Interesting that the article on the Knights site says all the new development players came through the Knights elite programme.
My understanding is that Chris Randall didn't play any juniors for the Knights, and along with guys like Bobby Tracey, Jacob Gagai and a few others I can't remember now, got a reserve grade run after they played in the country championships when they changed it to an under 23s competition for a few years.
I thought that under 23s format really worked to give a few late developers a final chance, but they went back to open age this year.
Jirah Momoisea is another who came to us after a season of under 20s for Melbourne, and only played about a dozen games of under 20s for us before playing reserve grade last year - so we did give him one junior off season I suppose.
On the other hand, I can remember Tex Hoy getting a contract at 13 I think and there were articles saying he was the youngest ever player to get a Knights contract, and he's been a standout in every grade for us, without ever making a rep side, which is odd, because a lot of less talented guys have played for NSW and even Australia.
