NSW Clubs forced out of QLD Cup

[Raider_69]

they are strengethening the QRL and weakening the NSWRL

the QRL is strong enough already and NSW Cup isn't

it is action like this that will hopefully stop it getting weaker and making it stronger

and make the souths logan area weaker
why have we got this NSW v QLD situation? shouldnt we be about strengthening RL?

 

[Quidgybo]

they are strengethening the QRL and weakening the NSWRL

Which goes to show that you've thoroughly missed the point. It's not whether the QRL and NSWRL are strong, weak, or disappear completely. It's about the game of Rugby League and how strong it is, regardless of government borders. If the political power games of the NSWRL and QRL are going to get in the way of that then it's time both those bodies were abolished and replaced with a body that is less worried about taking punitive action against parts of the game which dare to step outside its control, but instead is more worried about helping the game anywhere it can.

Leigh

 

[El Diablo]

it aint helping the game

it's hurting it

 

[Red&BlackBear]

The recent conundrum with Manly & Canberra having their SG Ball & Harold Matthews teams kicked out due to fielding senior teams playing in Queensland has caused outrage within the clubs affected and an outcry for common sense to prevail from the rest of the Rugby League community. For a long time now the problems surrounding the 2nd and 3rd tier competitions in Rugby League has been a hot topic with such experts like Phil Gould calling it a sham. I tend to agree and believe an entire overhaul of the 2nd and 3rd tier competitions needs to happen for the good of the game.

The league and inevitably, the Independent Commission, need to work together and in cohesion to make sure everyone in the future is well represented at all levels of the game. Funds and additional grants for regional clubs which achieve a quota in memberships and demonstrate sound business & football operations during a sustained period of time. Let's acknowledge and award regional rugby league clubs.

The constant chop and changing of affiliate clubs has to stop and a clear structure needs to be in place to get the best out of rugby league heartlands in both a football and business sense.

Furthermore a rationalization of 2nd and 3rd tier competitions in NSW and a regrouping of teams in QLD with each NRL franchise receiving considerable portions of the Rugby League landscape.

The clubs are responsible for all their off-field operations but will get assistance from both the NRL and their affiliate NRL franchises for all football operations and junior development.

A model worth looking into is where the 2nd tier competitions are geographically north and south based for NSW, Victorian, S.A. & NZ teams to limit the travelling costs and time for clubs established in these areas. Therefore there would essentially be 2 competitions for the 2nd tier but clubs would only effectively play the opposing teams placed in their leagues.

By regrouping the Q-Cup it just means bringing back a Toowoomba side and inviting a PNG development side to contest. A WA development side could also join the comp for an amount of time to further strengthen the game in these areas.

There is NO promotion or regulations with this system.

The premiers of each league would play each other on NRL grand final day as part of the under card.

2nd Tier Southern League (11 teams)
Victoria Thunder – affiliated to Melbourne Storm
Illawarra Steelers – affiliated to St.George/Illawarra Dragons
Sutherland Sharks – affiliated to Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Wagga Wagga – affiliated to Canberra Raiders
Griffith – affiliated to Melbourne Storm
Shellharbour Dragons – affiliated to St.George/Illawarra Dragons
Orange – affiliated to Canberra Raiders
Wentworthville Magpies – affiliated to Parramatta Eels
Western Suburbs Magpies – affiliated to Wests Tigers
Bankstown Bulldogs – affiliated to Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
WA Development Team – affiliated to W.A. Reds

2nd Tier Northern League (10 teams)
Hunter Valley – affiliated to Newcastle Knights
Central Coast Grizzlies– affiliated to Central Coast Bears
Port Macquarie – affiliated to Newcastle Knights
Tamworth – affiliated to South Sydney Rabbitohs
Coffs Harbour – affiliated to Sydney Roosters
Auckland Vulcans – affiliated to NZ Warriors
Windsor Wolves – affiliated to Penrith Panthers
Grafton – affiliated to South Sydney Rabbitohs
Newtown Jets – affiliated to Sydney Roosters
Ballina – affiliated to Gold Coast Titans

The 3rd tier competition would be contested between inner Sydney + Central Coast teams.

