Written Tuesday 15/05/07

During the week a localish lad,  Rian Cherry was named in the Qld under 19 side to play in a curtain raiser to the State of Origin coming up.  I think he may come from Roma,  I'm not sure,  but he came to Toowoomba to complete his schooling.  I have watched him,  as I have watched many players,  run around in rugby for TGS over the last couple of years.  He headed out and played a bit of Friday night club footy with us last year,  2006,  and I thought then,  gee this guy is a great space runner,  would love to see him play fullback,  or outside centre.

Rian was thrust into the flyhalf role at TGS last year,  a role that would have been particularly difficult for him given that he had never played rugby before,  let alone flyhalf in rugby,  and he was probably behind a pack under pressure,  delivering backfoot ball,  all difficult stuff for the novice flyhalf.  However,  had he been allowed to just have a little more space,  and a little more time,  with the simple unstructured instructions of play what is in front of you,  I really think we would have seen this guy competing for Qld honours with the likes of Aidan Toua and company.  That is in no way belittling Aidan either,  it just puts in perspective where I see Rian's ability.   His foot skills are certainly in that realm and he is quick and strong.  Obviously playing half back in rugby league,  and hooker last week,  his pass must be pretty good and you can't hide in defence in that game either.  I had always thought Rian seemed uncomfortable at 10,  much the same as Aidan Toua,  the free flowing and gifted ball carrier from Churchie seems now in 2007 with the role.  I also have no doubts that both could become the 10 role,  but it is a hard one to be thrust into at this level.

Now in 2007,  the guy has got to play fullback,  and I believe quite well,  but he is lost to rugby I'm afraid,  he may have never really been going to stay,  but you have to give it all every opportunity to materialize.  The code doesn't do enough to embrace the talent and skill that sometimes comes it's way and falls at it's feet.  I hadn't seen Rian for some time,  until invited recently to attend a Home Grown Rugby League training that a number of Broncos coaches attended. 

Rian's level of confidence and comfort in the 13 man code was immediately obvious,  knows the game,  is well versed in the game and trained very hard and looked very fit.  If we want ability like the ability that Rian has to stay with rugby,  then we really have to work very hard to make these guys comfortable with the game, to show them that there is a structure in the game,  that there is a pathway within the game (I don;t believe there is either a structure or decent pathway at this point in time that gives all people fair and decent opportunity to play at the level they are comfortable at and for the elite to continue to develop and enhance their abilities and skills through higher levels) to teach them the game,  and ease them into the game with alot of support.  Flyhalf at 1st XV level would be the last place I would throw a guy about to play his first game of rugby.

I spoke to Rian after that training,  and spoke to him of his level of confidence and comfort here vs in rugby.  He agreed saying he was still learning rugby,  and some other stuff.  My advice was again pretty simple,  forget most of the rubbish you are being told,  back yourself and play what's in front of you.  Nice words,  easy to say,  but the more you try and coach a Rian Cherry,  the less effective he becomes,  just let him go and play.

I see from the media reports yesterday that Rian is training with the Broncos Under 20 side and will possibly play in that competition next year.  I also understand that he plays some first grade and Under 18 here for Souths in a pretty tough competition,  a fairly large touch up in toughness from 1st XV rugby,  for a number of reasons.

We naturally wish Rian all the best,  in the short term for his sojourn on to Suncorp shortly,  and long term for his NRL ambitions.

I Missed 100% of the Shots I Didn't Take,  Michael Jordan.