Player Depth

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

They dont. We should have state bodies ensuring the game is thriving at jnr level then at 16 we should have NRL scouting systems that are cherry picking the very best 16 year old boys and girls and offering them an elite pathway development. That is where the clubs should come in at 16 to offer those pathways, and where there arent clubs like in Perth then the state league continues to be responsible. Sure NRL players can add star value by visiting schools and jnr clubs to give some profile to the game but NRL clubs shouldnt be worrying about U12's. they have enough on their plates trying to run a viable professional sports business!

WA has set up a system over last few years where we have an elite academy for 16's this then feeds into SG Ball. From an earlier age the best kids from their Jnr clubs are picked for regular regional rep clubs who play each other at a higher standard and get access to better and more comprehensive coaching etc. Considering how few kids play the game here we have developed 4 or 5 NRL first teamers in last few years so it seems to be having some success.

Shane Richardson said last year that the district system Sydney has used for over 100 years doesn't work. When he wrote up a plan on how to correct it the officials from the clubs went behind his back to keep the status quo.

Maybe I am being too pessimistic, but I think if things stay as they are in this country, then RL has the potential to end up like RU. We've just gone through a golden period where broadcasters were forced to pay us over the top for broadcast rights because they're a dying medium fighting to stay relevant in a changing landscape, but they're no longer in a position to do it and our game just pissed the large sums of money up a wall to keep unviable clubs from Sydney in the NRL. The RLPA were greedy.

We could have used the last 10 years to build a strong war chest that could fund the game from the grassroots up to seniors all over Australia. Now we're rushing through expansion in Brisbane because the greedy guts down in Sydney know it's the last hope of extorting money out of the broadcasters.

AwFuL have a revenue source outside of broadcast rights, so they'll be fine. Where we get our money from in 20 or 30 years, God knows.

 

[Perth Red]

Yes and no, we have had investment strategies to increase non media funding (major events, digital, increased sponsorship and betting deals etc) I do agree though that increasing club grants by 80% overnight was ridiculous, especially with no kpi's expected from them. That was just to save Grants neck. Also AFL were gifted a great investment opportunity at a knock down price with Marvel stadium, unfortunately NRl hasnt worked hard enough to have friends in high places like they do. In 2013 when the first real TV windfall hit was when they really should have had a long term strategy. Smith tried his best with the goal of setting aside $100million for future investments but he was soon shown the door as the many begging bowls would rather have their share now. As it stands after over $2billion of Tv money in 7 years we dont have any real assets, any money set aside for a rainy day, any expansion growth, a vibrant werll funded grass roots or even super rich clubs who have more money than they know what to do with. Not much to show I would agree!

 

[Pippen94]

Im not suggesting they fund grassroots, i am suggesting that an acedemy should be set up and run under each NRL team. These clubs are going to provide proper talent instead of constantly poaching from each other till theres nothing left, where as each club having their own NYC teams playing out of their own acedemy is the best way for the NRL

Don't worry mate Perth has 500k junior players!!

 

[Dragonwest]

Not sure why the bid folk aren't throwing money at it then, relying solely on NRLWA seems a bit limiting, when there's a few rich business types complaining about not being in the conversation about the 18th licence, but then seem to not care about the current pirate's SG.ball team, like I've been saying if that young team starts to kick serious arse in that comp, the NRL will see it as potential, otherwise they are looking at where they can expand where the junior base is already competitive, it's the sole reason NZ2 is being floated ahead of anything else, over 40% of junior RL players are stemming from NZ and the Pacific, and as far as creating a team, the fact that Melbourne storm exist proves that if the ARLC or governing body want a team in a certain town or city, they'll just do it. Expect Auckland 2

Hi MugaB,

Your thinking about it the wrong way. Currently the Pirates have their hands tied behind their back and their results do not show the potential of the Perth region. Every year we lose 5/6 very talented players at 15 who move to the East Coast for Harold Matthews opportunities or QLD high school systems. They end up player against us in SG Ball competition. Also at 16 the Force make players sign contracts to prevent them playing Rugby League. If a team was located here and we had a complete pathway through to the NRL we would be on the verge of playing finals in these competitions. Nothing stopping us beating the Balmain, North Sydney, St George, Wests, Central Coast, Melb etc. of these competitions.

Having gone through the junior pathways here in Perth the mid 90s I can tell you that the number of clubs and number of juniors/seniors players took off with the inclusion of the Reds. Double where we are at now. Long-term Perth will have no issue producing talent which could be supplemented with the required mix of imports. Perth needs the appropriate coaching systems and pathways that develop our kids correctly from 13s up and then it will work.

