Ethan Strange, the one that got away

[Arties Pie]

Yup….Lower grade recruitment has been shithouse for a while now

[BraveTheWorld]

We didn’t let either of them go, we made offers for both. Bulldogs were willing to offer Preston a first team spot and Canberra a more direct path to first grade.

After balance of the first grade squad I think youth pathway development is the second biggest issue our club is struggling with at the moment. Since the class of Radley/Butcher/Tupouniua/Collins/Manu/Latrell/ Watson made their debuts around 2016-2017 we haven’t had a wave of good talent come through in a long time.

- Suaalii played in his first year after being bought from the Rabbitohs (significant contract)
- Walker played in his second year after being bough from the Broncos (significant contract)

I would consider those two more purchases than a reflection of our pathways and they’re our two most successful teenagers to come through since 2017.

Really outside of that it has been slim pickings, we’ve had to rely on recruiting senior players from the NSW Cup or on the fringes of first grade to cover injuries rather than being able to cover them internally with junior talent. Think Dale Copley, Matt Ikuvalu, Kevin Naiqama, Junior Pauga, Reece Robinson, Brad Abbey, Oliver Gildart etc. And I have nothing against that strategy but it needs to balanced with more juniors.

I would say the latest wave of junior talent coming through has been Whyte/Wong/Sandon Smith/Moriaty & Egan Butcher but all have had very slow and stunted development for mine and certainly don’t look like being in the same calibre of player mentioned before.

I wonder how much impact Peter O’Sullivan leaving our club in 2016 has had on our junior talent coming through and our talent identification.

There’s some serious talent coming through in the SG Ball squad this year which is exciting but that’s still talent that’s 2-3 years away and I appreciate the club has invested heavily into this area in recent times even funding their own NSW Cup side but we really need some results soon to help replenish a team that’s going to be turned over quite heavily in the next 6 months with the losses of Suaalii, Manu, Crichton & JWH.

It’s not great that this week when our first grade backline is decimated we don’t have even 1 exciting young player to turn to.

Well said and agree with all of this, but just in relation to your last sentence and in the interest of fairness, we do have a player like that. Naturally, it's just not in the Roosters control that Rob Toia did his ACL. But anyway, do agree with that on the whole.

[Juggler]

They were getting bogged down. Walker has run players down running back in defence. Recall the last-minute vs Titans in the final a couple years ago.

You have reminded me of Hastings. Now there was a slug. To think that we got rid of Maloney based on the hype of the slowest player in the NRL. I wonder if that is still playing on Robbo's mind?

Maloney wanted more than we were willing to pay or could afford under the cap.

[Juggler]

We didn’t let either of them go, we made offers for both. Bulldogs were willing to offer Preston a first team spot and Canberra a more direct path to first grade.

After balance of the first grade squad I think youth pathway development is the second biggest issue our club is struggling with at the moment. Since the class of Radley/Butcher/Tupouniua/Collins/Manu/Latrell/ Watson made their debuts around 2016-2017 we haven’t had a wave of good talent come through in a long time.

- Suaalii played in his first year after being bought from the Rabbitohs (significant contract)
- Walker played in his second year after being bough from the Broncos (significant contract)

I would consider those two more purchases than a reflection of our pathways and they’re our two most successful teenagers to come through since 2017.

Really outside of that it has been slim pickings, we’ve had to rely on recruiting senior players from the NSW Cup or on the fringes of first grade to cover injuries rather than being able to cover them internally with junior talent. Think Dale Copley, Matt Ikuvalu, Kevin Naiqama, Junior Pauga, Reece Robinson, Brad Abbey, Oliver Gildart etc. And I have nothing against that strategy but it needs to balanced with more juniors.

I would say the latest wave of junior talent coming through has been Whyte/Wong/Sandon Smith/Moriaty & Egan Butcher but all have had very slow and stunted development for mine and certainly don’t look like being in the same calibre of player mentioned before.

I wonder how much impact Peter O’Sullivan leaving our club in 2016 has had on our junior talent coming through and our talent identification.

