Say what you will about Generation Y. Recent history suggests that a rookie halfback can walk into an NRL side and do the job.
That is why a number of clubs must look to the future in 2013.
Daly Cherry-Evans, Adam Reynolds and Trent Hodkinson have made it abundantly clear that you can take on the hardest job in rugby league and become a star immediately.
Being a halfback in the NRL can be torment or it can be glorious.
But only the brave reap the rewards of throwing a rookie into the deep end. Des Hasler has done it with Cherry-Evans and Hodkinson respectively, with the former handing Hasler a premiership in 2011.
South Sydney Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire shocked us the most when he picked little known Adam Reynolds at the start of the 2012 season. Fast forward sevens months and Souths had never looked so good. The Rabbitohs were one win from a grand final and Reynolds was named NRL Rookie of the Year.
That is why a number of clubs need to bite the bullet and blood new halfbacks in 2013. Only the brave succeed.
Wests Tigers have finally found themselves a coach in Mick Potter. What a task Potter has ahead of him. The Tigers have plenty of problems, but the most apparent is the lack of creative options around Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah.
Marshall is being forced to be the creator for others when the Kiwi captain should really be a little wider and trying to find space for himself. People forget how dangerous Benji used to be.
Tim Sheens couldn’t settle on a halves combination in 2012 and it may have cost him his job. Marshall needs a long term partner inside him. Not outside.
Jacob Miller starred for the Tigers in their Toyota Cup grand final thrashing of the Canberra Raiders. Whether he is ready or not, Miller needs to play.
The Mullumbimby Giants junior backed up a stellar grand final performance with another impressive display for the Junior Kangaroos against New Zealand. If the Tigers don’t play him, somebody else will.
Another team in a rebuilding stage is the once mighty St George Illawarra Dragons.
There is a massive hole now with the retirement of their ever-solid captain Ben Hornby. The Dragons moved swiftly and signed Josh Drinkwater. Coach Steve Price may have no choice but to give the talented playmaker a start.
Kyle Stanley is another option to play alongside Jamie Soward. But you don’t sign Drinkwater and not play him. Stanley’s time may have come, but is it at halfback or five-eighth?
“We’ve got Stanley, Jamie Soward and Nathan Fien so we’ve got some good halves, but the important thing is that we get Kyle’s body right. We know the sky is the limit for him,” Price told The Daily Telegraph in September.
“His [Stanley] best position is in the halves and that opportunity will arise in the off-season. We’ll sit back now and review our playing roster and then we’ll make a decision on which way we’ll go.”
Canberra Raiders coach David Furner has the envious job of manoeuvring his team to accommodate the return of captain Terry Campese.
It is time for Sam Williams to be given the opportunity to prove himself with Campese in the side. The little halfback needs to be assured that his position is safe, even with a fit Campese around.
Campese is big and strong enough to play at the back of the scrum. A move to lock would allow Williams and McCrone to move forward together.
Neil Henry and the North Queensland Cowboys also have pleasant headaches heading into the new season with Michael Morgan, Ray Thompson and Robert Lui all scrapping for the spot next to Johnathan Thurston.
There is no reason why all of these clubs can’t come out of the gates firing next year.
That’s if their coaches are bold enough. Just like Hasler and Maguire.
The Dribbler
Guest
yeah i'd have to say Daly didnt do so bad in a mixed year for Manly. With so many games at less then full strength and the pressure of losing Des, Daly and Manly should be happy with such a disruptive period. Add to that talk of players being poached by Des or leaving (B. Stewart,Kite, Foran, T.Williams, D.Williams, Lussick, Whare, etc) and Daly performed with a massive weight to keep the ship steady along with Foran. He plays very understated at times with some games requiring measured, smart and, to some, boring footy to win i.e the Cowboys game they won 8-6. Second year syndrome is potentially a players career killer as confidence is such a big part of any sport and as part of that oppositions use this against you as do rival coaches. Fortunately the loss of ultra-professional and competitive Des has been leveled by the emergence of Ultra-competitive and tough Toovey. As i've said, I go for the Rabbitohs and its my hope McGuire instills the sense of calm in Reynolds that has been instilled in Foran and Daly. The main reason i believe he can keep second year syndrome from affecting him is that his game is a solid and at times (like Daly) basic, strong half back skill. Unlike Sandow who relied on trick shots, it seems Adam is a more balanced player. Back to Daly, if he was a NSW player he'd be our half, hes that good...............maybe we can do an QLD/Inglis and take him. if only...........
