Think this is good news both will be eager to impress as they will want longer deals and i would only imagine they wont be on big bucks tom is a good experienced player and gives some strength in centres and armydave as vasty called him really does look like he could become a handfull

im looking forward to seeing the development of players coming through the system and the reserve grade will be very interesting to watch....

im looking forward to seeing the development of players coming through the system and the reserve grade will be very interesting to watch....

I Agree and I'm pleased they've both been signed.
Plenty of options now in the threequarters, and not just players making the numbers up but genuine quality prospects!

Think that’s the difference.

I genuinely believe that all the players now promoted from the academy to first team have a genuine chance of making it. That’s not to say they will, a long way to go yet. But gone are the days when you just knew that these lads weren’t good enough at SL level and never would be.

We’ve had a few really good Academy teams but they were teams and the lack of advancement of individuals tended to prove that.

I think we had a happy accident with Crowther, Jowitt and TJ in that the set up they came through was not especially good but they were.

Now I think the set up is good and so are the players and from what I’m told the next batch has even more natural talent in it.

If you’re going down the grow your own route then it takes time and there will be false starts but persistence is everything. Even if this latest group isn’t the one the next one may be.

Of the two army Dave is the more interesting for me.

Minns is a straight up player, if his head is straight he will do a job but I don’t think he will break any pots. He probably peaked at HKR but you never know.

Army Dave could either be a complete waste of space or a terrace hero, he’s that kind of signing. Let’s be honest he’s a complete gamble, no real pedigree not even in Union so he’s hardly a coup on paper at least.

However he is big, looks quite fast and seemed fairly brave so there is something to work on. Also without making racial stereotypes these Pacific Islanders do seem to have a natural exuberance and self belief. Further fortified by a stint in the Army of a foreign nation, bound to make you grow up a bit. I’d be very surprised if he shows any lack of desire, ability, we’ll have to see. If he gets of to a good star I think that will help no end.

Wish them both luck but then why wouldn’t you.

I think Dave is exciting because he looks to be a very talented natural athlete. He won't be anything more than cover but I expect he will show real flashes of exciting play along with a good few errors. I think he will be great to watch in the reserves.

He won't have cost the world and this year is probably one were he will learn his trade in the reserves as he looked very raw against Leeds, but that was to be expected.

Few question marks over contracts at the end of the year and if he gets experience and develops he may well find himself starting on the wing in 2023 as he has the athletic potential, it's how the rest comes together that could dictate that.

I agree with all that.
Army Dave reminds me of Semi. He was very raw when he came but had all the attributes to be really good.
When he had Solomon's and Domic with him he developed into quite a weapon.

Get your point but Semi was a fair few rungs up from this lad, in fact by today’s standards he’d be almost marquee. He had played 16 times for Melbourne Storm when he joined us and had played RL most of his life. This lad is super raw and a fair bit older than semi was.

Savatabua is probably a better example?

Fair point.
Semi was very raw though. It surprises me looking back that he played for the Storm

He was another natural athlete who became a rugby player.

I think what was always underestimated about Semi was how awful he was to play against. He was a big lad and all elbows and knees. You were pretty much guaranteed to get hurt every time he carried the ball against you.

I think from what very limited stuff I have seen of him Dave is more compact and powerful. One thing that I think sets Dave apart from all the other wingers currently at the club is his speed off the mark.

We have some quick wingers no doubt, but I don't think there will be any quicker than him over 20/30m.

I don't claim to understand RU or its positioning but in his highlights video on Youtube, he's certainly on the wing in some games but on others, he is as far as I can see in the centres. As I say I don't claim to know anything about Union but in some games, he's clearly got two men outside him, one I assume is the FB? but the other looks and acts like a winger. No RL winger would be so far in field in general play IMO.

What I suppose I'm saying is that in Union he may well be a winger but he doesn't half look like a centre in RL terms, he can certainly draw his man and release a great pass but as I say I don't know.

He could still be on the wing from your description but outside centre isn't a million miles away from being a winger anyway so if the quality in the team is reduced he could have moved inside.
He has to start on the wing in rugby league and see where he goes in training.

Either way it can't be a bad thing.
The fact he's been through the forces implies he's resilient and physically fit, which will certainly be a bonus in our back line.

Wing and centre traditionally seem to be the two best cross over positions between the codes. What I'm wondering is that despite being primarily a winger in Union he was used as a centre a lot of the time. If so I think he could in time find his way into the centres as Bill did. That is the huge bonus of a reserve comp, that's the place to find out.