Jack Birt .. a smokey for hooker ?

[Ranga]

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.

We also have the 'stand down policy spot' thanks to Manase. It wouldn't surprise me if Manly fill that spot on the cheap with someone like Birt and keep the 30th spot open to pick someone up closer to the middle of the season, like a lot of clubs seem to do these days.

 

[southsideeagle]

oh please play first grade. Would love him to have the nickname of Ernie

 

[Shoe1]

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).

Agreed. To the telegraph he is an unknown smokey. To people that follow Rugby League his name has been on team lists through the juniors for years.

 

[Smokin Joe]

@Woodsie He is not a local junior,he is from the south coast.I gave him a little wrap in one of my junior blurbs from a few years ago when he first joined us.Played in junior rep teams for the south coast region before we picked him up.

 

[wombatgc]

I’ve read him described as fast twice by Scott Fulton. But until I see a cpl speed kills memes accompanied by a meme of the son of the incomparable immortal Bob Fulton by @BOZO, I can‘t take any of the accolades bestowed on young Ernie (yes I’ve locked it in. @SeaEagleRock8 has scored that one for sure) as gospel.

 

[wombatgc]

@Woodsie He is not a local junior,he is from the south coast.I gave him a little wrap in one of my junior blurbs from a few years ago when he first joined us.Played in junior rep teams for the south coast region before we picked him up.

No address? Suburb? C’mon @Smokin Joe you’re slipping man.

 

[Shoe1]

@Woodsie He is not a local junior,he is from the south coast.I gave him a little wrap in one of my junior blurbs from a few years ago when he first joined us.Played in junior rep teams for the south coast region before we picked him up.

South coast .. so you mean manly? Or maybe 40 baskets beach?

 

[The better Robbo]

We also have the 'stand down policy spot' thanks to Manase. It wouldn't surprise me if Manly fill that spot on the cheap with someone like Birt and keep the 30th spot open to pick someone up closer to the middle of the season, like a lot of clubs seem to do these days.

Is that how it works? I was of the opinion we can still only have 30 players. We just get extra to spend but that cost will be covered by the club itself. Im not sure we get a "31st" player as you suggest.

 

[ManlyTragic]

Gees with all that positivity we have just given the kid the KoD

we said the same thing last year about Cust.

 

[Bring back the.... Biff?]

No address? Suburb? C’mon @Smokin Joe you’re slipping man.

Not even a baby picture. Smh

 

[Ranga]

Is that how it works? I was of the opinion we can still only have 30 players. We just get extra to spend but that cost will be covered by the club itself. Im not sure we get a "31st" player as you suggest.

I have looked but can't find anything on it. I was assuming that the stood down player wouldn't be in the squad of 30 on the basis that the NRL has stood that player down under its arbitrary policy. I mean, that makes intuitive sense to me: i.e., the club is denied the services of the player so they should be able to go and replace that player and have access to a full squad even though the stood down player is still contracted.

If I am right, the question becomes what happens to the fill-in once the stood-down player becomes eligible to play again. If it is to be fair, the fill-in's contact would need to come to an end.

But seriously, who the F knows when it comes to the NRL?! They make this stuff up on the run.

 

[Rosko]

"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."

#duel

After hiring an Innovation Consultant, maybe we will think outside the square and invent the 2 x 5/8 formation.

 

[globaleagle]

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.

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

Hang on. You’ve created a thread, did a half-arsed lame attempt at googling a highlights package, and then delegated the article posting to a Canadian Moose who doesn’t even know the difference between a broken down sharks/broncos/dragons 5/8/centre/fullback/lock and an up and coming Eagle .

I also had no idea what a Nematocera or a Brachysera was...!

 

[Bring back the.... Biff?]

I also had no idea what a Nematocera or a Brachysera was...!

How bout a chupacabra ? Or the majestic capybara ? I once rode one into battle

 

[robbiea]

How bout a chupacabra ? Or the majestic capybara ? I once rode one into battle

Me Too ,whilst drinking a caipirinha !

 

[pjayz]

I also had no idea what a Nematocera or a Brachysera was...!

Listen, you’re a Alces alces andersoni so you probably don’t run into them as much as your cousin the Alces alces americana...so I’ll forgive you that one.

 

[maxta]

Is that how it works? I was of the opinion we can still only have 30 players. We just get extra to spend but that cost will be covered by the club itself. Im not sure we get a "31st" player as you suggest.

I may be wrong Robbo, but I feel that in the current system where the feeder club (in our case Blacktown) - how easy is it to add him to the Blacktown team and not worry about the Top 30....then bring him, or anyone else in from there....I guess the ONLY issue if we were having Birt from round 1, would need to be in the 30 or he has to wait till round 11 to be eligible.

 

[nightster]

"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."

#duel

I had a Dual turntable ...... trivia alarm

 

[Ron E. Gibbs]

Speaking of smokies, it's never a bad time to drop this track:

 

[globaleagle]

Listen, you’re a Alces alces andersoni so you probably don’t run into them as much as your cousin the Alces alces americana...so I’ll forgive you that one.

woohoo...I'm bigger!

stoopid east coasters...!