NYC scrapped!!

[siv]

NRL Holden Cup under-20s competition to end in season 2017

AAP
an hour ago

THE NRL’s under-20s competition will be scrapped at the end of next year, Australian Rugby League Commission chairman John Grant has confirmed.

The youth competition has been on borrowed time since former NRL head of strategy Shane Richardson’s whole-of-game review last year but there was speculation it may continue beyond 2017 in some capacity.

Instead, statewide under-20s competitions will be rolled out in NSW and Queensland, while the NSW and Queensland Cups will be expanded to take on an “elevated” role in rugby league’s development pathway, Grant said.

“They’ll be more on television, there’s going to be more clubs in the competition and there’s going to be stronger connections through to the NRL clubs to make sure we get players from the NRL who aren’t playing for their team each weekend to come back into the tier two competition,” Grant told reporters in Brisbane on Friday.

The national under-20s competition has been plagued by concerns it is not an adequate finishing school and puts undue pressure on young players.

Grant defended the ARL Commission’s attempts to limit the earning capacity of NRL rookies as negotiations continue over a new collective bargaining agreement.

Roosters Bernard Lewis and Joseph Manu celebrate victory after the 2016 Holden Cup U20s Grand Final.
The Rugby League Players’ Association is philosophically opposed to capping salaries but Grant said it was a sensible way to fix to a clear problem.

“The fact is we take young men in our game away from their homes too early, we put them into intensive competitions, we ask too much of them and quite frankly we’ve had some disastrous outcomes,” he said.

“That’s all about giving them expectations beyond what is reasonable at the time and frankly paying them too much money will do that.


“We understand the RLPA’s situation and we’ve got an obligation to negotiate with the RLPA around these sort of things. But by the same token, we’re really trying to respond to the issues we’ve got.”

French re-signs with Eels
Meanwhile, Grant indicated a name change may be on the cards for the NSW and Queensland Cups as their current monikers don’t “ring true” given the level of current and future international involvement.

The Papua New Guinea Hunters have played in the Queensland Cup since 2014 while the entry of a Fijian team into the NSW Cup is expected to be approved in the coming weeks.

“What it does for PNG is fantastic, rugby league is their national sport and it really means something to them. It’s the same with Fiji,” Grant said.

“We have players in our NRL competition that come from all of those places and we’ve got to make sure they’ve got local rugby league that they can see that’s at the elite level.”

 

[thorson1987]

Congrats ARLC you bunch of f**king idiots.

Union will be rubbing their hands over this.

 

[Chicken_Hunter]

Great move. Long overdue.

 

[alien]

Does this mean we could see a PNG Under 20s team in the QLD Under 20s comp, and a Fiji Under 20s team in the NSW Under 20s comp??? I think that would be very good.

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

Congrats ARLC you bunch of f**king idiots.

Union will be rubbing their hands over this.

WHy?

No one beyond hard core NRL fans watch or follow this comp so only the players will really notice. And for them, the big change is that they dont have to travel across the country for a game.

Then you think about all of the money saved by not paying for the hotels and plane tickets every second week that could actually be invested into the game.

State based comps with a combined finals system (State Championship style) is the far better option

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

Does this mean we could see a PNG Under 20s team in the QLD Under 20s comp, and a Fiji Under 20s team in the NSW Under 20s comp??? I think that would be very good.

This is why an NRL aligned U20s or Reserve grade is such a ludicrisly bad idea...

Why limit the the teams who can compete to the locations that already have NRL teams? Why immediately exclude any location that doesnt have a team?

You think about all the towns across NSW. These places will clearly never have an NRL team, but they COULD have a NSW Cup team. I reckon you could get a lot of interest for these teams (definitely more interest then the 2nd grade Newcastle Knights will ever get when they are directly competing with the 1st grade Newcastle Knights.)

 

[Perth Red]

Be good to see them get renamed to be more inclusive of their roles as a national and international second tier competition bringing them together under one comp with two conferences. Maybe The Pacific Conference (Qlnd cup) and Trans Tasman Conference for NSw cup in the NRL Championship (renaming the tier one to NRL premiership.

A new NSW cup with WA, Victoria, Fiji Auckland and Wellington in it would be great, Likewise new named QLAND cup with PNg and Darwin and eventually a SAmoa or Tonga side

I do wonder what will happen to the talented 19 year olds though from non NRL aligned areas, where will they go to and who will pay for these under 20 non aligned NRL sides?

 

[Lockyer4President!]

These teams already compete for the NRL State Championship each year. Obvious fix (hah) is to:
Remove the 'State'
QLD Cup becomes 'NRL Championship' - North division
NSW Cup becomes 'NRL Championship' - South division

Then add Perth & Adelaide clubs asap, throw as many games on tv as possible and get a big name sponsor like the NRL U20's.

