I think Flanno kept the Couchmans in reserve grade, because of their lack of size/body shape and wanted them to develop physically before putting them in the middle forward rotation. I don't think them debuting at a young age had dented their confidence or hampered them in not becoming good forwards in the future, but I am not disagreeing with you either.
They more than held theor own in 2023.
I'm a huge Holmes fan. He's a very good centre or winger. Pretty good fullback as well. But at this stage, maybe forever like Gaz and Coops, Buchanan and Heidke are very good centres only.
I'm usually ultra aggressive about promoting young players. Probably a bit too much. Or definitely a bit too much. But even I can't imagine Reed playing NRL without at least several games in NSW Cup. But I'm sure the coaching staff knows what is going on so I'll just trust them. If they were to pick Reed for round 1, it'll mean he's ready.
A Harrison 7, Campbell 6 looks the Gold Coast best option to me. Brimson, hasn't set the world on fire at 5/8. Fullback is his best position, but Kini has that spot now. I think it is just a matter of when, not if Harrison and Campbell are Gold Coast halves. I also think Campbell is more suited to 5/8 than halfback. It is pretty much exactly the same scenario with us, with Reed our future number 7 and Acko more suited to 5/8. Harrison is already 19. Kini debuted at 18 and was very good. He is also very small. When I was playing in my juniors, the good players would play up a year or 2 and still play excellent.
Many a good player aged 17 or 18 didn't play reserve grade before playing first grade. Back in my day, many good players played first grade while still at school or played first grade the next year after finishing school, without any reserve grade games. I am pretty sure Jamie Ainscough and Jason Taylor went straight from schoolboy football to first grade. Darrel Trindall was playing first grade while still at school. Phil Blake was amazing at 18 for Manly. I don't think Terry Hill played reserve grade before debuting for Souths. Brad Fittler was still at school when playing first grade for Penrith and I think he played origin the next season. Peter Sterling was small and lightly framed. He was playing first grade at 18 and became one of the best halfbacks to ever play the game. Nathan Cleary debuted for Penrith aged 17. He also became the best halfback in the game. Galvin played one game in NSW cup before playing first grade aged 18. It certainly didn't do him any harm or ruin him or destroy his confidence. Reed is already 19 years old. He has also spent time playing against grown men in the Illawarra comp and played very well.