V
Vertigo
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I'd just like to re-print a part of an article that appeared in the Courier Mail which Hazy pointed out in another thread. It speaks of this thread topic, and much of what's stated by the coaches in question is very appropriate and correct.
Perhaps the most far-reaching is establishing a more even competition to ensure the code is strong along the eastern coast and across the Tasman. Until then, there is little use in expanding the game. North Queensland continue to struggle, Melbourne, despite their early success, have hit a downward cycle and the Northern Eagles, South Sydney and Canberra are suffering from a lack of depth in their playing ranks. Does the NRL need to offer concessions to ensure the weaker teams get stronger? THE starting point for many codes to improve the spread of talent has been a draft but Bennett, Smith and Hagan all believe it would be of little help to the NRL. "If you look at the American NFL and the AFL, they've both got a draft and yet there are still some clubs which dominate," Bennett says. "It still comes down to administration. You can do anything you want but if the club is poorly administered they'll pay the price for it. That's the major factor and it's a message all clubs should look at." Hagan says a draft would damage one of Newcastle's biggest strengths -- the ability to develop its own talent. The idea of salary cap concessions or providing financial aid to the poorer clubs was supported by Bennett. "I'm all for anything that can help with the weaker clubs. People say it is a level playing field with the salary cap, but it is not. "If we do make concessions, we've got to be fair. "If we are not seeing improvement you need to reassess it. The AFL did it for Brisbane and the Swans because they saw those areas as important for the code. "It's a great lesson for us but, on the other hand, they destroyed the West Coast by putting Fremantle in there." Smith argued that it still came back to the administration of each club. "I think initially when a club is being set up or some sort of case can be made for hardship, then yes. There's some stuff you can't legislate for, not just in coaching but in administration. "Some clubs, no matter what you do for them, won't come up with winning teams." Hagan says cycles that run through sport provide a natural order. When asked about the situation with North Queensland, who have not been competitive since entering the competition, he says: "They've gone about buying people without developing their own, and they're seven or eight years down the track. They need a strong recruitment and development policy. "If you can add value to players by improving them yourself, why should you give concessions to other clubs? "They chose to sign [Noel] Goldthorpe and others for $300,000 when you could argue there were other ways to go." The AFL example, where Sydney and Brisbane received cash concessions from the AFL to help build the important expansion areas, was not a solution, Hagan added. "Kevin Sheedy would argue strongly he's opposed to giving other teams an increased benefit. One-team towns have an advantage. "What I would like to see is some concessions for developing your own talent and rewarding loyalty. "We're going to get them for 10-year players like Robbie O'Davis and Andrew Johns, which totals $100,000, but in fairness I don't think that's a major concession."
Thanks again for bringing the article to our attention Hazy.
Vertigo
Perhaps the most far-reaching is establishing a more even competition to ensure the code is strong along the eastern coast and across the Tasman. Until then, there is little use in expanding the game. North Queensland continue to struggle, Melbourne, despite their early success, have hit a downward cycle and the Northern Eagles, South Sydney and Canberra are suffering from a lack of depth in their playing ranks. Does the NRL need to offer concessions to ensure the weaker teams get stronger? THE starting point for many codes to improve the spread of talent has been a draft but Bennett, Smith and Hagan all believe it would be of little help to the NRL. "If you look at the American NFL and the AFL, they've both got a draft and yet there are still some clubs which dominate," Bennett says. "It still comes down to administration. You can do anything you want but if the club is poorly administered they'll pay the price for it. That's the major factor and it's a message all clubs should look at." Hagan says a draft would damage one of Newcastle's biggest strengths -- the ability to develop its own talent. The idea of salary cap concessions or providing financial aid to the poorer clubs was supported by Bennett. "I'm all for anything that can help with the weaker clubs. People say it is a level playing field with the salary cap, but it is not. "If we do make concessions, we've got to be fair. "If we are not seeing improvement you need to reassess it. The AFL did it for Brisbane and the Swans because they saw those areas as important for the code. "It's a great lesson for us but, on the other hand, they destroyed the West Coast by putting Fremantle in there." Smith argued that it still came back to the administration of each club. "I think initially when a club is being set up or some sort of case can be made for hardship, then yes. There's some stuff you can't legislate for, not just in coaching but in administration. "Some clubs, no matter what you do for them, won't come up with winning teams." Hagan says cycles that run through sport provide a natural order. When asked about the situation with North Queensland, who have not been competitive since entering the competition, he says: "They've gone about buying people without developing their own, and they're seven or eight years down the track. They need a strong recruitment and development policy. "If you can add value to players by improving them yourself, why should you give concessions to other clubs? "They chose to sign [Noel] Goldthorpe and others for $300,000 when you could argue there were other ways to go." The AFL example, where Sydney and Brisbane received cash concessions from the AFL to help build the important expansion areas, was not a solution, Hagan added. "Kevin Sheedy would argue strongly he's opposed to giving other teams an increased benefit. One-team towns have an advantage. "What I would like to see is some concessions for developing your own talent and rewarding loyalty. "We're going to get them for 10-year players like Robbie O'Davis and Andrew Johns, which totals $100,000, but in fairness I don't think that's a major concession."
Thanks again for bringing the article to our attention Hazy.
Vertigo
will pick faults with it and turn a blind eye.
