Titans push under-20 Origin series

[Pumba]

5th of December 2007

THE Gold Coast Titans will today push for an under-20s component to the annual State of Origin series.

Titans managing director Michael Searle will suggest the innovation at the annual NRL conference, which opens today in the Hunter Valley.

Searle says the idea, from Titans chairman Paul Broughton, was an obvious extension of next year's inaugural under-20s competition.

"The big point of difference between our game and AFL and rugby union is that we now have a national youth comp where the best of the best are playing each other every week," he said.

"We think the natural progression from that would be to have a State of Origin series to link in with the senior State of Origin series.

"It would be Queensland v NSW, but at the under-20 level.

"We have had that before at an under-19 level, but not a full series. It would be great and would emphasise that point of difference between us and AFL and rugby.

"It would be the main curtainraiser for the three games and it is a concept that Paul Broughton has been working on for some time."

Searle said that, if agreed upon, the idea could take 12 months to implement, but would also serve another purpose -- deciding the eligibility of players for the senior State of Origin.

"It would remove some of the doubt over the classification of certain players," he said.

The Titans have two players, Shannon Walker and Will Matthews, who would have very strong claims for a start in an under-20 State of Origin series.

However Searle said both would probably line up for the Blues.

"Both played (NSW) country rugby league at an under-16 level and so for mine they are New South Welshman," he said.

"The winning state could then go on and play the (junior) Kiwis. It is an exciting concept and one we have been flicking about for some time."

Searle is undecided which way he will push in the 'day v night' grand final debate.

"On a personal level I have an opinion and it probably differs from what most people would think," he said.

"I am torn between the two. The grand final is a great spectacle at night and it gets a far broader audience, but I am also empathetic to the Queenslanders who love the final during the day.

"We do not get the Monday off so I understand the argument.

"I will listen to all arguments, but I don't think there is a right or wrong answer on this one."

Source: goldcoast.com.auhttp://www.leagueunlimited.com/article.php?newsid=14999

What does everyone think?

I reckon it is a top idea.
http://www.leagueunlimited.com/article.php?newsid=14999

 

[Jono078]

I like it very much.

Even if it's not a best of 3 and just the 1 game would be fine with me.

 

[Mr. Fahrenheit]

top idea, love it... however IMO like the Toyota cup, this concept is flawed when U20 players are eligible to play in the overage comps.

 

[eels_fan_01]

I like the idea, id actually like to see the city/country scrapped for first grade players and have the under 20's playing in it so it could still be on tv and still played in the bush.

 

[Lockyer4President!]

Searle is on the money yet again.

 

[roopy]

The majority of the origin under 20s would be playing firstgrade you would think, so origin week would see a hell of a lot of players not available for club games.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

We do have u19 interstate (although it's not Origin) already so it would be pretty similar only an age group higher. It would be more consistent to have u20s now that there is a national comp. I don't know what they do about players in first grade. Either pick them and put up with more whinging from clubs or don't pick them and have some rules that ensure they are only NYC players or something. Put that on TV and/or take it to the bush and I reckon it would be great.

 

[girvie]

Currently the Origin Curtain Raisers are:

NSW U19 vs. Qld U19
NSW U17 vs. Qld U17
NSW Residents (Premier League) vs. Qld Residents (Qld Cup).

So if there was an Under-20s series brought in for all 3 games then what would happen to the U17s and Residents games?

 

[girvie]

Possible sides:

NSW Under-20s 2008
1. Shannon Walker - Gold Coast
2. Heka Nanai - Canterbury
3. Michael Jennings - Penrith
4. Taulima Tautai - Parramatta
5. Chris Lawrence - Wests
6. Kris Keating - Parramatta
7. Mitchell Pearce - Sydney City
8. Tim Grant - Penrith
9. Wayde Dunley - Wests
10. Tim Mannah - Parramatta
11. Will Matthews - Gold Coast
12. Tony Williams - Parramatta
13. Martin Lewis – Parramatta

14. Aiden Tolman - Melbourne
15. Robert Worsley - Canterbury
16. Fred Pakutoa - Cronulla
17. Tim Moltzen - Wests

· Jarryd Hayne will be playing State of Origin
· Masada Iosefa, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Eddie Paea, Eddy Pettybourne and Chase Stanley have previously represented NSW but have now pledged allegiance to New Zealand.

