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No time for young talent: Roosters oppose rookie draft

Anthony Minichiello plays a record-equalling 301st game this weekend. (AAP Image/Action Photographics, Renee McKay)
Roar Guru
10th August, 2014
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The Sydney Roosters will oppose the introduction of a rookie draft in its current proposed form after the NRL came out in support of a move towards a new system to distribute young talent amongst clubs.

NRL boss David Smith is one of those behind a push for the introduction of an entry rookie draft in the NRL ahead of the 2017 NRL season that would be aimed at rewarding clubs for developing juniors and provide an equalisation of talent across the 16 teams.

Respected South Sydney administrator Shane Richardson has called for such a draft to be fast-tracked for the 2016 season.

But Roosters chief executive Brian Canavan has urged caution, arguing that the player market already self regulates, using the examples of mid-season moves of Tautau Moga and Daniel Mortimer from the premiers to North Queensland and the Gold Coast respectively.

One proposal on the table would be to allow the game’s bigger nurseries such as Penrith, Canberra and New Zealand to select five players who would be exempt from the draft.

But Canavan said the Roosters couldn’t support that.

“In the absence of any further information, we would be opposed to that draft in its current form,” Canavan told AAP.

“What are the terms of reference? Does it include under-18s, does it include under 20s?

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“There are 16 extremely different backyards; what is the Warriors backyard? What is Melbourne Storm’s backyard?

“Talent identification and talent development is crucial, it is not about hoarding players.

“There needs to be in-depth discussion and a collection and collation of statistics before any serious decisions are made.

“It is a topic and a half.

“What is vital is good coaching, good sports science and good sports medicine.

“Under the current proposal the clubs will decrease their spend on player development and the NRL will need to pick up the tab.”

The Roosters, who have only 768 registered players in their catchment, and other clubs such as Melbourne have plenty to lose under such a proposal.

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Conversely, Penrith have 9000 registered players, Parramatta around 7,500 and Souths around 3,500.

An NRL spokesman confirmed to AAP on Sunday the proposal had been floated at a meeting of club chief executives several months ago, but was very much in its infancy and wouldn’t come into operation – if it was approved – until 2017.

“It is very much in the concept stage, and it would only come about after extensive consultation with the clubs, the Rugby League Players Association and in conjunction with the CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement),” the spokesman said.

The spokesman said the game’s governing body was only considering implementing a entry-level draft and there would not be one covering experienced players, as was the case when Terry Hill successful challenged the NSWRL draft in court in 1991.

Canavan said the Roosters’ new link to the Central Coast is proof of their commitment to nurturing junior rugby league.

“That is one of the reasons but not the only reason why we have partnered up,” he said.

“So those players can realise their dream of playing NRL and they will do that with the Roosters and only do that with the Roosters.”

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Third-placed Penrith coach Ivan Cleary, whose injury-hit side claimed another tough 16-4 win over St George Illawarra at Wollongong on Sunday with James Segeyaro starring, said he thought the draft proposal was a good idea.

In Sunday’s other game, the sixth-placed Warriors held off a spirited Cronulla 16-12 in Auckland with Ngani Laumape scoring two tries.

On Saturday night in Townsville, the fourth-placed North Queensland enjoyed their biggest-ever win, a 64-6 thumping of the Wests Tigers.

Jarryd Hayne scored two tries, including his 100th NRL four-pointer, in Parramatta’s 18-10 victory over Canberra in Darwin.

A post-siren sideline conversion from captain Kurt Gidley gave Newcastle a 32-20 win over Melbourne at Hunter Stadium.

On Friday night, Sam Burgess was at his bullocking best in South Sydney’s 23-4 win over competition leaders Manly at the SCG.

In Brisbane, the Broncos flogged Canterbury 41-10 with Bulldogs playmaker Josh Reynolds set to face scrutiny from the match review panel for a number of incidents.

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On Monday night, the fifth-placed Sydney Roosters host the Gold Coast at Allianz Stadium in coach John Cartwright’s final game in charge of the Titans following his mid-week resignation.

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