First Grade, Under 20 in 2006. Where to for Premier league ?

[Grey Nurse]

The NRL have decided to only have a First Grade squad and an Under 20 squad for all teams in 2006. This was originally going to happen in 2005, but got put back a year due to the work required in relocation of players.

Most Sydney Clubs will have a Jim Beam Cup side as their premier League type feeder, with most alraedy in existence. Sharks on the other hand dont have this luxury at the moment.

I undertasnd that Newtown JB side is very keen to get on board with Cronulla and discussions are taking place at Board level with Cronulla very interested.

Any thoughts on this, as Newtowns 18 Junior sides in the South Sydney competition will probably come into the local Cronulla comp as feeder sides for Junior purpose.

It would be interesting to see Bundeena Bushrangers vs Marrickville at Henson Park in A Grade in 2006.

any thoughts?

 

[ali]

I like the idea. Taking my cronulla hat off for a second, I think its vitally needed for development of players from the areas outside of Sydney. The likes of the Cowboys and Warriors are having to put their young scholarship holders up against grown men in the QLD cup and NZ Bartercard cup respectively.

For entertainment value, I'd probably rather watch a bunch of up and coming gun under 20's, than has been / never will be reserve graders. If we can pull off the Newtown deal, then I'll all for this. I also believe there will be scope to play a certain number of over age players.

Flegg is a joke comp now anyway, all the best youngsters are up in reserve grade or first grade. So it would be good to see a much stronger under 20 comp get the go ahead.

 

[RICHO]

I'm under the impression that it will be very similar to what we have now.


There will probably still be the "Top 25" contracted players for the club to choose from, then throw in the Under 20s. So you'd be likely to have 45 or so players to choose from.

I heard that 3 'over-age' players will be allowed in the Under 20 comp, while the rest will simply play for a feeder club somewhere. Whether that is the Newtown club, or a Sharks team playing in the Jim Beam Cup doesn't really matter. As long as the players are contracted in some way to Cronulla.

 

[King of the Hill]

Why do they keep changing this shit every year and changing the names of the system, I'm sick of it, I mean why is the second division referred to as the "Premier League"? f**king stupid if you ask me.

 

[Alan Shore]

Keep the status quo. Messing with all this stuff is senseless and counter-productive.

 

[coolumsharkie]

I think its a fair call actually...

Will save the club money in the long run I suspect and for us thats a good thing!

 

[TRIALS]

Why do they keep changing this sh*t every year and changing the names of the system, I'm sick of it, I mean why is the second division referred to as the "Premier League"? f***ing stupid if you ask me.

i'm with you ....leave sh*t alone.

 

[King of the Hill]

Yeah it will all be the same players playing lower grade footy, who cares what comps they use, I see no reason to change it.

 

[Jimbo]

Most people still just call it divvy anyway

 

[Tadpole]

Bloody NRL, rule changes every year and comp changes every year when the f*** are they going to stop fixing things that aint broken :x ](*,)

 

[RICHO]

It IS broken though!!!

Flegg is a good comp, and is Under 20s anyway.
All they are doing is removing the "Premier League" / "1st Division" / "Reserve Grade". These players go back to a Metro Cup / State League competition.

The Flegg boys get to go with the NRL team and play in Brisbane, North Queensland, Melbourne, and even Auckland/New Zealand. THis has to be good for the development of the younger players. It also eliminates the problem of 'stand alone' fixtures in the Flegg comp, ensuring that all venues have a lead up prior to the 1st Grade fixture.

 

[imasharkie]

It IS broken though!!!

Flegg is a good comp, and is Under 20s anyway.
All they are doing is removing the "Premier League" / "1st Division" / "Reserve Grade". These players go back to a Metro Cup / State League competition.

The Flegg boys get to go with the NRL team and play in Brisbane, North Queensland, Melbourne, and even Auckland/New Zealand. THis has to be good for the development of the younger players. It also eliminates the problem of 'stand alone' fixtures in the Flegg comp, ensuring that all venues have a lead up prior to the 1st Grade fixture.

That is great. It will mean up here in brissy we will get to see the flegg side play instead of some crap game that is usually on.

 

[Razor]

I'm sick of it, I mean why is the second division referred to as the "Premier League"? f***ing stupid if you ask me.

Because the NRL don't run Premier League

Premier League is run by the NSWRL and is the top competition in the state, so it's no second division. Just players who can't make the NRL play in Premier League

But Premier League is staying when the National Under 20s comp gets up and running. The National Under 20s comp is just a national version of Jersey Flegg. This was announced back in March.