National Under 20s - your opinion?

[2 True Blues]

P.S..................................:BDH: :thumbd: :BDH: :thumb

 

[Wicks]

Dunno if its been mentioned or not, apparently all clubs bar Brisbane are in favour of this move.

Mentioned it in passing

Has it been republished in an article Couldnt find the old one

Or just heard on the radio?

Maybe the Roosters aren't ?????????????????

Anderson is talking about having the forwards in first grade

 

[ILLAWARRA RUGBY LEAGUE]

The Under 20 national competition proposal is the dumbest idea rugby league management have come up with in decades, despite some pretty stiff competition.

So please correct me if I'm wrong - a player who is on 22 years old narrowly fails to make the cut from the top 17 at his club is then obliged to drop below the second tier comp into something like the Jim Beam Cup. This is despite some props not peaking until their mid to late twenties. Talk about a restraint of trade. If I was a 22 year old footballer, I'd be seeking out Chris Murphy.
Down here in Wollongong, fans are absolutely flabbergasted that all these players who get fed to the Dragons will then all go to the upstart Shellharbour Marlins in the JBC.

We have a great competition in the Illawarra, with our strongest sides easily competitive with the best the JBC has to offer - what we need is for the Illawarra players who miss out on the Dragons to play in our comp. This obviously cannot happen immediately as our best players can step up to Premier League, but that two steps to NRL is currently too big a gap. The obvious thing to do is bring the Illawarra league up another level so playes can go up and down between the two.

We have a great infrastructure in place, with all the teams lead by quality coaches and players. Our big games draw 1000+ crowds as it is, with big crowds expected in 07 as the weaker but most popular clubs have recruited well in the off-season.

We cannot have this whole competition reduced below the JBC as well as an under 20's comp, making ours a 4th grade premiership (behind NRL, under 20's and JBC - especial;ly when two of the three have less support than we do at the moment.

I have watched both the Illawarra Steelers and St George Dragons play stand alone premier league games since the merger and the crowds were woeful. Imagine flying a team to Brisbane to play in front of 350 people when those players could help a match between Port Kembla and Berkeley draw 1500.

 

[Wicks]

So please correct me if I'm wrong - a player who is on 22 years old narrowly fails to make the cut from the top 17 at his club is then obliged to drop below the second tier comp into something like the Jim Beam Cup. This is despite some props not peaking until their mid to late twenties. Talk about a restraint of trade.

All we have with the national competition is a reordering of priorities The better product is the under 20s and more quality long term players come through by 21 That competition is being elevated Premier league level of football is being handled differently rather than directly by the NRL club

We dont know the complete structure but if it works like premier league a player who is 22 will just be playing against other over 20s players and fewer of the elite under 17 to 21 years olds

There is no restraint of trade

what we need is for the Illawarra players who miss out on the Dragons to play in our comp. This obviously cannot happen immediately as our best players can step up to Premier League, but that two steps to NRL is currently too big a gap. The obvious thing to do is bring the Illawarra league up another level so playes can go up and down between the two.

There will already be more players in the Illawarra competition next year than there were this year Premier league and jersey flegg carried up to 24 players a week including extended reserves benches

2007 may be slightly different because NRL clubs have picked up players from Dragons jersey flegg but from 2008 there will be more coming through from the under 18s who don't make the under 20s competition Shellharbour will have some players directed to them but they will mainly carry overage players from the NRL squad and some under 18s who will continue in the Dragons system

Illawarra clubs should also have the chance to get the overflow of overage players from around NSW in 2008

We cannot have this whole competition reduced below the JBC as well as an under 20's comp, making ours a 4th grade premiership (behind NRL, under 20's and JBC - especial;ly when two of the three have less support than we do at the moment.

The Illawarra competition is already the 4th competition and the 3rd over age competition for the Dragons That wont change Think of it as the Dragons renaming their premier league side as the Marlins or the Roosters and Souths handing over duties to Newtown and Norths

What should change is the importance of the Jim Beam Cup

There will be a lot more people at the under 20s game Playing right before first grade Seeing all the major teams young players

 

[tigesup]

There will be a lot more people at the under 20s game Playing right before first grade Seeing all the major teams young players

So where are all these people now? When I travel to a game the venue is normally empty until just before NRL kickoff unless a local derby or historical clash like Tigers V Souths. You've only got to attend the Garnd Final and see how many seats are actually taken up before first grade.

This whole concept is BS and is something the clubs want but nobody else. These concepts are always going to come up when the clubs runs the comp. Should be a board separate from the clubs to run the game.

Geez other codes are going to love this. Great way to distance young players and fans from the game.

 

[Wicks]

So where are all these people now? When I travel to a game the venue is normally empty until just before NRL kickoff unless a local derby or historical clash like Tigers V Souths. You've only got to attend the Garnd Final and see how many seats are actually taken up before first grade.

Depends on the ground but usually the crowds are building during premier league as long as first grade isnt far away Fans are there to see first grade whether it is premier league or the national competition

Improving what they see will be a benefit Showing off the best players all together on one field rather than scattered across two nsw competitions and also across two states before they play NRL

At the grand final it is still an hour and a half until first grade and there is still more than 30000 there during the premier league grand final

This whole concept is BS and is something the clubs want but nobody else. These concepts are always going to come up when the clubs runs the comp. Should be a board separate from the clubs to run the game.

Where in the world does this work Decisions are made by owners and ceos working with player associations and governing bodies around the world No clubs involved no game

It is not the NRL fault that some wont bother to consider their idea because of their allegiances

Take away norths balmain wests newtown supporters and those wishing to protect the queensland cup and how their players stay below the radar for longer and there is little to this discussion

It is not surprising that the large majority who have seen the presentation back the move and those who dont cite their own interests

Geez other codes are going to love this. Great way to distance young players and fans from the game.

We are promoting young players with this move