 

[CC_Roosters]

Be good to see them get renamed to be more inclusive of their roles as a national and international second tier competition bringing them together under one comp with two conferences. Maybe The Pacific Conference (Qlnd cup) and Trans Tasman Conference for NSw cup in the NRL Championship (renaming the tier one to NRL premiership.

A new NSW cup with WA, Victoria, Fiji Auckland and Wellington in it would be great, Likewise new named QLAND cup with PNg and Darwin and eventually a SAmoa or Tonga side

I do wonder what will happen to the talented 19 year olds though from non NRL aligned areas, where will they go to and who will pay for these under 20 non aligned NRL sides?

Imo even if Fiji begin live in the NSW premiership/southern conference they should eventually move north to be with PNG. that would make the north a defecto qld/pacific conference and the south nsw/NZ.

Dying for news on the 2nd tier. seems to me like it will be an interesting year as we are drip fed leaks and read about potential new teams

 

[Dogs Of War]

It would be good that they expand the First Grade squad size, and mandate that each club must have 5 under 20 or younger in that squad. At least then teams would really work on what they are developing, even if they are sending them to NSW Cup. Geez, squad sizes should be at least 35 anyway in the top grade cap.

 

[siv]

Squad size is now 30 plus 6 rookies

 

[franklin2323]

WHy?

No one beyond hard core NRL fans watch or follow this comp so only the players will really notice. And for them, the big change is that they dont have to travel across the country for a game.

Then you think about all of the money saved by not paying for the hotels and plane tickets every second week that could actually be invested into the game.

State based comps with a combined finals system (State Championship style) is the far better option

Isn't exposing kids to the travel and playing in different conditions a good development tool? Also the work or learn is a good thing won't have that going in this new plan.

 

[franklin2323]

It would be good that they expand the First Grade squad size, and mandate that each club must have 5 under 20 or younger in that squad. At least then teams would really work on what they are developing, even if they are sending them to NSW Cup. Geez, squad sizes should be at least 35 anyway in the top grade cap.

That's the issue. Say NQ have to send players to Brisbane to play They'd have no way of ensuring the players train properly etc. I fail to see how this is better

 

[siv]

WHy?

No one beyond hard core NRL fans watch or follow this comp so only the players will really notice. And for them, the big change is that they dont have to travel across the country for a game.

Then you think about all of the money saved by not paying for the hotels and plane tickets every second week that could actually be invested into the game.

State based comps with a combined finals system (State Championship style) is the far better option

Yep like flying Melbourne players to Noosa

Or Canberra players to Mt Pritchard

Or Wyong players to Auckland or Fiji

Cant see any savings. Only costs shuffling from NRL club to Playinium League Club who can't finance one team let alone two and a U18 and U16 team

 

[Foreign Legion]

THE NRL’s under-20s competition will be axed as part of a $16 million overhaul designed to provide a new pathway program for elite NRL players.

The NRL on Thursday announced a new structure, approved by the Australian Rugby League Commission, that will see the once-vaunted National Youth Competition scrapped for 2018.

Under the decentralisation plan, two under-20s competitions will be created in Queensland and NSW to support the existing second-tier leagues in those states.

The under-20s competition has become a huge financial burden for NRL clubs, who each spend an average $1 million annually cultivating the next wave of first-grade talent.

NRL data showed just 10 per cent of under-20s players _ an average of two rookies per club _ were graduating to play NRL.

But under the NRL’s new structure, clubs will save a collective $10 million in a move that has the support of Australian coach Mal Meninga and Origin mentors Kevin Walters (Queensland) and Laurie Daley (NSW).

NRL head of football Brian Canavan said the NYC has become costly to run and has been identified as putting undue pressure on young players coming through the ranks.

“The new model is designed to provide a clearer pathway for elite junior players aiming to play in the NRL,” Canavan said.

“We have been concerned for some time about the welfare issues affecting many young players struggling to cope with the pressures of the NYC.

“This model will enable more juniors to stay at home, rather than having to move away from their families, to play rugby league.

“And it will enable us to expand the game into regional and neighbouring overseas countries which we envisage will become part of the new state-based competitions.

“It will also result in significant savings for clubs as they reduce their NYC costs and invest in the State League competitions instead.”

Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga said the new structure is a major step forward for the game.

“Players coming through the ranks will now have a clear, dedicated pathway to the NRL and representative football,” Meninga said.

“The new model will not only help to expand the game both in Australia and overseas but it will provide better protection for young players at risk of developing welfare issues and being forced out of the game.
“So I can see the revised structure leading to better quality football on the field and a better support system for our young players off the field.”

