Re: 2019 l Academy U19s : Thu Jul 25, 2019 7:30 pm  

Has he got a decision right? try’s given not try’s, try’s not given that are.

Re: 2019 l Academy U19s : Thu Jul 25, 2019 8:13 pm  

Gotcha wrote:

Their forwards are far better than ours to be honest. That Scurr is pretty unstoppable at times.

True but not many can live with our first choice pack. Bradford vert physical and took it to Leeds, but we always looked to have more quality.

McLelland very good - would just like to see him step up when the heat is on a bit more. Can’t be far off Myler.

Very impressed with Johnson again, couple of lovely breaks, solid in D but really nice distribution. The 19s are better out of the ruck and at first receiver than the first team.

Re: 2019 l Academy U19s : Fri Jul 26, 2019 6:11 am  

Yeah McLelland had a good game last night he should have played against Hull.

Whitton had a good 1st half at full back, Johnson good, iwan Stephens did everything asked of him well.

Tough conditions in that heat. When 19s play with shape they are u unstoppable but they didnt do it enough in the 2nd half.

Another win ticked off tho.

Re: 2019 l Academy U19s : Fri Jul 26, 2019 7:11 am  

It is interesting, there are a bunch of players around this age level which very much remind me of watching the Goldens come through - I.e. you can tell several are going to make it.

There will be the odd Lee Smith in there who doesn’t quite realise their potential (although he was very good early career), and lots can change as other players mature physically and the standouts sometimes fade off.

However this bunch look well-organised and coached, and with someone like Johnson he just has that class.

I’m also going to put a shout out for Jarrod O’Connor here; not the profile of Walters (rightly so); however he’s very direct and never shirks. Little bit of evasion to him as well.

Re: 2019 l Academy U19s : Fri Jul 26, 2019 8:06 am  

KaeruJim wrote:

It is interesting, there are a bunch of players around this age level which very much remind me of watching the Goldens come through - I.e. you can tell several are going to make it.

There will be the odd Lee Smith in there who doesn’t quite realise their potential (although he was very good early career), and lots can change as other players mature physically and the standouts sometimes fade off.

However this bunch look well-organised and coached, and with someone like Johnson he just has that class.

I’m also going to put a shout out for Jarrod O’Connor here; not the profile of Walters (rightly so); however he’s very direct and never shirks. Little bit of evasion to him as well.

Sorry here, but would have to dissagree. I would say most of those players will never get close to a Lee Smith. Smith was a brilliant player. None of those backs last night will be what he was.

I have to agree with you on O'Connor though. He doesn't have the size, and certainly didn't look the part at the start, but you can see now the skills he has in his locker. And what he lacks in physically currently, he more than makes up for in the skills game, and more importantly reading the game.

In reply to Marty on Stephens. You know I have often voiced my praise for him, and like him. However, I really don't understand this practice of putting him to fullback, he isn't a very good one. He always catches my eye on the wing, and I would have no problems with him in the first team there, but everytime he goes to fullback I have the complete oppossite feel about him. I think he looked quite poor that second half last night. On the other hand, I thought Whitton looked very good at both fullback and wing last night.

Re: 2019 l Academy U19s : Fri Jul 26, 2019 12:40 pm  

Just a little word about Lee Smith.
He was a very very good player,three grand final wins all in a different position.
To me he would have been a world class full back had he stayed at Leeds.

Re: 2019 l Academy U19s : Fri Jul 26, 2019 1:59 pm  

I have to admit the more I see Stephens, the more I'm coming around to the idea of him being a winger. He's a superb finisher, and the best 3/4 prospect we've since Hall came through.

Re: 2019 l Academy U19s : Fri Jul 26, 2019 7:32 pm  

Gotcha wrote:

Sorry here, but would have to dissagree. I would say most of those players will never get close to a Lee Smith. Smith was a brilliant player. None of those backs last night will be what he was.

I have to agree with you on O'Connor though. He doesn't have the size, and certainly didn't look the part at the start, but you can see now the skills he has in his locker. And what he lacks in physically currently, he more than makes up for in the skills game, and more importantly reading the game.

In reply to Marty on Stephens. You know I have often voiced my praise for him, and like him. However, I really don't understand this practice of putting him to fullback, he isn't a very good one. He always catches my eye on the wing, and I would have no problems with him in the first team there, but everytime he goes to fullback I have the complete oppossite feel about him. I think he looked quite poor that second half last night. On the other hand, I thought Whitton looked very good at both fullback and wing last night.

Fair enough Lee Smith is a bad example - he did achieve a lot with the club, I just felt he lost it mid-career.

Stephens is probably the standout back if we discount Newman and Broadbent now. I’d like to see Broadbent make first team appearances next year: he is to centre what Johnson is to hooker, very classy and rounded.

I like the prospect of Trout and Walters in the second row, once they’ve developed a little more.

Interesting to see what next year’s U18s will look like with a mix of current U19s and some of the U16s players up a level.

Re: 2019 l Academy U19s : Fri Jul 26, 2019 7:34 pm  

Charlie Sheen wrote:

I have to admit the more I see Stephens, the more I'm coming around to the idea of him being a winger. He's a superb finisher, and the best 3/4 prospect we've since Hall came through.

To my eyes he’s developed quite a bit physically this year. He’s small but starting to look chunky and still quick and evasive.

Re: 2019 l Academy U19s : Fri Jul 26, 2019 9:32 pm  

Gotcha wrote:

Sorry here, but would have to dissagree. I would say most of those players will never get close to a Lee Smith. Smith was a brilliant player. None of those backs last night will be what he was.

I have to agree with you on O'Connor though. He doesn't have the size, and certainly didn't look the part at the start, but you can see now the skills he has in his locker. And what he lacks in physically currently, he more than makes up for in the skills game, and more importantly reading the game.

In reply to Marty on Stephens. You know I have often voiced my praise for him, and like him. However, I really don't understand this practice of putting him to fullback, he isn't a very good one. He always catches my eye on the wing, and I would have no problems with him in the first team there, but everytime he goes to fullback I have the complete oppossite feel about him. I think he looked quite poor that second half last night. On the other hand, I thought Whitton looked very good at both fullback and wing last night.

Fully agree with all of this Gotcha !!!