbrell and now Blackman - that's a lot of dummy halves!

[bondi-boy]

Jake Friend just gets his attack right as well as his defence, "mesmerised" the Dragons defence the 2GB caller of the match said.

...and the club goes and signs a new hooker.

[crikey chris]

Sounds like a strange signing, unless Dumbrell is gone.

We have more hookers than a Craig Thomson union shindig! lol

[Guest]

2yr deal which he hopes will see him through to 1st grade next season

I read this as Mitchell being replaced on the bench.

[Guest]

I read this as Mitchell being replaced on the bench.

Maybe but Mitchell has done quite well for us so far. As a backup hooker he is doing a good job.

[Vasco]

According to today's SMH Mitchell is contracted until the end of next season.

[supermario]

I'd be might pissed off if i was Ant Michell, who mind you has been doing a great job sharing the role with Jake.

[novice chook]

The bloke will play in NYC or for Newtown - he may never see the light of day in first grade. A lot of NYC players don't, despite big wraps having been had on them.

If Ant Mitchell keeps performing like he is, the utility role on the bench is his going forward. He seems a versatile bloke who I'm sure could play in the halves as well.

At least it should ensure that grub Sam Brunton is no chance to return to the RW&B.


NC

[Bansai Pipeline]

We have more hookers than a Craig Thomson union shindig! lol

Not bad, old boy.

[fletch]

Smith loves using Friend at lock when Mitchell comes onto the field, wouldn't surprise if Smith sees Friends long term future as a lock foward, similar switch to Hincliffe at the Storm.

[Guest]

Hmm, Friend has his two best games of his life 2 weeks in a row and we go and sign another backup for him? Makes sense