could we finally be changing our recruitment strategy

[Cockadoodledoo]

Conversely Mini was chosen to play origin Anasta was not.

Somehow they thought he was a better option than Brett Stewart

[Spanner in the works]

I sure hope you aren't suggesting Arsenal.

Real after buying all those players won sweet **** all. Arsenal on the other hand won the EPL and FA Cup. Without spending stupid amounts on players.

[Headless Chook]

Probably time has erased the memory that the 1999 team had guys like Glenn Lazarus, Stephen Kearney etc... then they cheated the salary cap massively so again a bad example.

I said recent times, 1999 I wouldn't count as recent, especially considering that was only their 2nd year in so pretty hard to develop your own in 2 years.

Salary cap aside, where did they get their superstars from?

[Vasco]

Melbourne have done pretty well in recent times using a similar policy. They recruited their superstars young and developed them alongside players like Orford, Matt Geyer, Scott Hill and the like, players not too disimilar in ability to the likes of Anasta, Mini, Pearce and Perrett. Once Smith, Cronk, Inglis and Slater developed they were then able to top up with fringe or younger players with great success. As stated by Rooster_6, this is a long-term strategy but one thats designed to produce long-term results.

When those players were developing they still had Crocker, Johnson, Hoffman, King, Jeremy Smith, White to name a few.

[Cockadoodledoo]

I said recent times, 1999 I wouldn't count as recent, especially considering that was only their 2nd year in so pretty hard to develop your own in 2 years.

Salary cap aside, where did they get their superstars from?

Like saying steroids aside, Ben Johnson was pretty quick.. We won't be able to accumulate and keep the youngsters we would have as when contracts need renewing we will have to let some go.

[Cockadoodledoo]

Real after buying all those players won sweet **** all. Arsenal on the other hand won the EPL and FA Cup. Without spending stupid amounts on players.

Arsenal won sfa once the nucleus of players Arsene Wenger inherited left.. Now they have a never ending cycle of seeing their best young players develop and then leave. Arsenal are the perfect example of my point. I notice you didn't try to compare Arsenal to Manchester City. In any case you need a bit of both, youngsters and experienced players.. Going just for youth will win us nothing.

[Guest]

Anasta still basalt to offer, he was under the hardest circumstances of anyone in the squad last year. People on TCP just love to hate on him.

Mini however, one of the most frustrating players to watch in years.

This.

Just on the Gunners conversation...I think someone mentioned it, but yea they seemingly have the best nursery in the land with the likes of Walcott, Wilshere, Ramsay etc. But as can be seen, that nurturing of talent doesn't usually translate to success. They're won **** all the past 5 years.

[Guest]

Most of what is being said is true - a good side needs youth and experience.

But it is still nice to see us heading in the right direction, which we are undoubtedly doing. As has been pointed out, our "experience" over the past few years has been garbage - Anasta is shit, Minichiello is shit, and Myles is almost literally shit, so we haven't got much going for us.

I think they're gambling on big futures in Friend, Kennedy and guys like Waerea Heargraves. If this somewhat older youth translates into experience, kids like Moga, the new Kiwi fullback, etc. will benefit.

I agree that we could do with some experienced buys, but our player retention has vastly improved in relation to previous years.

The next big step to take is cutting the sentimental garbage and thanking Minichiello and Anasta for their endless efforts, but cutting them loose.

[Headless Chook]

When those players were developing they still had Crocker, Johnson, Hoffman, King, Jeremy Smith, White to name a few.

Crocker was the only one of those with any real experience when he came to the club. Interesting that the rest of the players you named all debuted around the same time 2003, same time as Slater. Smith was a year earlier and Inglis still 2 years away.

[Guest]

Unfortunately, although Myles, Anasta, Ryles and Minichiello aren't the greatest of players, what they all offer is experience in vital positions. Without them, the 'senior' players are guys like Aubusson, Perrett and Pearce. That is a worry.

This season we had the team, it is just that injuries (Aubusson, Kennedy, Perrett), off-field incidents (Carney, Myles, Watts) and struggles for form (SKD, FPN, Leilua) hit us at unfortunate times. Although releasing Myles was understandable in the circumstances, I don't think Bosden is exactly the best replacement - we should have been looking at someone with a similar tight-running playing style, but more experience. Maybe picked up someone like Waterhouse and have him play a similar role to Ryles. I also feel that Ryles was released a season too early, especially with Conn retiring.

