Yes many from the U16s, but also guys like Morsello
MOTH,
IMO there are only three players from the Trinity 2011 U/16's that I 'PRESENTLY' believe are worthy of selection in a CAS 1st's team. They are:
Jamo Clark
Maleke Afele
Junior Satiu
Clark takes a lot of battering on this site, and I think unnecessarily. I personally put it down to 'Tall Poppy Syndrome'. Yes his defence is weak but in recent times the lad has not been afraid to put his body on the line. Beside this I know that he puts a lot of effort into his training and improving every aspect of his game. He does have a bit of an attitude problem but I believe this is changing with maturity. He certainly has some X factor about him and what he lacks in defence he more than compensates with his attack!
With respect to Afele, what more can be said. Since going to Trinity he has become a more complete player. He has stripped weight and looks every part a future professional. He now leads by example and nothing is more evident of this in the example of the game against St Pats, where it is my understanding, that he scored the winning try in the dying seconds of the game to win. His team mates look up to him for go forward and he certainly gives plenty of the same!
As for Satiu, he is another that was brought into the Trinity fold last year. I have seen him play on occassion for several years now, especially at a club level, and he delivers the goods! It was a shame he was injured (????) for last years U/16 NSW Schools Championship. This lad like Malaki has got plenty of, now well controlled, mongrel!
With respect to the other Trinity lads like Orr, Finn, Roberts, Winterstein, and Kotobalavu I am not of the view that they have reached the necessary standard to mix it with the experienced backs of the other sides. I know all, with the exception of Kotobalavu, were SJRU reps last year however none were considered for selection in the NSW Schools team (the flying Fijian has come from league and played in the St George SG Ball team this year and Harold Matts the year before). I will now deal with each in turn.
I know there are big wraps on Orr being a great work horse and the like, but he lacks that mongrel that he will need to take him to the next level. He always puts in tradesman like performances and never lets his team mates down, but he doesn't have that spark and mongrel which will be very necessary to take on the likes of the GPS and CHS forwards!
Finn, who is yet another brought into the Trintity stable of recent time, is a class player however IMO he is being played out of position in the centres. At full back he is electric yet he never seems to play in this position. With respect to Roberts I have not seen him play in a while, but I am not hearing his name being carried in the wind like it used to, however I could be wrong and will stand corrected if it is the case that I am.
Now to young Trent. As most will know I was absolutely incensed when this kid was not originally selected in the SJRU team last year. However my screams were that of many in the rugby fraternity and he was later included! In actual fact I was disappointed to not see him at last years NSWCCC Rugby trials (when I believe he was still attending a Catholic school). It is now my understanding he attends Trinity. Am I correct? Either way I actually got to see the lad play on the weekend for his club team Merrylands. There game was just before the State Champ trials. To my shock he was playing flanker! He also looked to be stockier, and seems to have lost a yard of pace though he did score a great try beating, of all people, Orr who was playing in the centres ... lol. Unfortunately Trent hasn't had a growth spurt (which is in no way reflective of his talent) but from experience this will play on selectors minds! It always does! And this young lad of all people has unfairly experienced it in the past! He would be my first selection in any team irrespective of where I had to put him, but unfortunately selectors look for size!
Finally, Kotobalavu. Being Fijian you would obviously think that rugby would be in his blood ... lol. As stated above he is a leaguey which doesn't automatically translate to rugby and I think it will take a season to find his feet. I could be wrong!
Well MOTH there concludes my long winded summation; as always I know you will share your thoughts ... lol!
Regards,
Newbie