NRL expected to ban contracts on U18s

[adamkungl]

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spo...bff698cb938e909685bdcc7423d?memtype=anonymous

NRL clubs will save millions of dollars, ok. And there might be some positive mental health outcomes, but that's far less certain.

Age division will move under State Leagues... getting iffy. There's a lot that's unclear here.
Seems to me that:
15-18 year olds will no longer have the benefit of developing in a club's professional system.
The pathway from juniors to top level is being severed with no clear plan for 2nd division or Age-restricted division.

But the main takeaway from this is that the sport of Rugby League will be spending a lot less money on talented teenagers. What do we think will happen to those talented teenagers, many of whom play both Rugby codes if not other sports too? I'm sure Union will be more than happy to pick up the slack. With the Wallabies perpetually failing they will have a strong push for greater junior development while our leaders are wanting to throw away our advantage.

 

[perverse]

Just another in a long line of dumb solutions to real problems from NRL HQ. They would chop their own leg off where a bandaid is sufficient.

 

[BestHookerRein]

Good... No point playing people before their body has fully developed. If we gave Mitch Pearce time to develop, he may not have had an infatuation with dogs.

 

[Timbo]

I dunno, I think some of it is a bit shady. We contracted Luke Bateman when he was 12 or something. How is a 12 year old meant to understand the ramifications of that, even with parental consent. There are lots of parents of kids who play sport at the elite level who are living their own dreams through their children. They're who I worry about and what this idea should hopefully stop.

 

[adamkungl]

I dunno, I think some of it is a bit shady. We contracted Luke Bateman when he was 12 or something. How is a 12 year old meant to understand the ramifications of that, even with parental consent. There are lots of parents of kids who play sport at the elite level who are living their own dreams through their children. They're who I worry about and what this idea should hopefully stop.

That's a bit much, sure.

I just don't get what the replacement for this system is and how the sport is going to retain talent without money.

 

[T-Boon]

I think it is a good idea. I'd like to see a bigger gap between NRL clubs and player developement.
Juniors should also play a lot less games in a year - maximum of about 15 total games all year including all the rep stuff.

 

[T-Boon]

That's a bit much, sure.

I just don't get what the replacement for this system is and how the sport is going to retain talent without money.

the savings to the clubs should be offset by a smaller club grant (reduce it by say $1 mill per year) which is then channelled directly to grass roots.

 

[adamkungl]

I think it is a good idea. I'd like to see a bigger gap between NRL clubs and player developement.
Juniors should also play a lot less games in a year - maximum of about 15 total games all year including all the rep stuff.

So lets make them worse at Rugby League and pay them less.
Are we aiming to be Rugby Union?
This is EXACTLY why the Wallabies are where they are, they leak talent to Rugby League because we offer superior money and development systems.

 

[Captain Apollo]

the savings to the clubs should be offset by a smaller club grant (reduce it by say $1 mill per year) which is then channelled directly to grass roots.

Considering the aim of the club grant is to have it be equal to what a club can pay under the salary cap to its players, doing that would put financial pressure on those clubs who don't have the financial muscle of teams like the Broncos, Bulldogs, Roosters etc as all clubs would have to make up that difference out of their own sources. As such I very much doubt it will happen.

 

[T-Boon]

The thing I like best is getting player agents out of the lives of children. Even just typing that sentence put a smile on my face.

 

[adamkungl]

It won't. It just puts them in another sport.

 

[T-Boon]

It won't. It just puts them in another sport.

We aren't going to lose many kids to club Rugby.
Allow clubs (NSW Cup and Qld Cup level) to put kids through school and into Uni and make it an under 22 competition (eligible from 16-22) feeding a rookie draft into the NRL. Eligible for draft at 19 but you can't come back once entering the draft.
Fund 'state cup under 22s' enough for scholarships and a small $20k living allowance) and get all games on the Fox Rugby League channel.
Some kids will go to Rugby, but just buy them back when they get older.

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

A centralised junior system would be far better than the current situation. Out current patch-work system is pitiful...

A draft or just a regular auction (hell, even a standard-wage contact for the first 2 or so years coming out of the system to prevent bidding wars) would be a huge improvement on what we have now.

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

We aren't going to lose many kids to club Rugby.
Allow clubs (NSW Cup and Qld Cup level) to put kids through school and into Uni and make it an under 22 competition (eligible from 16-22) feeding a rookie draft into the NRL. Eligible for draft at 19 but you can't come back once entering the draft.
Fund 'state cup under 22s' enough for scholarships and a small $20k living allowance) and get all games on the Fox Rugby League channel.
Some kids will go to Rugby, but just buy them back when they get older.

One thing id like to see is an "entry-level contract", mostly aimed at rookies but also capturing rugby converts...

The idea is that Rugby players cant just come looking for huge offers and play that off their RU club for a huge pay-day. If they want to come to RL, they take a small salary then look for a big payday later.

It would also be a nice kind of "penance" for wankers like Sonny Bill who swan in and out of the sport like it is nothing to him.

 

[betcats]

Greenberg thinks he is still running the dogs and he can just leave youth development to someone else and then sneak in and sign them when they are 21/22. Get rid of this clown.

 

[adamkungl]

One thing id like to see is an "entry-level contract", mostly aimed at rookies but also capturing rugby converts...

The idea is that Rugby players cant just come looking for huge offers and play that off their RU club for a huge pay-day. If they want to come to RL, they take a small salary then look for a big payday later.

It would also be a nice kind of "penance" for wankers like Sonny Bill who swan in and out of the sport like it is nothing to him.

Lol I'm trying to imagine a business, in any industry in the world, trying to attract the best talent by offering Entry level 'penance' contracts.

"Microsoft may be offering you $200k a year, but we don't do things like that here at Google. We'll offer you a $40k living allowance for the first 2 years, then if we like your attitude we might offer you some real money.
....
...Are you still on the phone? Why does that always happen..."

 

[Pete Cash]

I dont see what the big deal is if pro clubs take responsibility for juniors. Who is going to do it now. The article adam linked is behind the paywall so maybe the nrl has an alternative system but i would not be shocked if they dont.

Surely bateman being in the raiders system since he was 12 is win win. The raiders can foster club loyalty in luke while he gets elite training and his schooling and post football career taken care of. Its better than no system.

Even when it benefits other clubs like when we lost milford its worthwhile. Would the game be better if another sport scooped up milford.

 

[AWESOME PERSON]

I was signed at 16

 

[adamkungl]

Sorry, for some reason the article worked for me once then it was behind a paywall. Maybe someone with access can paste it in.

 

[AWESOME PERSON]

Sorry, for some reason the article worked for me once then it was behind a paywall. Maybe someone with access can paste it in.

THATS OK ADAM, I'M SURE ALL THE ALT ACCOUNTS WILL FORGIVE YOU.