NRL needs a rookie draft

[T-Boon]

Who gives a shit

don't be like that, get in the spirit.

 

[Travitoh]

Why would Kalyn Ponga be drafted first this year when he debuted two years ago?

Drafts really work well in the AFL with only three of last year's finalists currently inside the 8 while the NRL has a whopping six...

 

[mxlegend99]

Why would Kalyn Ponga be drafted first this year when he debuted two years ago?

Drafts really work well in the AFL with only three of last year's finalists currently inside the 8 while the NRL has a whopping six...

Have you even looked at the ladder?

Cowboys - 15th (last years runners up)
Eels - 16th (top 4 last year)
Sea Eagles - 13th (6th last year)
Broncos - 10th (3rd last year)
Sharks 9th (5th last year)

5 teams from last years finals are currently out of the 8. Meanwhile 4 of the bottom 5 teams from last year are currently inside the top 8.

Doesnt get much more open then that. The team currently running last is still a chance of a finsls appearance and it wouldnt shock snyone if they went on a run and made it.

 

[Travitoh]

Have you even looked at the ladder?

Cowboys - 15th (last years runners up)
Eels - 16th (top 4 last year)
Sea Eagles - 13th (6th last year)
Broncos - 10th (3rd last year)
Sharks 9th (5th last year)

5 teams from last years finals are currently out of the 8. Meanwhile 4 of the bottom 5 teams from last year are currently inside the top 8.

Doesnt get much more open then that. The team currently running last is still a chance of a finsls appearance and it wouldnt shock snyone if they went on a run and made it.

Silly me, i must've gotten them mixed up

 

[mxlegend99]

Silly me, i must've gotten them mixed up

Without googling it I wouldnt be able to tell you even one team from this or last years AFL finals series. Not even the team that won it.

So I have no idea how many different winners they have or how much their ladder changes each year.

 

[T-Boon]

Why would Kalyn Ponga be drafted first this year when he debuted two years ago?

In my opinion he would not have entered the draft until this year. He would have dominated a season in the second tier competition got a lot of hype and then declared for the draft.

 

[Travitoh]

In my opinion he would not have entered the draft until this year. He would have dominated a season in the second tier competition got a lot of hype and then declared for the draft.

The only reason he didn't play more last season is because NQ already knew he was joining Newcastle. Newcastle were even trying to get him in a year early.

That's not the topic though. The topic is would a draft work and the answer is no. It's a myth that it would share the talent around the comp. It actually promotes hoarding talent as teams not in a premiership window will off load players of value to gather more picks for the draft.

For all the criticism that the NRL gets about player movement, the AFL dreams of their competition spreading talent as effectively and is part of the reason they are discussing mid season trading.

 

[T-Boon]

It's a myth that it would share the talent around the comp. It actually promotes hoarding talent as teams not in a premiership window will off load players of value to gather more picks for the draft.

That would be perfect for the NRL.
You can blow a team up and rebuild quicker while not being at the mercy of player managers and at the same time accumulate the current stars at the top of the ladder which is great for the finals and the overall quality of the sport.
The idea of spreading talent and evening out the competition for the sake of crowds has been proven not to work. If your team isn't winning a lot, fans don't go - that covers about 10 or 12 of the 16 clubs. What I mean is, you only really see a bump in NRL crowds if the team is awesome. The thing that would increase crowds for the lower end teams is seeing a quicker pathway to competitiveness or even better a pathway to a premiership.
In the mean time get all the talent in the top 6 teams and increase the quality of play.

 

[Travitoh]

That would be perfect for the NRL.
You can blow a team up and rebuild quicker while not being at the mercy of player managers and at the same time accumulate the current stars at the top of the ladder which is great for the finals and the overall quality of the sport.
The idea of spreading talent and evening out the competition for the sake of crowds has been proven not to work. If your team isn't winning a lot, fans don't go - that covers about 10 or 12 of the 16 clubs. What I mean is, you only really see a bump in NRL crowds if the team is awesome. The thing that would increase crowds for the lower end teams is seeing a quicker pathway to competitiveness or even better a pathway to a premiership.
In the mean time get all the talent in the top 6 teams and increase the quality of play.

If you enjoyed Newcastle's run in 2016-17 then a draft is perfect because you'll see multiple teams at that level of play. If fans aren't turning out now to watch a side while they're competitive then they definitely won't turn out to watch a side rebuilding via the draft with no guarentee of future success.

Melbourne, Carlton, St Kilda, Brisbane and Gold Coast amongst others have all spent the past 5+ years building via draft picks and none have played finals as a result.

Clubs are still at the mercy of players and their managers as once they are able to enter free agency, they often will. The where does that leave the club who drafted and nurtured them? With nothing to show for the three years they put into the player only for him to leave other than another draft pick.

When was the last time a number one selection won a premiership with the club that drafted him? Played in a GF even?

Mediocrity shouldn't be rewarded. If a club can't raise talent then they need to find other means of acquiring it. Either that or close doors and allow someone else into the comp who will.

 

[gUt]

I think anything that restrict's a player's freedom of choice at any stage of their career is a mistake.

The AFL needs a draft to try to stay relevant during the offseason. We don't really.

Also the tanking issue is real.

 

[Captain Apollo]

A draft does not necessarily ensure an even talent spread. If you want an example, look at the Cleveland Browns in the NFL. They've had heaps of #1 picks and still finished in last spot. Why? Mainly because they drafted crap players with most of the picks is why. Other teams, like the Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens and the New England Patriots have often done well in the draft even though they are picking at the bottom of the draft order as they have good scouting and talent identification people.

 

[T-Boon]

A draft does not necessarily ensure an even talent spread. If you want an example, look at the Cleveland Browns in the NFL. They've had heaps of #1 picks and still finished in last spot. Why? Mainly because they drafted crap players with most of the picks is why. Other teams, like the Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens and the New England Patriots have often done well in the draft even though they are picking at the bottom of the draft order as they have good scouting and talent identification people.

The Browns are going to come good in the next two seasons. They have built up a great team with a lot of talent but they have drafted badly with quarterback position.
One of the great things about a draft is the decision making by a club is all much more public and they are forced to be more accountable to the fans. You can follow that logic or lack there off. You know the clubs that do well and the clubs that do badly.
It is all done in back rooms in the NRL. In the NRL you are left speculating about brown paper bags and whatever.