There’s some serious talent coming through in the SG Ball squad this year which is exciting but that’s still talent that’s 2-3 years away and I appreciate the club has invested heavily into this area in recent times even funding their own NSW Cup side but we really need some results soon to help replenish a team that’s going to be turned over quite heavily in the next 6 months with the losses of Suaalii, Manu, Crichton & JWH.

It’s not great that this week when our first grade backline is decimated we don’t have even 1 exciting young player to turn to.

Don’t forget the idea that the cancellation of junior competitions during Covid delayed the growth of junior players. Perhaps that has something to do with it.

[Juggler]

Here’s another thought. Maybe our players just aren’t as good as we think they are.

[King Salvo]

Maloney wanted more than we were willing to pay or could afford under the cap.

As well as the upgrade he wanted a 3 year deal as well.

[rcptn]

Great insight, a lot of those fringe players we picked up where terrible, surely a junior would have done no worse.

I was just thinking today we really have not solved a lot of key players over the last few years

Cronk retires 2019- have we really found a suitable solution since. There are even question marks over Walker being a 5/8th not a HB , still unresolved
Cordner retiree 2020- Left edge has been very unsettled since he retired, still unresolved
Friend retires early 2021 Still to find the right hooker IMO

I think Watson is the best we have done in replacing Aubo

This will get worse next season with Manu, JWH leaving. I do feel May has the ability to replace JWH skill wise but not leadership wise. The following year Keary will probably retire

We also don’t know if B Smith will take up his option next year at hooker which makes Morriartys injury worse for his development

All adds up to being very unsettled and new combinations need to form

I think Moriaty has fallen down the pecking order as young Beniah Ioelu who played Ball and Flegg last year has started the last 2 NSW Cup games after starring off the bench in the opening 3 rounds. I'll be keeping a close eye on him over the next month as he looked pretty good against Canterbury. Looked more impressive than Moriaty to me.

[dice]

Maloney wanted more than we were willing to pay or could afford under the cap.

and yet we managed to sign Keary, Teddy, and Cronk soon after.

Robbo thought Hastings was a superstar, and gave him preference over Maloney.

[SamKerrSimp]

and yet we managed to sign Keary, Teddy, and Cronk soon after.

Robbo thought Hastings was a superstar, and gave him preference over Maloney.

Roosters fans lapped up the Hastings signing being the son of the fan favourite legend.

Maloney left at the end of 2015 while Luke Keary was signed for 2017 with Tedesco and Cronk signed for 2018 they aren't linked.

[infidelrooster]

We don’t usually get these wrong but I honestly believe we will be regretting this for years to come, the exact type of 5/8 our team needs. I’m not just saying this because of how he has been playing recently it’s just reinsured it, I’ve always seen something in him.

It was Paramatta FFS,the week before he was MIA in the second half against Cronulla.We kept the right guy Sandon Smith is the guy!

[GrubBER]

It was Paramatta FFS,the week before he was MIA in the second half against Cronulla.We kept the right guy Sandon Smith is the guy!

I rate Sandon Smith & i hope you’re right

[GrubBER]

You never know as daughter Jasmine Strange came back to the Roosters NRLW side - signing for 2 years (2024/25) - Maybe Coach Strange can pull a few more strings and get his son Ethan back as well

You never know as Stranger things have happened lol

[King Salvo]

Hugo Savala ?

Hope we keep him but it may hard with players in front of him - Tall for a Half back but has an all round game - running and organising skills and a good passing and kicking game - Good Goal kicker as well.

[King Salvo]

I think Moriaty has fallen down the pecking order as young Beniah Ioelu who played Ball and Flegg last year has started the last 2 NSW Cup games after starring off the bench in the opening 3 rounds. I'll be keeping a close eye on him over the next month as he looked pretty good against Canterbury. Looked more impressive than Moriaty to me.

Both good players - Beniah captained the SG Ball team last year as well - Alan Holton is another good rake too - Be hard to keep them all though

[fletch]

Strange just signed an extension with the Raiders till the end of 2028.