Terry Monster wrote:
And as an extra to that I would just like to add a few things. Every half back is inexperienced at some point in his career and many have started in teams under pressure, he's only going to get experience by being played. It doesn't matter who the game is against, play the lad if he's got talent. Look at the kid Mitchell Pearce, dropped into first grade at 17 in a struggling Sydney Roosters side in 2007, a year later he's New South Wales half back. First team exposure is good for young players, not keeping them wrapped upin cotton wool in reserve grades. A more recent example, look at that kid Sam Tomkins, playing in a strugglin Wigan side, he's high on confidence and playing well, Richard Myler, playing for Salford, there all kids being exposed to super league and its doing their games the world of good.
Spot on. Though I would argue that being picked to sit on the subs bench next to banana but not being played while your starting player hobbles around the pitch must do far more for self confidence.