The NSW Rugby League will run a state-based under-20 competition from 2018 as part of a new pathway program for elite NRL players announced by the NRL today.
Under the new structure, approved by the Australian Rugby League Commission, both the NSWRL and Queensland Rugby League will run expanded competitions to comprise up to 16 second tier clubs.
All NRL clubs will be encouraged to form partnerships with two of these teams from which they will draw talent for the Telstra Premiership.
NSWRL CEO Dave Trodden said it was exciting to be moving towards the new structure with the state bodies running a state-based under-20 competition.
“There is a fair amount of detail to be finalised and we look forward to working through that with our stakeholders,” Trodden said.
NRL Head of Football, Brian Canavan said the new competitions will replace the National Youth Competition which is not regarded as the most appropriate pathway for young players. The NYC has also become costly to run and has been identified as putting undue pressure on young players coming through the ranks.
“The new model is designed to provide a clearer pathway for elite junior players aiming to play in the NRL,” Canavan said.
“We have been concerned for some time about the welfare issues affecting many young players struggling to cope with the pressures of the NYC.
“This model will enable more juniors to stay at home, rather than having to move away from their families, to play Rugby League.
“And it will enable us to expand the game into regional and neighbouring overseas countries which we envisage will become part of the new State-based competitions.
“It will also result in significant savings for clubs as they reduce their NYC costs and invest in the State League competitions instead.”
Under the proposed new model:
- The NRL is working with the RLPA to increase the number of players that clubs can include in their full time squad. Those who fail to make the final NRL squad will return to play in the State Cup
- Salary limitations for State Cup and the State Youth Cup are also being discussed with the RLPA.
Canavan said working conditions regarding young players are still subject to negotiation with the RLPA.
“The RLPA has been involved in these discussions which commenced well before the negotiation of the new CBA and we will continue to work to secure their agreement of the new model,” he said.
Canavan said the new model would encourage clubs to develop junior players from their affiliated State Cup team – rather than simply recruiting them from other areas. It will also better cater for “later maturers” than the current system.
“The States will continue to operate their traditional junior competitions and State-based Under 20s competitions,” Canavan said.
“But players from New Zealand and country regions will be able to stay in the game without having to leave home.
“We believe this is the best way to expand the game in the short term – and create a sustainable competition structure for the long term.”
http://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2016/11/17/new_state_based_unde.html
Replies
Finally some common sense. This is a very welcome initiative. It's stupid treating 18 year old kids like rock stars who jet around the country. Doesn't do any good for their personal development and it's a silly drain on NRL club finances too. Plus it will provide opportunities for a bigger range of young blokes who might otherwise give it up when they don't make one of the NRL squads. The better kids will now step up to he senior State Cup which is better for their development as well.
No downsides here, in my opinion.
Hopefully this will also mean more reserve-grade games as the under-card matches.
Financially it is a positive, but every thing else about it is a downside (see my larger comment below).
The information provided here is pretty sketchy. Hard to get a feel for the proposal.
The less NSW people have to venture into deliverance banjo land the better, sounds like a good move
Will wait to see what the final makeup of what is proposed. Too early really to make any real judgements on it.
In short I hate this and this is all about cost savings, NOT trying to strengthen the competition! This just sounds like State governments and or Councils merging and stating this will improve the product offered to the public (in short this is just crap spin by a politician/administrator who is employed by the NRL) - Massive downside here.
From a football point of view I hate this and it will water down the competition for this age bracket. This move is about saving money for clubs and I understand from a business point of view it is not viable when you consider only about 3% of Holden Cup players actually make it in the NRL.
So what does this mean for the Warriors, Storm and Raiders? Will these three clubs provide teams in the NSW comp or just miss out and play in a sub par local comp? Rugby League in NZ is always a second sport and removing the Holden Cup u20's pathway will likely mean less talented young union players will convert to league in that country, and quite possibly in our country.
The best group of Holden Cup players already move up into the second tier comps now so nothing will change. It will be is a glorified SG Ball Comp with several more teams. Will this comp run for 26 rounds or a reduced amount of games like SG Ball?
I can see only TWO positives come out of this and one would be for several NSW teams outside of the Sydney basin being included in the comp and my suggestion would be the following inclusions in this new comp:
- A team from NSW North Coast (maybe located in Coffs Harbour or further north).
- A team from Country Western NSW.
- A team from Southern NSW (Wollongong or further south).
- A team from the Central Coast (Wyong).
- A team from Newcastle.
- If Fiji end up having a second tier team in the NSW Cup I would also like them to have an u20's team as well (that's a true pathway).
SECONDLY, if we really want a true pathway for these young guys from 16s,18s,20s into NSW Cup, then the second tier NSW Cup needs to be an aged competition such as an under 23s competition for all players who are not within the top 25 competition. This will be great for the younger player but not great for the older guy who can't crack a top 25 contract.
In the end I just hate it. I would have preferred the NRL do a press release and just state the clubs can't afford this competition anymore and we can't keep on financially propping up each club, then to put a load of spin on it.
Dave I tend to agree with you, and why I said I would wait and see the final makeup of the proposal. If this new deal ends up the same thing that Richardson proposed prior to heading out of NRL headquarters then I would not like that one either.
What I would like to see when its finally put out is what happens to the current SG and Mathews cup teams, are they still going to be doing the rounds? perhaps even have a return to the old Presidents cup comp as well and play in the same arena as the SG and Mathews. Each one is a step up towards the NRL comp and the 2 tiers between Junior level and top grade.
Basically it's the same format as the old Jersey Flegg/Premier Lrague except it's under 20's not under 21's/23's. Hopefully all games are televised.
The storm will have a team in these competitions if they put a team in the Harold Matthews and SG ball competitions
Just more on my comment, how does it water down the talent? There is already very little first grade prospects in the 20's that stay there for a long time, much like they did in previous years the best players will step up into ISP and then move between the 2 if need be.
The Raiders will have a team in the competition as they run teams in the Harold Matthews and SG Ball competition, they already have Mounties in the ISP and they'll probably either use that brand or the Raiders brand.
The pathway is still there for the New Zealand players, the competition mightn't be as large as the NYC but it will still be an under 20's competition so they have a clear path towards first grade.
I don't know how long the competition will run but I reckon it'll run more alongside the ISP than it will the Harold Matthews and SG Ball competitions. So yes, we will have 16 clubs in both the under 20's and the reserve grade so I imagine there will be 26 rounds (plus finals) or thereabouts of competition.
So with your suggestion we exclude at least 8 players from regular competition? With our current squad that would mean 20 of our players miss out on regular competition because there would be an age restriction on the reserve grade competition.
Also there already is a team from Newcastle in the 20's, they'll be called the Knights.
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