I read an interesting article by Steve Ricketts from the Courier Mail today in regards to the Titans development, or lack of it. I agree with Steve on a number of points and it has stood out this year with the Titans Toyota Cup side that there is something wrong somewhere. Now this might not just be a "lack of talent" as such, or it may also come down to coaching side of things, who is to know but either way something is up.
I believe a lot of good talent is being missed by the Titans in their development structure. I know you cant get everyone but a number of our very good kids are getting picked up by other NRL clubs. The luxury of the Gold Coast is that there are so many good kids in the Titans back yard and its just a matter of getting out there and identifying them. I know the Titans development staff get out to carnivals as I saw one at the carnival in Ipswich two weeks ago and one at Coonabarabran on Saturday watching games. For me thats the easy part, what needs to be done, is that there is a presence at most junior games each weekend on the Gold Coast, so that the majority of kids are monitored throughout the year and players can be identified as they progress. I know this is hard as well, with only limited staff, hopefully when the new commission comes in and the TV monies, more staff will hopefully be put on to help with this. Remember not all kids stand out in carnivals, they stand out week in and week out in club football.
My big beef is that there is a trend that if you dont go to the "Rugby League Schools" you cant play footy or don't get picked. I am not a fan of the emphasis put on school football, in fact it makes me cranky. These kids didnt learn to play footy at school, they learnt to play at their Junior Clubs. Too many kids are coming out of the school system thinking they are a little better then what they really are. Its a false world they live in due to the fact they only play a limited number of school games and these only last for around 50 minutes with unlimited interchange (I may be wrong on this point). Once you come into grade football they are 70 minute games with limited interchange and its week in week out competition. Alex Glenn is a perfect example of a kid who went to Miami High (not a noted RL school) and made his mark at the Burleigh Bears. My nephew Jamie Anderson is another who went through a similiar route and now is at Manly.
I also laugh when I here "talent scouts" saying that a certain player wont make it due to his size (apparently you have to be over 6ft tall and a 100kg's), well try telling all the small people who have or are currently playing in the NRL that they are too small. As a bloke once told me "its whats under your left tit that counts not how big you are".
Going back to the school footy problem, these players need to get out and start playing against quality opposition week in and week out, which is what club football brings in the FOG's Colt competition and also now the Bycroft Cup. The two biggest learning curves for me were playing A Grade football as a 16 year old in Charleville against grown men who wanted to bash me if they could get hold of me and also playing Reserve Grade as an 18 year old for the Gold Coast Seagulls. Reserve Grade back then was a lot of former First Grade players on the way out or coming back from injury. They would try and bash the living crap out of any young player they came across but like playing in the bush it toughened me up and prepared me for First Grade. Some of these players, I wasnt sure as whether to tackle them or get their autograph as I had idolised a number of them growing up as a kid.
Now school footy and Toyota Cup in my eyes is not doing this for these young players. Put them up against men who are going to sledge them, hit them hard with or with or without the ball and generally make them harden up. The blokes around them will protect them just as blokes protected me when I was younger. You watch how quickly Jordan Rankin would become a regular first grader if he was playing QLD Cup. You only have to look at Codey Nielsen and Ryan Simpkins to see how much they have improved as footballers since playing QLD Cup for Tweed Seagulls, both wouldnt look out of place in First Grade at the Titans. The Gold Coast needs a strong Titans, particularly with the Suns now in our backyard. Also I am a Titans supporter as well, although have a soft spot for the Cowboys and Broncos too.
This is my first go at Blogging, so I hope it gets my point across.
Cheers
Vowlesy
