2005 Balmian Ryde Eastwood Premier League

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2005 Balmain Ryde Eastwood Premier League Season Report - by Jody Rudd

The 2005 season started full of promise for the newly formed partnership but unfortunately it was to be a year full of missed opportunities and frustration. From the beginning our main objective was to develop players to NRL standards for the Wests Tigers. By being successful at this, our on field results would take care of themselves.

A large and talented squad of players were assembled at the start the pre season with the main focus of achieving NRL standards for professionalism and athletic performance. Wests Tigers gave us access to their training facilities, which made the job of creating that professional feel all the more easier.

The result was a very intense and successful Pre Season. With the guidance of the coaching and training staff the squad as a whole returned fantastic results and set a very solid platform both physically and mentally for the coming season. The squad set high standards in professionalism and preparation during this time and as a whole we went into the start of the season full of confidence and high expectations.

The season started as expected for us with a fairly convincing win over our cousins the Magpies. We went on to win three of our first four games with our only loss being a lacklustre performance against the Bulldogs. From this point onwards we struggled to find any consistency and I felt the side as a whole didn’t develop any further from this point. During the season we had too many games slip through our fingers as we constantly set ourselves up for victory with our attack and let us down with our defence. Two games against Newtown, one against Manly, Roosters, Newcastle, Canberra and the Cougars are all games that we put ourselves in a position to win but were denied. It came down to the final game of the year against the Cougars, which we had to win to earn ourselves a place in the finals. This game typified our season more than any other in the fact that we had many opportunities to take the game but were denied at the last minute.

At the end of twenty-six rounds, I truly believe you finish where you deserve. The momentum we lost after a good start to the year can be attributed to several instances. One being that due to a horrendous injury run we used forty-two players during the year, which has to be close to some form of a record. This made it very difficult to gain cohesion as the side was constantly changing. I believe the main reason we lost momentum was that the team lost focus on their own individual professionalism and preparation as the season went on. It is very difficult for Players to come straight from work to training, complete a team training session and then do extra individual training outside this. It is a huge mental and physical challenge that part time players must overcome if they are going to be competitive against players who have twice as many training hours i.e.; fulltime squads. As a coach I take responsibility for this and see this as the biggest lesson I have learnt this season. At this level the individual has to do something extra, something over and above what is covered during team training sessions if you want to compete for a spot in the next level.

Due to the depth in our squad at the start of the year we had the luxury of being able to place four of our players into an athlete development program supervised by our head trainer Jason Ryan. Our aim for this squad was to build size and power in players who we thought were being held back by deficiencies in this area. These players were sidelined for the first three months of the competition whilst in the program. Their return was very timely as we suffered a horrendous injury run during the season

There were some highlights for the year including:

• Jamie Small being selected for the NSW Residents side for the second year in a row.
• John Wilson, Rob Farah, Chris Heighington, and Brosnon Harrison all spent some time with us before returning to first grade.
• Impressive debuts by rookies Rangi Chase, Sam Moa, Keith Eshman and Tim Tobin.

My congratulations to the Jersey Flegg side for making the finals. It was a magnificent achievement to come from where they were and it is a credit to James Shepherd and his staff to get them there. SG Ball and Harold Matthews had similar seasons to our own but I am confident in the development these players are receiving from Ray Windle, Stuart Stanton and their coaching staff.

On a low light, the 2005 season saw the end of two very promising careers. Bryan Dickson, a local junior, suffered long term damage to his shoulder and has been advised by our medical staff to hang up his boots. Bryan and his family have been a part of our club for many years and the contributions they have made have been immeasurable. Bryan’s trademark defence and commitment will be sorely missed.

During the season a young halfback by the name of Dean Byrne came across from Souths looking to kick start a career full of promise but frustrated by injury. Dean immediately gelled with both the Wests Tigers and Premier League squads. Dean had established himself in the Premier League side and was putting himself in a position to pressure the First Grade halves when he suffered a bad break to his leg. The operation was a little more than routine but complications during and after surgery started what was to become set back upon set back. Through multiple operations and complications that saw Dean visit intensive care more than once, his leg suffered damages beyond repair and ultimately has ended a very promising career.  Through all this Dean has handled himself with grace and maturity beyond his years, confirming my thoughts that Dean can be successful in whatever he chooses to pursue.

