Quote: roopy "Joshie Mantellato is having a big few years.
Newcastle local player of the year about 3 years ago.
Paid his own way to play for Italy in their first year.
Next year he kicked Italy to qualify for the World cup on the strength of his near 90% kicking rate.
Got a second tier contract to play for the Knights.
Top pointscorer in NSW cup 2 years in a row.
Makes his firstgrade debut and scores a try and kicks 3/3 from the sidelines.
And now he kicks Italy to a win over England - with a last minute field goal.
He probably should retire now. It must be all down hill from now on.'"
Played just the 1 first grade game for the Knights has he? Not knocking that, fine achievement - but that's horrific result for a senior England team.
I'd normally now make the point that 'SL coaches insistence on signing journeyman Aussies' is a symptom more than a cause of our shallow talent pool, but the England Knights development squad hammered Samoa. Just got to hope it was one of those freakish things or it could be 2008 all over again. Tbh, there was always a danger of that anyway.