U20 comp given green light

[nqboy]

Stating losing half the QRL comp because of 47 kids is utterly rediculous, and bordering on paranoia. But if that was true, then the QRL is already so bloody shaky that it wouldn't survive on it's own anyway.

There's that magic number 47 again. Where does it come from?

And the QRL have done just fine for decades, but thanks for your concern.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

The reason, gents, that the Under 20s comp will threaten the Qld Cup is not because of the loss of some under 20 players, but because of the potential loss of backing from NRL clubs for feeder clubs. The potential loss of the Young Guns, the 2005 premiers, could be a major kick in the guts, Toowoomba has already gone, this year's minor premiers, and Norths only survive due to the backing of Melbourne. Burleigh, Tweed and Ipswich are now aligned with the Gold Coast, an arrangement that would also be under a cloud due to the under 20 comp. The threat of losing these clubs also puts the ABC televisoon deal under threat, not to mention sponsorship from Wizard and others.

 

[Quidgybo]

Perhaps a higher profile comp with a bigger market reach would help off set some of those threats.

Leigh.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

Perhaps a higher profile comp with a bigger market reach would help off set some of those threats.

Leigh.

And a bigger budget that no clubs can afford to play in. A merger with a NSW comp that has no sponsor and no TV coverage that would kill off half the Qld clubs, I bet the QRL will jump at the chance.

 

[Quidgybo]

Well given the U/20s comp is a done deal, what other options do we have to deal with the threats you've highlighted?

Leigh.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

We don't have any options. The Sydney clubs are making all the decisions so I guess we're f**ked. The NRL and the clubs have all the money and they want the under 20s comp to save them even more money so the chances of them setting up a national second tier comp that would leak cash at a rate of knots is unlikely.

 

[skeepe]

Raider fears new competition will hamper older players trying to step up
David Jean


Canberra Raiders second-rower Ben Jones fears the NRL's creation of a national under-20 competition will hamper older players trying to break into first grade.

NRL clubs will enter teams in the under-20 competition in 2008 instead of in the NSW Premier League, the traditional reserve-grade competition for clubs in NSW, which will be reviewed next year.

Jones said while the new competition was a great way to shore up junior talent, it could close the pathway for many older players.

Jones made his first-grade debut last season at the age of 25 and went on to play 14 games for the Raiders.

He had played four seasons in Premier League and two in the Queensland Cup before breaking through.

"I probably wouldn't have got the opportunity to prove myself without reserve grade and there's a lot of blokes that come along those lines," Jones said.

"If you haven't got that there as an older bloke it's probably tough to prove that you're up to the level of first grade.

"If you're not competing against the younger blokes that are ready to play first grade it's going to be tough.

"It's going to be tough for the forwards especially to crack it.

"It's going to be a young man's game."

The NRL and the NSWRL are exploring options to service the needs of players over the age of 20, including starting a new competition for them.

Raiders general manager Don Furner said the club was unlikely to enter a team in a new competition.

He said the Raiders would probably send their over-age players to Queensland Cup feeder-side Souths Logan as well as looking at a partnership with a team in Sydney's Jim Beam Cup.

"Whatever happens we're unlikely to enter a team in it," Furner said.

"We're talking about it at the moment and we're looking at the dollars and we might use other feeder systems.

"We may place five or six [players] at Souths Logan and we may place another five or six in the Jim Beam Cup in Sydney with a team that we go in a partnership with."

Jones supported the Raiders sending players to the Queensland Cup.

He said the competition was at least as strong as Premier League.

Furner said the Raiders had supported the implementation of the new under-20s competition.

He said the new competition would be a great way for the league to keep young talent away from rugby union.

"It's great for young talent and it's great for us sitting down with an 18-year-old just out of school who might be thinking about playing union or league," he said."We can say 'mate we've got a national comp, it's going to be on national television and you're going to be sided up with an NRL side'.

"Our under-20s will now be able to play against kids in Broncos jerseys and North Queensland jerseys and they'll be able to play against the Warriors under-20s."

http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/de...y_id=541328&category=Rugby League&m=12&y=2006

 

[Quidgybo]

Raiders general manager Don Furner said the club was unlikely to enter a team in a new competition

One down.

Leigh.

 

[Raider Ultra]

Not much point when you can send the older players to the Brisbane comp which will be at least similar standard.

 

[Quidgybo]

Without wanting to beat the drum too much on the national second tier competition concept, I think you could realistically get three matches telecast each week. Two on Saturday afternoon, one played in Brisbane and the other in Sydney. And a third match at midday on Sundays played as a curtain raiser before a 2pm NRL match (or in Auckland at 2pm before a 4pm NRL match). The two Saturday games would be covered by the Brisbane and Sydney based ABC crews respectively and broadcast either simulataneously with a different game into each state or as a Nein style double header into both states at 2pm and 4pm. The Sunday match would be played between the NRL U/20s match and the NRL first grade match and would be covered on Fox Sports making use of the crew already setup for the NRL telecast at 2pm. Contrast this with the Queensland Cup where you are unlikely to ever see regular coverage of more than one game each week and the existing Premier League that gets no coverage and you'd have a competition with a huge profile and marketing advantage over the state leagues.

