The NRL blueprint is underwhelming

Bit far fetched mate and a total drain on resources for minimal reward. The objective isn't to represent all areas its to provide the NRL sides with the highest quality 2nd team possible and evenly distribute the talent to all NRL. Not 5 or 6 getting dibs on players with the rest to battle it out to recruit and retain. For this to work in most Sydney clubs won't have there 2nd tier team based with them but they will utilise the strongest clubs available. The clubs that miss this will then fall into the 3rd tier. This should have happened and been done properly years ago. The Foley shield was everything to NQQLDRL but for rugby league to improve it had to go. The new state comp has been a huge success and the amount of talent it has unearthed and the quality of the comp proves it was the right move. All NSWRL have to do is copy this. The size of the comp can't be too big and weaken the quality of football but not to small so enough players are exposed to high level football. 12-16 would be plenty. Rural NSW and anywhere north of Newcastle have no business with a state cup side. NSW cup Newcastle - Knights Canberra - Raiders Wyong - Roosters Cronulla - Sharks Souths/Newtown - Bunnies Manly - sea eagle Penrith - Panthers Canterbury - Bulldogs Woolloongong - dragons Campbelltown - tigers Parramatta - eels Wellington - expansion bid Auckland - Warriors Fiji - NZ expansion bid Qcup Souths Logan - Bris 2 bid Brisbane Easts - storm Burleigh Bears - Titans Tweed seagulls - Titans Wynnum manly - perth bid Ipswich jets - Bris 2 bid Sunny coast - storm Brisbane Norths - Perth bid Mackay cutters - Cowboys Northern pride - Cowboys PNG - Broncos Samoa/Tonga - Broncos CQ - Broncos Northern cutters - Cowboys PNG - Cowboys CQ - Broncos Samoa/Tonga - Broncos The other option is to align the PNG side with the Pride and the Samoa/Tonga side with a Brisbane side. Have them living and training in Aus but alternate home games. This gives those players from these regions Broncos get 3 feeder sides but as the club with the most resources having PNG and Tonga/Samoa they are equipped to make PI RL a success and that's very important. PNG are already doing well but transitioning players into the NRL is important. Expansion sides need 2 clubs to get them off to a successful start and the Titans also need 2. Maybe the cutters and pride could merge with alternating home games and the Cowboys lose after PNG as an alternative. Melbourne being successful is a vital part of the ensuring the game remains national and should get 2 sides.

My understanding is under the new set up your boy and his team mates would be better off. A draft is the worst pressure to put kids under who haven't had exposure to the levels of football they will soon be exposed to. The ones who miss out might have improved and become good players but walk away from the game. A draft also spreads young kids everywhere as the have no say. A young bloke would have to move away from family because that's where they got drafted. Tier system sees more young fellas staying closer to home for longer because all Qcup sides would likely be assigned an NRL. Similar to when Souths Logan fed the Raiders and Brisbane Norths fed Melbourne.

I always enjoy reading your comments Scott. TPA agreements were the first thing I was thinking reading this. I agree with all you've said. I would also like to see any new clubs to have an affiliation with a qcup side. The set up in Queensland should basically remain as is apart from NRL 20's comp becoming state cup 20's comp. A draft is ok in the AFL where skill set is clearer is younger players but unnecessary in League. In reality the NFL draft is nothing more than a publicity stunt and many players will have changed clubs before making the starting side. When the greatest QB in history squeaked in at 199 I don't believe our smaller talent pool will benefit from a draft. JT missed out on NRL contracts and was back playing Toowoomba a grade when R Stuart brought him in. Keeping the maximum amount of talented youngsters playing till at least 25 will be the increase the quality and amount of talent the fastest. An NRL draft says to players if you didn't get selected in this you missed out. A qcup and nswcup draft would probably work well though because it gets a lot more youngsters competing continuously to make the roster. Less pressure on the players and clubs. I believe this should be paramount in the NRL's decision making process because if they can get this, TPA and distribution of players from feeder clubs to NRL clubs right expansion won't be as daunting.

