In its short history the Toyota Cup has been a roaring success, with young stars such as Lachlan Coote, Tim Moltzen, Jharal Yow Yeh and Josh Dugan coming through the ranks to be regular NRL first graders.
The competition, at the moment, mirrors the NRL.
Sixteen teams play the same draw as the NRL whilst also being the pre NRL fixture, which don’t get me wrong has been a great success.
However, it does seem the competition is a waste when it’s still basically a reserve grade competition. It could offer so much more.
Expansion is a big topic for the game. David Gallop has anointed the Central Coast and Perth as his desired next expansion areas, but at the moment the Central Coast team stops at the NSW Cup, and the Reds stop at an under 18’s team.
Doesn’t it just make sense for these clubs, and any other club that wants to become an NRL franchise, to have a Toyota Cup team as a ready made stepping-stone into the NRL?
The Western Red’s grand plan would be to have a Toyota Cup team for the 2012 season, this would make the transition into the NRL much easier if given a license for the 2013 season.
The Toyota Cup is a popular competition, with some TV ratings even surpassing other football codes such as Super 14 and A-League.
Imagine the Toyota Cup being a 20-team competition with the ‘expansion’ teams being the Central Coast Bears, Western Reds, Central Queensland and even perhaps Papua New Guinea.
Rugby league needs to become more national, all rugby league fans know it, and for that to happen we need to start at the junior ranks.
Col the Bear
Guest
another plus for the NSW cup comp. the boys in this comp do get a chance to travel.. last weekend the Bears were in Auckland playing Warriors reserve grade side the Vulcans the weekend before down in Melbourne playing against the Storms reserve grade side...I'm not saying to scrap the 20s in any way.. I think there should be a balance and to give the NSW Cup it's dues..if the NRL were running this comp.. i'm sure there would be a lot more push for this..and it would probably be considered one of the best comps around, Maybe the I C will sort this out also...something to add to the growing list of other items to address...
Col the Bear
Guest
And a lot of this has to do with the way the media percieve this comp..it's not the bundy red, (which is the former Metro cup comp.). it is the NSW Cup, the former"Reserve Grade, 1st division, Premier league Comp".Prime example of this is Ben Barba.. recently he said in the press. words to the effect;. Yes toyota cup is good, but I did get the experience last year playing for the Bulls (Canterbury) in the NSW cup it helped me get to the NRL'..it toughened him playing against men every week in week out..plus you are playing against other NRL players.. just for instance at the Bears some of the players we have had over the past 4 years... Peachy,Vagana,Champion,Geddes, JLo, Ben Lowe,Tandy,Slater,Isaac gordon, got a run with the Bears before going to cronulla..the list goes on and on..this year we have Capewell, Beau falloon,Eddie Paea ,Mark talanoa is playing for us Fi younger brother.. where would he have gone to if not for the NSW Cup..Junior players in the NSW cup squad across the board have learnt more playing with these guys..then they possibly would of in the 20s comp...
RickG
Guest
Agree totally Col, there's so much slipping through the cracks between talented teenagers and washed-up 1st graders in their early 20s.
Col the Bear
Guest
Sorry I think the emphasis has to be put more back on the NSW cup comp..how many of you guys have actually watched this comp.. or just listened to what the media say.. this is a good strong competitive comp, no matter what anyone says.. where else can you see NRL players playing on a regular basis when they are coming back from injury or getting back into form.. they don't go back to the Toyota touch footy comp.. they go back to the NSW Cup or Qld comp..as I said the emphasis has to be back on this comp.. believe it or not this is the reserve grade comp to the NRL and Johnny Lang agrees as do other seasoned Coaches.. and the toyota cup is in theory still just jersey flegg...but a more glorified version..stop turning the Toyota cup guys into RL stars before their time...to ignore the NSW Cup Comp will be detriment to RL in general you can see it happening now..and each year unless something isn't done..I have concerns it's heading for a fall..there will be a flow on effect.. wait and see if something is not done soon ...
Corey
Guest
Thats been my belief for a while now M1tch, if we get expansion clubs in the Toyota cup you can get some people from those areas starting to watch the game before they even get a senior professional team in there, this generates support and also generates Toyota Cup as a stand alone competition. Im a season member at the Broncos and I try and get there to watch the Toyota Cup, but its not advertised very well and the crowd is only are 10k (max!) at the end of the game. It would be great to see the Toyota Cup a bit like the NCAA in America. But I hope the crowds come out and support league as the expansions won't come unless we turn the tele on at home and rock up to the games. Double Whammy!!
RickG
Guest
Meanwhile the NSW cup is left in a parlous state. Any player over age 20 has nowhere else to play and very little opportunity to press for 1st grade selection. I'd much rather see the u20s playing with the older, experienced players in the old reserve grade. They might learn a thing or two about defence.
M1tch
Roar Guru
Why change a winning formula ;) National comps are expensive no doubt, but Toyota have extended their association and if teams from perth,png or adelaide were there they'd be getting more national exposure for themselves
ajb
Guest
Run the games at a different time than right before NRL games and then you'll have a true valuation of the TV figures. Running a national comp is incredibly costly, so it'd be a hard prospect.. but not a bad idea in theory.
M1tch
Roar Guru
I probably should have added the Toyota Comp could also go to being a under 21 or 22 competition, to keep players at their clubs longer at the moment its a 3 year career max.
Akazie
Guest
Need to get a South Aus team in there.
oikee
Guest
Brilliant idea. Send this post straight to NRL head-quarters Mitch. Great idea.