The departure of promising young New Zealand Warriors back-rower Eliesa Katoa to join the Melbourne Storm has drawn a stinging criticism of the New Zealand sideโs development programs from a former Warriors coach.
The Warriorsโ CEO Cameron George announced Katoaโs move on Sunday after granting him permission to talk to other clubs earlier in the season.
George claimed it was โso much competition for spots in the back-rowโ that forced the 22-year-old to look elsewhere, but former Warriors coach Tony Kemp has told SEN Radio listeners that the claim is a bald-faced lie.
โIf you think Eliesa Katoa should be gone because of depth in the back row at the Warriors โ who canโt make a break and give up a lot of penalties on these edges โ youโve got rocks in your head,โ said Kemp, who coached the Warriors from 2004-05," he said.
โThe reason you canโt get this kid to the top of his ability is because your development program doesnโt work.
โYou put him in first grade and you expect him to do it all himself.
โDonโt give me โthereโs too much depthโ โ youโre sitting 14th, there isnโt enough depth in your back row.
โYou should have kept this kid and developed him like Craig Bellamyโs going to do.โ
Kemp went further, telling the Warriors CEO he needs to focus more on development and retention of young stars if the club wants to succeed in the future.
โYou need to really have a look at your club development program. You canโt keep bringing kids in.
โDonโt start sending your best kids over to Australia and giving them to Melbourne so they can go win a competition.โ
The Warriors are currently in 14th position and on a four-game losing streak. They'll host the Bulldogs in Auckland on Friday night at 8pm local (6pm AEST).
