The structure of rugby league, with its national under-20s competition, might be good for the entertainment it provides, but it’s failed miserably in developing the stars of the future.
Once upon a time on match day, three grades of the same two opponents would go head-to-head. That fell to one, and was increased again to two, but it’s still the wrong two grades playing.
The introduction of the NYC Toyota Cup in 2008 boosted the code’s TV ratings, with fans able to watch and be entertained by the game’s future stars before the main NRL fixture. But the competition has failed in terms of player and people development.
It’s imperative that all 16 NRL clubs have two fully fledged grades. But the second-tier should go back to being reserve grade, rather than an under-20s competition.
In the present form, the gap between the NRL and the next tier competition is staggering. There’s also confusion about which competition is actually the number two competition – the Queensland Cup, NSW Cup or the Toyota Cup?
Players not quite good enough to play in the NRL now find themselves in limbo, with no clear development path back into the NRL because there are three competitions fighting it to be the number two competition where NRL contenders can prove their talents.
The Toyota Cup has also resulted in young players being elevated to a national level ahead of their time, before they can handle the fame, attention and hard-knocks that come with top-flight football.
When a young player is dropped from the NRL or NYC now, the first thing many do is ring their manager to seek a release, rather than fighting their way back into the top side. As a result of the national exposure of the under-20s competition, young players are pampered and pumped up by managers and groupies that have seen them once or twice on television.
The sparkling form of Ben Barba for the Bulldogs at Toyota Cup level last year, combined with a string of injuries to the NRL side, forced Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes to select the young player at NRL level.
With a more established and experienced first-grade side, this year the Bulldogs have decided it best for Barba to play NSW Cup. Having gone from playing in big stadiums and as the opener to NRL matches, Barba is understandably struggling with the knock to his ego from now playing at park venues.
Without a proper second-grade side, Broncos coach Ivan Henjak last Monday was forced to bring in virtually a new backline for the match against Cronulla, and could not properly prepare the side as a result. Young players such as fullback Dale Copley and halfback Ben Hunt were thrown to the wolves before they were ready.
The following structure will provide a better pathway for young players:
– The NRL should change the Toyota Cup to a fully fledged reserve grade competition. The NSWRL should bring back the U/20 Jersey Flegg competition, in a 12-week format similar to what it had in 2003, and the QRL should bring in the Allan Langer Cup for the U/20s.
– All NRL clubs should have an alignment with a Queensland Cup and/or NSW Bundaberg Red Cup side (Warriors excluded) for players from the under age competitions or those not wanted in reserve grade.
– At junior levels, U/16 and U/18 competitions should be restricted to eight rounds, with a merged national competition for the finals, as the ARL did this year.
– With a reserve grade competition in place the ‘fresh interchange’ players should only be two for the NRL competition with a total of six interchanges. Three players from the reserve grade can be used as replacements and whoever they come on for are subbed out of the game with the other competitions to have a 10-4 interchange setup that is currently in place at NRL level.
Thus, the pool from the bottom up would look like this:
Level 1 (8 Rounds, 4 Finals) – Harold Matthews & Cyril Connell Cups (U/16)
Level 2 (8 Rounds, 4 Finals) – SG Ball and Mal Meninga Cups (U/18)
Level 3 (12 Rounds, 4 Finals) – Jersey Flegg and Allan Langer Cups (U/20)
Level 4 (25 Rounds, 5 Finals) – Bundaberg Red and Queensland Cups (Open Age)
Level 5 (26 Rounds, 4 Finals) – Toyota Cup (Open Age)
Level 6 (26 Rounds, 4 Finals) – NRL Premiership (Open Age)
The progression from Levels 1 to 6 will be smooth and the NRL would still have viable television content to sell in the Toyota Cup, Bundaberg Red Cup and Queensland Cup competitions. In fact, the standard and toughness of the Toyota Cup – as a fully-fledged second grade competition – would be better than the current Toyota Cup, and the standard of the two “third” grade competitions the Bundaberg Red Cup and Queensland Cup would be much stronger than what it is currently.
This system means young players won’t be lost from the game, as they will benefit from a clear pathway and rugby league’s strong junior development system, perhaps the standout among all football codes. Experienced players and players over the age of 20 also won’t be lost so early.
The structure can also grow as the game does, with the option for a fully-fledged reserve grade at Bundaberg Red Cup and Queensland Cup levels as the code expands commercially.
No system is perfect, but this lower grade system is far more effective at developing the future of the code.
In Edition Eleven of Discord this week, Rleague.com weekly feature columnist Steve Mascord pays tribute to Queensland and their historic win, looks at the impact the global financial crisis is having on rugby league coverage, and wonders about the use of brown paper bags to get around the salary cap. You can read Discord by clicking here.
Rleague’s Chris Riediger also looks at whether the presence of Andrew Johns on the NSW Blues coaching staff is hindering selectors from making the right team selections.
Matthew O’Neill is a Director and Columnist with www.rleague.com.
