Progression Planning

[Joey Johns]

JT was offered a contract to ACT, he didn't accept it because he'd have to pay for everything to establish himself down there. Apartment, living expenses, airfares etc. It's not worth it for a recently turned 19 year old to move away from his family and friends for one year of training. It'll be easier to establish yourself through club footy.

 

[Doc]

I completley disagree with that sentiment mate.

Currently from BSHS you have Quirk, Faullkner, PAE, and Kimani Situati and that is just in the academy.

Peter Hynes in the senior squad also went to state high.

There plenty of players in the queensland set-up that are from outside the 'gps' sector in both the academy and professional squad.

Im not going to go and name them all because it should be irrelevant - and it is.

Ben Lucas was an absolutle freak as a schoolboy and went on tour with the schoolboys twice. Which as a Queenslander is extraordinary because we gave away a year in age to NSW.

Kimani Situati was a Nudgee boy (for his 1 year anyway) and Quirk only did 1 year at SH, being from Iona.

The big thing about the State High boys is that they are almost always doing year 11 and 12 over 3 years. Making them 18. That extra year is a huge deal (and in many ways is one of the big reasons why qld rugby has struggled) despite having the best "young talent".

 

[Joey Johns]

Doc, New South Wales boys are all 18 when they finish school, so why does QLD rugby struggle and NSW doesn't when they are "suffering" the same problem.

It's also unfair to single out BSHS as "the big reason why QLD rugby has struggled" in the past years, when nearly all schools allow their pupils to do senior over 3 years if they have heavy sporting commitments. A players development is also often enhanced with an extra year at schoolboy level, considering Feauai was initially asked to repeat Grade 12 by the Reds, and would have except Reds pulled the plug on it in the 11th hour.

And regarding your dig at state highs "young talent", of their 9 Australian Schoolboys last year;
2 were 15 (at the time)
2 were 17; and
5 were 18.
Only 3 did senior over two years.

With due respect, you're prejudice towards State High should be vented elsewhere.

 

[rugbywhisperer]

I completley disagree with that sentiment mate.
Currently from BSHS you have Quirk, Faullkner, PAE, and Kimani Situati and that is just in the academy.

Ahem - Kimani went to Nudgee College which just might dent your theory there

 

[tranquility]

oversight by me - apologies to all (re: Kimani).

In terms of the Mclean V Lucas argument. Mclean didn't even play Aus schoolboys, however he did go on to play Aus U20s.

Mclean has played well for Italy, but Im not sure that automatically makes him better than Lucas? - who essentially forced his way into the reds by scoring a mlllion points in the club grand final.

Also you will like this one Rugbywhisperer, with all this school debate TSS have a ridiculous amount of players in the squads.

I just read that April 1st is the date that academy players can be poached - get it right before then Link!

 

[Zinzan]

JT was offered a contract to ACT, he didn't accept it because he'd have to pay for everything to establish himself down there. Apartment, living expenses, airfares etc. It's not worth it for a recently turned 19 year old to move away from his family and friends for one year of training. It'll be easier to establish yourself through club footy.

If this is true, he's a silly boy......Brumbies Academy contract would've been better than no contract......a few small sacrifices, a good game here & there for Brumby Runners, an injury or two to a current player(like no show Rocky Elsom) & next thing you know you're on the bench on Foxsports like Vanderglas did last year.

It's all about exposure & growing as a player. You can't grow waiting for a gig with the Reds.

I'm sure any club in Canberra would have covered accomodation & lined up job etc.

.....I guess it all depends on how bad you want it.

 

[chief]

I hope that the schools are stopping the Senior over 3 years, not just at State High, because all schools do it. Hopefully the Principals and Enrollment officers at these schools will start rejecting them citing Education not Rugby being the main reason why schools are in place. Sure if you really are keen, on doing it over 3 years for actual Education fair enough, but not just so you can make Schools team.

