Slaimankhel to play first grade

[Bigchook]

Interesting reading Minichello's supercoach article today where he lists his smokey for the season as Omar Slaimankhel. He also says he expects latrell Mitchell to see plenty of first grade this year. If these two were both to get a run you'd assume fergo would be going back to centre and that Mitchell is above burgess on the pecking order? Didn't see either of those coming but surely Minichello would know.. He also says he's been working with fergo at fullback and is expecting to him to fire so who knows?

[Half time]

We really have major problems if this guy plays first grade. He is not first grade standard.

[Johnny.]

Speaking of Supercoach, when do we sign up again?

[Steakface]

We really have major problems if this guy plays first grade. He is not first grade standard.

He didnt set the world on fire a few years ago but that could have been for a multitude of reasons - injury, poor coaching etc.

It's a bit harsh to write him off at this stage, and if he is indeed ahead of Burgess in the pecking order then he is obviously looking the goods.

No offence, but i'll take Mini's opinion over Halftime's any day of the week

[Cockadoodledoo]

He didnt set the world on fire a few years ago but that could have been for a multitude of reasons - injury, poor coaching etc.

It's a bit harsh to write him off at this stage, and if he is indeed ahead of Burgess in the pecking order then he is obviously looking the goods.

No offence, but i'll take Mini's opinion over Halftime's any day of the week

He isn't ahead of Burgess in the pecking order.

[roostersrule2]

Speaking of Supercoach, when do we sign up again?

It's open now.

On Omar, well he was a junior star and he was the NSW Cup FB of the year so he might just be a late bloomer. Apparently he was a good defensive player in the NYC, so he could just be a solid stop gap until Latrell is ready.

We have a lot of competition for the outside backs which is good, the only locks are Fergo, Tupou and SKD (pending court case). Copley, Burgess, Mitchell, Elliot, Taylor and Omar are all vying for spots, hopefully that brings out the best in each of them.

[Team Evil]

It's open now.

On Omar, well he was a junior star and he was the NSW Cup FB of the year so he might just be a late bloomer. Apparently he was a good defensive player in the NYC, so he could just be a solid stop gap until Latrell is ready.

We have a lot of competition for the outside backs which is good, the only locks are Fergo, Tupou and SKD (pending court case). Copley, Burgess, Mitchell, Elliot, Taylor and Omar are all vying for spots, hopefully that brings out the best in each of them.

Copley must be a lock in at left centre,
If we lose SKD then god only knows what will happen at right centre, maybe Fergo will have to go back to centre and Omar FB. From what I saw last year Omar looked OK, Mitchell showed some flare but lacks maturity/consistency.
Can't wait to see Burgess, I rate him well above Mitchell on the wing at this stage.

This is a rebuilding year but we still have the best forward pack so our young halves will have a great platform to build from.

[eddie]

No offence, but i'll take Mini's opinion over Halftime's any day of the week

I wouldn't be so quick off the mark.
Mini is an excellent ambassador for our club, and he ain't gonna do no less than encourage a young fullback , especially when we need one.

But this is supposed to be a fan forum............and some of us have watched the odd Wyong game or two.
I kinda agree with Halftime.
Omar is a mate of Sonny's as well....we're surrounded by eggshells here.

Gotta add that I'd love to stand corrected on this one.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

I wouldn't be so quick off the mark.
Mini is an excellent ambassador for our club, and he ain't gonna do no less than encourage a young fullback , especially when we need one.

But this is supposed to be a fan forum............and some of us have watched the odd Wyong game or two.
I kinda agree with Halftime.
Omar is a mate of Sonny's as well....we're surrounded by eggshells here.

Gotta add that I'd love to stand corrected on this one.

I know where your coming from Eddie as I've watched Omar in the Dubcup and been a bit underwhelmed.

However...and I've seen this a bit...you get a lower grader whose never really looked like he would prosper at the next level..he gets a go and flourishes.

When opportunity meets an expression of faith from your bosses...great things can happen. Jack knew this.

[eddie]

I know where your coming from Eddie as I've watched Omar in the Dubcup and been a bit underwhelmed.
However...and I've seen this a bit...you get a lower grader whose never really looked like he would prosper at the next level..he gets a go and flourishes.
When opportunity meets an expression of faith from your bosses...great things can happen. Jack knew this.

Fair call.
If the powers that be wanna give him a shot , we'll all observe the results.
Maybe I'm getting too cynical.

Fergo in the centres suits the team better in any case.

[Guest]

Daniel Tupou was also viewed the same as Omar Slaimankhel by many and as we approached the season 2013 opener many people on this website had declared that Michael Oldfield would play on the wing instead.

[ism22]

I know where your coming from Eddie as I've watched Omar in the Dubcup and been a bit underwhelmed.

However...and I've seen this a bit...you get a lower grader whose never really looked like he would prosper at the next level..he gets a go and flourishes.

When opportunity meets an expression of faith from your bosses...great things can happen. Jack knew this.

That said, he was FB of the year in NSW Cup after:
- Leaving Japanese rugby
- Partying for 6 months while trying to make it in the NFL (fail)
- Partying more
- Jumping into a spot with the RWB as a FULLBACK (a very technical role in terms of reading plays...etc) with no rugby league training for like 3-4 years.

Not saying he set the world on fire, but to be FB of the year in reserve grade when you pretty well rock up with a pair of footy boots and no training shows potential.

Clearly the guy is training hard and wants to olay NRL. Before he started with Wyong an ex-term mate said 'get those nicotine patches off your knees'... suggesting he'd been smoking and had knee problems. Not saying I have insight, but say that's true? In 12 months he could quit the choofs (more lung capacity for FB, better recovery from training/injuries and better results from strength training), start training smarter (get rid of the knee injuries), get a full tank of petrol from a proper pre-season and get his head were it needs to be for NRL.

If SBW's been whispering into his ears then this guy coulda seriously turned his life around. NYC player of the year and NSW Cup player of the year... what's stopping him from being NRL standard? I dunno enough about the guy but I suggest it could be:
- Poor coaching
- Poor injury management
- Hitting the choofs instead of eating healthy + being disciplined about what goes in the mouth

If so, then we MIGHT see an NRL-grade Slime-Ankle this year who has the lungs to defend properly for 80, isn't constantly missing training due to injury and has the smarts to play FB having learned a few secrets from Mini.

Either way, IMO it's healthy to have some competition for that #1 jersey. If you advertise a job but note that one guy has DEFINITELY got the job already, then how many people are gonna bother applying? I'd love to see Fergo, Mitchell and Slime-Ankle all getting cheeky at one another, challenging each other big time at training and making it clear that it's game on. Fark RTS!! We could have something really special going on here...

[Salvatori Grubber]

Good point about NYC and Reserve Grade player awards.

[Insider]

Yeh wouldn't b getting to excited about a NSW cup FB of the year award. Henare Wells and Michael Lett have also scooped that in previous years so he's not exactly in illustrious company. Mitch Williams has been hooker of the year 3 years in a row but the guy still can't pick up an NRL gig. Counts for little.

[Cockadoodledoo]

Yeh wouldn't b getting to excited about a NSW cup FB of the year award. Henare Wells and Michael Lett have also scooped that in previous years so he's not exactly in illustrious company. Mitch Williams has been hooker of the year 3 years in a row but the guy still can't pick up an NRL gig. Counts for little.

The best players don't stay long enough in reserves to win the awards.