It takes huge efforts from a lot of people to put a season together. The most inspiring are those who give there all for little or no return. I would personally like to thank all those who volunteered there time during the season. From the ladies on the gates to the timekeeper, our season would not have been possible without your sacrifice. While there are too many names to list (and you always miss someone), I will make special mention of a few.

I would like to thank the Assistant Coach Paul Fletcher for his input this year. His commitment to the side was unwavering all year. He has proven himself to be a very good judge of character and I felt his full support this season. He has the ability to build healthy, respectful relationships with the players and his experience as both player and coach, make him a real asset to the club.

John Dunlea managed our team this season. Between myself, Fletch and players such as Nella and Jeff Lima, we had JD doing circles this year. He handled this as well as being on the Ryde Eastwood Board, Football Sub Committee and holding a high stress job. He came through this alive and well (we think) and we thank him very much.

Jason Ryan came on board as our head conditioner and had our players in terrific shape. He left us mid season to attend to his own business and I think it was no coincidence that his departure affected our professionalism greatly. He did an incredible job whilst with us and I hope he will be available to us in the future.

David Kelly filled the role of Football manager for the first time this season. With Dave’s help and support I feel that we have made the club more professional. We both know that there is a long way to go before we can consider ourselves leaders in this area. I would like to thank Dave for all his support this season.

“Scuba” Steve Nolan, Charlie Nelson and Daniel Brown all gave their time to be on the training staff and their efforts where greatly appreciated. They played a huge role in making this club more professional.

The Medical and Strapping staff had plenty to do this season. Through it all they took ownership of their positions and were very professional. Thanks to Donald, Scott, Corey, Liz, David, Steve, Eric and Graeme for all their help this season.

I would also like to thank Lyn Phylis from the Junior Reps for her work behind the scenes. She has rescued me many times over the years either by opening up the grounds or staying back late to lock up. That’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the work she does for Balmain. All her efforts have been hugely appreciated.

Dave Lidster makes sure we have everything we need on game days. He is a blur of motion on game days and few would work harder or as unnoticed. It’s very hard to do that job and still give people their space on game day but Dave manages this very well.

I am always wary about having parents of players on my staff. Things can get tough if circumstances arise that see the player not get many opportunities. This wasn’t the case with Vince Marando this season. Vince was always there ready to do anything required and his BBQ’s were tremendous. Through it all Vince never once forced an opinion on me about the team or his son David. Vince was a huge asset to us this season and gained full respect from our players.

Thanks to Reece, Kylie, Peter and the two Pauls for the game day statistics that they supplied during the season. It is a selfless job because it makes it impossible to relax and enjoy the game

I would like to thank both the Ryde Eastwood and Balmain Boards for their support this season. In particular Steve Lavers, Danny Stapleton and Paul Sironen from Balmain, Keith Aggett, Harry Bell and Jim McClymont who together formed the Football Partnership Committee. Keith, Jim, Ernie Gillan, Paul Auburson, Malcom Chappell and Jack King all helped out at times during the year. A special mention to Balmain Chairman David Trodden whom I have had a lot of personal contact with. Dave has given me all the support I needed and it made my job so much easier. 

I owe a big thankyou to Steve Noyce who asked me to come back. He showed a lot of faith in me as he does all his staff. Steve is a major factor in the Wests Tigers becoming successful and for him to request my services was a real honour.

Thankyou to Tim Sheens and Royce Simmons who have advised me throughout the season. The time I have spent learning with them this season has been priceless. Not many coaches get the opportunity to work with experienced coaches as these and for that I am truly grateful. They’re not bad blokes either.

Ciriaco Mescia is the quiet achiever at the Wests Tigers. After sharing an office with him for the last year I can tell you that no one works harder or longer the he does. He has played a larger role in the success of the Wests Tigers than what most people realise. He has taught me a lot this season about conditioning and Rugby League in general. A thank him for all his help this year.

