PRE-GAME Round 18 - Broncos vs Warriors

[Viti]

So should the younger blokes give up after June 30 knowing there’s no chance to get a first grade spot?

Would you want them playing first grade if they gave up that easily?

 

[Number6]

Thing is, you cant legislate for a talent like staggs breaking through, but they could have moved him into the top 30 before the deadline. Despite it being a stupid rule, it's the. Broncos fault we are in this position.

Agree Broncs may have missed a trick but you can’t plan to have top 2 centres injured and number 1 specialist replacement on outer, 3 second rowers out of long term injuries. NFL have 50 odd in squad and still move people on injury lists. It’s not about the size of squad just NRL needs some common sense and have some flexibility for injury list management so teams can put out their best team every week especially for teams own juniors.

Selling point of NRL should be excellence on the field not most manufactured evenness!

 

[heartly87]

I get what people are saying but if you can't see how this is more about keeping everything even your kidding yourself. Any team paying a player should be able to use that player how ever they like. All this red tape is there to even out the competition. It is also there to protect players positions during a form slump ect. I get Staggs will get a top 30 next year but being held back this year doesn't help his development. If the nrl was serious about this they would have a top grade and a 2nd devision. With at least a top 40. The player would therefore be developing in one system playing with the same group of players each week. With the potential of moving up and down as required by the club.

 

[Cult]

Would you want them playing first grade if they gave up that easily?

Not saying they'd give up. I just think they could play better if they were motivated to earn a spot. Now Staggs is stuck behind Opacic even though he's playing better. If he wasn't being selected on the bench, why wouldn't he just take it easy for the rest of the season?

 

[Viti]

Not saying they'd give up. I just think they could play better if they were motivated to earn a spot. Now Staggs is stuck behind Opacic even though he's playing better. If he wasn't being selected on the bench, why wouldn't he just take it easy for the rest of the season?

I definitely understand where you're coming from but he is still on a development contract and if he takes that approach it would be pretty telling about his character. I wouldn't be worried about him though because he seems like a real competitor.

 

[Wolfie]

Not saying they'd give up. I just think they could play better if they were motivated to earn a spot. Now Staggs is stuck behind Opacic even though he's playing better. If he wasn't being selected on the bench, why wouldn't he just take it easy for the rest of the season?

He would still have plenty to play for even if he went back down to Redcliffe. He can show what he can do in ISC and play for a team with a genuine chance of winning a premiership there. It will show a lot about him actually if he does end up having to drop back down to that level. Opacic ( and to a lesser extent Pearson ) has been dropped back down to ISC after being around the NRL squad for a lot of the year, he hasnt sooked about it and just got his head down and has been one of their best. Could be a good indicator about him if he has to as well.

Like was said before though, I'd have no worries about Kotoni. Cracking player.

 

[Morkel]

He would still have plenty to play for even if he went back down to Redcliffe. He can show what he can do in ISC and play for a team with a genuine chance of winning a premiership there. It will show a lot about him actually if he does end up having to drop back down to that level. Opacic ( and to a lesser extent Pearson ) has been dropped back down to ISC after being around the NRL squad for a lot of the year, he hasnt sooked about it and just got his head down and has been one of their best. Could be a good indicator about him if he has to as well.

Like was said before though, I'd have no worries about Kotoni. Cracking player.

I think @Cult3 is making the comment in regards to all of the players who are in that 31-36 position, throughout the comp. Not just Staggs, he's using him as an example. There will always be some who aim up every week regardless, but there are likely just as many that would get frustrated and disillusioned by the fact that they have almost no chance of getting a run in the top grade.

 

[Wolfie]

I think @Cult3 is making the comment in regards to all of the players who are in that 31-36 position, throughout the comp. Not just Staggs, he's using him as an example. There will always be some who aim up every week regardless, but there are likely just as many that would get frustrated and disillusioned by the fact that they have almost no chance of getting a run in the top grade.

I dont disagree, it's a silly rule. But I've mentioned it before, we dont get that many player like Kotoni who rise so quickly. I still think we messed up more than anything. We could have promoted him before june 30 and we didnt do it.

 

[Foordy]

I think @Cult3 is making the comment in regards to all of the players who are in that 31-36 position, throughout the comp. Not just Staggs, he's using him as an example. There will always be some who aim up every week regardless, but there are likely just as many that would get frustrated and disillusioned by the fact that they have almost no chance of getting a run in the top grade.

while true, that hasn't just changed this year ... the only change was that it was a 30 man squad instead of a 25 ...

in the past, Staggs probably wouldn't have even played this many games, as we would exceed the "old" second tier cap ... especially given the injuries we have had.

should he be forced back to the ISC (which is likely IMO), then what he needs to do is continue working hard and earn a top 30 contract for 2019