Manly Sea Eagles and Blacktown Workers Venture

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

You could argue that RM Cup is a lower standard than NSW Cup with the same argument

Yes for a 2 years NSW Cup standard will drop. But when a 2 years of fresh u20s graduate that drop will be addressed

The other advantage for NSW Cup sides is that they can play within their means. It also stop the likes of Norths Newtown or a NSW Country rep team trying to compete with a NRL budgeted club which they cant and play in a semi-profesional format.

In reverse it allows a NRL club to have players 18 to 36 playing in a professional league. As grants will continue to go up. From $7 mil to $14 mil over the next 5 years. They will have the means to fund a $2 mil National RG side

These NSW Cup clubs struggle today with $500k budgets against NRL $1 mil budgets. It will be impossible in 5 years time against $2 mil budgets

In regards to trevel costs all the NRL needs to do is add a travel allowance factor into the grants calculation

I just dont see the point of a National RG...

They wont get much support since they are just a shittier version of the NRL, yet the input costs would be huge.

At least the State Championship thing has its own value in that it gives areas that will never get an NRL team a chance to have a team in an important comp. For the people pining for the days of suburban RL, this is the place to go.

The only value in a National RG is giving the kids coming through a high standard of opposition. But when you are talking about such high cost with no direct dividend, when you think about what is being forgone in not allowing country areas to compete at this level, and when you consider how ill defined and potentially timy the return in increaded player quality, it just doesnt seem worth it.

Have the Reserve players just join the State Championship (preferably each NRL team is associated to a few SC clubs), let country areas see their home team play at that level and spend the money of thing more worthy than flights and hotel rooms for B-grade players no one is paying to see...

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

The other advantage for NSW Cup sides is that they can play within their means. It also stop the likes of Norths Newtown or a NSW Country rep team trying to compete with a NRL budgeted club which they cant and play in a semi-profesional format.

In reverse it allows a NRL club to have players 18 to 36 playing in a professional league. As grants will continue to go up. From $7 mil to $14 mil over the next 5 years. They will have the means to fund a $2 mil National RG side

These NSW Cup clubs struggle today with $500k budgets against NRL $1 mil budgets. It will be impossible in 5 years time against $2 mil budgets

I find it weird that people in RL think that all teams should be perfectly equal....

The salary cap was only brought in to stop clubs going broke, but now we seem to think it is there to make the teams even.

I honestly dont see a problem in David and Goliath battles in the expanded NSW Cup. Sydney teams will always be stronger than the country teams but thats no reason to cut the comp off at the knees but removing all the best players.

Even if the country teams never win, theyll mostly be happy just competing that that level and they will wish for the dream-run that could take them to ANZ on GF day...

 

[rightleftin]

It is interesting to see that Manly did not wait for 2017 to start grabbing Blacktown players - Jerry Key moved from Blacktown to Manly as soon as the deal was announced and is now training with the NRL squad and Justin Lemalu has also played a game for Manly.

 

[Sharkie Army Gorilla]

It is interesting to see that Manly did not wait for 2017 to start grabbing Blacktown players - Jerry Key moved from Blacktown to Manly as soon as the deal was announced and is now training with the NRL squad and Justin Lemalu has also played a game for Manly.

Correct Rightleftin. The agreement came in as of July 1. Blacktown wanted to use the rest of the season to iron out any teething problems. Blacktown have used a couple of Manly players also with Jordan Sims, Daniel Vasek, Jayden El-Jalkh, Josh Martin, Harlan Collins. Jon Bernard-Kairouz, Ezra Howe and Heath Garay all playing Massey/Shield over the last couple of weeks.

Its a great reward for perseverance from Jerry Key who has been on the radar of NRL clubs for years. Injuries at key times in his career have nearly put an end to his NRL dreams. One of the most humble and nicest blokes you will meet. Hope he makes it

 

[rightleftin]

Tomorrow night Manly will be playing a catch up game against Newcastle at Brookvale. Manly have picked 3 Blacktown players in the backline - Jerry Key, Marli Sini and Matt Place.

 

[Ourimbah Magpies]

The only benefit Manly gains from this agreement is that Blacktown Workers are a financially thriving club which will save Manly money in paying for their own NSW Cup players.
Certainly not good for any Manly juniors and not good for rugby league in general (how many teams are in western sydney).
If you do look at the Manly junior league Beacon Hill were busing in players from the west this season, mainly their U17's and U15's.