Story about the academy - Nick's gone from buying high $$$, to developing early

[Jacks Fur Coat]

https://www.roosters.com.au/news/202...-the-roosters/

Where we used to buy high priced players at the top of the market, now we are developing players from the start of their careers. I can't remember the last time we had a more exciting crop of young players coming through.

And the benefit of doing it this way, to use Rob Toia as an example, is we get the first 3-5 years of his career, at a bit of bargain price.

They could even end up being his best years, or his only years, if he was to have injuries, or not go on, or whatever.

But if he becomes one of the game's premier centres over those 3-5 seasons, he'll then get the highest price deal of his career. Player prices are based on what they've done previously. And we got all of Toia's brilliant plays for 3-5 years at a much cheaper price that what he'll cost in the future.

And if a player's retention price is ridiculous, after those first 3-5 years, and if you have a good pathways system, you let him go.

Let one of your opponent clubs buy the guy at the top of the market.

We're getting Hugo for $180,000 a season now. His next deal will be $500k+. For him, it better be with us. But that's not the case for every player.

That's the genius of the pathways system. Aubo and Jake and whoever else is involved, obviously Robbo, deserve great credit.

And doing that frees up the cash to upgrade the required young guys who you got for a bargain, or buy the occasional high priced player when you need to.

The club has turned 180 degrees from the bad old days, and the future is bright.

Thanks for the link mate, and your observations above. We are certainly a club headed on a good path..

[Bates]

Even the greatest youth developing sporting teams in any sport around the world still sign players. We should focus on youth but if we don't have the youth in positions we need to fill we shouldn't be opposed to going to market either.

We're well and truly all good in the halves department.

No need to go shopping

[caz]

great idea but not easy to make it work. barcelona can pretty much afford to keep everyone they want but with a salary cap you can't. not to mention that you've got to choose the right players in the first place and you've got to have the right people developing them.
so far so great

[Batemans Bay Rooster]

Great video. Who is the kid doing the talking?

[MKCS]

[/B]

We're well and truly all good in the halves department.

No need to go shopping

If we want to win a comp within the next 3 years we need to go shopping for a half at the very least, ideally we get a half and a star prop forward but I don't think any major props are off contract.

[Roosterfarian]

If we want to win a comp within the next 3 years we need to go shopping for a half at the very least, ideally we get a half and a star prop forward but I don't think any major props are off contract.

Walker, DCE, Smith and Hugo isn’t enough?

[Batemans Bay Rooster]

If we want to win a comp within the next 3 years we need to go shopping for a half at the very least, ideally we get a half and a star prop forward but I don't think any major props are off contract.

Why do you have these formulaic set in stone rules in your head? Could the Canberra Raiders win the comp this year? I think they have 1 origin bench player in Hudson Young and the coming out of retirement for his last game Pappalli. We have 5 origin players, and people like Teddy and Victor and Walker who are origin grade

Please explain why, specifically, do we need a new half? Precisely what will that new half bring to win us that comp you're so certain of, that we do not currently have and cannot rely on the development of our young halves to deliver? What is it, exactly?

Please not another waffling word salad. Just direct clear answers

[Bates]

If we want to win a comp within the next 3 years we need to go shopping for a half at the very least, ideally we get a half and a star prop forward but I don't think any major props are off contract.

I reckon by seasons end Sammy and Hugo will help you change your mind. My only reservations are that Sammy flopped last time he played five-eighth. That could be more attributed to how poorly Keary performed as our halfback. Time will tell!

Would you sign Josh Papalii? He'll be 34 next year which should excite you