The future of rugby league’s elite under-20s competition has been a hot topic over the past week, with reports that the National Youth Competition will be scrapped in favour of two competitions based out of New South Wales and Queensland.
I propose that we forget about new state competitions and keep the national competition, but cut ties to NRL clubs to relieve the financial pressure.
Twelve academies should compete in the new National Youth Competition, with these teams coming from all over Australia and New Zealand.
The following academies will be included:
Affiliated States Academy
Based out of Melbourne, the Affiliated States Academy represents the Australian states and territories of Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Northern Territory. It will receive funding from the NTRL, VRL, WARL, SARL and TRL, helping to encourage the growth of rugby league in these regions.
AIS Academy
Based out of Canberra, the AIS Academy represents the ACT and Riverina. The academy will receive funding from Region 3 and the Canberra Raiders, and exploit Canberra’s rich junior rugby league system.
Central Queensland Academy
Based out of Rockhampton, the Central Queensland Academy represents the region stretching from Mackay in the north to Noosa Heads in the south. The academy will receive funding from the QRL and Central Division, taking advantage of this rugby league heartland.
Country NSW Academy
Based out of Newcastle, this academy will also take home games as far as Dubbo and Wagga Wagga. The Country NSW Academy represents the entire state of New South Wales bar Sydney. The academy will receive funding from the Country Rugby League of New South Wales, helping to develop the hard-hitting junior league players into some of rugby league’s finest talent.
Northern Warriors Academy
Based out of Auckland, the Northern Warriors academy represents Auckland and its surrounding regions. The academy will receive funding from the New Zealand Rugby League with help from the Warriors, taking advantage of the huge growth of rugby league in New Zealand, and the success of its rich talent pool.
North Queensland Academy
Based out of Townsville, the North Queensland Academy represents the region stretching from the tip of Queensland in the north to Mackay in the south. The academy will receive funding from the QRL and Northern Division, nurturing the next generation of Maroons.
South East Queensland Academy
Based out of Brisbane, the South East Queensland Academy represents the region stretching from Noosa Heads in the north to the Tweed River in the south. The academy will receive funding from the QRL and South Eastern Division. Diving deep into Queensland’s junior rugby league system the academy will be split to form two teams – South East Queensland Maroon Academy and South East Queensland White Academy.
Southern Orcas Academy
Based out of Wellington, the Southern Orcas Academy represents the South Island and much of the lower-North Island. The academy will receive funding from the New Zealand Rugby League with help from the Warriors. The franchise will help to grow the game of rugby league outside of Auckland and take advantage of New Zealand’s talented player pool.
Sydney Academy
Based out of Sydney, the Sydney Academy represents the city of Sydney from North Sydney to Wollongong. The academy will receive funding from the NSWRL, the traditional heartland of Australian rugby league will compete as a split entity with three teams entering the competition – Sydney Blue Academy, Sydney Waratah Academy and Sydney White Academy.
The academies will be given $350,000 each season to spend on their top 30 players. Costs of tertiary education, school fees and accommodation will be covered by each academy outside the salary cap.
All six games each round will be played on a Sunday with the game of the week shown live into the Australian markets on Fox Sports while Sky TV will broadcast all Northern Warriors Academy and Southern Orcas Academy games live into New Zealand. All other games will be broadcast live via the NRL Digital Pass.
The age restriction for the competition will remain at the maximum age of 20 years, with clubs playing at smaller grounds such as Langlands Park, Henson Park and Belmore Sports Ground. If the need arises some matches may be played as curtain-raisers to NRL games.
All 12 academies will compete in a 22-week competition (11 home, 11 away) that will culminate in a top-four finals series with the grand final to be played on the first Sunday of October at ANZ Stadium.
A pre-season will be created so that the academies can ply their trade against other sides in preparation for the season and allows for an under 20s World Club Challenge to be played between the NYC champion and the winner of the English Academy Championship (to be played between the Super League U19s and Championship U20s premiers).
Players will also be able to represent their state or country with a break after 11 rounds to allow for the U20s State of Origin to be played. At the end of the season a tri-nations series will be played between the Junior Kangaroos, Junior Kiwis and England Academy.
Players from this competition will trial for elite rugby league clubs alongside some of England’s best young talent at the Rugby League Graduation Combine to be held on the second weekend of November each year in Auckland. Players will be put through tests that showcase their ability both physically and mentally.
Below is the full schedule for my proposed NYC competition:
U20s World Club Challenge – Sunday, March 13
Trials Week 1 – 26/03-27/03
Trials Week 2 – 02/04-03/04
Round 1 – Sunday, April 17
Round 2 – Sunday, April 24
Round 3 – Sunday, May 1
Round 4 – Sunday, May 8
Round 5 – Sunday, May 15
Round 6 – Sunday, May 22
Round 7 – Sunday, May 29
Round 8 – Sunday, June 5
Round 9 – Sunday, June 12
Round 10 – Sunday, June 19
Round 11 – Sunday, June 26
U20s State of Origin – Saturday, July 2
Round 12 – Sunday, July 10
Round 13 – Sunday, July 17
Round 14 – Sunday, July 24
Round 15 – Sunday, July 31
Round 16 – Sunday, August 7
Round 17 – Sunday, August 14
Round 18 – Sunday, August 21
Round 19 – Sunday, August 28
Round 20 – Sunday, September 4
Round 21 – Sunday, September 11
Round 22 – Sunday, September 18
Semi-Finals – Sunday, September 25
U20s grand final – Sunday, October 2
England Academy versus Junior Kangaroos – Saturday, October 15
Junior Kangaroos versus Junior Kiwis – Saturday, October 22
Junior Kiwis versus England Academy – Saturday, October 29
Graduation Day Combine – 12/11-13/11
(N.B. All dates are representative of the 2016 season.)
Roarers, is it time for change to the NRL’s current youth competition?
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