It needs to built from the top down.

 

[Perth Red]

g

Don't worry mate Perth has 500k junior players!!

grow up

 

[Perth Red]

Not sure why the bid folk aren't throwing money at it then, relying solely on NRLWA seems a bit limiting, when there's a few rich business types complaining about not being in the conversation about the 18th licence, but then seem to not care about the current pirate's SG.ball team, like I've been saying if that young team starts to kick serious arse in that comp, the NRL will see it as potential, otherwise they are looking at where they can expand where the junior base is already competitive, it's the sole reason NZ2 is being floated ahead of anything else, over 40% of junior RL players are stemming from NZ and the Pacific, and as far as creating a team, the fact that Melbourne storm exist proves that if the ARLC or governing body want a team in a certain town or city, they'll just do it. Expect Auckland 2

They are, well one is. Cummins has funded grass roots RL in WA more than the NRL has over the last two decades! The others are businessmen who are interested in owning a Perth NRL club, not spending their ill gotten gains on amateur sport.
We cant kick arse in SG Ball until we get more kids playing and more money to turn the best of them into elite athletes, That will only come with an NRL club, or the NRL giving the NRLWA triple the amount they get now.
The NZ stat is interesting, I wonder how any of them are actually coming through the NZ jnr system or how many are kids of parents who moved over to Australia for work or are signed up as they display a bit of talent at 15, like we see with our WA jnrs like Topine who just made his NRL debut for Bulldogs after signing for their SG ball side from his WA jnr club. Take someone like Taumalolo. Sure born in NZ but moved to Oz at 13, so is he a product of NZ jnrs or just a kid who happened to be born in NZ but is only a NRL star as he entered the Australian development system at a young age? How many current NZ or PI players joined an NRL club from NZ after the age of 17?

 

[Pippen94]

g

grow up

Ha - I think we're all realizing that you're exaggerating status of league over there

 

[Perth Red]

John’s doubling down on not enough talent and that we should go to 12 clubs! I guess he isn’t too worried about tv revenue then that funds grassroots?

https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/news-2...ew-johns/07c2fc4c-b71d-4b89-b412-92b9b7bc8f5a

 

[Perth Red]

Just as an example of how it isnt just about numbers, it’s about elite pathways NFL has 32 top
Tier clubs. Every year they “graduate” 255 out of 12k college players to have a crack at the big time. Surely with better systems 18 NRL clubs can find 450 kids to fill U18’s out of the 5k or so 16 year olds playing the game then find 30-40 of them a year to graduate to nrl after 18?

 

[Perth Red]

Grassroots registrations for males dropping in Sydney, though not this year lol
this report is about all over the place tbh.

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/is...l-powerbrokers-concerned-20210519-p57tah.html

 

[MugaB]

John’s doubling down on not enough talent and that we should go to 12 clubs! I guess he isn’t too worried about tv revenue then that funds grassroots?

https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/news-2...ew-johns/07c2fc4c-b71d-4b89-b412-92b9b7bc8f5a

He is a dope sometimes, when he talks about actual on field tactics, and other issues related to the game on field, he is extremely interesting and very asute in his way of thinking about most subjects, but when he starts talking about outside influences with the media or business or where the game should head, he just jibbers nonsense.. seriously if you shrunk the teams down to 12, the game will lose out big time, we are trying to rise the ocean and get to 18 clubs, he wants to derail 4 existing clubs to what end? There will still be a bottom 4 no matter what, if its not canterbury this year its whoever is running 12th (currently the knights)

 

[Perth Red]

Yep, take SOO. In theory you are taking most of the best 34 players in the NRL and creating just two teams to play each other. By rights every game should be close and the series evenly shared. In reality we still get blow outs and one team has won 14 of the last 20! If anything dispels the myth of dilution or concentration its Origin!

 

[MugaB]

Yep, take SOO. In theory you are taking most of the best 34 players in the NRL and creating just two teams to play each other. By rights every game should be close and the series evenly shared. In reality we still get blow outs and one team has won 14 of the last 20! If anything dispels the myth of dilution or concentration its Origin!

Theory means shít in rugba lég,
You can have the best roster, but if the whole team doesn't pull all in one direction, like the marons did last year or penrith this year, it doesn't matter, it only takes one linebreak to install momentum and 6 points against you. It even harder now to keep that defensive line intact when the refs are sinbinning/sending off players moreso than usual, but do your job and do it as a team, train for the worst outcome, and you might win when the cards aren't in your favour

 

[Travitoh]

Player depth is fine.
It's off field depth that I'd be concerned about

 

[Perth Red]

Rugby league great Cameron Smith believes the NRL need to be cautious in regards to bringing in a 17th franchise to the competition.

