Chris M
SGI NSW Cup
Because the oldest pack in the competition needed more experience
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Promising Juniors Thread.
- Thread starter RedVHeartbeat
- Start date
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RedV01
SGI NSW Cup
Dragons add extra fight
An amateur boxer has joined the Dragons from Queensland to give the club extra punch up front.Carlos Pauli, an 18-year-old middle forward, has signed with the club and will start his journey in the SG Ball Cup next season.
At 105 kilos, Pauli, from renowned league nursery Keebra Park High School on the Gold Coast, has a real presence and plays long minutes for a big youngster.
He impressed for Tweed Seagulls in the Mal Meninga Cup last year, is still growing and is definitely one to watch out for.
Morgan
SGI NSW Cup
Seems there are so many players being retained or recruited for next year or the year after.
RedV01
SGI NSW Cup
Maybe but Griffin has already had 2 full years. The future should be now or he should be turfed.
Edward
SGI Jersey Flegg
Thanks for just a little positive news.
RedV01
SGI NSW Cup
Next year with a different coach they might become really good first graders.
RedV01
SGI NSW Cup
WTF is this BS? Dragons have a number of rookies who aren't Melbourne imports in their 20s on train and trial deals. But here it is anyway.
The 22-year-old has played 25 games of Queensland Cup and has come through the grades at the highly-successful Storm system, but will move to the Dragons in the hopes of securing an NRL spot. “Haele manipulates the ruck really well. He is quite explosive out of dummy half. He sees the game really well. I think he is going to be one of those players that can game manage from the hooker position,” his manager Michael Cincotta told The Daily Telegraph. “At the under-20s level he played halfback for Melbourne, too. He's an exciting prospect because he can get over the line too.”
NRL 2023: Every club's rookie to watch
St George Illawarra Dragons - Haele Finau
One-half of the newly-recruited set of brothers at the Red V, Haele Finau comes to the club with plenty of potential and aspirations of cracking the top grade. A talented and crafty hooker, Finau has inked a development contract heading into the season, but has already signed on for the club's top 30 in 2024 and could feasibly make the jump sooner if he impresses during pre-season.The 22-year-old has played 25 games of Queensland Cup and has come through the grades at the highly-successful Storm system, but will move to the Dragons in the hopes of securing an NRL spot. “Haele manipulates the ruck really well. He is quite explosive out of dummy half. He sees the game really well. I think he is going to be one of those players that can game manage from the hooker position,” his manager Michael Cincotta told The Daily Telegraph. “At the under-20s level he played halfback for Melbourne, too. He's an exciting prospect because he can get over the line too.”
GCRV
SGI NSW Cup
The way they just assume a Storm import is one of if not the clubs most promising rookie is an insult.
Eric
Staff
Given the way the club has been run for a number of years, maybe they are right to diminish or disdain the clubs juniors. All the best one's are signed elsewhere or chase tradies around with hammers.
GCRV
SGI NSW Cup
The truth is that since Bennett, it's been a real lean spell when it comes to juniors comng through the grades and making it big. The last might have been Jack de Belin. Hopefully that is coming to an end now. It doesn't justify media automatically calling someone "a rookie to watch" at the club just because he comes from Melbourne.
Eric
Staff
ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Talented brothers Haele and Sione Finau arrive after developing in the Storm system and both will be pushing to be a part of the top squad. Haele is a hooker on a train-and-trial contract while younger brother Sione is on the development list and plays in the outside backs.With Andrew McCullough gone, Jacob Liddle is the obvious leading contender for the No.9 jumper. But they reckon Haele has been super impressive during the pre-season, while Sione is said to be very talented but up against some stiff opposition with so many exciting outside backs already at the Dragons.
Another young dummy-half looking for a shot is Connor Muhleisen who has come through the Dragons system and is also on a development contract. While he is yet to officially debut he got a crack in a trial last season and looked more than capable.
The other two to keep an eye out for are young props Joshua Coric, who probably would have got his debut in 2022 if not for injury, while new recruit Nick Lui-Toso was obviously brought to the club for a reason.
