Frank Facer
SGI Jersey Flegg
I didn't know.
2026
- Thread starter jodragon40
- Start date
Frank Facer
SGI Jersey Flegg
After watching today's trial against Newcastle. I think Reed is the best halfback we have at our club. If I was coach, I would be seriously considering starting with him at halfback and Atkinson at 5/8. I already had high hopes for Reed based off highlights reels and reports about him. But after seeing him play today's game, I don't just think they are "hopes" anymore. He looks the real deal and exceeded my hopes and expectations. I also think he will grow in confidence the more games he plays in first grade.
The only reason to not play him in first grade would be to help him become more confident playing against lesser opposition and let him develop physically. He looks like a natural halfback and a confident player. His speed was something that I wasn't aware of and also impressed with. I think he will or at least should be our starting number 7 by the end of this season.
The only reason to not play him in first grade would be to help him become more confident playing against lesser opposition and let him develop physically. He looks like a natural halfback and a confident player. His speed was something that I wasn't aware of and also impressed with. I think he will or at least should be our starting number 7 by the end of this season.
Mailroomsgi
SGI NSW Cup
Playing him in the NRL right now would be irresponsible and could stunt his development
He’s way undersized and inexperienced, a full season in Reggie’s and another year to put on 4-5 kg’s of muscle and then we shall see
Skill wise he could handle himself but he would be a spot defender and have backrowers running at him 30 times a game
He’s way undersized and inexperienced, a full season in Reggie’s and another year to put on 4-5 kg’s of muscle and then we shall see
Skill wise he could handle himself but he would be a spot defender and have backrowers running at him 30 times a game
Frank Facer
SGI Jersey Flegg
We have had worse defenders playing first grade for us in the halves.
As for you saying it would be irresponsible and could stunt his development. Some players play better alongside better players, especially halves. So playing him in NSW Cup could actually stunt his development. If I was a coach and was coaching for my future, I would be picking Reed to start the season.
Last year we played King Togia at 19 years old. Right now, I think Reed is much better than King Togia.
He was the best player on the field for us. Doesn't that indicate he is ready for first grade. It isn't as though we have a representative half blocking his path. Reed could be representative standard in the near future.
AyiosYiorgos
SGI Jersey Flegg
100% people wanting to rush these kids in and when they start missing tackles etc they will be the first to crucify them, sure he had a great attacking game, but he needs the added muscle to compete week in week out and hold his own in defence, as you said they will run so much at him, he wont have energy to do much in attack..
TheRev
SGI NSW Cup
Ai, LKT despite being the same age had a really different development path.. he was playing NSW Cup 2 full years before Reed, he was on the fast-track from the start, and even still the reality of first grade has found him wanting defensively. Also.. apart from being a trial last night... the 2 worst rosters in the comp are us and Newcastle.. and we played essentially our best middles all playing last night (bar Stewart)..
Bit annoyed that after a year of explaining glover vs kyle in 2025, now were gonna spend most of the year explaining reed vs kyle... but.. still much better to have the kid have a great first game than a shocker that would have set his confidence right back.. even if it does put a lot of pressure on him from here on.
Also... I watched both kayo mini's last night cause i was buzzing still.. the dogs had halves of Teaupa/Conti.. I found that very surprising.. I thought Woods & Cassius Tia would be there.. maybe even OSullivan.. but just looked him up and 1 month ago Cassius has left the club.. along with O'Neill who came here the month before.. doesnt surprise me, the dogs have been ruthlessly stockpiling successful young halves who have won comps coming through.. couldnt make sense of it cause there was no path forward... some of them must be pretty filthy about it.. Tia in particular.
Bit annoyed that after a year of explaining glover vs kyle in 2025, now were gonna spend most of the year explaining reed vs kyle... but.. still much better to have the kid have a great first game than a shocker that would have set his confidence right back.. even if it does put a lot of pressure on him from here on.
Also... I watched both kayo mini's last night cause i was buzzing still.. the dogs had halves of Teaupa/Conti.. I found that very surprising.. I thought Woods & Cassius Tia would be there.. maybe even OSullivan.. but just looked him up and 1 month ago Cassius has left the club.. along with O'Neill who came here the month before.. doesnt surprise me, the dogs have been ruthlessly stockpiling successful young halves who have won comps coming through.. couldnt make sense of it cause there was no path forward... some of them must be pretty filthy about it.. Tia in particular.
Mug Fan
SGI NSW Cup
Lyhkan is a year older 21 Kade 20
Woods picked up an injury
TheRev
SGI NSW Cup
Ah yeah I was just looking that up lol for another post.. LKT still 20 but he is 10mths older than Kade... they did play that year of U19s together, but obviously kade was a year younger so to speak.
Frank Facer
SGI Jersey Flegg
Anyone who was suggesting or calling for King Togia to be starting ahead of Kyle, "must" now be thinking Reed should be starting ahead of Kyle.
Anyone who was saying Flanno will be under pressure to keep his job, if we get off to a poor start to the season also "must" now be saying Flanno should be starting with Reed. ie playing your best players.
Anyone who was saying Flanno will be under pressure to keep his job, if we get off to a poor start to the season also "must" now be saying Flanno should be starting with Reed. ie playing your best players.
