What's new
The Front Row Forums

Register a free account today to become a member of the world's largest Rugby League discussion forum! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

NRL Reserve grade?

Iamback

Referee
Messages
20,290
Player development should be something far bigger then the handful of NRL teams that give a shit about it.

Are you happy for the game to die on the vine in areas that don't have NRL clubs? I doubt it.

Every NRL club is moving towards the stand alone model though, Those who aren't will be left behind.

Why will they die? QLD Cup isn't going anywhere.

Even if it changes. Northern Pride was created in 2007. There was no football in Cairns before then?
 

siv

First Grade
Messages
6,748
In name maybe, but I can't see it retaining any interest or player attraction, and will pretty quickly fade into oblivion.
The interest will still be there

Local Qld Cup supporters will still buy a beer and sit in local supporter bays and then walk home

Those supporters wont change their habits

On the player front 250 players graduate from U20s every year. This means players either push out a NRL player move to a part-time Cup team

So while there will be a first year 68 player impact after that everything evolves back to normal

I think Qld Cup is more resiliant than you suggest as Broncos, Cowboys and Titans have run RG and U20 teams in the past and Qld Cup has survived
 

SpaceMonkey

Immortal
Messages
40,351
The problem with reserve grade is that it has no individual identity or character beyond being “the guys who aren’t good enough for first grade”. There’s no point in supporting a reserve grade side unless you’re one of those super fans who’s totally invested in everything about your club. And as others have said it takes the game away from smaller venues.
I’d much rather see a second tier comp structured to place teams in regional areas plus a smattering of traditional clubs like Newtown, with feeder arrangements shared around in an equitable manner between the NRL sides. With a focus on marketing the game as a bit more old school and traditional in terms of club identities, jerseys etc.
 

siv

First Grade
Messages
6,748
The problem with reserve grade is that it has no individual identity or character beyond being “the guys who aren’t good enough for first grade”. There’s no point in supporting a reserve grade side unless you’re one of those super fans who’s totally invested in everything about your club. And as others have said it takes the game away from smaller venues.
I’d much rather see a second tier comp structured to place teams in regional areas plus a smattering of traditional clubs like Newtown, with feeder arrangements shared around in an equitable manner between the NRL sides. With a focus on marketing the game as a bit more old school and traditional in terms of club identities, jerseys etc.
There is no benefit here to NRL clubs, who will invest $5 mil on these players

In fact you continue to see clubs evolve away from this model

Penrith, Souths, Newcastle, St Merge, Canberra did it a while back and recently we have seen Parramatta, Warriors, Canterbury and now Easts have done it

Even Cronulla tried to move away from Newtown last year. Wests keep the old Magpie alive but moved into the RG model
 

Iamback

Referee
Messages
20,290
The problem with reserve grade is that it has no individual identity or character beyond being “the guys who aren’t good enough for first grade”. There’s no point in supporting a reserve grade side unless you’re one of those super fans who’s totally invested in everything about your club. And as others have said it takes the game away from smaller venues.
I’d much rather see a second tier comp structured to place teams in regional areas plus a smattering of traditional clubs like Newtown, with feeder arrangements shared around in an equitable manner between the NRL sides. With a focus on marketing the game as a bit more old school and traditional in terms of club identities, jerseys etc.

The issue is then clubs will struggle to train as a club which is why the clubs are going back to that model
 
Messages
14,822
When did Mackay drop out?
The QRL threatened to revoke Mackay's licence when they refused to travel to Port Moresby due to the political violence in that country, but everything was patched up and they're still in the Queensland Cup.


Lets see hasn't the current structure caused Mackay to drop out?
Where are you getting this from?
 
  • Like
Reactions: siv

Iamback

Referee
Messages
20,290
You’ve said tis a couple of times and in the case of the Titans and Broncos, you are wrong.

They are the outliers. Warriors, Dolphins, Roosters and now Cowboys have joined the single feeder club crew and are wearing the extra costs
 

Canard

Immortal
Messages
35,608
Every NRL club is moving towards the stand alone model though, Those who aren't will be left behind.

Why will they die? QLD Cup isn't going anywhere.

Even if it changes. Northern Pride was created in 2007. There was no football in Cairns before then?

