CAS Rugby 2023

[AroundTheAnkles]

Yes. IMO 3 of the 5 best players in the gen blue program last year were ISA boys. And none of the 5 best IMO were GPS boys (which is a nice change). Poitaha (Waverley) and Berryman (Endeavour Sports I believe?) were the non ISA boys I noticed. And Conti (Pats), Woods (Pats) and Walsh (Auggies) were the ISA boys.

I assume you are referring to U16 Gen blue only?

 

[Prodigy]

Yes. IMO 3 of the 5 best players in the gen blue program last year were ISA boys. And none of the 5 best IMO were GPS boys (which is a nice change). Poitaha (Waverley) and Berryman (Endeavour Sports I believe?) were the non ISA boys I noticed. And Conti (Pats), Woods (Pats) and Walsh (Auggies) were the ISA boys.

Muriti (oak) as well

 

[schoolboyfooty]

Please stop with this rubbish, of the 3 you have mentioned 1 doesn't exist, 1 isn't eligible for CAS this year and the other is a real chance but no certainty.

Neilsen is indeed a real shout at the back 3 he played wing for the 3rds last year, and had a couple of games in the 2nds. Turinui on the other hand I believe has fallen behind and is most likely I believe to be playing in the 2nds

 

[Running_rugby_1954]

If you think that is bad, you should see how they got to Billy Pollard. He was actually created in a test tube in the Barker science class rooms, and they genetically engineered him using the DNA of an Ox and a Cheetah.

On a serious note, we really don't need to do the whining about Barker anymore. Especially in a year where there hasn't actually been much importing. I only know of 5 boys on the team this year on any form of compensation, and I would be surprised if that number wasn't comparable to Waverley and Knox this year (doesn't bother me at all what they choose to do with the schools money). Imagine how boring the CAS would be if Barker was rubbish. Would be a 2 team race every single year, sometimes it would be a one team race with teams fighting for second. It would be crap for everyone.

Let's just be happy for the boys who receive such an opportunity to attend a great school, that can develop kids academically, and athletically etc. and let's be happy we get to watch good footy. That's the last I'll say of this. Sorry to all of the boys who have been around the forum for a while, this conversation is getting boring. Let's stop beating the dead horse.

Billy wasn’t made in a test tube, he did arrive in year 10 from central coast.

 

[Halfbackenthusiast]

Billy wasn’t made in a test tube, he did arrive in year 10 from central coast.

Was a st leos boy down the street mate.... Not gonna get many footy opportunities at leos

 

[RedOrDead]

Was a st leos boy down the street mate.... Not gonna get many footy opportunities at leos

Had he not been picked up by Barker, he would have gone to the dark side... all the league clubs wanted him. But now he is a brumbie. Another reason many benefit from what Barker is doing.

 

[Running_rugby_1954]

Had he not been picked up by Barker, he would have gone to the dark side... all the league clubs wanted him. But now he is a brumbie. Another reason many benefit from what Barker is doing.

You’re right. We should all just be grateful for Barkers wonderful work.

If not for them Katoa would have gone to league.. oh wait.

 

[RedOrDead]

You’re right. We should all just be grateful for Barkers wonderful work.

If not for them Katoa would have gone to league.. oh wait.

When you're personally chased by Wayne Bennett and offered 300k as an 18 year old schoolboy... You take it. ARU should have done more. Kid openly admitted to his friends at school that he preferred union but he picked league because the pathways were better... Pathways need to be fixed. Kids don't want to go and play Colts footy and pay $450 for registration and then prove themselves there to get a chance in grade, and then have to prove themselves there to get contracts... That's crap.

We need to mimic Harold Matt's, SG Ball, and Jersey Flegg (which we have begun to do), and start paying kids straight out of school.

 

[Running_rugby_1954]

When you're personally chased by Wayne Bennett and offered 300k as an 18 year old schoolboy... You take it. ARU should have done more. Kid openly admitted to his friends at school that he preferred union but he picked league because the pathways were better... Pathways need to be fixed. Kids don't want to go and play Colts footy and pay $450 for registration and then prove themselves there to get a chance in grade, and then have to prove themselves there to get contracts... That's crap.

