There has to be a draft introduced. Surely!

[Lethal25]

Like us being unbeaten for 11 years running in grand finals, the Storm could do the same.

This will turn people well and truly off, unless you are a Storm fan.

I don't know what else any other club can do to prevent this. They will be in the top echelon for many years even when Bellamy retires is my view. Their success rate so far has been phenomenal.

Big difference is this is now a full time professional sport not amateur as it was back then. The NRL should be ashamed that the competition is so uneven and they do next to nothing about fixing it. Teams only get busted for cap cheating from whistle blowers, that in itself is a red flag

 

[The calm one]

So I sit here watching the Thursday night game played against the two heavyweight teams of the last 10 years (Storm v Roosters) and think to myself ....."how can two teams with absolutely no juniors continue to dominate the NRL, year after year after year"?

Are they brilliantly managed? Yes
Are they brilliantly coached? Yes
Do they have heavyweight corporate support? Yes

But surely having these two teams with no juniors being developed is not a healthy advertisement for the game?

I do not begrudge The Panthers one bit of their success. They are a club built on their junior base. Good for them.

Why is the NRL so intent on Melbourne having the dominant team year after year, after year, after year, after year?

I am so over The Storm. What have they given the NRL? Filthy wrestling tactics. Flagrant abuse of the salary cap. A soulless rubble. But supported by the NRL to the hilt. It is nauseating.

And what of the development club like The Dragons; who are admittedly administered by a crew who would make the administration of "The Office" look like Harvard Graduates?

Surely the NRL has to compensate the development clubs when the mercenary Storm, Roosters etc come knocking? Surely developing juniors (the lifeblood of the game) has to count for something?

I for one cannot wait until the demise of The Storm. My despised teams used to be The Eels, The Sea-Eagles, The Bulldogs and of course The Broncos and The Sharks. But are any of those sides remotely as offensive as The Storm?

Don't care - Going Skiiing!
F - THe Storm
Suck S Roosters
When I'm in front of a tele at then moment its NHL Finals
MotoGP Formula 1
Footy - Truck That
I've got my second novel to finish.
Those bitches at HQ should of thought about the variety of sports available before they started changing the rules
And
All those junior coaches should of learnt how to coach properly before they took the credit for unleaching this current crop of want-to-be's out.

Not too many years ago the writing was on the wall - with the Toyota Cup
The Titanic didn't sink immediately. But it sure did sink

 

[The calm one]

As I said last week the whole game is an embarrassment. Last night two possible top 4 teams played. Couldn't be bothered watching it, lost interest, still don't know the score. All I know is Storm won.

 

[FlameThrower]

I don’t like the Storm as I believe they don’t play in the spirit of the game. But setting that aside, they do have a great system of bringing in unwanted and unknown players and crafting them into great players. There is discipline and machine like approach where everyone knows their role. ( we saw that briefly during the Bennett years).
I still think our Club needs to make a call on development or buying in the top notch players. We are way off the mark with our squad and it sure how long it will take to rebuild.

 

[I see Dragons]

A player draft? Legal precedent in RugbyLeague says that's restraint of trade! Despite it being acceptable in other sports. The real issue is just poor management at so many levels and across so many clubs.

 

[The calm one]

A player draft? Legal precedent in RugbyLeague says that's restraint of trade! Despite it being acceptable in other sports. The real issue is just poor management at so many levels and across so many clubs.

That decision was years ago. Time to try again or do something else. Game is dying

 

[Draginzaaar]

Excellent post Rob Dragon , you have said everything that has been on my mind for quite some time . I also do not begrudge any club success - none whatsoever .

But as you have pointed out the Storm have no junior base and Roosters I believe a restricted one ( but that does not stop them from raiding other club’s junior teams ) .

To me that is a cardinal sin , those youngsters should have the opportunity of being graded into their respective senior clubs ( if they have the skills ) before any other team poaches them . Just so wrong , but that is what the situation is nowadays due to an ineffectual NRL body whose main focus is on the almighty $ dollar rather than the game itself .

But back to the Storm , does the NRL truly class them as a success due to the fact that they have won so many premierships ? Normally one would , however although they are an extremely well coached side that oozes class , why must they resort to the despicable tactics that has been part of their make-up ever since they have been in the game ?

The original idea of having a team based in Sin city ( and any new state ) was to get rugby league on the move in Victoria , but have they ? The only thing they have done is dismantle the game piece by piece ( with what appears to be the blessing of the games governing body ) until it is nothing but a mere shadow of what It once was .

So Dragons, Penrith and other development teams should horde all their juniors even though they will not play for the club because they have too many players? As they say, you can't keep them all.

 

[possm]

So I sit here watching the Thursday night game played against the two heavyweight teams of the last 10 years (Storm v Roosters) and think to myself ....."how can two teams with absolutely no juniors continue to dominate the NRL, year after year after year"?