Most of all I would like to thank the players, who entrusted me to direct their performances during the season. Many wont be with us next season and many of them have been a part of our club for several years now. Here is a brief comment of all who have played with us this season.

Chris Beasley: Chris was a very light back rower/front rower who came to us from Ryde Eastwood. After the trials we thought it would be beneficial for Chris to build up his size and power to match his level of commitment and aggression on the field. Chris made substantial gains in this area and came out of the programme to feature heavily in the back half of the season. More gains in this area and a heavy focus on skill work will see Chris push for NRL level.

Lee Bennett: Lee came to us from St George Illawarra to inject some speed into our backline. Lee proved himself the fittest player in the whole Balmain Ryde Eastwood/ Wests Tigers establishment. Lee started the season well, even being called up to do some training with the Wests Tigers. Lee sustained an ugly dislocation of the collarbone, which saw him miss a few months before returning for the last few games of the season. Lee’s horror run continued with a broken foot during the last game of the season. Lee has a real desire to be successful in the game and if everyone had his training ethic we would have won the comp.

Justin Bishop: Bish came to us after having several years out of football. He is a big man with plenty of skill and we were very excited about his prospects. His year was littered with injury though and he really couldn’t sustain the right amount of training to get him back up to speed. The potential is there but Bish has to get some consistency both on and of the field if he is to realise it.

Joel Caine: Joel brought a lot of experience to the side and played well enough to get a run in most 1^st grade sides. It was a testing year for Joel who was hoping to resurrect his NRL career and at the same time trying to look after his affairs outside of football. At only 26 years of age, Joel has still got plenty to offer an NRL club.

Rangi Chase: Rangi was the baby of the squad and developed from a halfback into a hooker during the season. His improvement over the season was one of the highlights for me and I believe he will play first grade “if” he applies himself properly. He has all the skills and athletic ability required but he needs to be patient and embrace the development process.

Bryan Dickson: We have already mentioned Dicko. He will be missed as a Player but we hope to keep Bryan involved in some capacity in the future.

David Gower: Played some games for us from the Jersey Flegg this season and didn’t let anyone down. David has a lot of potential and a lot of scope for athletic improvement. He needs to push himself out of his comfort zone and commit himself wholly to what he wants. No one has seen the best of David Gower and only he can extract that from himself.

Nick Graham: Nick started the season with us and suffered an ankle injury that he never really got over. Nick and the Wests Tigers came to an agreement to part ways, ending a stellar career, which started at the Cronulla Sharks. I appreciate Nick’s input this year and wish him the best in whatever he pursues.

Simon Greally: Local junior who I have a lot of time for. Had a horrible year with injury and never really got going. Simon has just signed a deal with the NSW Waratahs and will be missed. He has been involved with us for a long time and we will miss his exhilarating speed and vision. I personally will miss Simon’s company and wish him all the best for the future.

Bronson Harrison: I don’t need to say much about Bronson. He is still very young and the only reason we saw him this season is because everyone at the Wests Tigers were performing so well. I would like to thank Bronson for the way he embraced the side when he came back to us. With players like Bronson coming through, the future of the Wests Tigers is in safe hands.

Chris Heighington: Only spent a couple of games with us this season before going on to realise his potential and become one of the Wests Tigers best. Gave his all when he came back to us.

Luke Hession: Talented centre with Gidley like skills. So much so that the Knights just had to have him. Luke has signed on with them for the next two seasons and we hope he fulfils his potential and plays NRL. Luke suffered a bad shoulder injury this season and he was sorely missed in the latter half of the year.

Mark Luland: Mark returned to us after a stint in France. He took some time to come to hand as he returned with a badly broken arm. Mark backed himself to make the side and trained accordingly. He secured a spot on the wing for us and was later moved into the back row, which was a move that proved very successful. He was hampered by a niggling groin injury later in the season but still managed to turn in some good performances.