Graham going isn't the end of the world, but his 'replacement' Tagive isn't a world beater either. We could really use an experienced centre to help settle our backline a bit. Graham also provided vital experience IMO.

2011 -> 2012

Minichiello -> Minichiello
Perrett -> Perrett
Kenny-Dowall -> Kenny-Dowall
Leilua -> Leilua
Graham -> Tagive (Dragons) / Moga (NYC)
Carney -> Mortimer (Eels)
Kennedy -> Kennedy
Friend -> Friend
Hargreaves -> Hargreaves
Anasta -> Anasta
Aubusson -> Aubusson
Myles -> Bosden (Dragons) / Cordner (NYC)

Mitchell/Guerra -> Mitchell/Guerra
Nuuausala -> Nuuausala
Masoe -> Masoe
Ryles - > Ailomai (Knights) / Evans (NYC)

Tasi will probably be somewhere in the mix too, having really jumped into the picture as our hardman since Daniel Conn's retirement. He can pretty much slot in for any prop or backrower.

Myles (122), Ryles (202), Graham (138) and Carney (115) have 577 NRL games worth of experience between them. Replacing them are Bosden (4), Ailomai (0), Tagive (12) and Mortimer (48), who have a total of 64 NRL games of experience between them. And aside from them, we also have 3 NYC graduates looking to step up for these guys in Cordner, Evans and Moga, of which Cordner is the only one to have any NRL experience at all.

[Cockadoodledoo]

Crocker was the only one of those with any real experience when he came to the club. Interesting that the rest of the players you named all debuted around the same time 2003, same time as Slater. Smith was a year earlier and Inglis still 2 years away.

If they did not cheat the salary cap by the time they were 'winning' grand finals half those players would have had to leave.

[Pass the Ball]

What do people think is an experienced player?

50 NRL games? (About 2 seasons)

100 NRL games? (More than 4 seasons)..??

[theGman]

Unfortunately, although Myles, Anasta, Ryles and Minichiello aren't the greatest of players, what they all offer is experience in vital positions. Without them, the 'senior' players are guys like Aubusson, Perrett and Pearce. That is a worry.

This season we had the team, it is just that injuries (Aubusson, Kennedy, Perrett), off-field incidents (Carney, Myles, Watts) and struggles for form (SKD, FPN, Leilua) hit us at unfortunate times. Although releasing Myles was understandable in the circumstances, I don't think Bosden is exactly the best replacement - we should have been looking at someone with a similar tight-running playing style, but more experience. Maybe picked up someone like Waterhouse and have him play a similar role to Ryles. I also feel that Ryles was released a season too early, especially with Conn retiring.

Graham going isn't the end of the world, but his 'replacement' Tagive isn't a world beater either. We could really use an experienced centre to help settle our backline a bit. Graham also provided vital experience IMO.

2011 -> 2012

Minichiello -> Minichiello
Perrett -> Perrett
Kenny-Dowall -> Kenny-Dowall
Leilua -> Leilua
Graham -> Tagive (Dragons) / Moga (NYC)
Carney -> Mortimer (Eels)
Kennedy -> Kennedy
Friend -> Friend
Hargreaves -> Hargreaves
Anasta -> Anasta
Aubusson -> Aubusson
Myles -> Bosden (Dragons) / Cordner (NYC)

Mitchell/Guerra -> Mitchell/Guerra
Nuuausala -> Nuuausala
Masoe -> Masoe
Ryles - > Ailomai (Knights) / Evans (NYC)

Tasi will probably be somewhere in the mix too, having really jumped into the picture as our hardman since Daniel Conn's retirement. He can pretty much slot in for any prop or backrower.

Myles (122), Ryles (202), Graham (138) and Carney (115) have 577 NRL games worth of experience between them. Replacing them are Bosden (4), Ailomai (0), Tagive (12) and Mortimer (48), who have a total of 64 NRL games of experience between them. And aside from them, we also have 3 NYC graduates looking to step up for these guys in Cordner, Evans and Moga, of which Cordner is the only one to have any NRL experience at all.

I'm assuming Master Pearce is the half-back again? Maybe PWN has other ideas??

[Guest]

What do people think is an experienced player?

50 NRL games? (About 2 seasons)

100 NRL games? (More than 4 seasons)..??

100 games ideally. 50 and your still just a baby if you take into account that most players debt in their late teens early 20s.