The Cairns Cyclones existed until 2000 and guess what? They folded due to lack of money. Not long after the Cowboys brought in their own reserve grade team (the Young Guns), the Pride only came about with the support of the Cowboys via funding and players etc, after the Young Guns ceased.

RL will exist in Cairns, but it will just be at a local level only. The same will happen to every non NRL aligned side.
 
Messages
15,411
They are the outliers. Warriors, Dolphins, Roosters and now Cowboys have joined the single feeder club crew and are wearing the extra costs

The Roosters arrangement with Norths end at the conclusion of 2023. This season they will have a its own team in the NSW Cup. This was announced last November - https://www.roosters.com.au/news/2022/11/09/sydney-roosters-confirm-return-to-nsw-cup-in-2023/

The reason I doubt we will wind up with a full NRL reserve grade competition is cost. The more money that has to be paid in player payments, the less that is available for things like transport costs. Don't forget, that's what got it axed in the first place (transport costs).

Also reserve grade is not where too much development work is done. For many NRL clubs, development is done in the grades below reserve grade. Reservce grade is more for players who are not quite physically up to the demads of first grade to get some seasoning, or they are the fringe squad/depth players at the club.
 
Messages
14,822
The Cairns Cyclones existed until 2000 and guess what? They folded due to lack of money. Not long after the Cowboys brought in their own reserve grade team (the Young Guns), the Pride only came about with the support of the Cowboys via funding and players etc, after the Young Guns ceased.

RL will exist in Cairns, but it will just be at a local level only. The same will happen to every non NRL aligned side.

Denis O'Keeffe was instrumental in the club's formation. He turned the Cowboys, Taipans and Crocodiles into competitive organisations.

 

Iamback

Referee
Messages
20,290
The Roosters arrangement with Norths end at the conclusion of 2023. This season they will have a its own team in the NSW Cup. This was announced last November - https://www.roosters.com.au/news/2022/11/09/sydney-roosters-confirm-return-to-nsw-cup-in-2023/

The reason I doubt we will wind up with a full NRL reserve grade competition is cost. The more money that has to be paid in player payments, the less that is available for things like transport costs. Don't forget, that's what got it axed in the first place (transport costs).

Also reserve grade is not where too much development work is done. For many NRL clubs, development is done in the grades below reserve grade. Reservce grade is more for players who are not quite physically up to the demads of first grade to get some seasoning, or they are the fringe squad/depth players at the club.

People blamed the rules for the standard in 2020, I have always said it was lack of 2nd tier footy. It seems the clubs agree
 

Iamback

Referee
Messages
20,290
The Cairns Cyclones existed until 2000 and guess what? They folded due to lack of money. Not long after the Cowboys brought in their own reserve grade team (the Young Guns), the Pride only came about with the support of the Cowboys via funding and players etc, after the Young Guns ceased.

RL will exist in Cairns, but it will just be at a local level only. The same will happen to every non NRL aligned side.

The Knights, Canberra and Dragons run 2nd tier teams but local footy has remained strong
 

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
69,537
They are the outliers. Warriors, Dolphins, Roosters and now Cowboys have joined the single feeder club crew and are wearing the extra costs
The nrl has upped club payments to clubs to cover costs.they are moving funding from states to clubs.
 

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
69,537
The Roosters arrangement with Norths end at the conclusion of 2023. This season they will have a its own team in the NSW Cup. This was announced last November - https://www.roosters.com.au/news/2022/11/09/sydney-roosters-confirm-return-to-nsw-cup-in-2023/

The reason I doubt we will wind up with a full NRL reserve grade competition is cost. The more money that has to be paid in player payments, the less that is available for things like transport costs. Don't forget, that's what got it axed in the first place (transport costs).

Also reserve grade is not where too much development work is done. For many NRL clubs, development is done in the grades below reserve grade. Reservce grade is more for players who are not quite physically up to the demads of first grade to get some seasoning, or they are the fringe squad/depth players at the club.
Nrl has upped club funding by $64mill, a year, partly for them to afford a bigger squad ie reserve grade players. Travel isn’t huge, around $2mill for the whole comp.
 

Jimmy Wiggle

Juniors
Messages
118
They are the outliers. Warriors, Dolphins, Roosters and now Cowboys have joined the single feeder club crew and are wearing the extra costs
There are going to be issues at the Blackhawks, they will end up with a strong team on the field but it will be a weak club.
 
Top