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http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/nyc-hard-pressed-to-attract-stars/2007/08/04/1185648204691.html
It's being billed as the competition with the best young talent in rugby league, your chance to spot the next Greg Inglis before he hits the big time.
But the National Youth Competition is in danger of degenerating into farce before next year's kick-off after the majority of NRL coaches indicated they'd pull their best young talent out of the new championships.
From next year, clubs must decide on how to best foster their young guns - in the new national under-20s competition (NYC) to be played before NRL games or the open-age championships, currently known as premier league, away from the spotlight.
In a crippling blow to the NYC, most coaches couldn't guarantee they'd place their elite youngsters in the under-20s championship when The Sun-Herald contacted all 16 clubs during the week.
The move effectively means that fans could be robbed of seeing the likes of much-hyped Cronulla signing Karl McNichol, exciting Warriors back-rower Sonny Fai or any number of other teenaged stars who aren't playing at NRL level next year.
Many coaches added that young players dropped from first grade would have to make their way back up to NRL level through the open-age competition, which would be played away from NRL fixtures.
While all coaches stressed they would make decisions on players on a case-by-case basis, the majority believed their young stars would develop quicker against seasoned campaigners rather than opponents their own age.
Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett, Canberra's Neil Henry, Manly's Des Hasler and the Warriors' Ivan Cleary were particularly outspoken on their preference for their gun juniors to go straight into open-age competition.
"They need to get match hardened so you play them in the over-age competition," Hasler said. "The under-20s will be nothing more than a glorified SG Ball competition."
The Broncos have decided their brightest stars will continue to develop in the Queensland Cup rather than in the NYC.
"The last thing those kids need is spending more time playing kids their own age," Bennett said.
"We're about developing players for the NRL and we believe they'll do a better job in the state league."
Henry feared the standard of the NYC wouldn't be as high as officials are expecting.
"It's a real worry that everyone assumes we'll put those players in our national 20s - we're not," Henry said. "Is it going to be the elite competition it's drummed up to be? I question that. They're having a salary cap on it that's restricting the ability of some clubs who spend a fair bit of money on their players under the age of 20.
"We could have a situation where a guy has played a couple of first-grade games, is on the fringe and is only 19 years old, but we might send him to Souths Logan to play in the Queensland Cup competition because he might get a higher standard there than in the national 20s.
"I've got my doubts whether it will stay in its current format for more than one season."
Stuart said the NYC was "too young" and suggested it be changed to an under-22s competition.
"Premier league [open age] will be better at developing them," Stuart said. "Hopefully it will be a strong enough competition to help them develop to play first grade."
National Youth 20s tournament boss Michael Buettner said he was unconcerned by the initial feedback of the coaches. He said there would be no attempt to force clubs to field their best players in the NYC.
"Coaches are traditionally conservative but as they see the standard of footy in the Toyota Cup [NYC] they'll start to worry about the risk they are taking in not having their players being a part of what's happening," Buettner said.
"Some clubs may look to blood a player when he's on the verge of first grade against some older guys in the premier league but the under 20s is still going to be the competition that you see these players emerge from."
Several influential figures, including Player Managers Executive president Steve Gillis, are concerned that players could be lost to rugby union or Super League if they fall through the gaps between the NYC and the NRL. Buettner, however, said the responses from the coaches reinforced his confidence in the NSWRL-run open-age competition.
Penrith coach Matthew Elliott said his club would take the NYC seriously and hoped others would do likewise.
"The NRL has come up with the concept of an under-20s comp and we're going to support it," he said. "We still think the best path to first grade is premier league, but we're going to play our best 20s in that comp unless we think there's a kid close to playing first grade, who we might play in premier league.
"I like the structure we've got at the moment, but if this competition is going to be put up then we should give it our full commitment and support.
"If every club makes a big commitment to it, then it could be of very high quality.
"But I think the team that leads the 20s will probably come last in premier league."
North Queensland coach Graham Murray said the NYC would provide his promising youngsters an opportunity to get used to the rigours of travelling to away venues in the NRL.
"My immediate thoughts are that our best young blokes would be in that [NYC] team," he said. "Part of our brief is travelling and getting used to going to Sydney every second week. The other thing is you're playing on the same ground before your first-grade side, so it's a curtain-raiser."
