Joe Molloy was joined by Hector Ó hEochagáin and Colm Keys on the Sunday Paper Review to discuss a number of pressing issues that are taking up the papers, including Neil Francis’ piece in the Irish Independent about Joey Carbery’s future with Leinster.
Carbery and Leinster teammate Ross Byrne have been heavily linked with moves to Ulster following their decision to revoke the contract of out half Paddy Jackson.
And Colm Keys believes Carbery would be better served leaving his province to secure more playing time and gain the necessary experience to thrive on the international stage.
“What is the solution for Joey Carbery?” asked Keys.
“If Johnny Sexton is going to be number one for the next two to three years -where does the solution lie for Carbery? [It’s] not as a fullback.
“His talent is really at out half and that really needs to start developing soon. He really has to weigh this up and go somewhere. We saw it in American football where the quarter-back was under Tom Brady and he’s gone.
“It has to happen somewhere for him over the next two years. In all likelihood, it’s not going to happen for him in Leinster because Sexton is playing there right at the top of his game.
“Something has to give and I think it’s Joey Carbery.”
Hector Ó hEochagáin also agreed that Carbery would benefit from a Leinster departure and pointed to Ian Madigan as an example to learn from.
“Look at Ian Madigan with Bristol and he’s going to be playing in the Premiership. There’s another guy who had to make a decision and go to England,” Ó hEochagáin said.
“And people were going, ‘where’s he going? To Bristol? To what?’ And they will be in the Premiership next year. He’s been reborn.”
Neil Francis suggested in his piece that playing time can be overrated and cited Robbie Henshaw’s performance against the Scarlets in the semi-final of the Champions Cup as proof that players can thrive following a long rest.
“I don’t think that Joey Carbery would agree with [game time being overrated,” Keys added.
“He wants to be in the thick of the action – wherever that action is going to be. He’s a professional and he needs to be on the pitch making decisions and playing at a certain level to progress his career.”
Written by James Hopper