We need to mimic Harold Matt's, SG Ball, and Jersey Flegg (which we have begun to do), and start paying kids straight out of school.

So when it’s a good outcome it’s Barkers success. A failure, it’s the system?

 

[RedOrDead]

So when it’s a good outcome it’s Barkers success. A failure, it’s the system?

Are you insinuating the ARU does a good job of retaining schoolboy talent?

Or that you believe that St Leo's Billy Pollard, who is from a through and through rugby league family, and who I know for a fact said before he came to Barker wanted to play in the NRL... would he have magically picked union without ever playing it seriosuly?

It seems to me everything I have said has been completely logical.

Come on man. It's getting old. Knox does it, Kings does it, Waverley does it, Newington does it... etc. etc. etc. Accept it and move on. If it pushes more kids to union, or even makes it more of a possibility, I love it. Give me more of it. Schoolboy footy isn't that important where we should be getting upset about which school gives away more scholarships when in reality all schoolboy rugby is, is a way to create, nurture, develop and solidify union talent in the game. We are all union fans. What's good for Barker footy, is good for footy. What's good for footy is good for you as a fan.

 

[Halfbackenthusiast]

So when it’s a good outcome it’s Barkers success. A failure, it’s the system?

You have to look no further then Barker's class of 2022. Sahyoun and sagala both were suited to league now they've opted to play colts for Eastwood over sg ball. These guys would've been lost to league if they didn't go to barker

 

[AroundTheAnkles]

Are you insinuating the ARU does a good job of retaining schoolboy talent?

Or that you believe that St Leo's Billy Pollard, who is from a through and through rugby league family, and who I know for a fact said before he came to Barker wanted to play in the NRL... would he have magically picked union without ever playing it seriosuly?

It seems to me everything I have said has been completely logical.

Come on man. It's getting old. Knox does it, Kings does it, Waverley does it, Newington does it... etc. etc. etc. Accept it and move on. If it pushes more kids to union, or even makes it more of a possibility, I love it. Give me more of it. Schoolboy footy isn't that important where we should be getting upset about which school gives away more scholarships when in reality all schoolboy rugby is, is a way to create, nurture, develop and solidify union talent in the game. We are all union fans. What's good for Barker footy, is good for footy. What's good for footy is good for you as a fan.

There is some merit in what you say, perhaps there should be a cap on scholarship places each school can offer. Defining what a scholarship place is might be a more complex topic... the only objection I have is the way certain schools do it, when you bring them in at year 11 and their under age teams aren't really competitive there is a question to ask. If it is about providing opportunities, including academic ones you would bring them in a lot earlier (10 at the latest). So if it not about providing opportunity then it must be purely about winning, that is not a great message for the rest of the student body.

 

[WLF3]

Neilsen is indeed a real shout at the back 3 he played wing for the 3rds last year, and had a couple of games in the 2nds. Turinui on the other hand I believe has fallen behind and is most likely I believe to be playing in the 2nds

You have forgotten too many other very good back 3 players that are way ahead.
I think we should stop talking about boys until the trials sort it all out.

 

[Halfbackenthusiast]

There is some merit in what you say, perhaps there should be a cap on scholarship places each school can offer. Defining what a scholarship place is might be a more complex topic... the only objection I have is the way certain schools do it, when you bring them in at year 11 and their under age teams aren't really competitive there is a question to ask. If it is about providing opportunities, including academic ones you would bring them in a lot earlier (10 at the latest). So if it not about providing opportunity then it must be purely about winning, that is not a great message for the rest of the student body.

It's not that simple though. First off there's the issue of boarding at Barker boarding starts in year 10, a lot of the influx in the last few years has been boys who don't live in the area and need to board. Secondly, availability. Barker now has the highest enrolment of any school, fitting scholars in is difficult these spots only become available in later years if kids drop out. Also, what about interest from these kids? These boys might only decide they want to go to a private school in year 10

 

[WLF3]

Are you insinuating the ARU does a good job of retaining schoolboy talent?

Or that you believe that St Leo's Billy Pollard, who is from a through and through rugby league family, and who I know for a fact said before he came to Barker wanted to play in the NRL... would he have magically picked union without ever playing it seriosuly?

It seems to me everything I have said has been completely logical.