Col the Bear
Guest
what really is the problem on game day with having U/20s first (say Souths V Roosters) NSW cup second..(Norths V Newtown) and then the NRL game (Souths V Roosters) now thats an idea...a lot of NRL players are playing in the 2nd tier comps of NSW cup and Qld Cup..I know I get a buzz when I see people like Billy Slater playing for the Bears in the past, or David peachy or Jaiman Lowe, Beau champion ,playing in the red and black or james malony(keep an eye on this guy he is going to be big)
Col the Bear
Guest
so what your saying is that the foundation clubs should probably fall by the wayside..the whole idea of feeder arrangements ,Newtown and Roosters and Norths and Souths, Balmain and western suburbs with Wests tigers also penrith with Windsor, Wenty with Parra, Bulls with canterbury, Shellharbour with dragons, Auckland with Warriors..is to help finance the NRL clubs and save them upwards of 500 grand a year.. thats another 500 grand if you remove the NSW cup (because thats virtually what your saying if your not alligned with an NRL side see ya..as they did to the Bears with our Jersey flegg..) that the NRL sides will have to pay for.. the only reason the NSW cup is in this state is because the news Ltd press arent interested in promoting it as they don't run it simple as that..if the same amount of effort was put into the NSW cup,as the toyota cup and have it before the NRL games, then it might get a go.. and it's away of exposing more talent and clubs to the NRL public.. as the ratings show , when the NSW cup is on Fox it;s the foundation clubs that pull the ratings when they play against one another..to put the U/20s as the reserve grade will probably signal the end to a few of these NSW cup clubs.. I think the Central Coast Bears better get up very quick,if your idea ever comes in, or else I have concerns for thos clubs mentioned...
bozo
Guest
Deals with the salary cap. Not too many red hot but not quite there 20 year old league players will survive playing NSW Cup or gaol. How can there earn a living?
Col the Bear
Guest
and just an add on, these boys in the NSW cup and qld cup have been playing against, and with NRL players each and every week..for example.. The canterbury feeder club, Bankstown bulls, last week every player in that team had NRL experience,, Utai..Sullivan,millard to name a few..so there's also the chance,that boys finishing in the U/20s this year they might not just step into a NSW Cup or Qld cup side.. it might be Jim Beam cup first..
Col the Bear
Guest
quick question, whats going to happen to these U/20s who'll have no where to go at the end of the year.. the Boys turning 20..The Toyota cup has built these kids up so much, with the hype ,they think they will just step into NRL competition, well reality might bite hard ,for some at the end of the season, they think it's a step down to play NSW cup. because thats how it's been portrayed in the media.well Boys you better open your eyes, because no matter what spin might be put on it...NSW cup and QLD Cup are still the second tier competition in this country for Rugby League..and I think you'll find the boys who have been playing NSW cup and Qld cup who are 19 or 20 , have had a bit more experience playing against Men each week, and have learnt from older mentors they play with..thats skills you can't buy...
Steve Kaless
Roar Guru
I reckon most Bulldogs fans would be cringing at that rather than looking forward to the prospect. Classic Keenan. Brett, It is interesting how marketing works. If you had essentially a NYC comp with a few old stagers, as role models and the odd first grade fill in running around (think Grant Rovelli) aka "reserve grade" everyone writes it off as a second tier comp. However, jazz us Under 20s as "the next big things" and it rates the house down. Then everyone gets disappointed when blokes can't replicate their form in the big league or the players act like they are on a perpetual school camp. Weird.
Chris Riediger
Guest
I love the idea of an U23 comp as the second tier with up to 3 over-age players allowed in the side. Personally, I don't think many clubs would struggle to have more than 3 players over the age of 23 that were genuinely better than all their under 23's.
Harry Callahan
Guest
Whilst I think the idea raised has merit it will all boil down to costs involved for the clubs. Some are battling now and paying additional players will prove onerous. This is why Easts wanted to get rid of their Junior Teams. I think Brett McKay is on the right track as nowadays if you are over 23 and not regularly playing first grade the clubs will more than likely want to be rid of you anyway.
Brett McKay
Guest
oh dear lord... I'm sure the kid can play, but seriously....... Matt, Steve, I've always thought U20 was too young for the NYC, I would have thought 22 or 23 was a better age, and then with the standard under age teams following below. The thing about making the Toyota Cup a Reserve grade again, is that no-one will watch or broadcast a second-tier comp. The NYC is clearly being marketed as the best of the next crop, and the same could be done as U22 or 23, but you couldn't so that as open age. Any reserve grade comp wouldn't be the best of the next crop, it would just be the next lot of blokes who can't crack the top grade. Lifting the NYC age would at least provide similar benefits to a reserve grade, in terms of development. All other points valid though...
Hoy
Guest
Interesting website. I think it would have been a little obvious and helpful to actually have some footage of the kid playing.
Chris Riediger
Guest
Steve, I have to agree with you on the managers. A recent Bulldogs NYC signing with Greg Keenan as his manager has a wonderful website ... www.tonganterminator.com. I hope this isn't representative of the new wave of kids coming through and how management will handle them.
Steve Kaless
Roar Guru
I tend to agree Matt. I think the defence in the NYC is pretty poor and blokes like Barba get big egos scoring against flimsy defence and think it will be as easy in the later kickoff. Managers don't help, they largely tell them the same. The other benefit of a rejuvenated reserve grade is it allows clubs to keep some of the old hard heads around which also helps keep young blokes in line.