3rd Tier Intra-Sydney League (10 teams)
North Sydney Bears – affiliated to Central Coast Bears
Sydney Bulls – affiliated to Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Balmain-Ryde Eastwood Tigers – affiliated to Wests Tigers
Cabramatta Two-Blues – affiliated to Parramatta Eels
Belrose Eagles – affiliated to Manly-Warringah Sea-Eagles
The Entrance Tigers – affiliated to Central Coast Bears
Newtown Jets (2nd grade) – affiliated to Sydney Rooster
St. Mary’s – affiliated to Penrith Panthers
South Sydney Rabbitohs (ISL team) – affiliated to South Sydney Rabbitohs
Western Suburbs Magpies (2nd grade) – affiliated to Wests Tigers

The revamped 2nd tier Q-Cup

2nd Tier QLD-Cup (15 teams)
Burleigh Bears – affiliated to Gold Coast Titans
Central Comets – affiliated Central Queensland NRL Bid + Brisbane Broncos
East Tigers – affiliated to Brisbane Broncos
Ipswich Jets – affiliated to Western Jets NRL Bid + Brisbane Broncos
PNG Development Team – affiliated to PNG NRL Bid + North Queensland Cowboys
Mackay Cutters – affiliated with North Queensland Cowboys
Northern Pride – affiliated with North Queensland Cowboys
Norths Devils – affiliated with Brisbane Broncos
Redcliffe Dolphins – affiliated with Brisbane Broncos
Souths-Logan Magpies – affiliated with Canberra Raiders
Sunshine Coast Sea-Eagles – affiliated with Manly-Warringah Sea-Eagles
Toowoomba – affiliated with Melbourne Storm
Tweed-Heads Seagulls - affiliated with Gold Coast Titans
Wynnum-Manly Seagulls – affiliated with Brisbane Broncos
WA Development Team – affiliated with W.A.Reds

* Inner regional comps would effectively affiliate themselves with the main NRL team of the area. Eg. Brisbane League would affiliate with Brisbane Broncos, Gold Coast League with Gold Coast Titans and so on.

** Q-Cup: WA & PNG development teams to be funded by NRL and to be based in Queensland the majority of the season.

 

[Quidgybo]

it aint helping the game

it's hurting it

What, ejecting the primary junior development teams from southern NSW for punitive political reasons? Or trying to block top level teams helping second tier teams simply because they're in other states? Dead right on both counts, it *is* hurting the game. And when a Rugby League governing body starts trying to actively hurt the game, both within and outside its jurisdiction, it's time to start considering if the game would be better off with a different body running things.

Leigh.

 

[El Diablo]

that is Canberra's choice

they chose to have them booted

 

[Quidgybo]

The NSWRL has taken deliberate and explicit steps to hurt the game in southern NSW in a political power play and ultimately it is trying to hurt the game in Queensland as part of the same exercise. The QRL is just as bad. This kind of rubbish within and between the game's governing bodies has to end. As soon as the Independent Commisssion is up and running, the NRL must take the management of the second tier of the game out of the hands of these obsolete dinosaurs. And it should keep assuming more and more of their responsibilities until such time as they either start putting the game ahead of their own political self interest or they have so little power left that what they decide to do no longer really matters.

Leigh.

 

[El Diablo]

Nope

Canberra took that choice

they have known this would happen for a very long time and went ahead with it anyway and now want sympathy and to shift blame

 

[Walt Flanigan]

Nope

Canberra took that choice

they have known this would happen for a very long time and went ahead with it anyway and now want sympathy and to shift blame

Nope.

We don't require sympathy. We are just bewildered at what an utterly stupid decision the NSWRL has made. There will be no winners from this but the biggest loser will be the NSWRL. The Raiders will take steps to suit themselves and the NSWRL will miss out on large amount of talent from the region.

What idiots........seriously.

 

[El Diablo]

Canberra made the decision'

they knew what would happen if they decided to leave the NSWRL

good riddance

 

[Timmah]

The question is why did Canberra look interstate in the first place? How insulting to NSWRL in the first place.

Good on them for sticking it up them.

 

[Walt Flanigan]

The question is why did Canberra look interstate in the first place? How insulting to NSWRL in the first place.

