Jack Birt .. a smokey for hooker ?

[The Who]

Dessie with the under the radar hooker , typical mad professor

Is DESpicable still the "Mad Professor"?
Not what I saw last season when he was arguably the NRL's most conservative coach with selections. He stuck with a number of journeymen when he should have been giving the young tyros a chance.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Everytime I've seen Birt I've been impressed

Me to, he works particularly well with Ernie.

 

[Disco]

Me to, he works particularly well with Ernie.

I didn't want to smirk at that.......but I did

 

[Kevinward777]

I didn't want to smirk at that.......but I did

#ME TOO

 

[The better Robbo]

I like they say he is very quick and has a good footy brain. Obviously wouldn't start the season but maybe a smokey for a bench spot, especially if there is an injury or 2. Maybe another reason we haven't been looking for another hooker.

 

[Shoe1]

Me to, he works particularly well with Ernie.

Irnie

 

[Rosko]

Tele today names Jack Birt as a smokey for hooker ... ???

Rising rake Jack Birt, who is also eligible for Jersey Flegg, has been on a train-and-trial contract during the pre-season paving the way for the youngster to play in the trial.

Birt’s emergence has added another dimension to the race for the hooking spot in the absence of Manase Fainu. Fainu is currently banned under the NRL’s no-fault stand down policy.

Couldn't find a highlights tape ...

@globaleagle .. can you do your job and get the article for us ... it was about Schuster and Birt page 69 .. thanks

No wonder you couldn't find video on him. All of 18.

 

[Jay Eagle]

Hmmm.... interesting he's also a goal kicker and a pretty good one as all the articles I can read that involve him have him kicking goals from the sideline and scoring tries.

Also played with josh, Ben and Company in the junior NSW Blues sides.

Could we see the mad scientist blood a new young hooker/ goal kicker? I doubt it unless he is really up to it in the defensive department but if he is then this would open up a domino effect in a few other positions.

Kid looks pretty fit for an 18 year old, looks more like an iron man than a footballer.

 

[Ron E. Gibbs]

Other teams have had good success with youngsters in the hooking spot. Some of them have even been Manly juniors. About time we used one, I reckon!

I was hoping Des had options up his sleeve.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

No chance , TNI has bought a voodoo doll and is currently sticking pins in Birt’s effigy.

“ that little upstart isn’t taking my run on spot “ TNI told Foxsports , Melanie Melodrama , just before being cut off at the knees by the Facebook news ban so you won’t read this anywhere on mainstream media.

 

[Woodsie]

No chance , TNI has bought a voodoo doll and is currently sticking pins in Birt’s effigy.

“ that little upstart isn’t taking my run on spot “ TNI told Foxsports , Melanie Melodrama , just before being cut off at the knees by the Facebook news ban so you won’t read this anywhere on mainstream media.

Mark .. I think you need to go on another road/fishing trip ... soon ...

 

[MW66]

View attachment 16985

Almost positive that photo is from last year. Only reason I remember is that I posted that on here and asked "who is this". There was also a few training photos on here last week I think and there was one player that couldn't be idntified. A few said "Snake" but it may have been Birt.

 

[Shoe1]

Hmmm.... interesting he's also a goal kicker and a pretty good one as all the articles I can read that involve him have him kicking goals from the sideline and scoring tries.

Also played with josh, Ben and Company in the junior NSW Blues sides.

Could we see the mad scientist blood a new young hooker/ goal kicker? I doubt it unless he is really up to it in the defensive department but if he is then this would open up a domino effect in a few other positions.

Kid looks pretty fit for an 18 year old, looks more like an iron man than a footballer.

He would be 19. Flegg goes up a year for this year because they missed last year. It’s a one-off change this year.

 

[double hoops]

He’s old enough, if he is good enough.

 

[The Who]

He’s old enough, if he is good enough.

Especially if you play for Easts.

 

[pjayz]

No Cookies | Daily Telegraph

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www.dailytelegraph.com.au

Teen prodigy Josh Schuster could strike the first blow in his battle with Kieran Foran for the No. 6 jumper in Manly’s trial match against the Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday week.
But Schuster won’t be the only rookie Sea Eagle staking a claim in Des Hasler’s side with the coach expected to rest some of his senior players.

Rising rake Jack Birt, who is also eligible for Jersey Flegg, has been on a train-and-trial contract during the pre-season paving the way for the youngster to play in the trial.

