imported_Mailman
Juniors
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<table cellspacing=0 cellpadding=10 width="100%" border=0> <tbody> <tr> <td> I actually wrote thispiece about a month ago on WORL, but like broncos " when we were kids" thread , it flopped in the face of the girdler threads and sexiest player threads. I wanted to bring it back purely to see what you guys think and get your opinions which I respect so highly:
With talk of a war developing between the 2 rugby codes, a suggestion should be made to the League heavyweights to forget trying to secure big name Wallabies for million dollar contracts, and instead, attack them where it will hurt them most: their schoolboy stars.
Sure, a Larkham or a Gregan would be a massive blow to Union and a coup for League, but their signatures would come at a price too great for most NRL clubs.
What NRL clubs should do is exploit Union through their schoolboys. With the private school sytem the way it is today (i.e The GPS competitions in Sydney and Brisbane), Union has a structured talent pool to select from. Most of the Schoolboy representative players come from these two competitions, withthe better playersgoing on to make the Australian Schoolboys side. And as history has shown, a large percentageof Australian Schoolboys Union representatives often progress to the senior ranks through the Reds, Warratahs and Brumbies, and eventually, the Wallabies.
The likes of Ryan Cross and Craig Wing, who both made the Australian Schoolboys Union side in 1997, have proven that schoolboy rugby stars can make an impact in rugby league. They were identified for their talent and have kicked on dramatically in League, with Union now regretting that they were not proactive enough in securing this talent when they had an opportunity.
Union's schoolboys stars are ripe for the picking, because often, having played 5 years of union at high school, they are looking for a change and a fresh opportunity. In my dealings with talented unionkids of Australian Schoolboys representation, many have often commented that they would jump at any offer by an NRL club, simply because they think League would be fun and they would like to try something new.
These Union schoolboys are also easy targets because, until theyleave high school, they are given little attention from their state's governing body. For example, in Qld, there is a programme called the "Reds College", however, this is usually only for players between 18 and 22. This is the only form of recognition these kids receive, and the best thing is, it still does not involve any contractual obligations. So when an NRL club approaches them, many are overwhelmed and are prepared to sign for little money, simply because they are ecstatic that they have been recognised for their talent.
Another reason to attack Union's schoolboys, is the fact that once they leave high school, if they are not under contract to the Reds, Warratahs or Brumbies, they are forced to play in the local club competiton if they wish to continue competitively in the sport. This club competition is basically a joke, with a reasonably poor level of play and no media or sponsorship support. Thus, any offer presented by an NRL club is seen as a golden opportunity to further their footballing talent, and most jump at the chance.
NRL clubs have to start looking to the Union schoolboys for possible recruits. The Brisbane Broncos talent scout, Cyril Connell, rarely misses a GPS game in Brisbane, and is always looking to union to further bolster the Broncos playing stocks. At the Schoolboy level, Union is becoming very, very professional, with training practices now mirroring college football in the USA.
The talent is there. John O'Neill and his ARU cronies know it and take it for granted. League should look to raiding this schoolboy talent, because in the long term, it will strike a much deeper blow and hurt the rah rahs significantly more.
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With talk of a war developing between the 2 rugby codes, a suggestion should be made to the League heavyweights to forget trying to secure big name Wallabies for million dollar contracts, and instead, attack them where it will hurt them most: their schoolboy stars.
Sure, a Larkham or a Gregan would be a massive blow to Union and a coup for League, but their signatures would come at a price too great for most NRL clubs.
What NRL clubs should do is exploit Union through their schoolboys. With the private school sytem the way it is today (i.e The GPS competitions in Sydney and Brisbane), Union has a structured talent pool to select from. Most of the Schoolboy representative players come from these two competitions, withthe better playersgoing on to make the Australian Schoolboys side. And as history has shown, a large percentageof Australian Schoolboys Union representatives often progress to the senior ranks through the Reds, Warratahs and Brumbies, and eventually, the Wallabies.
The likes of Ryan Cross and Craig Wing, who both made the Australian Schoolboys Union side in 1997, have proven that schoolboy rugby stars can make an impact in rugby league. They were identified for their talent and have kicked on dramatically in League, with Union now regretting that they were not proactive enough in securing this talent when they had an opportunity.
Union's schoolboys stars are ripe for the picking, because often, having played 5 years of union at high school, they are looking for a change and a fresh opportunity. In my dealings with talented unionkids of Australian Schoolboys representation, many have often commented that they would jump at any offer by an NRL club, simply because they think League would be fun and they would like to try something new.
These Union schoolboys are also easy targets because, until theyleave high school, they are given little attention from their state's governing body. For example, in Qld, there is a programme called the "Reds College", however, this is usually only for players between 18 and 22. This is the only form of recognition these kids receive, and the best thing is, it still does not involve any contractual obligations. So when an NRL club approaches them, many are overwhelmed and are prepared to sign for little money, simply because they are ecstatic that they have been recognised for their talent.
Another reason to attack Union's schoolboys, is the fact that once they leave high school, if they are not under contract to the Reds, Warratahs or Brumbies, they are forced to play in the local club competiton if they wish to continue competitively in the sport. This club competition is basically a joke, with a reasonably poor level of play and no media or sponsorship support. Thus, any offer presented by an NRL club is seen as a golden opportunity to further their footballing talent, and most jump at the chance.
NRL clubs have to start looking to the Union schoolboys for possible recruits. The Brisbane Broncos talent scout, Cyril Connell, rarely misses a GPS game in Brisbane, and is always looking to union to further bolster the Broncos playing stocks. At the Schoolboy level, Union is becoming very, very professional, with training practices now mirroring college football in the USA.
The talent is there. John O'Neill and his ARU cronies know it and take it for granted. League should look to raiding this schoolboy talent, because in the long term, it will strike a much deeper blow and hurt the rah rahs significantly more.
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