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Message: [QUOTE="Big Pete, post: 2697275, member: 1899"] I don't understand this signing from the Roosters. OK, so they lost James Maloney. That's a fairly big loss, especially since Maloney has been able to put behind a slow start to become one of the better five eighths in 2015. However, don't they already have two of the better five eighths coming through? Jackson Hastings is considered by most judges, one of, if not THE best half coming through. While I have my own personal opinions, I certainly think he's got something to offer and it's only a matter of time before he starts making an impact at the top level. Now, the Roosters weren't the only club to recognise Hastings' efforts. In fact, he wasn't originally a Rooster to begin with. He was actually a Dragon, playing NYC at Fullback in 2013 as a 17 year old whiz kid. He was lured over with promises of opportunity and the ability to represent the club his father did. While sentimentality can cover a lot of costs, I don't think the Roosters necessarily bought him over on the cheap and considering clubs were circling him earlier in the season when the Roosters were deciding which half to keep, I think it's safe to say they had to spend a pretty penny just to keep him. Then there's Ryan Matterson, the current Wentworthville Magpies five eighth & Parramatta squad member. In 2014, Matterson represented the Junior Kangaroos, which was an acknowledgement of his abilities as a player. However, before coach Arthur could give Matterson an opportunity in first grade, he somehow scored the biggest coup of his coaching career by signing Kieran Foran. That meant that any opportunity for young Ryan vanished... So onto the free market Ryan goes! One of the best five eighths coming through the grades, surely somebody will throw him some coin? Well, if we're to believe the Roosters, that couldn't have been the case and Matterson will be lucky to be on second tier payments. Hopefully Ryan has an escape clause handy - word is Manly are on the look-out for a five eighth. But wait, there's more! While I've spoken about the number of past NYC players coming through, I haven't touched on Connor Watson, the latest break-out star (not named Latrell Mitchell) at the Roosters. Watson is a highly skilled running five eighth, in a similar mould to your Blake Austins, who has been right up there as the best and is considered to have some sort of future at the club. Will it be at five eighth? Maybe not to begin with, but I'm sure there were plenty of other clubs willing to give him five eighth wages, are we to believe he turned them down for a nothing contract to stay at the Chooks? Let's recap... If this signing is true, that means that in 2015 the Roosters will have... Jayden Nikorima Jackson Hastings Ryan Matterson Connor Watson On their books. 3 of them considered the pick of the bunch in their respective age groups, while another has emerged as one of the picks of the bunch. That's a lot of stockpiling of young talent. Surely they've invested a fair bit of coin into them as well, so at least 3/4 have to get a shot somewhere? Won't that have reprecussions on the rest of the side? Doesn't the buck have to stop somewhere? [/QUOTE]

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