Birt’s emergence has added another dimension to the race for the hooking spot in the absence of Manase Fainu. Fainu is currently banned under the NRL’s no-fault stand down policy.

“He’s fast, extremely fast out of dummy half, has got a good work ethic in terms of defence and he can read the game well. But like most of the young blokes they have a lot to learn,” said Manly recruitment manager Scott Fulton.

There has been speculation Foran could line-up at hooker in round one, opening the door for Schuster to start at five-eighth.

But this is looking increasingly unlikely with Cade Cust, Lachlan Croker and now Birt available as options at nine.

It means Schuster, who is expected to play in the trial match, is left in a dual with Foran to become Hasler’s first choice five-eighth.

“Obviously I respect them (Foran and Cherry-Evans) but we‘re all fighting for our spots,” Schuster said.

“The season is around the corner. Hopefully, I‘d love to love to play five-eighth.

“But if that‘s not the case I’ll bide my time and keep learning.”

After re-signing with the Sea Eagles until the end of season 2022, speculation over Schuster’s future at the club hit the headlines following news of Foran’s return to the northern beaches in 2021.
But the 19-year old said walking away from his deal was never an option despite falling down the halves pecking order after Foran’s arrival.

“No way (was I tempted to go),” Schuster said.

“I started here since I was 14 years old. I‘m a local junior, had my development year, played Harold Matts, SG Ball and then under-20s and now grade.”

Schuster burst onto the scene with a debut performance in round 17 last season against the Wests Tigers that was described by Benji Marshall as the “best debut I‘ve seen, ever.”

Foran has experienced the extent of Schuster’s talent first hand over the summer.

“He’s got a phenomenal skill set. He’s a big kid, a big body and he’s impressed the hell out of me,” Foran said.

“His reading of the game, his reading of the play and he has soft hands … for a young kid at 19 he’s got a highly developed skill set.”

Despite Schuster’s immense ability, Manly skipper Daly Cherry Evans remained coy about Hasler’s plans for the teen sensation in 2021.

“That was nice work from Benji Marshall building up the young kid over here so know we have to deal with all that, Josh’s head is huge at the moment,” Cherry-Evans said with a laugh.

“He’s obviously a very talented kid, when he gets his shot again this year, I don’t when and I don’t know where I have no doubt he will be up for it again.”

The rise of the likes of Schuster, Birt, Ben Trbojevic and Kaeo Weekes is a testament to Manly’s investment in its player nursery. At least 11 players in Manly’s top 30 roster have come through the club’s pathways program.

Ahh don't enable him...

 

[Deleted member 26876]

Is DESpicable still the "Mad Professor"?
Not what I saw last season when he was arguably the NRL's most conservative coach with selections. He stuck with a number of journeymen when he should have been giving the young tyros a chance.

Looking back I think his conservatism can actually be justified. I mean look at the whole Albert Hoppa scenario. He was brought in and you could see his confidence went from about 60% to around 20-30%. Some players were nearly ready, like Harper. But the reality is that when there is a heap of injuries and your team is falling, sometimes it’s better to heap the psychological damage onto the more experienced players. 2020 was a lost season, we could tell that from halfway into it. I think in hindsight it was the right choice to not bring in a bunch of young talent (especially as they hadn’t played much football all year), have them lose a lot, and crush their confidence.

 

[pjayz]

That Moose you disparage is a highly respected and educated researcher at our beck and call 24/7 .. shame on you ... next you will be bringing up his club foot and comb over ...

PSS .. and I am waiting for your excellent search producing a highlight reel of the young man ..

BOOM!

 

[double hoops]

Will be interesting to see how DES plays that 30th position card this year. He has appeared to be a fan of just leaving that last spot in the 30 and seeing who comes onto the market prior to June 30, or what position we most need coverage at, on account of injuries.

Now if the entire Blacktown squad is available from round 11 onwards, without second tier cap or needing NRL approval, the injury coverage is probably taken care of just slightly more than it was in past years.

You would think Birt is at the very least, now a Blacktown player and eligible via that path.

 

[40 nil]

I don't know if Birt should be labelled as a smokey. He has had an outstanding junior career and is possibly being thought of as a long term dummy half back up. If he plays well for Blacktown and there is a need for a specialist dummy half early in the season, he can be drafted into the NRL team. When a team is playing well, competent dummy halves (not necessarily star dummy halves) tend to fit into that team & play well, e.g. Verrills (Roosters) and Brailey (Sharks).