U20's halves...

[Guest]

Shaun Johnson has definitely been the form half of the NYC. Has a playing style very similar to Soward, has a touch football kind of style but it seems to work very well. I think playing him out in the NYC for the rest of the year would only benefit him as he can continue to learn from Stacey Jones and then practice those skills in the NYC, something you can not really do in the NRL as a young kid.

Luke Kelly has also improved on last season's form and has taken more of a leadership role in the team, hence him being captain. He has a very good passing game and is a smart player. He is also a tough player and puts his body on the line.

Robert Lui had an injury-plagued season last year but has found form in 2009 and seems to be relishing his injury-free season. Is a nippy player but solidly built and can also play fullback, as he did for QLD Schoolboys in 2007. Should step to NRL level in the next few years.

footy, what do you think of the other regular U20's halves?

Beau Henry (Dragons)
Darren Nicholls (Tigers)
Ryan Stig (Knights)
Corey Norman (Brisbane)
Ben Hunt (Brisbane)
Kieran Foran (Manly)
Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly)
Sam Williams (Raiders)
Michael Picker (Raiders)

...as well as the Eels trio of Daniel Mortimer, Albert Kelly and TK Amosa.

[Guest]

footy, what do you think of the other regular U20's halves?

Beau Henry (Dragons)
Darren Nicholls (Tigers)
Ryan Stig (Knights)
Corey Norman (Brisbane)
Ben Hunt (Brisbane)
Kieran Foran (Manly)
Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly)
Sam Williams (Raiders)
Michael Picker (Raiders)

...as well as the Eels trio of Daniel Mortimer, Albert Kelly and TK Amosa.

Beau Henry - I think this kid has got the goods. I'm pretty sure he has been injured the past couple of weeks and hasn't played but before than, was leading all the main categories for a halfback, line-break assits, try assists etc. Has improved dramatically since last season where he wasn't as assertive and dominant. The Wayne Bennett influence is shining through.

Darren Nicholls - I really rate this kid. Is very very nippy and a very good organiser. Also has leadership skills and can steer the team around the park quite smoothly. Plays the same style of play Wayde Dunley did last season in NYC.

Ryan Stig - Was among the most rated halves coming into this year's NYC competition but just has not produced anything close to his potential. Has a very good passing game and can run the ball pretty strongly. Is solidly built for a half and is a sound defender.

Corey Norman - Only a young kid, still 18 years old, but is mixing it with the good halves in the league. Unlucky not to make QLD Under 18 but is playing very well for the Broncos. Has a solid passing game but can go missing sometimes when the game is on the line. With Ben Hunt by his side, can learn a thing or two.

Ben Hunt - We all know what Hunt is capable of, hence winning the inaugural NYC Player of the Year Award last year despite being only 18 years of age. Started the year off in Q Cup but has since been moved back to the NYC for some reason. Is slowly catching up to the rest of the halves in stats and will be a very good replacement for Lockyer in a few years. Top of the range half IMO.

Kieran Foran - I was always one to say he was best suited to centre than five-eighth as that's where he started off and made representative teams from, including the 2007 Australian Schoolboys team which featured Hunt, Ryan Williamson, Jarrod Croker, Daniel Mortimer, Kevin Proctor, Andrew McCullough, Jake Friend etc. But after seeing him make his debut, I think he is a genuine 6 who can play in the centres if need be. Is a very good defender and probably the strongest runner of any half in the NYC.

Daly Cherry-Evans - Combined very well with Foran and leads the team around the park with maturity beyond his years. Was elevated to Manly's fulltime squad this off-season and has obviously kicked on enormously. Only bad thing for this kid is he is well behind in the pecking order at Brookevale, as they have Trent Hodkinson and Foran in front of him. Good young player though.

Sam Williams - Still only relatively young and was eligible to play SG Ball. Is a good player and was very unlucky to miss out on NSW Under 18 selection to Cronulla's Chad Townsend. Is a good organiser and steers the team pretty well. But defensively is not real good and this is who the other teams in the competition target.

Michael Picker - Coming into this year, I rated him as the best half after his starring performances last season to take his Raiders to the first NYC Premiership. His form has been down on last year's but is still performing admirably. Has enormous potential and will be a big part of the Raiders future.

[Guest]

Both of our halves in each season have been underwhelming. Ben Cronin was poor last year and this year, while Brad Murray has been below average this year too.

[Wally]

quite an appropriate typo lol....

im slow, i dont get it???

[Guest]

Both of our halves in each season have been underwhelming. Ben Cronin was poor last year and this year, while Brad Murray has been below average this year too.

Brad Murray looks a bit underdone this season and is struggling enormously. He needs to get his fitness up and the rest will fall into place. Is very good player but needs to pick it up fitness-wise.

[Guest]

I watched Johnson in a few games this year, the kid has it. He has a freakish skill, a bit like Ben Hunt last year, he is just a class above.

Warriors are worried about throwing him in to first grade because of his age, but Stacey Jones is struggling this year, and this kid is just a freak.

Last year, Luke Kelly played five-eighth while our very own Liam Foram played halfback for the Storm NYC team. However, this year, with Kelly moving to halfback, he has excelled far beyond all expectations.

Beau Henry came into the Dragons NYC team at the end of last year, after the two Kennedy brothers signed onto Rugby Union. He was solid but somewhat error prone. This year, he started off in amazing form, though injury has stunted his last few weeks.

Robert Lui is a strongly built five-eighth from Tigers, who had a relatively underwhelming season last year behind an inconsistent pack, and was also injury prone. This season, his fitness has been much better, and he is killing it. He has a slick passing game too, actually has more linebreak assists then both Kelly and Johnson, as well as having a great offload.

Last year, the best halves were Ben Hunt by a long way (Broncos halfback - playing NYC this year but missed the early rounds with injury), followed by Isaac John (Warriors halfback - now NSW Cup), Matt Smith (Raiders halfback - now QLD Cup), Luke Kelly (the aforementioned one) and Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly halfback - doing well in NYC this year). Daniel Mortimer and the Foran brothers both were solid, while Eddie Paea was good too.

You'll get a first hand look at Isaac John this week as he has been selected for the warriors at 5/8