Ken
Guest
For Saints, Stanley is a must at half partnering Soward. Drinkwater was purchased as back-up and insurance for the future (rumours of Soward leaving may not come to pass immediately but who knows what next year brings). Stanley is a future star, he had a quieter year than many expected but being shuffled around the team can do that - on the odd occasion when he was slotted into the halves though (especially right before he got injured) he exuded the type of potency that the Dragons lacked for too much of last year.
Haz
Guest
We don't need an academy. We just need Andrew Johns coaching every half in the game. Manly suffered for not keeping Johns as their halves coach in 2012; thankfully they've learned from their mistakes and are trying to get him exclusively to halves-coach at Manly next year. Good move. DCE and Foran will be back to their 2011 best. I generally agree with the halves second-year syndrome, but I reckon DCE has genuinely dodged that bullet. There were a few games where he panicked and played poorly, but for the most part, he was great this year.
The Dribbler
Guest
I have to say Phil Gould can come up with some crap but obviously he's right with this. Unfortunately a lot of coaches can be protective of their players and even possessive and therefore may not want them to join this academy. It seems the new thing is to pay Andrew johns a heap to come in and provide a mentor role but he's only available to a few clubs. The question has to be asked why does Queensland seem to produce do much of the talented halves? Something NSW needs to look at.
Johnno
Guest
The dribbler phil gold wanted to set up a halves academy where players at junior footy level would get high performance training from a young age and talant identification. But nothing happened, maybe all these new money into rugby league should spend on something like that.
The Dribbler
Guest
Spot on mate. All the players you mentioned are all examples of this. I'd like to build on this by pointing out the distinct lack of quality coaches at the clubs these players played for. Obviously a coach is extremely influential to a young half but I think it can also mean the difference between a successful career. Partamatta are the prime example of this. They have been through more coaches then players it seems! Further to this an average half can improve under a good coach i.e Finch's move to the Storm seen him improve through their good structure. Unfortunately some good halves never reach full potential simply because their coach cannot provide whatever it is they need to step up.
oikee
Guest
Looking forward to toomoorow news Curtis, who has come forward and got rid of the 2 donkeys running our video refs. :) I see that afl is in the news, Adelaide rorting the cap, wont do much harm, unlike the Storm who had something to lose, Adelaide was on life support. :) Brisbane Lions and Glod Coast Suns must not have heard the news, they still want to buy this guy. Both the queensland clubs are on life support as well. I think the lions lost over 2 mill this year. League has put a cap on expansion, probably going to fill the warchest ready to attack. :) No better time than now, with afl trying to keep afloat 18 clubs, i say go for the kill. But that is me. :) I might be running the video refs next year, best man for the job Curtis. I have to thank WHO, for getting rid of the lame ducks. Remember i was asking "who" who would get rid of Harrigon and Raper. Who did not let me down. :)
Curtis Woodward
Expert
Maybe coaches should just start a new halfback every year ha
Johnno
Guest
Rookie halves should be played coz no one has worked them out lol. Then they get 2nd season syndrome and opposition coaches work them out. Think Daniel Mortimer, and Jason Martin in the 90's at Norths , and the endless list of Paramatta havles since sterling retired eg Tim Smith, Jason Bell ,David Penna when he was at south was touted as next big thing then at Parra, he was worked out , i could go on and on with halves examples and Parra examples. Wes Patten was talked up a lot then he was worked out. So many examples of halves being worked out after rookie year. So too me that is only advantage of rookie halve they are unknown. Brett FInch is another one. Next big thing at Canberra he was found out 2nd year. Mitchell Pearce too as well has been found out slowly, Jarrod Mullen too. Craig Field was gradually found out when at Manly. And he was very young when he went to Manly people don't realise that Craig Field retired quite young. Some say darrel trindall was found out i disagree he just had injuries, he was a good player and was good at dogs and bunnies almost made the OZ team in 1999, but Alfie beat him to it. Craig Colmen used to talk Trindall up big time. Anthony Mundine sort of suffered 2nd year syndrome when a 5/8. Trent Barret defienalty did when he was half back at st george Illawarra merger and Mundine was given the 5/8 job .