Matt Jobson: Matty spent some time with us and was moved to Wests before coming back to us later in the year. Matt’s year was plagued with injury but he managed a number of solid NRL games. I thank Matt for the commitment he showed our side when he played for us and I wish him the best in the future.

Stacey Katu: Stacey was a real find this season. He is the type of player that every side needs. His commitment to the little things in a game was outstanding and he was a pleasure to coach. A poor off season due to injury meant that Stacey had a slow start, but through hard work he became one of our most valuable players. Stacey played most of the back half of the season in the unfamiliar role of front row because of injury problems. He never complained even though we both knew this wasn’t his position. I appreciate his effort and sacrifice this season.

Jeff Lima: Jeff began the season still bearing the effects of a Knee reconstruction from the previous season. It took a while and a stint at our feeder club Woy Woy to kick-start Jeff’s season. From this point onwards, Jeff was consistently one of our best players. We suffered injuries to the rest of our specialist front rowers and Jeff played a lone hand in propelling our side forward in the back half of the season. Jeff played well enough to break into most NRL sides but his form coincided with the outstanding form of the Wests Tigers making it virtually impossible for him to get his chance. I believe Jeff is off to France next season and I wish him all the best for the future.

Dave Marando: Dave was one of the players in the Athlete development program at the beginning of the season. When the program was over, he spent some time with feeder club Woy Woy before coming back into our side for a win against the Magpies and he never left. A true professional, David dots the I’s and crosses the t’s. He is a real footballer and goes about his business with no fuss. He became a very valuable member of our side.

Michael Meigan: Meggs come down from the Cowboys for an opportunity and trained on with us during the off-season. He played a number of games for us and eventually went back and played with Cabramatta in the Jim Beam Cup. Meggs always gave his all and had the respect of the team. I thank Meggs for his contribution this season.

Mark Merridth: Mark started the season with us and was moved to Wests during the season. I feel Mark was just starting to hit his straps when he was moved to Wests and we missed him when he was gone. I could not fault Marks effort and his commitment to the side. I wish him all the best in the future.

Sam Moa: Sam was another rookie coming through from Jersey Flegg. Sam has a great attitude and works very hard on his game. Being a front rower, Sam showed us that he is made of the right stuff to compete at a higher level. He has a good chance of making it to the NRL if he keeps working on his game and is patient.

Steve Mowbray: Steve is one of the best guys I have ever coached. After years of struggling with injury he decided at the start of the season to have a rest from the rigors of Premier League and joined our feeder club at Woy Woy. He gained the respect of the team by giving his all and cemented that respect with his integrity. I wish Mowy all the best in the future.

Tim McGann: Tim “Milkshake” McGann came to us via the Wests Tigers as a Rugby recruit trying his hand at League for the first time. Tim proved himself a valuable team member on and off the field. Tim has a built in desire to be successful at whatever he applies himself to. He has fully embraced Rugby League and has left no stone unturned in his effort to convert this season. Tim is a born leader and a pleasure to coach, he holds himself to a higher level than people around him and that lifted us during the season.

Jamie Nowland: Although Jamie played Premier League last season, this was time for him to cement a permanent position and start to pressure for NRL. He achieved that amidst injury and pressure from good performances from other players. I feel Jamie developed a lot this season as a half and I feel there is still a lot more development to come.

Luke O’Callaghan: Luke started as a fringe player in the squad at the start of the year but soon developed to be a very important part of our side. Luke’s high work rate and mobility for a big guy were a great asset fir the side. His no fuss attitude made him very easy to coach and his attention to the little things during a game meant he did a lot of work that only educated eyes see. Luke suffered a bad shoulder injury that effectively finished his season half way through the year.

David Pangai: David is a very talented footballer who can turn a game on his own. David struggled with consistency in Jersey Flegg this season and only played one game for us. David is only young and has a huge future if he can find consistency not only in his football but also in his life. If David can focus solely on David, he could be something special. He leaves us to join the Roosters next season and this might be the fresh start David needs to fulfil his potential. I wish him all the best.

