That being said, it should never be the policy of having "incumbency or automatic" selection in school boy sport given the different developmental rate each boy can have. Have read on this site regularly about boys growing 12cm and putting on 12kgs in the off season. To your other point, "siblings", do you simply dismiss an only child in favour of a younger sibling from a large family? I know of many "siblings" who have little of the talent of their older brother/sister. Use as a guide only.
Before you start reading, I'm sorry. I clearly have far, far too much time on my hands.
1. JJ Taulagi is considered big enough to play Super Rugby. Murray is already bigger than JJ.
3. Having watched Murray a couple of times last year, and for maybe the last five weeks at Premier Colts, it is clear that Murray is cut from the same cloth from JJ. They have similar skillsets and the same style of play - attack the line, use footwork to break tackles, look for continuity with offloads.
4. In an interview I did with JJ last year, he spoke about his experience coaching the Uni U18 Sevens team to a Noosa Sevens win. That team had guys like Kris Verevis, Kalala Meni, Tony Hunt and Jaydn Ngamanu, and JJ said his brother made the biggest impact on the tournament.
5. Murray has already played tournaments with Tribe Sevens, arguably the world's best touring Sevens team.
6. In the siblings argument, we've watched Murray's greatest influencer play for the Reds. Just like I'd argue that there is a good chance that Isaac Lucas will attempt Rugby Sevens and be pretty good at it - we can make this call because three of his brothers went through.
How about some examples from the
last twelve months?
1.Brendan Nasser's son turns out to be pretty good at rugby.
2.The younger brother of Western Force lock Tom Hockings turned out to be pretty good - he's playing for the Aus U20s at 17 years old.
3. Isaac Lucas is pretty good.
4. Sam Scott Young's son turned out alright - he's playing Aus U20s at 18.
5. Tim Horan's son is bloody unlucky not to be starting for Premier Grade, at 19.
6. Mack Mason's little brother is about to start at 10 for Churchie.
7. Matt Bougoure from TGS was just like his elder brother Stu, who was a gun.
8. I saw Angus Blyth's little brother got selected to the Queensland U15s - what are the odds that he is going to grow in to a very tall second rower?
9. Twins Harry and Jared Hoopert both played First XV for Toowoomba Grammar
10. Twins Jack and Sean Farrell played First XV for BBC
11. Mitch Straker played First XV in Year 11, just like his brother Jack Straker (Aus Schoolboys)
12. Tiaontin Raoren's little brother Tony is expected to star for BBC in 2016
13. Campbell Halliday (BGS) took over BGS' halfback spot from elder brother Fergus, both represented Queensland in the position.
14. Toowoomba fullback BJ Oates (2015) is the younger brother of Broncos wing Corey Oates. Guess what? He's great at footy too!
15. Terrace Hooker Harry Birgin was a star for GT's First XV - just like elder brother Ben, from 2011
16. A little bloke named Shea Lalagavesi from State High appeared on a JGC team sheet last year - I didn't even have to check to guess that his position was 14, because he was the younger brother of State High's 2009 dream team winger and current Souths Magpies speedster Josateki Lalagavesi.
17. Neal McNamara started for State High on the wing last year, he was the younger brother of Australian U20s fullback Liam McNamara
18. Richard Clift, the lock from Toowoomba Grammar, is going to be a fair shout for Queensland this year. His elder brother played for the Melbourne Rebels U20s this year.
19. Likewise, Tom Jeffries from Nudgee College will probably be a very good player at First XV level - his eldest brother Sam plays for the Rebels, his middle brother Nick played GPS 1 in 2014.
20. Matt Sautia was a dynamic Number 8 - you probably could have guessed that he would have a good turn of pace, considering he's the little brother of Chris Feauai-Sautia
21. Terrace winger Matt Forsyth played three years of First XV. You can tell he was pretty quick - his elder brother Dan, BGS' 2013 halfback, is a current Australian 400m champion.
22. Nudgee college flanker Kalala Meni played for the Australian Schoolboys, while his little brother TJ played on the wing for the First XV. Talented siblings strike again
23. Churchie flanker James McMillan played Australian Schoolboys - just like his older brother Digger, who played in 2013.
24. BGS flanker Fraser McReight is the representative star of his First XV - just like his elder brother Stuart was in 2013.
All this is to say that to have an older sibling to learn the ropes from, with the same genetic material, have a better chance at being better than their peers.
