Hi Bearfax , Always like reading your perspective and passionate views
We all have our opinions and the players have the final say with their performances on the fieldf and we want all of them to succeed for the sake of our premiership winning chances
The Danny Garnter comparison to Burbo at the same age is over rated IMO
Gartner at 22 cemented his back row spot in a star studded Manly pack that won the premiership
Gatrner also as you say had the speed pedigree of the speed freak Russel Gartner and Speed is that special advantage that Burbo does not have
Zac Fulton's only one game NRL experience is not contributed to his potential but more to Des Hasler hesitance on giving young players a go
As I said before we can all say what we think of Burbo as a Player but Burbo has the last say and we all wish him great success
Appreciate your points and it is often tricky to compare players , though we often overlook how they developed, and often reminisce about their glory days but forget their development years.
A few points though. Your comment that Danny cemented his spot in a star studded side is indisputable. But it took him two years to get that spot, having played only one game in First grade before securing that role. Granted he was facing a superior side, but it was also a side in development with Kosef, Menzies, Hopoate, Haumona all just kids and a still young Terry Hill as well as Gartner. Some similarities to the developing side we have now. Easy to forget they were good back then but not yet the champions they became.
As far as pedigree goes, Ben has a flyer of a brother at least as quick as Russel Gartner was. And though not super quick its easy to forget much of his junior games were at centre, so he's no slouch for speed. In a sense we've been a little deceived concerning how fast he is because he's suffered a couple of injuries that kept him out of the game, and a couple of times he looked injured on the field. I recall in one earlier match he showed significant pace almost keeping up with his brother Tom and in descriptions about him, his speed is noted. I think we're yet to see him in full flight and remember he was selected in the young Blues training camp. There's more to the kid than the family name I would suggest.
ps. This is an item from the latest ROAR site
Is this the year of the Trbojevic?
No, not that one. Or that one. The other one? Yeah, him. Ben Trbojevic got ten NRL games last year, in addition to four the year before, and now looks set to lock in a full-time spot under Anthony Seibold.
There’s the standard stuff you say about guys like him when they reappear at the age of 21: he’s grown into himself. Always a bigger frame, he’s now stacked on a bit of timber to go with it. Got his man strength, as they say in the world of boxing.
That’s one thing, but the more important is that he now looks like he belongs. It must be hard being the third brother to play NRL when the two that have gone before are walk up starters for New South Wales and Australia.
There’s expectations, but also none: how can you be as good as them, after all? Burbo has gone a little bit like that so far, but without the shadow of those two and surrounded by blokes his own age, you can see how far advanced he is.
“It’s nights like these that you can really force your way into an NRL side when you make a statement like Ben Trbojevic has,” said Mick Ennis. “He’s been terrific tonight. (He has) has clearly added some muscle over the summer, he’s been physical, he’s been aggressive and been a handful in the second row tonight.”
The leadership and influence he showed was befitting a first grader playing among juniors. If he can bring that every week in the NRL, Manly are onto a winner.
The bloodlines didn’t stop with the Trbojevic’s either: Zac Fulton’s try off a Cooper Johns pass brought together two of the most storied names in the sport. It was the best Fulton-Johns combination since the 1995 World Cup final.