Re: Signing a halfback : Thu Aug 21, 2014 10:19 pm  

Well when I started reading up on Joel Romelo it didn't sound too promising at first, he's primarily a hooker that can fill in at halfback, reserve grader with an Italian passport. Doesn't sound like much there that will warm him to the Warrington faithful as the replacement for Briers. But then you get to this: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/penrit ... 1118888015 When he was 19 and hadn't played first grade he went toe to toe in a training ground fight with Trent Waterhouse. The fight was so spirited it forced Elliott to halt an opposed session that was taking place when tensions erupted. One onlooker said Waterhouse resented a "heavy" tackle from Romelo, a member of Penrith's Under 20s squad yet to taste first grade. The former Test lock got to his feet and towered over the diminutive 19-year-old hooker. But despite giving away nearly 15kg in weight and 24cm in height, Romelo stood his ground and went toe-to-toe with his big-name opponent. "Waterhouse just got up from the tackle and they just sort of looked at one another for a split second," the onlooker said. "Then it was on for young and old. The kid (Romelo) didn't take a backward step either." Other team mates rushed in to separate the brawling pair, while Elliott reportedly extended them both an invitation to "finish it out the back and then return to training." What a great story! I know there have been a lot of calls on here to bring back the biff in response to the lack of interest and dwindling crowds well this guy sounds perfect, if he was like that as a teenager he must be hard as nails now. Who cares what his rugby ability is like, imagine when Gareth Hock starts trying his sneaky tricks on him, he will chin him straight out. Or when he's out in town and some wannabe hard chavs start on him, BOOM goodnight. This lad could be a terrace legend. Also look at the sensible mature way an Aussie coach handles the situation. Over here the PC lobby would have been saying what a disgrace, this unprofessional behaviour deserves a suspension....Aussie coach "you boys finish your blue out the back and come back to training".

Well when I started reading up on Joel Romelo it didn't sound too promising at first, he's primarily a hooker that can fill in at halfback, reserve grader with an Italian passport. Doesn't sound like much there that will warm him to the Warrington faithful as the replacement for Briers. But then you get to this: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/penrit ... 1118888015 When he was 19 and hadn't played first grade he went toe to toe in a training ground fight with Trent Waterhouse. The fight was so spirited it forced Elliott to halt an opposed session that was taking place when tensions erupted. One onlooker said Waterhouse resented a "heavy" tackle from Romelo, a member of Penrith's Under 20s squad yet to taste first grade. The former Test lock got to his feet and towered over the diminutive 19-year-old hooker. But despite giving away nearly 15kg in weight and 24cm in height, Romelo stood his ground and went toe-to-toe with his big-name opponent. "Waterhouse just got up from the tackle and they just sort of looked at one another for a split second," the onlooker said. "Then it was on for young and old. The kid (Romelo) didn't take a backward step either." Other team mates rushed in to separate the brawling pair, while Elliott reportedly extended them both an invitation to "finish it out the back and then return to training." What a great story! I know there have been a lot of calls on here to bring back the biff in response to the lack of interest and dwindling crowds well this guy sounds perfect, if he was like that as a teenager he must be hard as nails now. Who cares what his rugby ability is like, imagine when Gareth Hock starts trying his sneaky tricks on him, he will chin him straight out. Or when he's out in town and some wannabe hard chavs start on him, BOOM goodnight. This lad could be a terrace legend. Also look at the sensible mature way an Aussie coach handles the situation. Over here the PC lobby would have been saying what a disgrace, this unprofessional behaviour deserves a suspension....Aussie coach "you boys finish your blue out the back and come back to training".

Re: Signing a halfback : Thu Aug 21, 2014 10:33 pm  

jacksprat wrote:

Let me tell you the truth....Gareth hasn't recently been 'offered' to Leigh on a permanent basis...whoever is telling you info is wrong.
Make of that what you will....

Are you really, really sure about that???