The NRL is working with the RLPA to increase the number of players that clubs can include in their fulltime squad. Those who fail to make the final NRL squad will return to play in the state leagues.

Canavan said the new model would encourage clubs to develop junior players from their affiliated state team — rather than simply poaching them from other areas.

“The states will continue to operate their traditional junior competitions and state-based under-20s competitions,” Canavan said.

“Players from New Zealand and country regions will be able to stay in the game without having to leave home.

“We believe this is the best way to expand the game in the short term — and create a sustainable competition structure for the long term.”

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport...s/news-story/11738a66f555d9af59862ff6f72b1295

 

[alien]

THE NRL’s under-20s competition will be axed as part of a $16 million overhaul designed to provide a new pathway program for elite NRL players.

The NRL on Thursday announced a new structure, approved by the Australian Rugby League Commission, that will see the once-vaunted National Youth Competition scrapped for 2018.

Under the decentralisation plan, two under-20s competitions will be created in Queensland and NSW to support the existing second-tier leagues in those states.

The under-20s competition has become a huge financial burden for NRL clubs, who each spend an average $1 million annually cultivating the next wave of first-grade talent.

NRL data showed just 10 per cent of under-20s players _ an average of two rookies per club _ were graduating to play NRL.

But under the NRL’s new structure, clubs will save a collective $10 million in a move that has the support of Australian coach Mal Meninga and Origin mentors Kevin Walters (Queensland) and Laurie Daley (NSW).

NRL head of football Brian Canavan said the NYC has become costly to run and has been identified as putting undue pressure on young players coming through the ranks.

“The new model is designed to provide a clearer pathway for elite junior players aiming to play in the NRL,” Canavan said.

“We have been concerned for some time about the welfare issues affecting many young players struggling to cope with the pressures of the NYC.

“This model will enable more juniors to stay at home, rather than having to move away from their families, to play rugby league.

“And it will enable us to expand the game into regional and neighbouring overseas countries which we envisage will become part of the new state-based competitions.

“It will also result in significant savings for clubs as they reduce their NYC costs and invest in the State League competitions instead.”

Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga said the new structure is a major step forward for the game.

“Players coming through the ranks will now have a clear, dedicated pathway to the NRL and representative football,” Meninga said.

“The new model will not only help to expand the game both in Australia and overseas but it will provide better protection for young players at risk of developing welfare issues and being forced out of the game.
“So I can see the revised structure leading to better quality football on the field and a better support system for our young players off the field.”

The NRL is working with the RLPA to increase the number of players that clubs can include in their fulltime squad. Those who fail to make the final NRL squad will return to play in the state leagues.

Canavan said the new model would encourage clubs to develop junior players from their affiliated state team — rather than simply poaching them from other areas.

“The states will continue to operate their traditional junior competitions and state-based under-20s competitions,” Canavan said.

“Players from New Zealand and country regions will be able to stay in the game without having to leave home.

“We believe this is the best way to expand the game in the short term — and create a sustainable competition structure for the long term.”

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport...s/news-story/11738a66f555d9af59862ff6f72b1295

Yeah I think this is the way to go, but I believe that an NRL club should still be allowed to have a second tier team, and an Under 20s team in their own name and colours. For example, the Rabbitohs having a team in First Grade, in NSW Cup, in NSW Under 20s, in NSW Under 18s, and in NSW Under 16s.

 

[alien]

NRL Announces New State Based Competitions
Words: NRL Media Release
Thu 17th November, 07:48PM

Two new State based competitions will be run in NSW and Queensland from 2018 as part of a new pathway program for elite NRL players.

Under the new structure, approved by the Australian Rugby League Commission, each competition will be expanded and decentralised to comprise up to 16 second tier clubs.

NRL Head of Football, Brian Canavan said all NRL clubs will be encouraged to form partnerships with two of these teams from which they will draw talent for the Telstra Premiership.

The new competitions will replace the National Youth Competition which is not regarded as the most appropriate pathway for young players.

The NYC has also become costly to run and has been identified as putting undue pressure on young players coming through the ranks.

“The new model is designed to provide a clearer pathway for elite junior players aiming to play in the NRL,” Mr Canavan said.

“We have been concerned for some time about the welfare issues affecting many young players struggling to cope with the pressures of the NYC.

“This model will enable more juniors to stay at home, rather than having to move away from their families, to play Rugby League.

“And it will enable us to expand the game into regional and neighbouring overseas countries which we envisage will become part of the new State based competitions.

“It will also result in significant savings for clubs as they reduce their NYC costs and invest in the State League competitions instead.”

Kangaroos Coach Mal Meninga said the new structure was a major step forward for the game.