Frank Facer
SGI Jersey Flegg
Gold Coast are favourites for the spoon at $4 with the TAB
St George Illawarra and Newcastle are equal second favourites for the spoon at $4.75
Wests are on the next line at $7
Nth Qld are on the next line at $10
Four of the first five favourites for the spoon all are teams not from Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne. The only Sydney team among to top 5 in the betting for the spoon is another "Joint Venture" team.
St George Illawarra and Newcastle are equal second favourites for the spoon at $4.75
Wests are on the next line at $7
Nth Qld are on the next line at $10
Four of the first five favourites for the spoon all are teams not from Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne. The only Sydney team among to top 5 in the betting for the spoon is another "Joint Venture" team.
Frank Facer
SGI Jersey Flegg
Souths will be strong this year. They played without the likes of Murray, Fifita, Koloamatangi and Mitchell tonight.
Dufty went well for them tonight. I would take Dufty over Gray.
Dufty went well for them tonight. I would take Dufty over Gray.
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AyiosYiorgos
SGI Jersey Flegg
I have a feeling that you throw comments like "I would take Dufty over Gray" just to get reactions, you go fishing for comments..
No Surrender
SGI Jersey Flegg
I would take Dufty over Sloan.
Frank Facer
SGI Jersey Flegg
No, I am certainly not. I am not a Gray fan. I think Souths should be playing Mitchell at fullback.
I really thought Dufty played well tonight.
When he was playing for us, he was very good in attack and also had a very good passing game. It was only his shyness of contact in defence and under the high ball, that bothered me with Dufty. I think he was much better than Sloan too. Even the commentators were full of praise for Dufty tonight and said he would be a very handy replacement if needed for Souths this year, if needed.
Mailroomsgi
SGI NSW Cup
Gray is a star, I’d take him for us in a heartbeat to play Fullback.
If Bennett trusts him there over Latrell thats a pretty good wrap
If Bennett trusts him there over Latrell thats a pretty good wrap
TheRev
SGI NSW Cup
Gray would be on massive unders, hes the real deal, surely on par with kini or iongi anyone else in the young fullback stakes..
Disclaimer that Dufty is on a NSW Contract and motivated to try extra hard... but I cant believe he actually runs into contact now and dents the line.. he 'never' did that pre-superleague.. it means hes a proper running threat now, where as previously he was just like Sloan.. i.e. he was looking for empty space only.. he 'would' support the ball carrier.. but only if there was a chance to catch it at full pace and get thru the line without contact.. even if it meant he inevitable knocked the ball on..
Defensively still awful, and I wouldnt be signing him.. but I cant argue that he wouldnt be 15x more useful than Sloan to us... but im still in disbelief we werent able to break free anyone in a 3 or 4 man fullback queue at any other NRL club.. should atleast be someone in NSW Cup pushing up.. I mean i saw a few blokes play there today in flegg and cup for us.. im not even sure who some of them were, some big bodies i didnt recognise.. but TPH is really the only one kinda close.. but I think hes a slow burn that one.. he needs to bulk up (a bit like dufty rly) so he doesnt get ragdolled so easily.. but that takes real time, like could be 3-4years.. a bit like trai fuller, maybe later in life it happens for him...
Disclaimer that Dufty is on a NSW Contract and motivated to try extra hard... but I cant believe he actually runs into contact now and dents the line.. he 'never' did that pre-superleague.. it means hes a proper running threat now, where as previously he was just like Sloan.. i.e. he was looking for empty space only.. he 'would' support the ball carrier.. but only if there was a chance to catch it at full pace and get thru the line without contact.. even if it meant he inevitable knocked the ball on..
Defensively still awful, and I wouldnt be signing him.. but I cant argue that he wouldnt be 15x more useful than Sloan to us... but im still in disbelief we werent able to break free anyone in a 3 or 4 man fullback queue at any other NRL club.. should atleast be someone in NSW Cup pushing up.. I mean i saw a few blokes play there today in flegg and cup for us.. im not even sure who some of them were, some big bodies i didnt recognise.. but TPH is really the only one kinda close.. but I think hes a slow burn that one.. he needs to bulk up (a bit like dufty rly) so he doesnt get ragdolled so easily.. but that takes real time, like could be 3-4years.. a bit like trai fuller, maybe later in life it happens for him...
TheRev
SGI NSW Cup
Would love to know whats happening in the coaching meeting tonight and in the week to come.. I doubt we will be throwing out the gameplan with 2 weeks till round 1.. I doubt that leads to a better result.. but he must be second-guessing some of his choices now, and if he has the 22 right.
He could however change his mind on the wingers.. I think thats the only spot in competition.. mostly because Feagai has been solid in his games.. otherwise honestly there isnt much he can do.. this assumes Val and Suli are fit.. I mean he can tweak the bench forwards or the utility but doesnt change that much..
We still do have ~2 signings to come in the next 2 weeks also.. so maybe if it was a rabbit out of a hat.. maybe we pull a winger or a utility.. but be cutting it fine.
He could however change his mind on the wingers.. I think thats the only spot in competition.. mostly because Feagai has been solid in his games.. otherwise honestly there isnt much he can do.. this assumes Val and Suli are fit.. I mean he can tweak the bench forwards or the utility but doesnt change that much..
We still do have ~2 signings to come in the next 2 weeks also.. so maybe if it was a rabbit out of a hat.. maybe we pull a winger or a utility.. but be cutting it fine.