It's usually not the TV or an easy choice for most. Union is notorious at grassroots in all provinces for not picking up kids for reps of intermediate & high school ages with heaps of potential & after that they continue to foster the ones that have made reps in the age groups & not look outside of that. Rep places are severely limited - ought to be more age group comps to broaden the potential pool but even so, places are then really limited in the top teams (provincial, super 15 & NZ sides).
They also some times have to leave their home province to get anywhere eg Josh kronfeld didn't make an age group rugby team in HB ever - went to Otago & the rest is history!
What is a kid supposed to do if they want a future playing rugby?
As for the money for these young guys? Not that much...It's hardly getting paid - a sign on fee & living away from home allowance. They either have to go to school, do trade training or work to supplement the basic amount (school & trade training are subsidised) so money isn't that great an attraction. And its not easy to leave your home at that young age to get a chance to play elite level sports, get elite coaching & try to build a career in a really competitive arena. Auckland is not the only breeding ground - the whole country is, & why not? unless league gets more traction throughout NZ Aussie will continue to be the place to go for a shot at the big time which is really what it's all about fot these kids & their families..
I think you misunderstood my points slightly.
I fully understand the pathways which the NYC offers young rugby & league school leavers. I personally think from league perspective it is great.
However still somewhat of a shock leading rugby players with good reputations and what should be Rugby contracts are changing codes.
NZ schoolboy reps.
As for easy, money, tv exposure comment - yes oversimplified no doubt - but it still in essence is true.
It offers them a more direct route to professional sport - a better chance perhaps rather than say Rugby Academies - they might do a lot of training, involved with camps and if they work hard will be a shot at NPC within 2/3 years.
League offers a more direct route - TV exposure is part of that - being seing and not being stuck in the background like rugby.
As for money - maybe not straight away but I know some highly sought kids get paid more than you have given credit for.
However again there must be caution made as some of these Union players they scout - do not perform that well in league and I hope recruitment staff dont get carried away with such a fad.
As having to leave NZ having to be the place to go for a shot at the big time. I dont understand your comment first of all these guys we are talking about are playing RUGBY - going to aussie aint going to help.
You cant take a shot at New Zealand league because first 15 players have to go to austrlia to make it in leauge. Because they DONT.
Warriors would have been interested in these players no doubt - some have chosen to go to melbourne becoz of their reputation.
And with Warriors they have so many good juniors on their system its is becoming xtremely competitive for spots.
Finally from a melbourne perspective -> basically despite of what happened in regards to salary cap shame & the loss of the NSW Cup team New Zealand kids are wanting to come to the storm.
As a kid having no nsw cup team would throw me a little - but storm development is still (rightfully) held in high regard some kids are choosing to come to storm over other clubs (including warriors at times).
