Skinner
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From : http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/blocker-hits-out-at-youth-comps-lack-of-wise-old-heads/2007/11/12/1194766589737.html?page=fullpage#
I actually agree with Blocker, this has not been well thought out at all.
Blocker hits out at youth comp's lack of wise old heads
FORMER Test and State of Origin front-rower Steve Roach has joined the chorus of discontent against the NRL's new marquee national under-20s competition - claiming it will hinder, rather than help, the game's development.
It comes after his highly rated son, Daniel, was forced to switch back to rugby union as he is three months too old to play in the much-hyped National Youth Competition (NYC) next year. It will replace the premier league next season as the curtain-raiser to NRL fixtures.
The NYC will pit the game's best young talent not playing first grade against each other.
Roach, however, believes officials erred in two areas when they drew up the blueprint:
that forwards will be caught in a no-man's land whereby they are too old to play in the competition and that the development of all players will be stunted because they are not learning from more experienced players.
Some NRL coaches have already foreshadowed they will play much of their younger talent in the new-look premier league competition. There is little doubt, however, that the pressure will be on them to play their best talent in the new NYC, which has significant corporate backing.
"I hate it," Roach, the former Balmain prop, said. "No forward in the history of the game has ever made it at 20. You learn the craft from the older blokes.
"[Former St George prop] Pat Jarvis played for Australia when he was 27. Two of the best front-rowers in the game are Steve Price and Petero Civoniceva - one's 33 and one's 31. How can you make it when you're 20? Name me one front-rower who played first grade at 20.
"If that's the road they're trudging, well, it's all uphill.
"You don't learn anything off 20-year-olds. What do kids learn off kids? I never learnt anything off a 20-year-old."
Roach said officials would be better served switching the competition eligibility to under-23.
"Give the kids a chance," he said. "I don't know how they've come up with it. Maybe some sponsors have got something to do with it. But it's not the way the game should go."
Daniel Roach, who was a sought-after prospect after impressing during his school days in rugby union at St Ignatius College before coach Ricky Stuart signed him to play for Cronulla, was forced back to his old code after being too old by three months to play in the competition next season.
He played Jersey Flegg at Cronulla last season but, despite his league pedigree, will now play for Northern Suburbs in the NSW club rugby competition.
"What was he going to do?" Roach said. "He's a front-rower, and he missed the under-20s. He could go and play for the second-tier Cronulla side, which is actually a third-tier Cronulla side because the under-20s is meant to be the second tier how are you going to learn your trade?
"Unfortunately, there's no pathway for a 20-year-old front-rower.
"Where do you go? He'll just go back and play rugby now."
But Roach said he was not simply a bitter father.
Rather, he admitted he feared for the game's ability to produce forward talent because of the structure.
"I don't think the pathway for kids is as good as what we all think," he said. "The people who made the decision it just doesn't seem to me to be very well thought through.
"I'll support my sons whoever they play for. One plays for Norths rugby, one plays for Drummoyne water polo, and the other plays for the Bulldogs.
"One and all, I support the game, but I don't like the way the game's going."
I actually agree with Blocker, this has not been well thought out at all.
Blocker hits out at youth comp's lack of wise old heads
FORMER Test and State of Origin front-rower Steve Roach has joined the chorus of discontent against the NRL's new marquee national under-20s competition - claiming it will hinder, rather than help, the game's development.
It comes after his highly rated son, Daniel, was forced to switch back to rugby union as he is three months too old to play in the much-hyped National Youth Competition (NYC) next year. It will replace the premier league next season as the curtain-raiser to NRL fixtures.
The NYC will pit the game's best young talent not playing first grade against each other.
Roach, however, believes officials erred in two areas when they drew up the blueprint:
that forwards will be caught in a no-man's land whereby they are too old to play in the competition and that the development of all players will be stunted because they are not learning from more experienced players.
Some NRL coaches have already foreshadowed they will play much of their younger talent in the new-look premier league competition. There is little doubt, however, that the pressure will be on them to play their best talent in the new NYC, which has significant corporate backing.
"I hate it," Roach, the former Balmain prop, said. "No forward in the history of the game has ever made it at 20. You learn the craft from the older blokes.
"[Former St George prop] Pat Jarvis played for Australia when he was 27. Two of the best front-rowers in the game are Steve Price and Petero Civoniceva - one's 33 and one's 31. How can you make it when you're 20? Name me one front-rower who played first grade at 20.
"If that's the road they're trudging, well, it's all uphill.
"You don't learn anything off 20-year-olds. What do kids learn off kids? I never learnt anything off a 20-year-old."
Roach said officials would be better served switching the competition eligibility to under-23.
"Give the kids a chance," he said. "I don't know how they've come up with it. Maybe some sponsors have got something to do with it. But it's not the way the game should go."
Daniel Roach, who was a sought-after prospect after impressing during his school days in rugby union at St Ignatius College before coach Ricky Stuart signed him to play for Cronulla, was forced back to his old code after being too old by three months to play in the competition next season.
He played Jersey Flegg at Cronulla last season but, despite his league pedigree, will now play for Northern Suburbs in the NSW club rugby competition.
"What was he going to do?" Roach said. "He's a front-rower, and he missed the under-20s. He could go and play for the second-tier Cronulla side, which is actually a third-tier Cronulla side because the under-20s is meant to be the second tier how are you going to learn your trade?
"Unfortunately, there's no pathway for a 20-year-old front-rower.
"Where do you go? He'll just go back and play rugby now."
But Roach said he was not simply a bitter father.
Rather, he admitted he feared for the game's ability to produce forward talent because of the structure.
"I don't think the pathway for kids is as good as what we all think," he said. "The people who made the decision it just doesn't seem to me to be very well thought through.
"I'll support my sons whoever they play for. One plays for Norths rugby, one plays for Drummoyne water polo, and the other plays for the Bulldogs.
"One and all, I support the game, but I don't like the way the game's going."