Good on them for sticking it up them.

Sticking it to them?

Mate, all they've done is weaken themselves.

 

[El Diablo]

nope

Canberra did that

 

[typicalfan]

If we had a national reserve comp as we should then this wouldn't have happened in the first place.

 

[Garts]

I can understand why the nswrl did it. Does anyone know if both Manly and Canberra knew this would be the consequence? anyway I am sure both will have teams playing next year, something will be worked out.

 

[siv]

I can understand why the nswrl did it. Does anyone know if both Manly and Canberra knew this would be the consequence? anyway I am sure both will have teams playing next year, something will be worked out.

They were informed around teh time of this article

They still have up untl Nov 17 to address it which is when the NSWRL announce the teams invited into their competition structures for 2011

 

[Spitty]

The NSWRL needs to worry about whats best for the NSWRL, and whats best for them is that Canberra and Manly contribute to the NSW Cup. Just the same as Canberra and Manly need to do what's best for Canberra and Manly. If they all started thinking about whats best for RL as a whole, they wouldn't exist for long.

A National Reseve Grade comp will never work. The QLC is too strong and too successful to dilute it like that . Remember that comp has been around for 100 years, it's an insitute in QLd and unlike anything we attempt in NSW it makes money.

So all we can do in NSW is try and strengthen the NSW comp. Ultimately it'd be great if we could assign regional teams to each NRL team, similar to what they do in the VFL. But I'm yet to find anyone who can fund that. As quick as the NRL or NSWRL get extra revenue, the players hands are out for bigger wages, along with a threat to go to RU. The pie is only so big.

So in the mean time the NSWRL and Canberra and Manly will fight out their self interests. But until an IC comes in I agree the NSWRL can't keep on allowing their member clubs to provide players, strength and money to the QRL.

 

[Bro Bear]

Great post Red and Black Bear - If only that proposal come to fruitition - it would be a great grass roots comp for the game.

 

[mono_mal]

Completely agree with what Spitty posted above.
The QLD Cup is a great product and should continue in its current format whilst we endeavour to develop and promote the NSW Cup. A national reserve grade comp isn't necessary and will only place further strains upon clubs already limited expenditure.
The NSWRL should be aiming to utilise developing and traditionally strong junior nurseries such as Wentworthville and Windsor whilst also promoting the role of the foundation clubs such as Newtown, Norths, Balmain and Wests. A lot of criticism is directed at the NSW Cup as players feel they are relegated to a lesser competition. To minimise this impact we need to promote the NSW Cup to such a status that it is seen on a level playing field to the NYC. This could be achieved via increased media coverage, with an aim to a television deal with the ABC for a live Saturday broadcast, in line with other states coverage eg. Qld Cup, VFL.
The current situation regarding Manly and Canberra is unfortunate though fair, and I say this as a Raiders fan. Manly and Canberra should both be providing a clearer pathway for their own juniors beyond junior representative football by forming feeder arrangements with local teams rather than shipping off there best talent to Qld.
Does anybody know what happened to Canberra's interest in alligning with Gouldburn, and Manlys interest in establishing a feeder arrangement with Mounties/Harbord Diggers?

 

[greeneyed]

Goulburn didn't have the $500,000 needed to form a NSW Cup team. And that's the point.

This is a problem of the NSWRL's making. The Sydney clubs decided to abandon the NSW Premier League, as they only wanted to run 2 teams, NRL and under 20s. Their whole aim was to avoid the costs of running "reserve grade". They linked up with clubs like Wentworthville, the Raiders had and still have no "local" comparable option. Their option is Souths Logan. Canberra was forced to look to Q Cup, by the decisions of the NSWRL and the Sydney clubs. Now the NSWRL wants to force Canberra to meet the full costs of running a NSW Cup team, while not demanding Sydney clubs do the same. They are imposing a competitive disadvantage on Canberra that they are not imposing on Sydney clubs. It is discriminatory, unfair and not only that, the subsequent decisions will produce a situation even more detrimental to themselves - as they cut out junior teams in the ACT and southern NSW. Bizarre. The sooner the likes of Geoff Carr head for retirement, the better.