Ronald Price: Princey had a slow start to the season as he was still recovering from a knee reconstruction from the previous season. Once he got going he showed glimpses of what he really is capable of. Princey suffered a bad pectorial tear just as he was gaining some match fitness. He has showed enough to suggest that if he is serious about his football and commits to his fitness during the off-season, he can push for NRL again.

Matthew Rieck: Matt came to us after a short stint with Wests. He had already played a few games in the NRL this season and was a welcome addition to the team. He added a touch of speed to our backline and gave the players around him a lot more confidence. He was very unlucky not to have broken back into the NRL side but to his credit he kept applying himself.

Ranald Schulz: Ranald showed glimpses of what he is capable of this season but injuries made it hard for him to get any form of consistency this season. Ranald has a very good training ethic and a good turn of foot from Dummy Half. Ranald needs to work on his defence and ruck work for him to improve further.

Alwyn Simpson: Alwyn came to us from Brisbane after injuries saw Canberra release him from their full time squad two seasons ago. Alwyn was hoping for a change of luck but his year was one full of injuries yet again. When he did get a chance to put a few games together he started to show what he could do. Alwyn was outstanding under the high ball and showed all the skills with the boot. I hope his luck changes in the future.

Jamie Small: Another player who had a frustrating year with injury. Jamie’s was all the more frustrating that he seemed to be on the brink of his NRL debut each time he suffered a setback. When Jamie was on the field he was a true leader and no one deserves a shot at NRL more than him. Jamie will be leaving us for an opportunity to fulfil his dream to play in the NRL with the Bulldogs. I am very confident that this change in scenery and luck will see Jamie achieve his dream. It was a very big decision for Jamie as no one wears the Black and Gold prouder than him. The Club and myself thank Jamie for all he has done for us during his time here and we wish him the best.

Tim Tobin: No frills front rower/ back rower who came up from Flegg this season. He came on in difficult situations and held his own in this company. Tim is a real footballer in the sense that he loves to compete and gives his all for the team. He has earned the respect from all the senior players and staff and we wish him the best for next year.

Tanieli Tuiaku: Nella came to us after being spotted by Royce Simmons playing for Tonga. He was relatively new to Rugby League and Professional sport and struggled at times with the demands it places on you. Nella is a freakish athlete who can develop into a top line NRL player if he is patient and adapts to the lifestyle of a professional player. When he decides that he wants to be the best he can be, he will be a real hit!

Sean Vidito: Sean came to us from St George Flegg last season. He has a huge athletic frame and good footwork and ball skills to go with it. Sean started the season in the athlete development program. He gained in power and size but struggled a little to transfer this onto the field. Sean found it hard to get any form of consistency this season and lost a lot of confidence. This affected his defensive game the most. Sean has the potential to develop into an NRL player if he wants to.

Reece Wellington: Reece came to us from St. George Illawarra this season and started the year well. He had had a bit of a form slump mid season but to his credit he worked extra hard and came back into the side by the years end. Reece is a very well like person who has the respect of all his peers. I wish him well in the future.

Leigh Bowman: Lizzard came back from France after having a successful stint over there with St Gaudens. Unfortunately in his last game over there, he broke his leg and took longer than he thought to rehabilitate. We never really got to see the best out of him but he always brought toughness and commitment to the team when his limited opportunities presented themselves.

As I write this report some amazing events have taken place. The Wests Tigers have won the NRL Premiership! What a fantastic achievement for all involved. I can tell you that it wasn’t a miracle or an overnight change in tactics that led the West Tigers to the title. It was three seasons of hard work from all the Coaching and Administration Staff and this achievement will hopefully be the beginning of much more to come.

Finally, my family and I have decided that the life as a coach at this level is not the life for us at this point in time. I intend to return to my hometown in Leeton to spend more time with my family who have supported me all the way during my career as a coach and a player. I thank everyone who I have worked with over the years. I have had a great association with Balmain and now the Wests Tigers, which I hope to continue in some shape or form. This club will always be in my heart and wish everyone success in the future. Go the Tigers!

Jody Rudd

Premier League Coach 2005

Competition Ladder - Round 26