NRL young talent - how does ours compare?

I think Symonds, Cherrington, Jones and Earl all seem to look pretty comfortable in First Grade. Never at any point do they make me feel nervous when they get the ball - never overawed. The Aubusson brothers, Nuuausala, Friend, Sa, Perrett, Kenny-Dowall and Pearce all took time to really settle in. Tuigamala and Sisa Waqa didn't at all.

I feel that Luke Towers is definitely ready for FG, Moeakiola and Williamson need a little bit more time. Isaac Maliota is a lot like Stanley Waqa, plenty of oomph, but I don't know if he could keep up in NRL level. Great prop though.

Cordner is the man that will save us in a few years.

[Vasco]

Pass the ball, what I'm trying to say is that the talent is there to be developed, but the club is not doing that in any capacity. These kids need to be blooded at the right time, not just throw them in the deep end and see if they'll sink or swim. Clubs such as the Bulldogs and the Dragons are great in developing junior talent into good established NRL players.

I don't Earl is going that bad, he's just not the game breaker the club is in need of at the moment. He's been solid with the footy but defensively has been caught out a few times, but many young wingers experience this. I'd say blood Towers or Moekiola in the top grade soon for experience but Earl is holding his own so no point in chopping and changing the team.

If Earl wants to learn how improve his positional play in defence he should study SKD and do the opposite.

Ahh I forgot Koops, would have had him on the bench.

Pretty spot on with the teams. Although that's a good point Johnny Bravo made about setting back the development of some of the young players. Which young players do you think Mack would handle the step up and are ready for the week to week grind of NRL footy?

It is almost the same, although you listed Symonds twice unless he has a twin which would be useful at the moment.

Ahh I forgot Koops, would have had him on the bench.

Samuela should have been brought in the moment that Jaubs was ruled out. Olireti is a great talent, and he provides impact and spark out of dummy half. Fine is a few weeks away I think.

For the rest of the season, I would pick:

1. Perrett
2. Towers/Earl
3. Aubusson
4. Jones
5. Kenny-Dowall
6. Symonds
7. Pearce
8. Shackleton
9. Friend
10. Paea
11. Mason
12. Fitzgibbon
13. Sa

14. Samuela
15. Symonds
16. Cherrington
17. Nuuausala

You don't bring in that many inexperienced players into a losing side IMO. This season is lost, forget about it. Expose a few of them to first grade, but do it gently, this season can do more harm than good to some green young blokes. Throw them to the wolves and you can set them back another year or two.

It is almost the same, although you listed Symonds twice unless he has a twin which would be useful at the moment.

Yep almost the exact same mate. Great minds!

If Mini's out for the season, this is what I would like to see: If Mini returns, Mini to FB and Perrett to WG.

1. Perrett
2. Earl/Towers/Moekiola
3. Aubusson
4. Jones
5. Kenny-Dowall
6. Sa
7. Pearce
8. Shackleton
9. Friend
10. Paea
11. Mason
12. Cherrington
13. Fitzgibbon

14. Nuusuala
15. Kouparitsis
16. Symonds
17. Samuela/Tansey

Samuela should have been brought in the moment that Jaubs was ruled out. Olireti is a great talent, and he provides impact and spark out of dummy half. Fine is a few weeks away I think.

For the rest of the season, I would pick:

1. Perrett
2. Towers/Earl
3. Aubusson
4. Jones
5. Kenny-Dowall
6. Symonds
7. Pearce
8. Shackleton
9. Friend
10. Paea
11. Mason
12. Fitzgibbon
13. Sa

14. Samuela
15. Symonds
16. Cherrington
17. Nuuausala

Roberts' problem also was his workrate, in his final few seasons he didn't put himself in enough tryscoring positions, or support offloaders.

footy is spot on. I would have thrown Towers or Moeakiola in before Earl, but now that Earl is in there, at least he doesn't look out of his depth.

Roberts was always a very good winger but as Mack said, his work rate off the ball dropped off, and with that went his try scoring tally.

The only problem I have with Towers is he has to play fullback if he breaks into the top grade, obviously Mini has to be out though. On the wing I think he is wasted and doesn't have the height to compete with the taller wingers. He has great foot work and will be put to better use playing fullback. Mack when is Moekiola back? If Earl seems to be playing terrible, throw him in for experience for next year. Also does anyone rate the hooker Samuela? I think he's a top little player.

[Pass the Ball]

None of these players mentioned will ever be able to tie the bootlaces of a classy player like Amos..

Roberts' problem also was his workrate, in his final few seasons he didn't put himself in enough tryscoring positions, or support offloaders.

footy is spot on. I would have thrown Towers or Moeakiola in before Earl, but now that Earl is in there, at least he doesn't look out of his depth.

Pass the ball, what I'm trying to say is that the talent is there to be developed, but the club is not doing that in any capacity. These kids need to be blooded at the right time, not just throw them in the deep end and see if they'll sink or swim. Clubs such as the Bulldogs and the Dragons are great in developing junior talent into good established NRL players.

I don't Earl is going that bad, he's just not the game breaker the club is in need of at the moment. He's been solid with the footy but defensively has been caught out a few times, but many young wingers experience this. I'd say blood Towers or Moekiola in the top grade soon for experience but Earl is holding his own so no point in chopping and changing the team.

[Pass the Ball]

Moeakiola has been injured, I believe.

Moeakiola and Towers are the best U20s wingers. Earl has never been outstanding at NYC level anyway. Last year, 13 games, 1 try, 3 linebreaks, 24 tackle breaks, average 11 runs for 90 metres. This year, 11 games, 3 tries, 2 linebreaks, 39 tackle breaks, 15 runs for 102 metres average. He makes plenty of yards, but doesn't really score much tries or break the line regularly.

We need a try poacher. Someone who can score for us regularly.

Like an Amos Roberts????

We had one of those...

Moeakiola has been injured, I believe.

Moeakiola and Towers are the best U20s wingers. Earl has never been outstanding at NYC level anyway. Last year, 13 games, 1 try, 3 linebreaks, 24 tackle breaks, average 11 runs for 90 metres. This year, 11 games, 3 tries, 2 linebreaks, 39 tackle breaks, 15 runs for 102 metres average. He makes plenty of yards, but doesn't really score much tries or break the line regularly.

We need a try poacher. Someone who can score for us regularly.