fairs fair BBB, you just can't compare this situation to the Newtown ventures, Newtown are a foundation club who competed in the NSWRL for over 70 years off their own bat, South Sydney inherited them as a junior club, the sort of history and connection which Parra have shared with their juniors just isn't there.
I dare say that the situation wouldn't be the same had you tried to entice Mascot to a join venture?
Parramatta has invested a great deal of money, time and effort into all their juniors including Cabra despite the few here that will continue to carry gripes would tell you otherwise, Our junior rep sides are currently playing out of Cabra'a home ground which inturn helps them with canteen and leagues club revenue.
BBB, I know you're a smart bloke, you can't seriously tell me that we're in no danger of losing our juniors to your club if venture was to occour, surely you can't be that naive??...anyway, why wouldn't the sharks knock on the Enterence, Umina or Wyong's door for a venture?? you wouldn't be treading on the toes of an NRL club who carry an alliance with them and they've all got a solid leagues club backing behind them? just a thought.
Mate there's a few points here that I'll address:
First choice for us was Central Coast, but they were used to getting their "coupla mill" off the Storm and now somehow think they are worth more than what they deserve.
Cabra were/are all up for the plan, are they not happy with Parra?
Look I understand your frustrations, but the way of the world in Sydney, population-wise, is out west. Developing juniors and the NRL are two things that haven't combined for a very long time, you know this. Every club, in every state, is always on the look out for any good player no matter where they are from.
Melbourne have been taking juniors from everywhere since their inception, and guess what? they keep getting in GF's. If the NRL were to say, "ok every team can only have juniors" then yes at the moment we'd be a bit stuffed, and Melbourne would be gone, but we both know the NRL will never do that.
Mate, we're not the only ones raiding yours and Penrith's juniors, maybe we're just the most open with it.
It's up to you guys to identify your best talent earlier and make sure you keep them, because if you don't get them, someone else will.