Darren link said:
Re: 2010 Australian Schoolboys under 18's
Team picked from this weeks championships. Again, not one Manly player in it, Â
From nsw 4-dogs, 3-wests, 3-parra, 3-penrith, 1-cronulla, 1-Newcastle
Used to have lots of Sharks kids (Endeavour high) seems no more (broke)!! Dogs is interesting having 4 kids picked, more than usual Panthers/Parra. Not as many from Keebra park QLD (Tigers) There doesn't seem to be any big point pouring big dollars into scholarships if another club offers big dough to a junior anyway. eg JHW, Tony Williams
We do have some good kids coming from 16's. Cromer won the State titles again so hoping we have some local kids come thru.
Generally speaking mate, you'll find The Northern Beaches a Private School dominated area (meaning kids are brought up playing Rugby Union). If you watch the Arrive Alive Cup for example, it would be very rare for you to see Nth Beaches schools included in such.
Canteen Worker is probably the man to talk about why less junior kids are around mate.
That being said, we have found some absolute doozies irrespective of us being included in schoolboy footy.
Examples are The Stewart brothers. Steve Matai. Other players like that, that have never played for another club in grade.
One thing I have faith in, is Crushers ability to uncover a pearl in the rough every few years. More recently, we had the ability to pilfer Whare (and I know he played grade for another club), but he's ultra young, and a standout.
We have also gone out of our way to get Daniel Harrison back.
Then you can look at our standings in the NYC these past two years. We haven't been faring too poorly.
Young player acquisition never seems to be the problem for us imo. It's more retention, and the ability to acquire more experienced players that seems to be a little flat.
Examples are that we need / miss aggressive, mobile forwards, but are unable to produce / attain any at present. I'd make a run at Matt Prior (by doing a deal with The Dragons), who I'm SURE needs cap space (in a trade type scenario). If Matai re-signs for say 3-4 years, maybe trade them Whare back??? That gives us a little additional cap space as well.
Take a shot at maybe a Jeremy Smith or Luke O'Donnell (cap permitting). Â