Are they brilliantly managed? Yes
Are they brilliantly coached? Yes
Do they have heavyweight corporate support? Yes

But surely having these two teams with no juniors being developed is not a healthy advertisement for the game?

I do not begrudge The Panthers one bit of their success. They are a club built on their junior base. Good for them.

Why is the NRL so intent on Melbourne having the dominant team year after year, after year, after year, after year?

I am so over The Storm. What have they given the NRL? Filthy wrestling tactics. Flagrant abuse of the salary cap. A soulless rubble. But supported by the NRL to the hilt. It is nauseating.

And what of the development club like The Dragons; who are admittedly administered by a crew who would make the administration of "The Office" look like Harvard Graduates?

Surely the NRL has to compensate the development clubs when the mercenary Storm, Roosters etc come knocking? Surely developing juniors (the lifeblood of the game) has to count for something?

I for one cannot wait until the demise of The Storm. My despised teams used to be The Eels, The Sea-Eagles, The Bulldogs and of course The Broncos and The Sharks. But are any of those sides remotely as offensive as The Storm?

The development Clubs with strong junior systems are doing the heavy lifting. While ever they go on without proper compensation, there will be this disparity.

The way to address this is to place a transfer fee on players 21 and under moving to other than their junior club. In this way the gaining club will pay compensation tor the cost of player development.

 

[Rob Dragon 1]

A player draft? Legal precedent in RugbyLeague says that's restraint of trade! Despite it being acceptable in other sports. The real issue is just poor management at so many levels and across so many clubs.

Agreed. The management of our club is and has been embarrassing for years. The same ghouls who have governed over 10 years of garbage still occupy BOD seats. As I have said previously, do you think these ghouls are suddenly going to wake up today and take a "competency pill"? They are not.

Take Craig Young for example. Terrific players. Premiership winning captain. Kangaroo. I would argue that everything he has touched at our Club post playing retirement has been a disaster (that would equate to +30 years of incompetence); and yet on the BOD he still sits. I am more convinced then ever that Young's last "act" will be having his son installed as our next Coach.

It makes my blood boil when I see Jason Saab and to a lesser extent Rueben Garrick tearing it up at Manly. Good luck to them by the way and yes they are playing outside a once in a generation player in Tommy T; but if Des Hasler had of been our coach these last few years would Saab have agitated for a release? I say no.

I don't blame McGregor for this. I understand he is a coaching imbecile, but he did not keep extending his own contract. It was the ghouls on the Board. I have thought these last several months as to what was the last act/thought/event that led the BOD to terminate McGregor. I can't help thinking they were either:

i. Pushed by a sponsor to act;
ii. Approached by a consortium of players demanding they get rid of McGregor or
iii. Had a "seminal and reflective moment where they collectively realised that McGregor truly is pathetic".

No way was it Point 3 above. These ghouls have no reflective insight whatsoever.

We really missed a trick not accepting the alternate offer to WIN a few years back. I think the ghouls realised that new ownership would have brought a searing spotlight on their collective incompetence. Actually I take that back, these ghouls are not capable of that level of introspection.

Nothing, and I mean no long lasting change happens at our club until the BOD collectively leave and that my good friends won't be happening anytime soon!

 

[BLM01]

Agreed. The management of our club is and has been embarrassing for years. The same ghouls who have governed over 10 years of garbage still occupy BOD seats. As I have said previously, do you think these ghouls are suddenly going to wake up today and take a "competency pill"? They are not.

Take Craig Young for example. Terrific players. Premiership winning captain. Kangaroo. I would argue that everything he has touched at our Club post playing retirement has been a disaster (that would equate to +30 years of incompetence); and yet on the BOD he still sits. I am more convinced then ever that Young's last "act" will be having his son installed as our next Coach.

It makes my blood boil when I see Jason Saab and to a lesser extent Rueben Garrick tearing it up at Manly. Good luck to them by the way and yes they are playing outside a once in a generation player in Tommy T; but if Des Hasler had of been our coach these last few years would Saab have agitated for a release? I say no.

I don't blame McGregor for this. I understand he is a coaching imbecile, but he did not keep extending his own contract. It was the ghouls on the Board. I have thought these last several months as to what was the last act/thought/event that led the BOD to terminate McGregor. I can't help thinking they were either:

i. Pushed by a sponsor to act;
ii. Approached by a consortium of players demanding they get rid of McGregor or
iii. Had a "seminal and reflective moment where they collectively realised that McGregor truly is pathetic".

No way was it Point 3 above. These ghouls have no reflective insight whatsoever.

We really missed a trick not accepting the alternate offer to WIN a few years back. I think the ghouls realised that new ownership would have brought a searing spotlight on their collective incompetence. Actually I take that back, these ghouls are not capable of that level of introspection.

Nothing, and I mean no long lasting change happens at our club until the BOD collectively leave and that my good friends won't be happening anytime soon!

You forgot Point iv. Outgoing CEO who was hamstrung and hung out to dry and new CEO.

