I have been supporting the Warriors since 1995, in that time we had one genuine half back which was Stacey Jones. They called him 'The Little General' for a reason.
We don't produce world class halves. Stacey Jones was a special talent we got spoiled with early.
As gifted as Shaun Johnson was, when he couldn't pull rabbits out of a hat for the team he was being exposed for not being able to direct the Warriors across the park - and many fans often called for his head frustrated at the losses piling up. He improved at the Sharks and came back a much smarter player but time was almost up on his career.
Tanah Boyd is a gift that pretty much fell into our hands though I will hand this win to McFadden and Webby spotting him, monitoring his position at the Titans and understanding his potential. Wally Lewis said he had the best kicking game he had ever seen from a young player and would be the best kicker in the NRL today. Everyone thought he was a Alan Langer clone coming through the grades because of his exceptional running game. Something he is slowly rediscovering here. He isn't in his prime yet. Still a couple years off. Much more development to come.
Jett Cleary is the very definition of A-GRADE talent being softly handled. If he lived in Sydney right now the media circus around him would be suffocating. He has everything needed to make it but has the major disadvantage of being a league legends brother. The kid is not just talented but he has the BIGGEST celling of all our halves outside of Tanah Boyd (who once again is about to go towards prime time in the next 2 - 5 years!)
Jack Thompson is going to be a very good talent and does also have genuine NRL potential.
We would be braindead to let Jett Cleary walk. He should be a Warriors Franchise player. He has developed the relationships with the younger players already. He is the guy to lead the club into the future. He is the Warriors future.
31 years of supporting the Warriors and we produced one genuine half. We don't produce the level of half that Jett is. We shouldn't be stupid about it. Pay the guy, keep him.
We don't produce world class halves. Stacey Jones was a special talent we got spoiled with early.
As gifted as Shaun Johnson was, when he couldn't pull rabbits out of a hat for the team he was being exposed for not being able to direct the Warriors across the park - and many fans often called for his head frustrated at the losses piling up. He improved at the Sharks and came back a much smarter player but time was almost up on his career.
Tanah Boyd is a gift that pretty much fell into our hands though I will hand this win to McFadden and Webby spotting him, monitoring his position at the Titans and understanding his potential. Wally Lewis said he had the best kicking game he had ever seen from a young player and would be the best kicker in the NRL today. Everyone thought he was a Alan Langer clone coming through the grades because of his exceptional running game. Something he is slowly rediscovering here. He isn't in his prime yet. Still a couple years off. Much more development to come.
Jett Cleary is the very definition of A-GRADE talent being softly handled. If he lived in Sydney right now the media circus around him would be suffocating. He has everything needed to make it but has the major disadvantage of being a league legends brother. The kid is not just talented but he has the BIGGEST celling of all our halves outside of Tanah Boyd (who once again is about to go towards prime time in the next 2 - 5 years!)
Jack Thompson is going to be a very good talent and does also have genuine NRL potential.
We would be braindead to let Jett Cleary walk. He should be a Warriors Franchise player. He has developed the relationships with the younger players already. He is the guy to lead the club into the future. He is the Warriors future.
31 years of supporting the Warriors and we produced one genuine half. We don't produce the level of half that Jett is. We shouldn't be stupid about it. Pay the guy, keep him.
