Young guns set to propel club into golden era: Johns

Fungus

Fungus

Steve Simpson
NEWCASTLE great Matthew Johns says there is a batch of junior players coming through the Knights' system, several of whom - now the club has the Nathan Tinkler resources and Wayne Bennett polish - have the potential to be superstars.

''I don't want to name any of these kids, because that would just put pressure on them,'' Johns told the Herald. ''But I've seen them play, and I've done a coaching session with some of them, and I can tell you the club's got something special there.

''I'm talking about kids aged from about 15 to 18. The club has got a crop of young players coming through that is the equal of any era in the club's history, and maybe better. [Knights recruitment manager] Keith Onslow has done an outstanding job in bringing them along.
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SMH

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...lub-into-golden-era-johns-20110413-1de6q.html

Just a bit of talk on our exciting prospects coming through.
 
The really great thing about recruitment at the moment is that they really are identifying talent in the local area and giving guys like Carl Means and Matt Herman a run as basically adults in the NYC squad.
They are still bringing in kids from qld and NZ like Kurt Mann, Maipele Morseau and Jarrod Tua, but the majority of the squad is local now.
It's a far cry from the year Brian Smith basically sacked an entire generation of our under 20s and replaced them with rejects from Sydney, the only one of whom to make firstgrade was Tovo, and he would be a chance at being in our alltime worst firstgraders list.

It's great to talk about how good players like Clydesdale and Sullivan from Scone are, and the Mata'utai brothers from Newcastle, and Ethan Cook from Maitland etc etc are, instead of talking about guys from NZ or Qld all the time.
 
Roopy said:
The really great thing about recruitment at the moment is that they really are identifying talent in the local area and giving guys like Carl Means and Matt Herman a run as basically adults in the NYC squad.
They are still bringing in kids from qld and NZ like Kurt Mann, Maipele Morseau and Jarrod Tua, but the majority of the squad is local now.
It's a far cry from the year Brian Smith basically sacked an entire generation of our under 20s and replaced them with rejects from Sydney, the only one of whom to make firstgrade was Tovo, and he would be a chance at being in our alltime worst firstgraders list.

It's great to talk about how good players like Clydesdale and Sullivan from Scone are, and the Mata'utai brothers from Newcastle, and Ethan Cook from Maitland etc etc are, instead of talking about guys from NZ or Qld all the time.
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It is great isn't it Roopy!

The generation of players coming through the juniors now (15 - 18) are going to make the club very successful! Also, Cooky isn't from Maito is he?
 
Ethan Cook is from Newcastle, played for Central Charlestown.

Back on topic. It is an exciting thought to imagine in a few years time all our good juniors will be playing first-grade for US.
 
NF_47 said:
West Maitland Reddogs? Or the Rosellas?
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Sorry, Matt Cook is playing for the Rosellas.
When the Centurions played the Rosellas in a trial this year I meant to keep an eye out for Cooky to see how he goes these days, but i forgot, and so many players were going on and off it was hard to keep up.
 
Team of best juniors IMO.

1 Maipele Morseau - NYC - Qld
2 Mitch Williams - NYC - local
3 Sione Mata'utia - Mathews - local
4 Will Smith - NYC - local
5 Chanel Mata'utia - NYC - local
6 Tyler Sullivan - NYC - local
7 Kurt Mann - Ball - Qld
8 Josh Ailoami - NYC - NZ
9 Chad Redman - NYC - local
10 Michael Steel - ball - local i think
11 Tevita Pangai - Mathews - local
12 Jeremy Maa - Ball - local
13 Cook - NYC - local

14 Korbin Sims - NYC - ??Qld
15 Rod Mason - NYC - local
16 Roose - Ball - local i think
17 Chris Knight - NYC - local
 
Here's mine:

1. Peter Mata'utia - NRL - hasn't hit FG yet
2. Chanel Mata'utia - NYC
3. Simon Williams - NSW Cup
4. Siuatonga Likiliki - NRL - hasn't hit FG yet
5. Maipele Morseau - NYC
6. Ryan Stig - NSW Cup
7. Tyrone Roberts - NYC
8. Josh Ailaomai - NYC
9. Chad Redman - NYC
10. Korbin Sims - NYC
11. Kyle O'Donnell - NRL - hasn't hit FG yet
12. Zane Tetevano - NRL - hasn't hit FG yet
13. Ethan Cook - NYC

14. Tyler Sullivan - NYC
15. Cruise Wilson - NSW Cup
16. Marvin Filipo - NSW Cup
17. Kurt Mann - SGB

18. Api Pewhairangi - NYC
19. Rodney Mason - NYC
20. Mitch Williams - NYC
21. Will Smith - NYC
22. Chris Marlborough - NSW Cup
23. Tevita Pangai - HM
24. Chris Knight - NYC


Would've included Chris Adams too but he'd almost be 25 now so i wouldn't count him as a junior anymore.
 
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Marvin Filipo is in his mid twenties and i'm pretty sure he had a game of firstgrade for the warriors (his junior club) about half a decade ago.

Your side is pretty close to most of the guys with a chance at firstgrade, except i'd add Sinbad Kali - he is a Richie Fass clone who has already had a game of firstgrade for the Storm, and a Wyong junior.
 
Filipo has not played FG yet, i can assure you that but i was't aware he was that old. But yeah back to the point, it's great to see that all of those players right there haven't even played FG yet but are so talented. Good future with all these kids.
 
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