Sons of guns forced to pack their bags

[westie]

Still think there should be a national 2nd tier comp in the same style as the championship.

 

[Doug2234]

Personally i loved the 2 games prior to the first grade kick off. Some of the part time first graders running around in reserves, or coming back from injury its the best hit out there is before stepping back into first grade.

 

[Cupid Stunt]

You DO realise that most props dont start hitting their peak at around age 26 dont you ? That means that we are throwing away a hell of a lot of talent in the 21 to 25 years age bracket, simply because there is no proper reserve grade.

This is something I STILL don't get. I'm yet to hear a reasonable explanation of how this comp benefits the game MORE than if we had of cleaned up a three grade system.

 

[aqua_duck]

Matt King is the perfect example of a player who in today's circumstances would not have had a chance.


We need a reserve grade comp with minimal age restrictions. Something like the old under 23s which had concessions for a certain amount of players outside the age bracket to be in the side.

Matt King was graded out of Nths Devils in QLD cup so I don't understand your point.

The thing is there is still alot of opportunities for players. NSW cup is basically premier league except they don't play in big stadiums. QLD cup is getting stronger and alot of NYC players who don't get contracts with NRL clubs play there. Outside that there's the Newcastle comp which is quite strong and bartercard cup. If your good enough there's always going to be an opportunity

 

[nqcowboy87]

some players that didnt peak at 18

steve bell qld rep - didnt make first grade till 25
bill peden knights legend- didnt play till 24
matt king australia and nsw rep - didnt get a make the cut at norths or cronulla and then trialed with norths in the qcup
jeff robson - cut from parra, spent four or five years at manly for 6 games and then came back to parra and helped lead them to a gf
and theres a s####load more, so we do need a good strong reggies comp, the under 23's wont work we need a u20's like comp, a good reggies comp, and a first grade comp. but in saying this there will always be a few that will be forced out but they wouldnt be good enough anyway

 

[BIKER_DRAGON]

About time Gallop and his crew of geniuss woke the f**k up and brought back reserve grade.

 

[Perth Red]

Isn't the NSW/Q'land cup just reserve grade by another name? Is there any NRl clubs without a link up to a NSW or Q'land cup team?

 

[christopher]

bullsh*t

QLD Cup produced more than 50 players for the NRL last year.

The Toyota Cup send many players away from club contracts yes, but most of them were facing the scrap heap within the next year or two anyway.

Basically the clubs are investing more in youth then veterens now. Well, personally I think that's a good thing.

There is no way a guy like Matt King would fall through the cracks now. He got his chance with Norths Devils as a 21-year-old.

A player above 20 who still think he can make it is able to play NSW Cup or Qld Cup and he will be spotted.

A player many thought had fell through the cracks, Palmer Wapau, only got an NRL gig last year after spending several season in second tier leagues.

He played for Redcliffe got notices and was signed up. It is still just as possible for many other players if they are good enoguh.

The diff is, some may not have that base contract from an NRL club to support them. But if they want it they will get a full time job like everyone else.

The Wynn brothers went to France because, well it is better than the NSW Cup and they was no interest from NRL clubs. If they perform really well in France they will likely be spotted and bought back to an NRL club.

 

[nqcowboy87]

f they perform really well in France they will likely be spotted and bought back to an NRL club.

not likely unless theyre manager gets them a gig

 

[adamkungl]

not likely unless theyre manager gets them a gig

That *is* his job...

 

[Bluebags1908]

What a load of rubbish - "Without a proper reserve grade since the introduction of the under-20s national competition". The NSW Cup and Queensland Cup are the Reserve Grade comps. Each NSW Cup team is a direct feeder team to an NRL side and so are most Queensland Cup teams. These players are just not good enough!

The NSW and Queensland Cups are just reserve grade by another name. For all those that want 3 grades at the one venue, I think you're looking at things with rose-coloured glasses. How many really used to turn up for kick-off of Third Grade?

