NRL boss Dave Smith faces rookie road as he drafts a response to concept
8 hours ago August 17, 2014 12:00AM
RUGBY league has long thrived on the games love of an ambush, skulduggery and all-round subterfuge.
Which is why NRL CEO Dave Smith is about to get cornered walking into a gun-fight carrying a butter knife over his proposal to implement a rookie draft for the 2017 season.
Some of the most powerful figures in rugby league, headed by Nick Politis and Phil Gould, were fuming last Sunday when Smiths concept to even the spread of emerging talent was splashed all over The Sunday Telegraph.
Make no mistake, the NRL and Smith want the rookie draft to happen and they want the concept bedded-down and implemented for the 2017 season.
Smith asked Rabbitohs boss Shane Richardson to compile a paper outlining the pros and cons on the subject earlier this year, with the Rabbitohs boss pushing for the rookie draft to be fast-tracked and in place for the start of the 2016 season last weekend.
But Roosters chairman Politis is diametrically opposed to this, meaning NRL headquarters is headed for an almighty ambush early next month when a collection of the most powerful figures in the game front Smith to vent their view.
From a players perspective, Melbourne Storm and NSW Origin forward Ryan Hoffman is a huge supporter of the concept, highlighting how it could be a major tool for rugby league growth.
Its a model that certainly works overseas and its gone quite well in the AFL the way I see it, Hoffman said.
Even going a little bit broader, it keeps the game in the spotlight at the end of each season for a little bit longer and its a positive storyline for the game.
I also like the fact that it means junior rugby league is going to be centrally funded by the NRL.
I remember when I was 18 years old, I wanted to leave home and experience something different and coming to Melbourne was the best move I ever made.
Some people have said some players might be forced to go to areas where they dont necessarily want to.
The way I see it, if thats the place thats going to give you an opportunity to follow your dream and play in the NRL, then you have to go for it. Thats my personal view on it.
One of the main points of debate when it comes to the draft is the NRLs concept of possibly allowing clubs to make their top three, four or five juniors exempt from entering into trade week.
The argument against this is it is not really a true draft in the sense of the word, meaning the no. 1 pick is not really the best emerging player in the game.
Also, when you consider Penrith has 9000 juniors, Parramatta has 7500 and Souths has 3500 compared to the Roosters 768 clearly there is a gross imbalance.
On the flip side, clubs which invest heavily in junior development such as St George Illawarra, Canberra, Penrith, New Zealand, North Queensland and Brisbane could argue they were being penalised by investing millions in development only for other clubs to reap the rewards.
Wests Tigers centre Chris Lawrence warned this was the area the NRL needed to ensure was safe guarded.
Definitely the concept is pretty good in terms of spreading emerging talent, Lawrence said.
The only thing for a lot of clubs that spend money on junior development is would they still invest the money in developing kids if they their talent is going to get drafted to other clubs.
As a senior player that would be my biggest concern.
But for clubs that are finishing down the bottom of the ladder, its a great way of strengthening your roster.
This is where the NRL needs to step in and take over development at the grass roots level, guaranteeing a rookie draft would work.
There is no doubt the concept still needs a lot more consultation with the 16 clubs before a genuine blueprint can be constructed.
But on face value, as much as some clubs may oppose it and Smith will be challenged heavily about it in the short-term, it does appear a strong way forward in the bigger picture of the game.
