https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...s/news-story/9e7c7df6c47b10c7d0ac1b9ca5eec6fc
THE SAD TIGERS’ TALE
Even before Matt Betsey had started his role as the Wests Tigers head of pathways he had heard the whispers.
That the club’s best prospects did not want to stay at Concord because a State of Origin berth was out of reach. Maybe the kids were onto something.
The Tigers have not had a single player picked for the Blues since 2018, when their only representatives — Moses Mbye, Harry Grant and Joe Ofahengaue — all only played a single game for Queensland.
“Prior to me coming on board, I heard stories of players leaving because they didn’t see that pathway and didn’t feel like they were getting what they needed. That has been a massive focus for us,” Betsey said.
“From a football skill point of view, the kids now have access to Tim Sheens and Brett Kimmorley, who are there to help them transition into the elite level.
“Now, when they get to that elite stage, they can look back at their time with Tigers and think why would I want to go anywhere else.”
While Betsey accepts immediate success on the footy field is the quickest remedy to the lack of Origin representation, the Tigers are playing the long game.
Like Penrith did back in 2013, taking a laser focus to developing junior pathways that nurtured players all the way through to NRL level and on to Origin.
Not only has it delivered Penrith premiership success, on Sunday, Blues coach Brad Fittler named six Panthers in his 17-man side for game one on June 8.
“If you get success on the field you get good representation, like the Penrith side,” Betsey said.
“What we are building at the moment are players coming through our junior rep system that are developing the skills required at NRL level and representative honours will come with that.
“That’s going to take time, we’d love to have more representation at Origin level. We’ve had a couple in the last few years but the young kids coming through will change that.”
A true test of the strides made at the Tigers will be the club’s ability to retain the talent from this year’s grand final-winning under 17s Wests Magpies Harold Matthews team.
“They’re the perfect example. We have clubs chasing some of those players so we need to make sure we are looking after them,” Betsey said.
“Over 90 per cent of that team was local juniors and have been playing with each other for a few years. We want that to continue into SG Ball and into the NRL program. The future is pretty bright for some of those players.”
Already prop Jordan Miller, hooker Tallyn Da Silva and backrower Lachlan Galvin are being chased by NRL rivals.
“They are the types of players we want to develop and help navigate their journey,” Betsey said.
“If we do our job correctly we will create players other clubs are interested in but our job is to keep them and one day turn them into Origin players.”
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
I heard that Jordan Miller is going to the Dolphins.
As someone who doesn't care about origin, none of our players were selected for nsw because they were not good enough. No other reason. Lets be honest no one was robbed of a blue jersey.
But i am now looking forward to matty b producing all these state of origin quality players in the next couple of years
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...s/news-story/9e7c7df6c47b10c7d0ac1b9ca5eec6fc
THE SAD TIGERS’ TALE
Even before Matt Betsey had started his role as the Wests Tigers head of pathways he had heard the whispers.
That the club’s best prospects did not want to stay at Concord because a State of Origin berth was out of reach. Maybe the kids were onto something.
The Tigers have not had a single player picked for the Blues since 2018, when their only representatives — Moses Mbye, Harry Grant and Joe Ofahengaue — all only played a single game for Queensland.
“Prior to me coming on board, I heard stories of players leaving because they didn’t see that pathway and didn’t feel like they were getting what they needed. That has been a massive focus for us,” Betsey said.
“From a football skill point of view, the kids now have access to Tim Sheens and Brett Kimmorley, who are there to help them transition into the elite level.
“Now, when they get to that elite stage, they can look back at their time with Tigers and think why would I want to go anywhere else.”
While Betsey accepts immediate success on the footy field is the quickest remedy to the lack of Origin representation, the Tigers are playing the long game.
Like Penrith did back in 2013, taking a laser focus to developing junior pathways that nurtured players all the way through to NRL level and on to Origin.
Not only has it delivered Penrith premiership success, on Sunday, Blues coach Brad Fittler named six Panthers in his 17-man side for game one on June 8.
“If you get success on the field you get good representation, like the Penrith side,” Betsey said.
“What we are building at the moment are players coming through our junior rep system that are developing the skills required at NRL level and representative honours will come with that.
“That’s going to take time, we’d love to have more representation at Origin level. We’ve had a couple in the last few years but the young kids coming through will change that.”
A true test of the strides made at the Tigers will be the club’s ability to retain the talent from this year’s grand final-winning under 17s Wests Magpies Harold Matthews team.
“They’re the perfect example. We have clubs chasing some of those players so we need to make sure we are looking after them,” Betsey said.
“Over 90 per cent of that team was local juniors and have been playing with each other for a few years. We want that to continue into SG Ball and into the NRL program. The future is pretty bright for some of those players.”
Already prop Jordan Miller, hooker Tallyn Da Silva and backrower Lachlan Galvin are being chased by NRL rivals.
“They are the types of players we want to develop and help navigate their journey,” Betsey said.
“If we do our job correctly we will create players other clubs are interested in but our job is to keep them and one day turn them into Origin players.”
What an absolute garbage leader to that article.”A Sad Tigers’ Tale”.Smells of Creepy Crawley or Rothfield.