To add Luke McLean was a big loss, he is a great addition to the Italian Rugby Union team, and just shows that their are too many flaws in the development system over here in QLD.

 

[TOCC]

oversight by me - apologies to all (re: Kimani).

In terms of the Mclean V Lucas argument. Mclean didn't even play Aus schoolboys, however he did go on to play Aus U20s.

Mclean has played well for Italy, but Im not sure that automatically makes him better than Lucas? - who essentially forced his way into the reds by scoring a mlllion points in the club grand final.

I never said Mclean getting selected for Italy made him automatically better then Lucas, i was pointing out for those who were unaware of who he was, Italian rugby doesnt exactly get much coverage in Australia.

 

[tranquility]

In regards to getting Pocock back I highly doubt it. I know David quite well and I would say that he won't leave the force because he would see it as unfinished business - however things can change. The reds told him when he was in year 12 that he would have to bide his time behind David Croft, whereas the Force told him if he were good enough he would play. Probably once of the biggest blunders in QLD rugby. He will no doubt captain the Force, and probably the Wallabies in the future.

However I hope Red still runs in his veins and he wants to make it his business to fix Queensland rugby!

 

[Lee Grant]

If I was in charge of the Force HPU I would promise the Force captaincy to Pocock, but I would consult with Sharpe first.

 

[rugbywhisperer]

I don't have problem with the 3 year grade 11/12 IF and only if it is nominated at the end of year 10.
TSS recently rejected a player (hoping for a 1stXV spot as well) repeating 12 as his grades were too poor and he didn't put in the academic work.
I understand and I may be corrected, but James Slipper is the only person to redo year 12 at TSS and improve his grades. Well enough to get his prefered uni course - good on him.

 

[Joey Johns]

If this is true, he's a silly boy......Brumbies Academy contract would've been better than no contract......

I'm sure any club in Canberra would have covered accomodation & lined up job etc.

Not everyone's made of money Zinzan, and as per your second point, no. These contracts go along the lines of, "if you can make it down here and live her, then you can train with us for a year". No guarantee's, no legups.

 

[en_force_er]

Not everyone's made of money Zinzan, and as per your second point, no. These contracts go along the lines of, "if you can make it down here and live her, then you can train with us for a year". No guarantee's, no legups.

The point he was making is a local club would set him up with a job and make sure he doesn't get stitched for rent, which I hear is particularly hard in Canberra.
He wouldn't be rich but he would get by. Still, it would be denying the kid a tertiary education if he wants to walk that path.

 

[Scotty]

In regards to getting Pocock back I highly doubt it.

We can always dream.

 

[tranquility]

The Dawn is Upon Us.

 

[RugbyReg]

Sorry, but I still can't believe we will hear tomorrow that Byrnes and Weeks are leaving (if reports are true).

It won't look good, the day after a 50 point thrashing.

 

[tranquility]

It looks like Byrnes is going doesn't it? Disappointing loss, but not disasterous.

Losing Weeks would be a catastrophe.

On the Debit side of the ledger however, Shatzy looked bloody good again. Interestingly he played at 7 today, which means he can cover all three backrow spots - and also points to Andrew Shaw being on the outer. Genuine football player, get the mans initials on the dotted line.

However Braid also went off with a knee (thing?) so that may be the reason, however he didn't look too slow or out of place at all.

 

[Reddy!]

However Braid also went off with a knee (thing?) so that may be the reason, however he didn't look too slow or out of place at all.

I think Braid will be fine for the next game, just precautionary. He looked pretty happy sitting on the bench with ice on his knee.

 

[RugbyReg]

we have the bye this week remember.

 

[spectator]

I would be surprised if Byrne and Weeks did go. Byrne must surely be a motza for a lock partnership with Simmons next year, as I don't see too many second rowers putting up their hand to knock him off.

Everything I hear about Weeks suggests he is a popular member of the Reds squad, and with Link there, it can oly be good for him.

If they do bolt it would have to be about cash, and who's to blame a young bloke for chasing the dollars?