Post subject: Re: OUT 2024 | Derrell Olpherts - Wakefield Trinity
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2024 9:50 am
Trebor1
International Star
Joined: Mar 03 2017 Posts: 5958
When you look at our junior outside backs over here in SL, in general they seem very under developed physically compared to the juniors coming through in the NRL, they look a mile behind them.
Post subject: Re: OUT 2024 | Derrell Olpherts - Wakefield Trinity
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2024 10:56 am
KaeruJim
Club Captain
Joined: Oct 18 2018 Posts: 4719
Quite a few NRL outside backs seem to burn out quickly too though (Fus being a good case in point).
We have had the likes of Senior, Watkins and Hall who can handle the physicality at NRL level. We don't have as many but there are some - and the crop we have at Leeds currently include some tall athletic lads who will fill out in time.
As for the rest I don't know if the difference is genetic (probably a fair amount of this), steroids, better training or what.
Post subject: Re: OUT 2024 | Derrell Olpherts - Wakefield Trinity
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2024 11:57 pm
Once were Loiners
First Team Player
Joined: Dec 15 2021 Posts: 1256
The islander kids are a huge source or big athletes, both forwards and backs.
Another thing is that players don't generally start in the NRL until they are older. You just don't see many teenagers, and a lot don't debut until their early 20s - even players who become stars. One reason for this is that the development pathways include serious lower grade rugby - NSW Cup, Queensland Cup etc - where young players learn to play open age at a pretty decent standard for several years before most get a sniff of the NRL, as well as working on physical developemnt.
But fundamentally its a supply issue - RL is a huge sport in NSW and Queensland, and draws on the very best athletes, many of whom dream of playing NRL.
There are lots of bigger lads in the north of England who could make really good RL players, but aren't interested as they all want to be footballers or nothing at all. Odd how Wales seems to find big, fast lads to play rugby, but in RL heartlands its a real struggle - so many of our threequarters are just lightweight and not even that quick. How we tap into that resource is beyond me though....
Post subject: Re: OUT 2024 | Derrell Olpherts - Wakefield Trinity
Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2024 7:55 am
KaeruJim
Club Captain
Joined: Oct 18 2018 Posts: 4719
Simpson, Smith and one or two others are a good size. There is enough talent for the top clubs but game wide not so much in the UK.
Herbie Farnworth is 6’3” and Dom Young 6’7” according to Wiki.
Also there is still room in RL for the slightly smaller player like Miller. He is a right chunkster though and has obviously worked really hard at his strength.
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