Re: Signing a halfback : Fri Aug 22, 2014 6:31 am  

The problem in this country is that we expect half backs to be in their prime at 21 years old, then wonder why we struggle to find them. Already people are talking about Patton who is fresh out of school still. He will probably get a game next year and be labeled as the messiah, then a few weeks later he will play again, knock on a few times and there will be a 10 page thread on here saying he's not good enough and we should coax Richard Horne out of retirement.

Compare us to DCE down under, who will play only his 100th game for Manly today at the age of 25. He has always been well thought of in both domestic and international football however he hasn't been thrown into the deep end and it is paying dividends.

Re: Signing a halfback : Fri Aug 22, 2014 6:48 am  

Ganson's Optician wrote:

Something which interests me and that I would love to learn more about is French RL. I often wonder how much time talent scouts spend over there and whether there are some real diamonds in the rough.

France regularly beat England and compete with Australia at U16-18 level. A couple of years ago France U16s beat an England U16 side with a back row of Ben Currie, John Bateman and Stevie Ward - Theo Fages was the third choice halfback for France that day and couldn't get a game. Yet only three of those French players (including Fages) have gone on to play Super League. The talent is readily available but Super League clubs ignore it for whatever reason.

Re: Signing a halfback : Fri Aug 22, 2014 7:48 am  

headhunter wrote:

France regularly beat England and compete with Australia at U16-18 level. A couple of years ago France U16s beat an England U16 side with a back row of Ben Currie, John Bateman and Stevie Ward - Theo Fages was the third choice halfback for France that day and couldn't get a game. Yet only three of those French players (including Fages) have gone on to play Super League. The talent is readily available but Super League clubs ignore it for whatever reason.

Not all what it seems in France, I was there in April with our lad at 16s and the French have a very 'flexible' idea of who can play at this age group.

They use Union players as well.

Re: Signing a halfback : Fri Aug 22, 2014 11:48 am  

mark_m wrote:

Not all what it seems in France, I was there in April with our lad at 16s and the French have a very 'flexible' idea of who can play at this age group.

They use Union players as well.

They played age ranges in France in the 1990's - not sure if it's still the same, but they went 13-15, 16-18 etc. We found that out on a juniour side tour to France at U13 level. We beat the 13-15 twice - convincingly. We knew we were in trouble for the last game when half the players turned up on motorbikes

Anyway - if it's Romelo i wouldn't bother. He's about as good as Myler is now - if that.

Re: Signing a halfback : Fri Aug 22, 2014 12:20 pm  

Gaz_E wrote:

They played age ranges in France in the 1990's - not sure if it's still the same, but they went 13-15, 16-18 etc. We found that out on a juniour side tour to France at U13 level. We beat the 13-15 twice - convincingly. We knew we were in trouble for the last game when half the players turned up on motorbikes

Anyway - if it's Romelo i wouldn't bother. He's about as good as Myler is now - if that.

Yep the France U16s side apparently had a 21 and 22 year old playing.

Rugby Union is still far stronger even in league areas anyway.

Re: Signing a halfback : Fri Aug 22, 2014 3:39 pm  

Gaz_E wrote:

They played age ranges in France in the 1990's - not sure if it's still the same, but they went 13-15, 16-18 etc. We found that out on a juniour side tour to France at U13 level. We beat the 13-15 twice - convincingly. We knew we were in trouble for the last game when half the players turned up on motorbikes

Anyway - if it's Romelo i wouldn't bother. He's about as good as Myler is now - if that.

We had a similar experience when we took U13s and U14s over. The u13s played teams that were around the right age. The U14s would turn up and play lads that had just come out of work! At one ground our kids were getting their kit bags off the bus and a white van turned up. The driver opened the back doors and a load of lads poured out. That was our opposition!

We played them at their own game. For our last game, due to injuries, we played our coach driver!

Re: Signing a halfback : Fri Aug 22, 2014 9:17 pm  

Todd Carney would be worth a punt

: Fri Aug 22, 2014 11:13 pm  

Think it could likely be one of widdop, soward or Mullen