I watched both 1st and 2nds GPS vs CAS games and didn't see much difference between Bannon and Donlan. Both were passing the same. Nothing crisp in either of them.
This is most definitely an issue.
At any rate, neither of the GPS halves will feature in the Australian schoolboys. Waldo Wessels from CHS should firmly have the grip on the NSW1s jumper.
EDIT: I decided to put these write-ups in order, top to bottom.
Stenberg (TSC) is, in my honest opinion and without exaggeration, the best and most complete half going around. I've seen him play four times, first for the TSC 2nds against Newington, then for the 1sts against Shore, Joeys and Riverview (in that order). In the first of those four games he scored two tries, was full of running, passed beautifully and his 2nd line defense was huge. It still confuses me as to why he was playing seconds as he was far and above the best on the field, but the word on Sportal was that he was the victim of some kind of rotation policy, but any how, after that game I'd marked him in my mind as a serious talent to keep watching. I'd assumed, incorrectly, that he was in year 11. His hand was heavily strapped, from memory, so he may also have been returning from injury (although he appears to be playing with that strapping even now). Against Shore, as I've said in the past he, to put it bluntly, toweled young Jock Merriman in a fine display of running rugby around the fringes, both by him and through linking his forwards, despite Shore's dominant pack. Against Joeys, I haven't posted my review here as I was still in Sportal-land, but he had a cracking game, which was more expansive than the Shore contest, and his combination with Dunbar was excellent - they're a dynamic duo. A half-field sniping dash up the middle from a lineout being a highlight of the day. Against Riverview, I noted above he matched Donlan in a pretty even contest. The mind boggles as to why selectors didn't include him and while maybe not a loss to the GPS sides (who usually come up against opposition well below their level), his absence will certainly be felt at NSW Schoolboys level. I maintain that had he been included in the GPS 1s or 2s, he would've been picked up by Pappahatzis.
Donlan (SIC) is the GPS prodigy who, in my opinion, hasn't shown the dominance to match his consistent selection. In the GPS 1sts last year, he was thoroughly outclassed by the outstanding Nick Stirzaker (I am a big fan of this boy. Haven't heard his name in colts rugby this year though??), and did very little aside from passing. His passing game is good, with beautiful length and a quick action, though he has a rather large Gregan-like arc that slows the ball down, and doesn't throw a good flat ball. His biggest asset is with ball in hand, though not in the way you may think. Donlan runs the ball like a forward, and despite being one of the smallest halves around (I'd say only Bannon is smaller) but he
always makes the gain line, and is very direct. He doesn't seem to know how to step or swerve (or doesn't care to), and runs headlong into the man in front of him, and motors him a few metres, before succumbing to the tackle. It's like a pick-and-go, but it's effective. The jury is out on whether it is worth depriving the next phase of it's inside half.
Bannon's (NC) pass is a well documented issue - one that should've been addressed by his coaches, or he should've been moved out of that key position. When I've seen Newington Apolosi Latunipulu has been very limited and the 10, Finlay MacDonald, looked 'spazzy' to me, but the reality was he had so little time on the ball due to botched passing.
Koeber (SBHS) obviously hasn't been considered because he goes to High, but he's definitely up there. Top pass, good, aggressive style, and full of running. Decent goalkicker, too. Would do better in a better side. Perhaps High should lend him to Joeys?
Lewthwaite (TKS) to me, looked exactly as said above by skullring, good passing game on him, and good defensively. Physically probably the biggest and strongest of the lot, followed by the Joeys half. I never really rated him as much beyond this however, admittedly with not having seen a whole lot of him play or having watched him closely. He would definitely have been a more effective selection than any of the halves chosen below 1s however, simply because the quality GPS backs would've had cleaner ball - it's a good thing they dominated so clearly anyway.
Merriman (Shore) is an up-and-comer that has surely made it on the back of his CV and central role in the Shore team. Good pass, but has a slow action. Not very physical, but is a tall, lanky sort of figure.
Jeong (SGS) is fairly large in the Grammar team, and plays a big role for them, but put him at any of the other GPS schools, with the exception of Joeys, and he'd be playing seconds or thirds. But, in that light, good on him for getting selected and for getting his chance.
McTaggart (SJC) is a guy who looks out of his depth - he does the kicking duties for the team, and my feeling is that he's not a natural half back and he's just been stop-gapped into that role - Joeys seem to have little for options there.
As a final note, Kings (Lewthwaite) and Scots (Stenberg) each had a fair number of players in the GPS sides - Kings 11, and Scots 9, and what someone said above re: a "quota" system could be the reality of it. It would be a shame if that is the case. On the flipside, Shore and Grammar had 4 and 3, including their halfbacks, which makes this likely. Additionally, Merriman (NSW u16 VC 2009) and Jeong (GPS 3 Reserve 2009) both have their CVs to consider. So, retrospectively, I can understand why things have been chosen the way they have. Doesn't make it right, however.
