@wendog33 - if you're talking the Crabs treatment here - well maybe some is OTT but the majority are on point. Mentioned this elsewhere but I know someone who came up with him through juniors. Got every opportunity because of Dad. He claimed he was the most hated kid he played with because of it. And felt their were other better kids who didn't get a run because of it (disclaimer, I asked that question).
At the sharks, he was signed in early 2018. His contract was renewed for 2 years at the end of the year. Dad got suspended in Dec 2018. Sharks dropped his contract in July 2019 - which is sensible as you give him a few games to see if he's any good without Dad (the good spin) or to avoid being seen to be dumping him because his Dad is gone (the bad spin).
If you think thats a conspiracy - 2018 they had Townsend and Moylan in the halves. 2019 they signed Johnson because Moylan was injured all the time and coming off contract. 2020 they had Townsend, Johnson and played the kids as backup (Trindall and Tracey). Adding in Townsend was coming of contract in 2021 - if he was half decent there was a natural transition into the 1sts spot. The fact they flicked him 6 months into a contract with those opportunities ahead speaks volumes.
Roosters got sold on Cronk 2.0. Realised they bought a pup and here we are. Everything I've seen and heard in the past and currently says he's a NSW cup player at best yet he's had a solid run at 3 NRL clubs and is only in his early 20's.
I can live with a shit player. I definitely cannot live with a kid who gets a free run because of his fam while other kids who work their asses off never get an opportunity. And I most definitely am not happy if that kid with the free run is earning a buck at my clubs expense.
Call it karma. They say being a sportsman kid is a real pain. S'pose it is - the highs are very high and the lows are lower. But thats the price you pay for getting opportunities that others who were more deserving missed out on.
So don't agree with you. All good though.