Perth Red
Post Whore
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- 65,957
I hope when we do decide to expand the NRL they take a leaf out of the AFL's book and do it properly, at all levels of the game. Much has been spoken about the amount of investment the AFL have and will spend on expanding into NSW and Q'land. What most overlook is that a big chunk of that money is on promotion, Jnr engagement and grass roots.
If we look at the NRL's approach to Melbourne, they have basically done nothing to support the VRL or the grass roots and jnr development in Victoria. It's all well and good having an NRL team but if it isn't growing the game from the roots is there much point? It's one of the reasons the Storm still do not have a Victorian developed player in their 1st team and continue to rely on Q'land and NSW to supply its players.
Now I don't won't to be too critical of the past as the game was hamstrung by lack of money, lack of vision, poor leadership and was split with the ARL having the will but not the money and the NRL having the money but no will. That time is no longer so lets get it right for the future.
What I would like to see is the NRL except the $4mill on offer from Victorian Govt to stage a SOO game there each year and invest that whole $4mill a year into the VRL and jnr development. Imagine how strong the game could become in schools in in the VRL with that sort of money to spend every year!
Then when the West Coast Pirates are admitted I would like to see a similiar additional investment in the WARL and grass roots RL in WA. Somewhere around $3mill a year would make a massive difference.
How I'd spend it:
Extra development officers so every WARL club had a development officer assigned who worked in all the schools in that clubs region and linked the kids back to the WARL club in question
Eventual expansion of the WARL League to include another couple of teams and get SW Warrioris up to 1st grade
Each WARL club to get $50k a year to assist in their development
Funding to develop the Pillbara League and link it to an interstate comp with NT RL
A larger inter schools como with funding for equipment, insurance and coaching to make it happen
Run a NSW cup team and continue with SGBall squad
Form a 3 way partnership with Curtin Uni and WA Govt to build a RL development centre at Curtin University. Curtin supply the land, WA Govt part fund and ARLC part fund it. We take over the Curtin hockey stadium for SGBall, NSW cup and WARL games and develop new training and administration facilities on campus.
The goal for both Pirates and Storm should be to have a majority of first team squad from their own state by 2030.
If we look at the NRL's approach to Melbourne, they have basically done nothing to support the VRL or the grass roots and jnr development in Victoria. It's all well and good having an NRL team but if it isn't growing the game from the roots is there much point? It's one of the reasons the Storm still do not have a Victorian developed player in their 1st team and continue to rely on Q'land and NSW to supply its players.
Now I don't won't to be too critical of the past as the game was hamstrung by lack of money, lack of vision, poor leadership and was split with the ARL having the will but not the money and the NRL having the money but no will. That time is no longer so lets get it right for the future.
What I would like to see is the NRL except the $4mill on offer from Victorian Govt to stage a SOO game there each year and invest that whole $4mill a year into the VRL and jnr development. Imagine how strong the game could become in schools in in the VRL with that sort of money to spend every year!
Then when the West Coast Pirates are admitted I would like to see a similiar additional investment in the WARL and grass roots RL in WA. Somewhere around $3mill a year would make a massive difference.
How I'd spend it:
Extra development officers so every WARL club had a development officer assigned who worked in all the schools in that clubs region and linked the kids back to the WARL club in question
Eventual expansion of the WARL League to include another couple of teams and get SW Warrioris up to 1st grade
Each WARL club to get $50k a year to assist in their development
Funding to develop the Pillbara League and link it to an interstate comp with NT RL
A larger inter schools como with funding for equipment, insurance and coaching to make it happen
Run a NSW cup team and continue with SGBall squad
Form a 3 way partnership with Curtin Uni and WA Govt to build a RL development centre at Curtin University. Curtin supply the land, WA Govt part fund and ARLC part fund it. We take over the Curtin hockey stadium for SGBall, NSW cup and WARL games and develop new training and administration facilities on campus.
The goal for both Pirates and Storm should be to have a majority of first team squad from their own state by 2030.