It seems that the ARU has beaten RL to the punch on this. Two matches per week of their new national second tier competition on ABC in addition to continued coverage of the Sydney Premiership. Interesting that the ARU are willing to help out with production costs to ensure their comp gets some coverage.

ABC packs down with ARU
Rupert Guinness
Thursday, January 11, 2007

Elite rugby union is poised to return to ABC television this season after a 16-year absence, with an imminent announcement that the national free-to-air broadcaster will cover the inaugural Australian Rugby Championship this year.
The previous time the ABC committed itself to coverage of top-level rugby was in 1991 when it showed the World Cup - when rugby was not professional.

The 10-week ARC in August and September, the new national club competition created last year, is seen as a stepping stone between club and Super 14 rugby.

The Herald understands that the ABC has beaten both Fox Sports and Channel Ten to land the deal with the Australian Rugby Union.
The contract is for three years and, according to a source, includes an ARU payment of a less-than-six-figure-sum per year as "a contribution for production costs".

The deal will include coverage for the ARU of 19 ARC games per season, with all matches shown live on ABC 1 and ABC 2. That will be made up of two games from each of the eight rounds in the series on a Saturday and Sunday about 3pm, as well as the two semi-finals and the final.

By taking on the ARC deal, it's is also understood the ABC will expand the resources it uses to cover the Sydney club competition, which it will still show.

The ABC has reportedly agreed to commit nine cameras to an ARC game, with the expectation coverage will be of the standard of Super 14 games and Tests. The ABC is also thought to be creating a new commentary team.

With the broadcasting deal all but in place, the ARU is also hopeful of announcing a sponsor for the ARC of which the short list is now down to two - a national and multi-national firm that are in the "family" of Australian rugby sponsors.

The ABC would not comment on reports of the deal yesterday. Nor would the ARU, other than an announcement on an ARC television deal was imminent.
"We have had fruitful discussions with a couple of broadcasters and are hopeful of a decision in the near future," said ARU spokesman Brian West.

http://www.rugbyheaven.smh.com.au/news/off-the-field/abc-packs-down-with-aru/2007/01/10/1168105052194.html

 

[ozbash]

Canberra Raiders second-rower Ben Jones fears the NRL's creation of a national under-20 competition will hamper older players trying to break into first grade.

selfish prick.

 

[innsaneink]

It seems that the ARU has beaten RL to the punch on this. Two matches per week of their new national second tier competition on ABC in addition to continued coverage of the Sydney Premiership. Interesting that the ARU are willing to help out with production costs to ensure their comp gets some coverage.



http://www.rugbyheaven.smh.com.au/news/off-the-field/abc-packs-down-with-aru/2007/01/10/1168105052194.html

How have the ARU beaten RL?
Fox will televise at least 2 of the 20's games per week.

 

[nqboy]

You don't have to pay to watch ABC, everyone will have access to it.

 

[Quidgybo]

And to read between the lines a bit it sounds like it could be telecast live *nationally* - on ABC1 in NSW/QLD and on ABC2 in the other states. Sure ABC2 is only available on digital platforms but it's still Free to Air. As I said, the ARU has beaten us to the punch on this one.

Leigh.

 

[innsaneink]

No pleasing some people.

I wonder if they wouldve paid Fox & 10 also?

Im sure Fox would love the NRL to pay THEM to broadcast footy. LOL

 

[Quidgybo]

Live free-to-air coverage of a national second tier competition for less than $100,000 per year? Well worth it at twice the price. Bet RL fans in WA wouldn't laugh at the NRL forking out a few dollars to encourage Nein Perth to show some of their matches at a decent hour. The Grand Final perhaps?

Leigh.

 

[Lockyer4President!]

national second tier competition

The ARC is equivalent to the the NPC/Currie Cup which are both fully national comps. You should be comparing it to the NRL, AFL or A-League.

 

[Quidgybo]

Leave it out. Everybody with even a passing familiarity with the Australian sporting landscape knows that the S14 is the top level professional RU comp that competes directly with the NRL, AFL and A-League for sponsorship, multi-million dollar television contracts and fan support. The new ARC is the level below that. If anything, I should be comparing it with the NSWRL Premier League. How many games per week will that comp have telecast this year?

Leigh.

 

[Lockyer4President!]

Leave it out.

Huh?

Everybody with even a passing familiarity with the Australian sporting landscape knows that the S14 is the top level professional RU comp that competes directly with the NRL, AFL and A-League for sponsorship, multi-million dollar television contracts and fan support. The new ARC is the level below that. If anything, I should be comparing it with the NSWRL Premier League. How many games per week will that comp have telecast this year?

It's the rugby union national comp, there's no way around it. Just because it isn't on the same scale as some other competitions doesn't mean it isn't competing with them.

 

[Redback71]

does every team have a feeder team in the qld comp. if not where will there players who dont make first grade going to play.