Birthplace could determine where second-tier league players end up under Shane Richardson's radical new scheme
August 29, 2015 - 8:00PM
Adrian Proszenko
Chief Rugby League Reporter
Demoted or prospective NRL players could be forced to play for teams based purely on their birthplace under a controversial proposal for the game's second-tier competition.
The governing body is scrapping the National Youth Competition at the completion of the existing broadcast deal at the end of 2017 in a move that will save the clubs $16 million collectively. It is proposed the development pathway for youngsters will be comprised of Harold Matthews, SG Ball and then an open-age competition that acts as the stepping stone to first grade.
NRL head of strategy Shane Richardson is putting the finishing touches on his "whole of game" manifesto, which will be delivered to the Australian Rugby League Commission by the end of the year.
As it stands, his plan is for a 14-team open-age competition, likely branded as the NSW Cup, which would include two teams from country areas, two from New Zealand, seven sides in Sydney, a Fijian outfit and sides out of Newcastle and the Illawarra. The teams would not be branded along NRL lines, which means the Canterbury, Penrith and Manly NSW Cup sides would need to be rebadged.
The most contentious part of the proposal surrounds eligibility and how the players are distributed across the competition when they are not on NRL duty. Richardson has flagged the prospect of NSW Cup players aligning to teams based on where they were born as a means of spreading the talent. However, that plan is likely to be viewed dimly by NRL clubs, who will have virtually no control over their players when they aren't playing first grade.
Under the existing arrangement, the NRL clubs dictate where their feeder clubs train, who trains them and have coaching structures are in place to ensure they are learning the same calls, systems and playing styles as the first-grade side so they are prepared when they get called up. It also allows teammates to become familiar with each other's playing styles and to build camaraderie through the club.
However, if the proposal is enacted, an NRL coach could have his 17 second-tier players spread across 14 teams, with many playing against, rather than with, each other.
There will also be logistical problems in trying to determine exactly which team a player qualifies for and large costs in sending players to train with sides based in New Zealand or in regional areas.
"Who do you play for if you are born in Perth?" a source said. "Or if you're born between two catchments? Or if most of the players are born in the same place? I don't know how this is going to work."
Another option under consideration is aligning NRL clubs with certain teams or regions.
It is understood the NSWRL is concerned that the jump from an under-18s competition to an open-age one is too big and that many talented youngsters could be lost in the transition. The NSWRL met most of the Sydney clubs during the week to thrash out the issues.
Another concern is the profile of the new competition, with broadcasters unlikely to give it the same coverage Fox Sports currently gives to the under-20s. The NRL is already at loggerheads with the clubs on a number of issues, who are holding off signing new participation agreements.
