TLL

[gUt]

Is anyone else puzzled as to why we let this guy go? I realise at the time he was a rookie but surely someone with a brain and an eye for talent could have guessed a bloke with his sheer size would probably go alright in the NRL. Was his release around the time of signing Clinton?

 

[Bucking Beads]

He was always injured as far as I can remember and got a good offer from the Raiders which we were not going to match.

 

[Jeba]

He was soft.

 

[ningnangnong]

Be careful guys, his sister might still lurk around! :P

We were right to let him go though. If he stayed, I don't think he'd be the same player he is at the Raiders.

 

[m1c]

He was very average at the time, in and out of first grade and was not showing much promise. I guess he's just one of those players that simply thrived from going to a new club. Nothing much we could have done about it to be honest.

It couldn't be that a lot of fowards just take a few years to develop? He wasn't a superstar in his first year or two of first grade so everyone on here potted him. This kid was showing plenty of promise and was always going to make it IMO.

 

[ningnangnong]

He was very average at the time, in and out of first grade and was not showing much promise. I guess he's just one of those players that simply thrived from going to a new club. Nothing much we could have done about it to be honest.

It couldn't be that a lot of fowards just take a few years to develop? He wasn't a superstar in his first year or two of first grade so everyone on here potted him. This kid was showing plenty of promise and was always going to make it IMO.

Ah yes, there you go with that 'everyone on here' line again. TLL had become stagnate at the Broncos, he wasn't developing at all.

As Rocky mentioned earlier, I reckon he's just one of those players who needed a change of scenery to get back on track.

 

[Kimlo]

I would love for him to come back, he's a machine. Exactly what we need IMO, TLL is worth 3x Inglis to our team.

 

[m1c]

He was very average at the time, in and out of first grade and was not showing much promise. I guess he's just one of those players that simply thrived from going to a new club. Nothing much we could have done about it to be honest.

It couldn't be that a lot of fowards just take a few years to develop? He wasn't a superstar in his first year or two of first grade so everyone on here potted him. This kid was showing plenty of promise and was always going to make it IMO.

Ah yes, there you go with that 'everyone on here' line again. TLL had become stagnate at the Broncos, he wasn't developing at all.

As Rocky mentioned earlier, I reckon he's just one of those players who needed a change of scenery to get back on track.

Well it's a fairly general assessment isn't it? TLL was hardly given a chance in first grade, let alone the chance to become stagnate. He'd still be here if Canberra didn't throw the kitchen sink at him. Some players have poor seasons, others take a while to develop. Not really rocket science [icon_shru but they're facts that most could do well to heed. There's a lot more to it than just on field performance.

 

[gUt]

If he was soft, it was because of his youth. With hindsight, he should have been brought along and allowed to mature. Like I said the sheer size of him should have tipped someone that he was a keeper.

 

[Big Pete]

Sort of like the Dave Taylor situation.

TLL was considered an awesome prospect, fastest player over 40 and had the size to really hurt teams. Unlike Taylor who's main problem was attitude, TLL had injury problems and they always halted his progress at the Broncos.

Insert Canberra who offer him something like a 220K contract and he's all theres.

In 2006 he was really starting to show his potential and I remember people were already asking him of his state alleigence. Unfortunately for him it would take him until 2009 to have a clean bill of health and in that time he's finally cashed in on his promise, earning an Aus jersey and IMO being Australia's most destructive forward.

I don't think we should be too upset though, the year we lost TLL we unearthed Greg Eastwood who was basically like the Matt Gillett of 2006. Thaiday stepped up big time and had one of the quickest play the balls in the game and Parker played extremely well for us, especially in the back end when he became a strike player off the bench.

 

[gUt]

Ah yes Eastwood. Another gun forward who can play anywhere in the pack and who puts up kicks for match winning tries. Glad to see him back in the NRL... [icon_thumbs_do

 

[Professor47]

Slightly different to the DT situation but correct deicison made by the Broncs on both occasions IMO.

They were simply offered overs by other clubs on investment value - now this is fair enough because other clubs need to offer overs to get these sort of players at their club. It is a simple case of the salary cap actually working. (doing what it is meant to do)

FTR I hate the sal cap as it is.

 

[Big Pete]

Yeah, TLL is a case of the salary cap actually working and spreading the talent around.

The problem is it doesn't stop rival codes from poaching players...