Warriors Toyota Cup coach John Ackland has concerns for the future of the National Rugby League competition.
He remains in support of the much maligned salary cap, but says he would make several adjustments to the under-20’s competition.
The Melbourne Storm salary cap rort has instigated a large debate in the game, with the code’s senior players suggesting strike action because the salary cap is restricting wages in comparison with other Australian sporting codes.
Mr Ackland finds it “interesting that Melbourne are being portrayed as victims when they’re cheats.
“The scale [of the cheating] is without precedent.”
The NRL provide a grant of $3.2 million to each club and if the clubs want to spend the $4.1 million they must raise $900,000 themselves.
Given that the NRL clubs lost AU$53 million between them last season, Mr Ackland believes the $4.1 million salary cap for the 16 clubs is a “necessary system”.
However, fans such as Ryan Aisher, 22, is concerned that League will continue to lose stars of the calibre of Mark Gasnier and Sonny Bill Williams and other codes will benefit from the talents that league has nurtured.
“The Bulldogs are certainly less of an attractive game to go to without Sonny Bill Williams,” he says.
Mr Ackland believes the player managers are the real area of concern for the NRL. “It’s like the wild west,” he says.
As coach of the Warriors under-20 team, Mr Ackland would make several adjustments to the competition.
He would make the Toyota Cup a competition for under 21s and allow three players over the age limit of 21 to be allowed to play.
In the first two-and-a half seasons of the Toyota Cup it has become notorious for high scorelines.
Mr Ackland says there is a gulf in class between the top players in the Toyota Cup, who have often have first-grade experience, and the players with lower playing ability.
“Matches in the competition should be shortened to 30 minutes each way, saying that a lot of the points are scored in the final 10 minutes of each half,” he says.
oikee
Guest
NRL players still play in the NSW cup Col. and the game is on Wednesday Fox. Replay of one game QLD cup and one NSW cup game. All they need to do is push the age to 21, introduce a perth and, or other areas that dont include expansion. If Perth do come in along with the bears, then have a under 21 toyota team playing out of Adelaide and maybe another from NZ. You not only need to recognise talent, but you also need to grow the game in these areas.
Col The Bear
Guest
3 over aged players or 3 marquee players.. could the Toyota Cup say have Billy Slater to play for Melbourne if he was coming back from injury..would that give an unfair advantage to that team..?? where is the cut off point...?? how would you be able to select who the 3 overage players.., I'd say they would have to get them from the NSW Cup side..and NOT NRL sides..to make it a fairer system....
Col The Bear
Guest
we have a reserve grade it's called the NSW Cup.. but you wouldn't know it until the media get behind it...
oikee
Guest
The ideas are good. Along with Mitch the other day, he posted that we need to have Toyota cup teams for Perth and other expansion areas. I will do one step further. Why not introduce a under 21 comp for every state and NZ, plus Tasmania. You can then have a Rep team for the end of the year along the lines of state of origin, so every state can then enter a team made up of the best players for each state and NZ. This would not only strenthen the comp, but also the game in non traditional states. This is why we need the I.C, so we can look at all the good ideas, expand on them, and promote the best ideas and come up with best practice and expansion solutions. The Toyota cup is probably the best way forward, it can introduce younger talent into the game from every state faster than any other competition. Great idea, waiting to be realised.
Bam Bam
Roar Guru
I like Ackland's suggeestions except for the 30 minute halves, because when they graduate to First Grade then they won't have the stamina and fade more than what they already do. Look at the Broncos early season, there second halves were terrible due to their fitness. But we need to reverse this trend of clubs losing money each year, its becoming a joke, I know every League in the world have teams losing money but we don't pay people that much over here so we should be able to make a profit.
Karlos
Guest
Great to have reserve grade back and 3 games on the one day, but playing 30 minute halves would weaken the players and is a very stupid idea.
allblackfan
Guest
If the NRL receives a big boost in its next TV rights deal, perhaps they should bring back reserve grade as well so that players can make the transition from youth grade to NRL more smoothly!
oikee
Guest
I agree, this man knows what he is talking about. Under 21 is a great idea, it keeps players a extra year to make the top grade, without being to young to hit the top grade. If you added 3 over aged players, maybe playing 40 minute halves might be better suited. You dont want players thinking they only have to play 30 minutes each halve.