We all love even competition, finding security in the knowledge that our side will be able to turn it around next year. A salary cap only goes part of the way to ensuring this; it is the distribution of talent across the league that ensures its evenness.
Obviously the best way to achieve this goal is through a draft system. It ensures that the clubs at the bottom get first pick of the best talent available, or use their picks as currency to trade for established players. It also provides the league with a very real tool to assist new clubs establish a foot hold.
Another area that the league benefits is that is provides the governing body with a very real stick with which to punish clubs who overstep the mark, punishments that can have far longer lasting consequences than a mere fine or loss of competition points.
The other appeal is that it still allows for dynasties and that there seems to be more of a waxing and waning of sides as opposed to sharp rises and falls.
The real positive of a draft system is that it requires all clubs to have a high focus on player development, something that Storm fans have argued that they have been punished for. Clubs such as Brisbane, Canberra, Newcastle, Parramatta and Penrith, seem to produce a disproportionately high number of players now at other clubs.
This article is not, however, a doom and gloom offering.
While all and sundry have been quick to stick the boot into the NRL, News Ltd and David Gallop for just about anything, there is one clear ray of light that all at RL-HQ should be very proud of – the Toyota Cup under-20 competition.
Now coming to end of its third season, the Toyota Cup is proving to be of a high standard, game are televised on Fox and played in professional level facilities. It is giving the next generation of rugby league players a taste of the big time, without being chucked into the deep end.
Having the games played as curtain raisers to NRL matches also gives fans a chance to build a relationship with the next generation of the club’s players.
Who knows, this process may even result in players being better able to deal with their new found fame.
There has been a steady trickle of players forcing their way into first grade sides across the NRL. The initial results have been excellent.
Ironically, this kind of set up is nearly impossible with a draft. It is quite refreshing to see the NRL develop a unique solution for rugby league, and to have it bear fruit.
Currently, the system still favours the talent producing “super powers”, but an interesting amendment would be to give clubs massive salary cap (40 per cent or more) concessions for players that have spend two or more years in the club’s U20 setup, for as long as they are contracted to the club.
This would give clubs who produce a player a clear advantage over other clubs when trying to retain that player.
Ultimately fans what their club to keep the players that they produce. They want to be rewarded for the faith and hard work they put into young talent. Fans want players who come through the system of a club, who know the club’s culture and know what the fans expect. Everybody loves a great clubman. Ultimately, it is this communal nature of rugby league that meant that a draft system was tried but failed.
The most crucial element for the game is that an U20 concessions system will give a massive incentive for those clubs who don’t historically produce a lot of junior talent to start applying more focus in that area.
This can only be healthy for the game of rugby league.
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