Qld Under-20s 2008
1. Luke Capewell – South Sydney
2. Rodney Davies - Brisbane
3. Will Chambers - Melbourne
4. Ben Jones – Sydney City
5. Obediah Geia – North Queensland
6. Joel Moon - Brisbane
7. Josh Costello – Gold Coast
8. Dave Taylor - Brisbane
9. Anthony Mitchell - Parramatta
10. Byrnjar Ragnarsson - Cronulla
11. Lagi Setu – St George Illawarra
12. Nathan Barraclough – North Queensland
13. Jeremiah Walters - Cronulla

14. Martin Kennedy – Sydney City
15. David Baumann - Parramatta
16. Rohan Ahern – Sydney City
17. Nathan Strudwick - Brisbane

· Israel Folau will be playing State of Origin
· Kevin Proctor has previously represented Qld but has now pledged allegiance to New Zealand.

 

[The Engineers Room]

Possible sides:

NSW Under-20s 2008
1. Shannon Walker - Gold Coast
3. Michael Jennings - Penrith
5. Chris Lawrence - Wests
6. Kris Keating - Parramatta
7. Mitchell Pearce - Sydney City
8. Tim Grant - Penrith
Qld Under-20s 2008
3. Will Chambers - Melbourne
8. Dave Taylor - Brisbane
11. Lagi Setu – St George Illawarra

That is another 9 players that may be in first grade not available.

Maybe the solution is to make an eligibility rule that the players be from the U20's comp only and if they have played more than half their games in another competition (NRL or Premier League or Qld cup) they are not eligible.

 

[Noa]

Stupid, stupid idea. Lets flog the sh*t out of our young players so by the time they get to 25 they've had enough

 

[Lockyer4President!]

Stupid, stupid idea. Lets flog the sh*t out of our young players so by the time they get to 25 they've had enough

It might encourage those guys who know that they won't make the NRL until their late twenties, if ever, a reason to stick with the game for a bit longer. We won't really know how it'll turn out until we've had it running for a fair while.

 

[Noa]

It might encourage those guys who know that they won't make the NRL until their late twenties, if ever, a reason to stick with the game for a bit longer. We won't really know how it'll turn out until we've had it running for a fair while.

They already play u/17, u/19 SOO, Junior Kangaroos, Schoolboy football for some of them, a couple of games in first grade for others. How much football do we want them to play.

 

[Stagger eel]

girvie, I'm pretty certain that Taulima has declared his alligence to New Zealand.

 

[Raider_69]

I think its a top idea, but only those who have played a set number of U/20's games should be eligable.

 

[Coaster]

Great idea, and should eliminate some of this crap where we dont know what state a player is from.

In fact i think they should take that a step further and at lets say under 14's they should, with there RL registration have to state on the form what country and state they are from and there allegience to them. This would be perminate.

 

[Quidgybo]

In fact i think they should take that a step further and at lets say under 14's they should, with there RL registration have to state on the form what country and state they are from and there allegience to them. This would be perminate.

I suspect you could run into some legal problems trying to make binding any decision made prior to the age of 18/17/16 (depending on which state's jursidiction the agreement falls under). But I think in general you'd be able to make all players declare their allegiance (both provincial and international) at the point they sign their first professional contract (generally for the under 20s competition and well before they are ever in real contention for first class representative selection) and then have that choice follow them thru the rest of their professional career.

Leigh.

 

[APRIL BELLE]

I suspect you could run into some legal problems trying to make binding any decision made prior to the age of 18/17/16 (depending on which state's jursidiction the agreement falls under). But I think in general you'd be able to make all players declare their allegiance (both provincial and international) at the point they sign their first professional contract (generally for the under 20s competition and well before they are ever in real contention for first class representative selection) and then have that choice follow them thru the rest of their professional career.

Leigh.

They do, do that. The last page of the NRL contract asks questions about what Arrive Alive school you played immediately after your 16th birthday and what club you were first registered to after your 16th birthday.

Only problem is I recently know of some boys who have signed NRL contracts before their 16th birthday so I don't know what the NRL did in those instances

 

[girvie]

I think its a top idea, but only those who have played a set number of U/20's games should be eligable.

But what's the point of playing it if the best players in the age group aren't allowed to play.