With expansion likely for either 2023 or 2024 with a second Brisbane side, Smith believes the NRL needs to weigh up whether they want to prioritise more revenue over the quality of the competition.
Smith thinks there may not be enough top level talent to fill another 40-man NRL roster in two or three years time.

He explained why on SEN 1170 The Captain’s Run.

“The hot topic this year has been about the quality of the competition,” Smith said.

“Some of the rosters across the NRL have been found to be a little bit skinny.

“So, is there enough talent to spread across the competition? Possibly not right now.

“We’ve been talking about the situation at the Bulldogs and the Wests Tigers and what’s happening with recruitment and rosters.

“Well, you’ve got great rosters at a handful of clubs while a few others are quite skinny.

“Can we afford to spread what we currently have across another team of 40 players? That’s my only concern.”

While Smith concedes there are benefits in bringing in a new club, particularly financially, he thinks NRL powerbrokers need to make sure they have their priorities in order.

“Does it help bring in more broadcast dollars and other avenues of revenue? Yes it does,” Smith said.

“But at the cost of the quality of the competition? I don’t know, that’s what Peter V’Landys and Andrew Abdo need to weigh up.

“Quality of the competition versus bringing in more revenue, I don’t know.”

Smith's “only concern” with potential 17th franchise

Rugby league great Cameron Smith isn’t sold on the idea of a 17th side.

www.sen.com.au

 

[Perth Red]

Melbourne Storm legend Billy Slater has warned the NRL that while he has no problem with the competition expanding, talent development must be addressed before a 17th franchise enters the league.

The three teams competing to become the next expansion club - Brisbane Jets, Brisbane Firehawks and Redcliffe Dolphins - today addressed the commission, putting forward their final bids to be granted NRL licenses.

It's understood the NRL has targetted 2023-2024 for the next franchise to officially be part of the competition.


Slater said he hoped Redcliffe are handed the honour, but he believes the NRL has a lot of work in front of it before a team can join the league.

The former Kangaroos and Maroons fullback fears the lack of reserve-grade competition, which has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, will impact the "talent pool" coming through.

"The big problem needs to be addressed in terms of developing our talent. Now, we haven't had any reserve-grade football over the last two seasons, so that's certainly going to contribute to the talent pool and how it's being developed.

"You have a look at some of these teams on the bottom of the ladder: the Broncos, Cowboys, Bulldogs and the Tigers. You take three of the best players out of those teams, well you're going to weaken the competition, as well.

"I'm not against expansion, but the NRL needs to address this, the development of our talent, and bring those weaker clubs up. This is only going to dilute it."

Slater picks out 'the big problem' with expansion

'The NRL needs to address this'

wwos.nine.com.au

 

[flippikat]

The "there's no depth" argument often overlooks that we've had nearly two years of disruption to levels under the NRL. Once Covid is in the rear-view mirror, it'll get better.

NSW & Qld Cup especially plays a big role in bringing new talent up to NRL standard - if those competitions can't run, it's a big problem once injuries/suspension bites into the NRL squads.

 

[MugaB]

Dont forget there's also some clubs are better than others at recruiting, dogs are recruiting well, but its not really effective till next year, even then theyll have to gel, which means maybe another year to do that, on the flip side you have storm and panthers with built rosters promoting their junior ranks, and small market purchases that aren't ludicrous, your Kurt Capewells, Remis Smiths, while other clubs are forking out million dollar contracts for your Adam Reynolds, or other guys that are no where near as good, inflation causing unstable salary caps, are whats wrong with the "quality" of the clubs, its just more evident now, fancy paying a prop anymore than 600k, unless they are the leading meter eater of the league, yet there are the broncos, who had both lodge, hass and pangai jr on massive coin.
The better clubs are the ones who get value for money, or get a player on their worth, not overs, if your paying overs your not doing it right

 

[Jim Rockford]

Hahahaha Perth Red fantasizing what his potential ButtPirates team might look like. The real question is how many of those players will agree to go live in the arse-end of Australia?

 

[siv]

Development is the biggest concern

Not player depth

Since 2000 we have been in a RG v State Cups argument which is hurting development

Rather than saying it needs to leavee or needs to right

I suggest we need both answers
- NRL RG for professional players

and State Cups for part-time players

This addresses everyone's concerns

I think we should look to bringing back a 4 week U15s comp below Matts

Or return to the original trophies named

U21 Presidents Cup
U19 Flegg
U17 Ball
U15 Matts