Yes but is it me or are we the only club to have there boom 20s riped apart, i suppose warriors have it. But if you look at quality first graders
Jwh, buhrer, oldfield. Foran, dce, hopoate, lussick all gone bar ferris.
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From that U20'S side
JWH went for the $$$ early, we couldn't or wouldn't match the money especially with the forwards we had at the time and he would've spent time in reggies.
Buhrer we brought on slowly and look at him now.
DCE spent a year or two in Q Cup after 20's and now commands huge $$$ - yes we botched this one up.
Foz is going for the $$$ and Choc and the Dalai Arthur.
Hoppa went for the $$$ and regular 1st grade.
Lussick went for the $$$ and regular 1st grade.
Conversely, we've picked up Hiku and Sao from the Warriors. Hiku was their player of the year and is now a Kiwi regular. Sao hasn't come on just yet but is only 22 and showed massive improvement from last year so time will tell. Lussick isn't on the radar with rep selectors.
With the side we've had over the past 8 years it would hard to break into as a youngster and the lure of 1st grade and a bigger contract looks great versus biding your time ( that may or may noy come ).
The problem we've got now is having to pay more for the likes of the Turbos and Gutho etc whilst bringing them on to be 1st grade ready.
On the other side of the coin, we picked up someone Chee-Kam who hasn't come on. Do we throw more $$ at him and hope he comes good after 3 years with us or let him go and if he comes good he'll be regarded as another that got away.
A delicate juggling act, keeping the superstars happy whilst keeping the youngsters happy.
We can't keep them all.
History shows that only about 4 players from any U20's side go on to be stars and a handful regular 1st graders.