“Players coming through the ranks will now have a clear, dedicated pathway to the NRL and representative football,” Mr Meninga said.

“The new model will not only help to expand the game both in Australia and overseas but it will provide better protection for young players at risk of developing welfare issues and being forced out of the game.

“So I can see the revised structure leading to better quality football on the field and a better support system for our young players off the field.”

Under the proposed new model:

• The NRL is working with the RLPA to increase the number of players that clubs can include in their full time squad. Those who fail to make the final NRL squad will return to play in the State Cup
• Salary limitations for State Cup and the State Youth Cup are also being discussed with the RLPA

Mr Canavan said working conditions regarding young players are still subject to negotiation with the RLPA.

“The RLPA has been involved in these discussions which commenced well before the negotiation of the new CBA and we will continue to work to secure their agreement of the new model.

Mr Canavan said the new model would encourage clubs to develop junior players from their affiliated State Cup team – rather than simply recruiting them from other areas.

It will also better cater for “later maturers” than the current system.

“The States will continue to operate their traditional junior competitions and State based Under 20s competitions,” Mr Canavan said.

“But players from New Zealand and country regions will be able to stay in the game without having to leave home.

“We believe this is the best way to expand the game in the short term – and create a sustainable competition structure for the long term.”

http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/news/2016/11/17/nrl_announces_new_st.html

 

[Foreign Legion]

http://www.nrl.com/door-open-for-both-toowoomba-and-png-20s/tabid/10874/newsid/102633/default.aspx

Queensland Rugby League CEO Rob Moore has not ruled out teams from both Toowoomba and Papua New Guinea participating in the state-based under-20s competition in 2018 following the announcement on Thursday of a new NRL competition structure.

The 2017 season will be 10th and final season of the National Youth Competition with NRL head of football Brian Canavan conceding that the $10 million spent annually by clubs on their under-20s programs could be better allocated.

RELATED ARTICLES
New state-based competitions
State-based leagues to create better pathways

From 2018 under-20s competitions will be conducted in both New South Wales and Queensland and sit beneath the Intrust Super Premiership and Intrust Super Cup clubs respectively.

In turn, NRL clubs will be encouraged to form affiliations with state cup clubs which is already the case in Queensland, with the PNG Hunters and CQ Capras the only two of the 14 clubs not currently with direct NRL affiliations.

A move away from the National Youth Competition has been something the QRL has campaigned for for a number of years and will take the first steps towards the new structure with a nine-week under-20s competition aligned with existing Intrust Super Cup clubs next year.

PNG will not be represented next season with their place in the draw being taken by Toowoomba but Moore said both regions will be considered for the expanded format in 2018.

"I would hope that Toowoomba are in there and if PNG are able to be in there somehow as well," Moore told NRL.com of the potential for a 15-team 20s competition in 2018.

"There's no set number. It's up to us to work with our clubs now to work on those numbers.

"Obviously it's nice and neat for a draw if they're the same but we manage the differences in draws every year. You can manage a draw, it just makes it a little more complex."

Although Toowoomba have been represented in Cyril Connell Cup (under-16s), Mal Meninga Cup (under-18s) and FOGS Colts (under-20s) for a number of years, the timeline for a potential recall to the Intrust Super Cup looks at least five years away.

Part of the NRL's five-year plan is for both state competitions to feature 16 teams and with that to work towards Moore doesn't see the Intrust Super Cup expanding beyond its current 14-team format any earlier.

"I don't and that's something we now need to work with them on," Moore said when asked whether he saw a place for a Toowoomba team before 2022.

"The vision of 32 state cup teams and 16 NRL teams has been something that's been talked about but it was good that that has now been put in front of the commission as what we'd like to see five years down the track.

"Toowoomba at this stage have done everything right in the way of player development to get to where they are but what we need to work with them on now is the governance around the club, the structures, the feeder systems and those sorts of things.

"This is a significant difference now for the future in that Toowoomba have had Cyril Connell, Mal Meninga Cup, FOGS Colts teams for a number of years now. Now we just have to work with them to get their governance and finances right so that we can bring them through hopefully in the future as an Intrust Super Cup team.

"Toowoomba is a big catchment, Rockhampton and Central Queensland is a big catchment, and they're two of the areas that need our help and will need the help of the game."

 

[alien]

Ok after reading more into it, I think they are making a mistake. I think they should keep the NYC how it is, so the Under 20s level remains strong. Having double the teams just makes that level weaker, which is why I believe there should also be a proper Reserve Grade comp that has every NRL club in it. NSW Cup and QLD Cup should still exist, but they should be third grade comps.

 

[Perth Red]

Very surprised that only 10% of NYC players make it to first grade?