Re: Rumours Rumours everywhere : Wed Jul 22, 2015 8:00 am
I've watched Carlos play a lot this year, and I think he has had a great year of development.He learnt to play in the Warriors under 20s, and even though that was a great side, the style of play was basically for the whole side to offload and break tackles and keep the ball alive - so it wasn't a team where playmakers got to organise much.
This year at the Knights he signed in the hope of playing 5/8, which he wasn't getting to do at the Warriors.
He took his opportunities in the off season and was one of the best trainers at the club.
He was injured during 9s in Auckland during the pre season and didn't get to play in the early rounds in reserve grade, but as soon as he got the chance to play he showed he has worked on his kicking skills and organising skills. He has basically replaced Michael Dobson in the Knights reserve grade as the main playmaker, and he isn't too different in those skills, but is a far better athlete and defender than Dobson.
He got his chance in firstgrade when Mullen was injured, and although he is no Mullen, I thought he went very well and improved every game. He is also playing much better now that he is back in reserve grade. In firstgrade he was making 20-30 tackles a game and missing very few, going for some good runs, and his kicking game was good and improved every game.
As far as I can see he is an outstanding athlete with no long term injuries, and he has been training hard and working hard on his skills since he joined the Knights.
I don't know why we are letting him go, except maybe because we just signed the NSW halfback and we have the best junior halves in the world (Cogger and Lamb) hitting reserve grade next year, and we have them signed for 4 years.