Come on man. It's getting old. Knox does it, Kings does it, Waverley does it, Newington does it... etc. etc. etc. Accept it and move on. If it pushes more kids to union, or even makes it more of a possibility, I love it. Give me more of it. Schoolboy footy isn't that important where we should be getting upset about which school gives away more scholarships when in reality all schoolboy rugby is, is a way to create, nurture, develop and solidify union talent in the game. We are all union fans. What's good for Barker footy, is good for footy. What's good for footy is good for you as a fan.

RoD,

Aside from whether it is or isn't good for Rugby, my gripes are as follows.

By suddenly bringing in established superstars in year 11 or 12 it undermines the culture of rugby at schools, particularly for the younger boys who think they have a chance 1 day but then start to say "probably not" as some star will suddenly appear, having heard this first hand, and boys start to talk about all the new ring ins at the beginning of each new year. Let's not kid ourselves!

If schools are going to bring in new boys, imo, it should happen no later than year 9 so they have to prove themselves, and as we all know things change as boys grow, NOT in year 11 or 12 when they are bona fide superstars.

The other issue is for the parents who have paid fees for years only to have their boy, who has always been an A/B grade player, being shafted at the final jump. Until you have experienced that it tends to fall on deaf ears, BUT IT REALLY HURTS!

Finally I think the import strategy is fundamentally flawed because if you do it to excess people say "well you should have won the comp, you bought it", and then if that school fails to win then people rightly say " well aren't you guys a bunch of idiots".

It's a no win strategy imo, and thinking that winning at ALL cost is acceptable is as dumb as it sounds.

An acceptable reason though may be for safety reasons such as a front rower if your cohort is very poor and therefore there may be a safety reason. But these legit reasons are few and far between.

For mine these issues outweigh the opportunity given to a few select boys, who typically will never be seen at that school again.
We have also experienced the fact that the parents of these chosen few also typically give NO help to the BBQ , canteen etc where parents help out, they tend to swan around like they are above it all, have seen it many times 1st hand!

Rant over.

 

[Crashy]

Doug Philipson from Barker signed into the Force Academy. Anyone know his playing history?

 

[Running_rugby_1954]

You have to look no further then Barker's class of 2022. Sahyoun and sagala both were suited to league now they've opted to play colts for Eastwood over sg ball. These guys would've been lost to league if they didn't go to barker

Wouldn’t that simply be a sign of the pathways working?

Or no, all positive are Barkers success and negatives are pathways not working?

You can’t have this both ways.

 

[Running_rugby_1954]

It's not that simple though. First off there's the issue of boarding at Barker boarding starts in year 10, a lot of the influx in the last few years has been boys who don't live in the area and need to board. Secondly, availability. Barker now has the highest enrolment of any school, fitting scholars in is difficult these spots only become available in later years if kids drop out. Also, what about interest from these kids? These boys might only decide they want to go to a private school in year 10

They all just happen to be in gen blue programs and in other private schools before they make those decisions… seems a bit ridiculous. Your head coach goes to u16’s tournaments and walks up to players offering them positions at your school to win a rugby comp. At least Oniti came from a public school and was actually offered a better opportunity to go to a great school - rugby gave him that chance. Kids like Poynton who are already enrolled at a private school are brought across for the Barkers rugby team to win matches. Plain and simple. That type of mercenary attitude is shit.

 

[Halfbackenthusiast]

Wouldn’t that simply be a sign of the pathways working?

Or no, all positive are Barkers success and negatives are pathways not working?

You can’t have this both ways.

That pathway wasn't from Aru though, was it? It was the schools taking ownership, it's not just Barker. Knox converted Mcleod who hadn't played union before attending and is now in the Brumbies academy. The system shouldn't rely on private schools cause then they lose all these incredibly gifted and hard-working young men from public and sports highs to league when they could be playing high level union

 

[Running_rugby_1954]

That pathway wasn't from Aru though, was it? It was the schools taking ownership, it's not just Barker. Knox converted Mcleod who hadn't played union before attending and is now in the Brumbies academy. The system shouldn't rely on private schools cause then they lose all these incredibly gifted and hard-working young men from public and sports highs to league when they could be playing high level union