It's being billed as the competition with the best young talent in rugby league, your chance to spot the next Greg Inglis before he hits the big time.
But the National Youth Competition is in danger of degenerating into farce before next year's kick-off after the majority of NRL coaches indicated they'd pull their best young talent out of the new championships.
From next year, clubs must decide on how to best foster their young guns - in the new national under-20s competition (NYC) to be played before NRL games or the open-age championships, currently known as premier league, away from the spotlight.
In a crippling blow to the NYC, most coaches couldn't guarantee they'd place their elite youngsters in the under-20s championship when The Sun-Herald contacted all 16 clubs during the week.
The move effectively means that fans could be robbed of seeing the likes of much-hyped Cronulla signing Karl McNichol, exciting Warriors back-rower Sonny Fai or any number of other teenaged stars who aren't playing at NRL level next year.
Many coaches added that young players dropped from first grade would have to make their way back up to NRL level through the open-age competition, which would be played away from NRL fixtures.
While all coaches stressed they would make decisions on players on a case-by-case basis, the majority believed their young stars would develop quicker against seasoned campaigners rather than opponents their own age.
Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett, Canberra's Neil Henry, Manly's Des Hasler and the Warriors' Ivan Cleary were particularly outspoken on their preference for their gun juniors to go straight into open-age competition.
"They need to get match hardened so you play them in the over-age competition," Hasler said. "The under-20s will be nothing more than a glorified SG Ball competition."
The Broncos have decided their brightest stars will continue to develop in the Queensland Cup rather than in the NYC.
"The last thing those kids need is spending more time playing kids their own age," Bennett said.
"We're about developing players for the NRL and we believe they'll do a better job in the state league."
Henry feared the standard of the NYC wouldn't be as high as officials are expecting.
"It's a real worry that everyone assumes we'll put those players in our national 20s - we're not," Henry said. "Is it going to be the elite competition it's drummed up to be? I question that. They're having a salary cap on it that's restricting the ability of some clubs who spend a fair bit of money on their players under the age of 20.
"We could have a situation where a guy has played a couple of first-grade games, is on the fringe and is only 19 years old, but we might send him to Souths Logan to play in the Queensland Cup competition because he might get a higher standard there than in the national 20s.
"I've got my doubts whether it will stay in its current format for more than one season."
Stuart said the NYC was "too young" and suggested it be changed to an under-22s competition.
"Premier league [open age] will be better at developing them," Stuart said. "Hopefully it will be a strong enough competition to help them develop to play first grade."
National Youth 20s tournament boss Michael Buettner said he was unconcerned by the initial feedback of the coaches. He said there would be no attempt to force clubs to field their best players in the NYC.
"Coaches are traditionally conservative but as they see the standard of footy in the Toyota Cup [NYC] they'll start to worry about the risk they are taking in not having their players being a part of what's happening," Buettner said.
"Some clubs may look to blood a player when he's on the verge of first grade against some older guys in the premier league but the under 20s is still going to be the competition that you see these players emerge from."
Several influential figures, including Player Managers Executive president Steve Gillis, are concerned that players could be lost to rugby union or Super League if they fall through the gaps between the NYC and the NRL. Buettner, however, said the responses from the coaches reinforced his confidence in the NSWRL-run open-age competition.
Penrith coach Matthew Elliott said his club would take the NYC seriously and hoped others would do likewise.
"The NRL has come up with the concept of an under-20s comp and we're going to support it," he said. "We still think the best path to first grade is premier league, but we're going to play our best 20s in that comp unless we think there's a kid close to playing first grade, who we might play in premier league.
"I like the structure we've got at the moment, but if this competition is going to be put up then we should give it our full commitment and support.
"If every club makes a big commitment to it, then it could be of very high quality.
"But I think the team that leads the 20s will probably come last in premier league."
North Queensland coach Graham Murray said the NYC would provide his promising youngsters an opportunity to get used to the rigours of travelling to away venues in the NRL.
"My immediate thoughts are that our best young blokes would be in that [NYC] team," he said. "Part of our brief is travelling and getting used to going to Sydney every second week. The other thing is you're playing on the same ground before your first-grade side, so it's a curtain-raiser."