At least now, according to News Ltd, the guy on a train and trial deal isn't our only promising potential rookie. Glad Coric and Muhleisen get a mention. But I wish they had reporters who have some idea what they are talking about. Nick Lui-Toso isn't young. He turns 27 in the May. Because Griffin has such a good track record in getting the best out of journeyman props no other club wants
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Chris M
SGI NSW Cup
Especially annoying because he's only on a train and trial deal. What are they going to say if he's not given a contract?ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Talented brothers Haele and Sione Finau arrive after developing in the Storm system and both will be pushing to be a part of the top squad. Haele is a hooker on a train-and-trial contract while younger brother Sione is on the development list and plays in the outside backs.
With Andrew McCullough gone, Jacob Liddle is the obvious leading contender for the No.9 jumper. But they reckon Haele has been super impressive during the pre-season, while Sione is said to be very talented but up against some stiff opposition with so many exciting outside backs already at the Dragons.
Another young dummy-half looking for a shot is Connor Muhleisen who has come through the Dragons system and is also on a development contract. While he is yet to officially debut he got a crack in a trial last season and looked more than capable.
The other two to keep an eye out for are young props Joshua Coric, who probably would have got his debut in 2022 if not for injury, while new recruit Nick Lui-Toso was obviously brought to the club for a reason.
At least now, according to News Ltd, the guy on a train and trial deal isn't our only promising potential rookie. Glad Coric and Muhleisen get a mention. But I wish they had reporters who have some idea what they are talking about. Nick Lui-Toso isn't young. He turns 27 in the May. Because Griffin has such a good track record in getting the best out of journeyman props no other club wants
Eric
Staff
FINAU LATU (DRAGONS, HAROLD MATTS, LOCK)
Solomon Haumono’s nephew who was a Penrith junior and now captain of this Dragons team. If you remember watching his uncle go around this will bring back memories because he’s incredibly tough, can run, offload, and hits like a truck.
RedV01
SGI NSW Cup
I am getting tired of this. 3 years ago Sullivan and Amone were future immortals. 2 years ago it was the Feagai brothers and Sloan. Last year it was Shereb, Coric and Oofuo. Now it's the Couchmans. Lets wait and see how they go in first grade if they ever get a chance.
Morgan
SGI NSW Cup
Go back further. The Stanley bros were supposed to seamlessly take over from Gaz, in the case of Chase and Kyle was supposed to be the gun playmaker for 10 years. Then Cameron King was supposed to become the next big thing as a hooker. And Evenader Cummins and Jake Stockwell apparently had the world at their feet. The former of those couldn't even make it in the NSW Cup.
Lets hope Coric, Shereb, the Couchmans, Hooper and more are the real thing.
RedV01
SGI NSW Cup
On the subject of Stockwell, just a few years ago Eddie Blacker was supposed to become a star as well.
jodragon40
SGI NSW Cup
FINAU LATU (DRAGONS, HAROLD MATTS, LOCK)
Solomon Haumono’s nephew who was a Penrith junior and now captain of this Dragons team. If you remember watching his uncle go around this will bring back memories because he’s incredibly tough, can run, offload, and hits like a truck.
Solomon Haumono’s nephew who was a Penrith junior and now captain of this Dragons team. If you remember watching his uncle go around this will bring back memories because he’s incredibly tough, can run, offload, and hits like a truck.
RedV01
SGI NSW Cup
Look up 5 posts
Everything is so quiet in regard to Saints. I wonder when at least 4 of the final 5 spots in the top 30 are going to be announced.
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Morgan
SGI NSW Cup
I think I read here a few days ago, "no news is good news." Gee, wouldn't it be nice if out of the blue the club announced, "We are happy to announce the signing of ********." Someone who is mid-20s or younger and not a fringe first grade journeyman but a rep player in demand.Look up 5 posts
GCRV
SGI NSW Cup
Don't hold your breath.