Recruitment And Retention Discussion

Cody Hopwood went back to Flegg for the second time on the weekend.
In his last game of Flegg he worked his backside off and got us an unexpected win.
This time he was even more inspirational and we got a draw against a top 5 side.
He was doing run after run, offloading every second run, tackling everyone who ran in the middle and spent all game geeing up his team mates.

He's in this funny time when he struggles against men in cup, but is clearly the best prop in Flegg, probably for the entire comp.

It's kind of odd to see him own everyone on the field in Flegg, and just be average in cup.
 
Billy said:
Cody Hopwood went back to Flegg for the second time on the weekend.
In his last game of Flegg he worked his backside off and got us an unexpected win.
This time he was even more inspirational and we got a draw against a top 5 side.
He was doing run after run, offloading every second run, tackling everyone who ran in the middle and spent all game geeing up his team mates.

He's in this funny time when he struggles against men in cup, but is clearly the best prop in Flegg, probably for the entire comp.

It's kind of odd to see him own everyone on the field in Flegg, and just be average in cup.
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Sounds like he has hit his wall, many confuse this with ceiling which is different.

It’s now up to him and coaching stuff to figure out why he is hitting that wall and identify it to figure out how to get around it.

Orrrr they could not and let him bounce up and down until he figures it out himself or wastes potential trying
 
Hopwood’s still only 18 isn’t he? Not surprising he’s not yet ready to show his skills against men as a front rower. His offload is one of his greatest strengths but you can only offload at will when you’ve already won contact. It’s why KPP who has a good offload struggles to use it as well in the nrl where the contact/defence is stronger than England.

I’d say alternating running him in cup for the experience and then dropping him back to flegg for a few games where he can dominate for confidence would be the best way of managing his development.
 
Hopwood is a year younger than McEwen, and is almost exactly where McEwen was 12 months ago.
Both made all the junior NSW sides for 2 years.
Both had 1 firstgrade off seasons as an 18 year old (Hopwood this year, McEwen last year)

The difference is McEwen only got a handful of games in cup last year and Hopwood was in cup from round 1 and has played most of the year there.

I don't think McEwen would have done as well last year as Hopwood has done this year, but we'll never know.

I also don't think Hopwood will improve as much in his second firstgrade pre-season as McEwen has this year, but he might.
 
Crouch and Jake Arthur have had firstgrade profiles added.

Taj Annan hasn't been named for the last few weeks - since Arthur arrived - or rather, he was named in round 18, but he didn't play and Jake Arthur did.
 
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Yeah doesn't say it's a done deal or how long a deal will be but sounds like he'll be back here. Says Raiders are prepared to release him for next year but are holding firm on Mooney.
 
I always liked Saulo.
Will be good for the prop rotation.
Hopefully he can bring one of his mates with him.

Is there a chance Raiders will let a couple of young ones go to re-sign Papa?
 
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