Exactly - all third parties must be registered and fit under cap

How am I retreating in any way, shape or form? What I am trying to get through to you is that both you and me are commenting on Mike TV's post. This is not retreat, this is simply fact - just look at the trail of comments and where they started and what they are about. As one of the previous commenters said about you "Try to keep up." You seem to have a comprehension problem.

Well, Hanrahan, you had a go at me, short memory, and the "Says all I need to know about you mate." comments then you retreat and say, I am commenting on Mike TV Comments, You can't have it both ways. Everything I mentioned are facts mate, so get over yourself!

PETE iT IS NO DIFFERENT TO IMPLEMENTING A CAP. It is a restriction of trade, but it happens anyway.

a 2 POINT DEDUCTION AND IS IS DEAD IN THE WATER.

The post which we are commenting on is the one by Mike TV in which he suggests a role for both Norths Bears and Newtown Jets. So I don't get where you are coming from with your comment "Are you all suggesting we drop the BEARS?" I don't resile from anything I have said. It was the fans of many teams, not the other clubs bosses, who marched in the streets and had the goodwill to support Souths' re-instatement. As for Souths being shafted by Newtown, club insiders from Newtown have a different opinion. But it shouldn't matter to genuine supporters who has done the dirty on who. If it did we would still be arguing over the great split from Union in 1908. As I said, unlike you I want both clubs to thrive.

Come up with a plan on how to legally, and effectively, get rid of third party payments and I'm sure the NRL would be more than happy to hear you out.

Good luck with the legalities on banning third party payments.

Sorry 3 Hats. But funding from NSW government and councils. We all know that NSW stands for Newecastle, Sydney and Wollongong. Apart from sports grants that are for all sports, you can nearly forget about government assistance. Most councils are pretty well cash strapped and do a fair bit in country sport by supplying grounds at reduced fees. You are quite right when you say businesses invest in their local communities: hospital's, schools, summer and winter sports. On the NRL doubling media rights, yes. The problem is that the existing clubs will take that and be used for player payments. Not one word about funding for juniors or grass roots football.

The Storm and ARLC e questions to answer over this. About 8 league clubs. In rugby there are 9 p[remiership clubs, 10 in second division and 7 country clubs not including Albury/Wodonga Steamers who play in the NSW southern inland. Not a plug for rugby but league has so much to offer and seems happy to just have the status quo.

Cathar This one of many examples of how they are filling Country RL teams... http://crlnsw.com.au/tigers-fostering-bond-with-fiji/

The Storm have played local youngsters but they are small in number - the number of senior RL clubs has declined in Melbourne as elsewhere so really are reliant on Qld, NSW and NZ....

Cathar, So when NRL sign UK, Samoan, Tongan, NZ RU and RL, French RL players, Australian RU players then they are taking spots away from RL juniors??

I agree totally with you on third party payments. The NRL should have them scrapped ASAP. Another blot in that area is back ended contracts, they too should be deep sixed. I disagree with you on rookies for the Storm from Queensland. Perhaps the Storm should be looking at fostering and promoting rugby league in Melbourne and Victoria rather than raiding Qld. The Storm have helped the local leagues with there being 8 senior clubs and about the same junior club numbers. To me they should be promoting this more than interstate players.

I am not in favour of the so called Platinum League. As set out in the press, a Platinum league side encompassing southern Sydney would be comprised of the NSW Cup sides for Cronulla, St. George and Canterbury. The problem is that this side then feeds into three NRL teams, it would not work. The Queensland end works well so no real need to change that. I agree an 8 team competition in NZ would be good but I'm not sure what their existing competition is like. I do think a problem the NRL has is that it is top heavy with Sydney teams. Perhaps the NRL should stop funding clubs and let them sink or swim. If they go under, fine. Another alternative to reduce Sydney teams would be to play all St George/ Illawarra home games in Wollongong not Sydney.

Maybe the Storm should look at promoting the game more in Melbourne so as to involve local players like the Rebels have done Super Rugby. Even providing concessions for home grown talent.

Allegedly based on the US baseball farm system but generally there is only 2 teams per state and so there is a geographical connection. Seattle mariners may have the Portland Gropers? as a farm team???? But 8-9 teams in Sydney this is highly dubious basis Or am jumping at some journos misunderstanding of the proposed NRL system...