BELMORE
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Get over it
New recruit Nick Meaney can help lead Bulldogs to bright future
- Thread starter Bulldog_4_Life
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speedy2460
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When you mentioned "Learn to tackle" and "expert arm grabber" I thought you were talking about Hopoate.
S.B.W_Jnr
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Hoppa on the wing worked for him at manly but definitely not centre. For some reason I think he can create something out of nothing on the wing like inu.
Hasler should of kept inu on the wing like 2012 don't know why he put him in the centres that sort of killed his career.
Paulie Gualtieri
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Bulldog_4_Life
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It's more of the same really, catching bombs, running the ball back, finishing tries.... and at this stage of his career I would really like to see him continue improving his playmaking skills and he can't do that on the wing.
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I agree hoppa to wing ... carries the ball out of our half well
Blue&whiteAxe
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"I’m confident he’ll be in that starting fullback position to start the season, all things going to plan"...Devastating thing to read on a Friday afternoon. I had big plans for the weekend. Now I cant be fucked.FOR a kid people thought was “never going to amount to anything”, Nick Meaney has the makings of a future star and Canterbury believe he’s a foundation stone of their rebuild.
The young fullback might describe himself as just “a skinny kid from Ballina” but if that’s all he is, he punches well above his weight.
Junior representative honours weren’t a given for Meaney, but he’s made up for it since he first signed with Newcastle three years ago.
He excelled in their system, winning awards each season. In Holden Cup in 2016 he took out the under-20s player of the year. He backed that up the next year with reserve grade player of the year. Then he capped off his time in the Hunter with the Rookie of the Year award this September.
“I never thought I’d come this far so quickly,” Meaney said.
Nick Meaney celebrates scoring a try for the Knights. Picture: Getty Images
“Coming from Ballina as a skinny kid back then playing football. I’m pretty proud of myself, I guess, with where I’m at right now. I never really made too many rep teams, just played local and school football.
“I guess there would have been a few people there thinking he’s never going to amount to anything.
“But it all comes down to hard work and what you want to do with your life really.”
As a 16-year-old, in 2014, he got a start playing A-Grade for the Ballina Seagulls. The club had lost Brian Kelly as its winger and trialled some replacements.
Then-coach Greg Barnes wanted to have a look at Meaney as a back-up player, but the teenager’s work ethic demanded selection.
“We gave him a trial to see how he would handle it and if we could use him throughout the year at some stage but he really excelled early on and he cemented a position all year,” Barnes said.
“He was a major contributor in us going back-to-back in the A-grade comp with Ballina in that 2014 season.”
Nick Meaney was named rookie of the year this season for Newcastle. Picture: AAP
His efforts didn’t only impress locally. While Meaney might talk down his success at junior level, he was catching the eye of recruitment managers in Sydney.
Bulldogs general manager of football Gareth Holmes was working as elite programs manager of the NRL in 2015 and knew of Meaney.
Then-West Tigers recruitment manager Warren McDonald was tipped off about the “skinny kid from Ballina” and tracked his progress. He missed out on getting him to Concord, the Knights signing him instead, but now Holmes finally has the chance to work with him. And he’s expecting big things.
“His physical attributes, he’s tall, he’s got great leg speed, he’s tasted a little bit of NRL this year, great under a high ball,” Holmes said.
“Those little characteristics that in some areas we might not have necessarily had or been utilising to our full potential, he’s got.
“He’s a player who my recruitment managers had been tracking since he was 16 years old.
“He has attributes to add some speed to our game and I’m confident he’ll be in that starting fullback position to start the season, all things going to plan.
“We’re excited about him.”
Blue&whiteAxe
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Brad Abbey v2.0 = 100% Accurate description of him
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I don't get the Abbey comparison at all......Meaney has him covered for pace are completely different players.
Meaney showed more in first grade in that round 19 game v Titans they Abbey has shown in his whole career.
Meaney showed more in first grade in that round 19 game v Titans they Abbey has shown in his whole career.
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I am looking forward for this kid to play for us next year and at fullback. His young and keen and is our future. I am sure they will find another spot for hoppa but meaney needs to be our specialist fullback something we have missed for years. With Lewie and now this kid we are getting there and will take some time.
Blue&whiteAxe
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If you cloned Abbey, out would pop Meaney from the cloning machine.
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You haven't watched him much then........tell me how they are similar ?
Blue&whiteAxe
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both tall, lanky ineffective FG Fullbacks who achieved everything there was to achieve at Jnr levels, however couldn't soar like the eagle they were drummed up to be.
I wish the kid all the best, I'm rooting for him, I truly am. For fuck sakes we need something to go our way an I hope its him. But my comments are an exact representation of his performances in 2018.
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Did you watch Abbey in anything above under 20s he was a deer in the headlights! Meaney has shown plenty in limited NRL. We aren’t going to agree so no point going with this because your comments don’t match his performance.
Blue&whiteAxe
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Is that you Nick?
Weak Gutted Dog
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Wow. What a dud that got turned out to be. What was the deal with him ?
Felt sorry for him with the hype and pressure.
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Shows your level of knowledge to be honest...
Blue&whiteAxe
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Played the game my whole life to Jnr representative level. Been involved with an International team as well. Travelled overseas with said international team as part of coaching staff. I know the game a little better than you think.
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Are we even sure of his quality? I haven't seen enough of him to know he can handle fullback full-time. I would further develop him him in reserve grade if it becomes obvious he is not quite ready. He needs to put another 5kg on his skinny arse frame or he will be ragdolled regularly. We have the Tongan fullback there if need be.
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