And where is Wynnum-Manly, Ipswich, Easts Brisbane, Souths Logan in Queensland supposed to play other than on their own home grounds?

And in the NSW Cup - Newtown have been playing at Henson Park since 1936, Balmain at Leichhardt since 1934, North Sydney at North Sydney Oval since 1910 and Wests at Campbelltown since 1987. Wentworthvile has always played at Ringrose Park and Winsor has always played at Windsor. So where exactly are these teams supposed to play their home games other than on their home grounds?

 

[Canard]

The quote's in the article are telling a) "if you don't make it by your 20 your finished" and b) "I played in front of some small crowds and ordinary grounds"

We know that a) is incorrect with the QLD and NSW cup comps being available to over 20's and b) what?? Why is playing in front of crowds a big issue, what is this guy a glory hunter??

If you love the game and you think you have something to offer you will continue to toil away at this level.

 

[The Tank]

Exactly. If you're not playing FG, and you're not good enough yet, then surely playing in front of no-one should enourage you to try harder.

 

[Angry_eel]

jeff robson - cut from parra, spent four or five years at manly for 6 games and then came back to parra and helped lead them to a gf

Robbo would still have made it I reckon. He's done the hard yards. He's didn't give up. These two whingers are having a cry because they have to play in front of small crowds.

 

[Parra]

For all those that want 3 grades at the one venue, I think you're looking at things with rose-coloured glasses. How many really used to turn up for kick-off of Third Grade?

Another problem with the U20's is the kick off times. Plenty more people would turn up to watch these matches if the game ran back to back with the main game. Now there is a 1hr+ wait between the end of the 20's and the start of first grade. Instead of a game of footy we get some dickhead trying to rev the crowd up. Now, this may have been a good idea when you could bring your own cans to the ground.....

It would be easy to keep the 20's and first grade for TV, and play a non televised genuine reserves in between - and not wenty or norths or some joke team from Brisbane. A genuine reserve grade, with blokes who can play/have played NRL in the mix.

 

[The Tank]

Another problem with the U20's is the kick off times. Plenty more people would turn up to watch these matches if the game ran back to back with the main game. Now there is a 1hr+ wait between the end of the 20's and the start of first grade. Instead of a game of footy we get some dickhead trying to rev the crowd up. Now, this may have been a good idea when you could bring your own cans to the ground.....

It would be easy to keep the 20's and first grade for TV, and play a non televised genuine reserves in between - and not wenty or norths or some joke team from Brisbane. A genuine reserve grade, with blokes who can play/have played NRL in the mix.

Is this true?

 

[Bring it home Knights]

Matt King is the perfect example of a player who in today's circumstances would not have had a chance.


We need a reserve grade comp with minimal age restrictions. Something like the old under 23s which had concessions for a certain amount of players outside the age bracket to be in the side.

Couldn't agree more. The current set up is incredibly stupid!

 

[Cupid Stunt]

A player many thought had fell through the cracks, Palmer Wapau, only got an NRL gig last year after spending several season in second tier leagues.

He played for Redcliffe got notices and was signed up. It is still just as possible for many other players if they are good enoguh.

Happy to be told I'm wrong but isn't he related to a first grade player or really tight with a few or something? I thought I heard he was being watched because he was playing OK footy but also because he was having his name thrown around by a player or two. If the latter was the case it generally does help to get a foot in the door.

 

[innsaneink]

Is this true?

45-50 minutes...close enough

 

[Green Machine]

I think it’s about a 45min gap. I can’t work out why there is such a gap. Now that most games are televised “Live”, I wonder if has to do with players getting seriously hurt in Toyota Cup and having removed from the field before First Grade's scheduled starting time?
Bores the crap out of you waiting for First Grade to start. I remember going to games in the 80’s and there would be a small crowd at the start of reserve grade. Then from halftime onwards, it would build up. Always made for a good atmosphere for the second half of the reggies. I don’t like Toyota Cup and would like to see a return to a reserve grade comp or a NSW premier league on the same level as the QLD Cup.