Bullseye wrote:
Eh? Couldn’t disagree more. Have you been on the sauce?
I'm with Bullseye. The junior players we sign, stay with us for a couple of years at least normally (until we have an off-field meltdown). I think us gong down to L1 has a big reason Bentley has gone. Ethan Ryan is likely to go too, but last 2 seasons he's been our best back by a country mile. When the young players come through, they end up being some of the best players in the squad, so i think it's essential we keep the academy going. Where would we have been without Ryan, Oakes, Bentley? I don't think we would have won a game. Bentley and Oakes were probably on a damn sight less than Thomas, Mendeika etc too. If we continue that conveyor belt and have stability, yes one or two will inevitably go barely playing a game, but i think most will stay for a few seasons. I don't understand Bulliacs idea of sign a worse standard of junior player. If he surprises everyone, and plays well for the first team, he will sign for a bigger club anyway.
The Cameron Scott example is stupid by Bulliac. He didn't leave because a bigger club came calling. He left because he were liquidated. Bentley hasn't suddenly attracted a load of interest because he was a good junior, it's because he's been outstanding in the first team. Do you think if he was a junior that nobody wanted Saints wouldn't have signed him now? Same with Butterworth. His Dad says he's here next year and if he performs in the first team (like he has been doing) the bigger clubs will come sniffing no matter whether only us wanted him as a 16 year old, or every NRL/SL club were trying to sign him. Personally think he will stay as he will probably see playing first team games for us, is better for his development. Give me 2 seasons of Reiss Butterworth over 5 of Oscar Thomas!!