Mary's demisal was all 4 points put together
Point ii - exclude Cam

 

[BLM01]

I'd rather see better management of the salary cap by the NRL than a draft. If the cap was partnered with a points system you could potentially limit the ability of clubs to stack teams

The success of the Storm dates back to when they joined the comp, only missing finals 3 times in 23 years and one of those they were banned. Minor premiers 8 times, top 4 on 15 occasions, 10 grand final appearances with 6 of those being wins. If you want to believe it's all down to how well they are run then good luck to you. I'm confident they do not and have not operated under the same conditions as the rest of the competition

Well now a points sytem is good enough for NRLW salary cap.
Why could not something similar be developed for the NRL salary cap with discounted points for home grown players.

 

[Gareth67]

Well now a points sytem is good enough for NRLW salary cap.
Why could not something similar be developed for the NRL salary cap with discounted points for home grown players.

That would disadvantage the money clubs my friend and there is one thing that the NRL prides itself on and that is a level playing field for all teams .

 

[BLM01]

That would disadvantage the money clubs my friend and there is one thing that the NRL prides itself on and that is a level playing field for all teams .

Uncle Nick can still pay his precious gems with all the paper bags he likes when they beat him at golf and have them do all the company adverts...it wont matter
You can hide the paper bags, you cant hide the talent. The media are all over the talent in the game

 

[denis preston]

The long term issue for the game is the product itself. Junior participation is dropping and clubs that nature players into the NRL should be rewarded otherwise why would you bother ? The Rorters & Melbourne will fight this bigtime.

 

[Dragon David]

Unless you follow the top team or the top individual in any other sport and they are always coming near first every year - viz. the Storm, Roosters, Liverpool EPL, Ash Barty, Novak, Sydney 6ers, whatever, I for one would tend to not watch. I would check scores, but not watch - well Ash Barty and the Sydney 6ers and Liverpool I would, because you generally would know the outcome.

An even playing field such as in horse racing where the top horse gets a higher handicap for example.

A points system and rewards for clubs nurturing many young up and comers together with some cap amount might be the answer.

 

[Gareth67]

Well now a points sytem is good enough for NRLW salary cap.
Why could not something similar be developed for the NRL salary cap with discounted points for home grown players.

BLMO1 , Dennis Preston and D.David , I agree wholeheartedly with your thoughts .

It is only fair that those clubs whom have brought their juniors through the system and finally into the top grade itself , are recognized for their efforts by granting them some type of reward .

Hopefully this would help retain their promising juniors long term and also stop the the poaching raids made by those money clubs and also get the message across to them to bring their own juniors onwards .

The fact that the Rorters only have a small junior base with which to draw upon is an error of their own making , whereas with the Storm they have next to none , but that you can put down to the brain-fade that the NRL had at the time of their ‘ expansion ‘ exercise .

Why would anyone send a rugby league team to the stronghold of AFL is beyond me , how many junior teams to they possess is anyone’s guess .

 

[BLM01]

The long term issue for the game is the product itself. Junior participation is dropping and clubs that nature players into the NRL should be rewarded otherwise why would you bother ? The Rorters & Melbourne will fight this bigtime.

Roosters have junior nursery clubs albeit not as many like ours etc
Souths do OK from their juniors so not an excuse
However Roosters can pump some of their riches to some regional areas to be affiliated with a region and can draw on their juniors as their own for NRL purposes to get discounts
Everyone is crying to revigorate bush footy, this is a way to start that with some of the NRL wealth
Melbourne does have rugby league played down there but they can do the same (Albury as an example) although I am not sure whether their Q-cup feeder is a club they pump money into to call their own
They cant fight it if it is a rule, just get on and do something about it like clubs have to do now to be powerful

 

[SBD82]

Until our club is operating like a professional organisation, we will never consistently compete with the ones that are.

Whinging about the good clubs isn’t the way out. Neither is a points system or a draft. The way out is for us to be better.

 

[BLM01]

Until our club is operating like a professional organisation, we will never consistently compete with the ones that are.

Whinging about the good clubs isn’t the way out. Neither is a points system or a draft. The way out is for us to be better.

Yes true but that is a different argument. This was about introducing a points system into the NRL as a whole, like the NRLW just has and how it could work for clubs (who some have raised) may whinge about uneven smaller junior bases or talent for discounts
Clubs can pay what they want or afford behind the scenes. Player value via points system is the same for all and transparent.

 

[SBD82]

Yes true but that is a different argument. This was about introducing a points system into the NRL as a whole, like the NRLW just has and how it could work for clubs (who some have raised) may whinge about uneven smaller junior bases or talent for discounts
Clubs can pay what they want or afford behind the scenes. Player value via points system is the same for all and transparent.

To what end?

Even if I believed that we should be creating rules that “level the playing field”, you won’t level the playing field by introducing these new systems. Because the poorly run clubs will still be terrible at working within the new rules.