With the board in disarray, are Parra's juniors a takeover target?

Reality is Izzy and Hunt showed that when it gets to the elite level you not going to suitable for AFL and Rugby league.

You assume an awful lot that is just conjecture. Are you suggesting the Sydney City doesnt care for its juniors for example. They have four junior clubs. They did have up to 17 at one stage decades ago but a change in demographics meant that they have lost youth in the district. They just dont have the junior resource. Nothing to do with not taking care of their juniors at all. In fact they get most of their juniors by grabbing the cream of the kids all over NSW and QLD and they do it very effectively. And then they take very good care of them which explains why since 1998 they have been in more grand finals (legally) than any other club. They have won the SG Ball 3 times since 2000 and jersey Flegg 2 times, which is better than most. Meanwhile Parramatta with a huge number of junior sides and supposedly taking care of their juniors has won only four premierships since 1947 and the last one in 1986. They have won the Wooden Spoon 13 times. So who is taking care of their juniors? This is why Parramatta's management has been in such disarray for years. Chris it is absolutely nothing to do with who cares for their juniors best. Its entirely to do with demographics and a disproportionate allocation of junior sides across the League

They don't need to be redistributed. Clubs that fail or have failed to support junior supporter bases should be left to die. We are always hearing about having too many clubs in Syndey and not being a truly national sport. That can't happen unless areas are represented by those that follow. Melbourne have every chance to lock up junior clubs in Sydney and Melbourne while they build a potential base in Melbourne. They already do it in Brisbane. Souths are already in Brisbane.

You're identifying exceptions based on extreme necessity. Until Melbourne builds a strong RL presence in Vic(possibly a pipe dream) they have to be allocated junior teams elsewhere. It doesnt happen in Sydney except where a team disappears such as North Sydney linking with Souths or Easts.. The problem is that what existed back in the early 1900s when population distribution was different, has never changed even though population increases have been moving to western Sydney for decades. Like I said, an accident of location that has never been satisfactorily redistributed for balance by the League. Its like in politics where constituencies are redrawn geographically when population exceeds certain levels. Thing is those who want more fairness are those with reduced junior areas, and those who dont are those with large junior areas. Thing is unless we get a more equitable arrangement, League will lose its potency. You can already see even in the West that other codes are replacing RL. That's no accident, its good management and equitable draft arrangements. RL needs to wake up quick if it wants to be a major sport, even in Australia

Not arrogant, factual. Just because they are close to Parramatta geographically doesn't mean they have to affiliate with Parramatta. Have a look at Queensland clubs being aligned with Melbourne Storm and Sydney clubs. If professional clubs got a discount for their juniors it would force all clubs to do their part in nurturing grass roots development or lose that nursery to another club. The NRL are always babbling on about grass roots then doing nothing about it. The league has absolutely no business distributing anything other than TV revenue. The NRL doesn't own these junior clubs, the members do.

Bit arrogant that Chris. Parramatta have a large junior stock because of an accident of socio-geographical factors. Not something deserved, just existing that way because of where a large proportion of the younger population live. If the League acted equitably they would have ensured an even distribution of junior teams, but then of course you have Brisbane which almost dominates all of Southern QLD. So is that fair?

Hi Dan First lets get things wright we in the parra Jnr league are very lucking that the leagues club pays all the clubs ref's bills and insurance for all players under 18 this is about $700,000 a year. The only sad thing about all this is that the clubs have lost there stake in the Jnr league because the PDRL was sent into receivership.

The first thing I would like to say is that parra league club has looked out for there Jnr clubs very well each year the leagues club pays for the ref's and the insurance of all clubs in the parra jnr league a bill of about 700,000. If it was Not for this kindness of the leagues club it would affect smaller clubs like our club Lalor Park Kookas . But it's very sad that we have lost are stake in the Jnr league. The Kookas have been apart of the jnr's for 60 years and to have are stake taken from as because grow ups could not get along and do the job of taking there club forward is sad.

On problem Dan, you're forgetting that Parramatta juniors have been a take over target ever since the salary cap was introduced! Just go back to the start of the NRL era and look at the talent that started off in the Parramatta system but couldn't be held by Parramatta because of the salary cap. Other teams with bugger all juniors get to sit back and poach players from teams like Parramatta. I've been saying for many years that juniors that remain with their clubs should be heavily discounted against the clubs cap. Never should we se a situation of the likes where Mathew Johns has to leave his club that he came through because of the cap. How many like this have we seen? Parramatta wouldn't even be close to this situation right now if that was the case.

Freak out? You must be caught in the 70s mate! I couldn't give a toss what happens to the Parramatta CHEATS, ALL I know is that between 1999 and 2002 the Roosters, Dogs and the Sharks all tried to move in and take over the South Sydney Juniors territory, without any luck, what so ever. The Juniors Club at Kingsford is way too strong, financially than ALL 3. The 3rd Richest Licenced Club in NSW, behind the Seagulls and Panthers.

We're all league fans but the big picture is bright. Isn't it great the kid is blessed with choice and opportunity irrespective of the code. He'll make an informed decision when he's ready and as an individual and parent that's a perfect outcome.

Well said

It's a shame really but I have a similar story . Now living in SEQld I noticed afl starting to make its mark in a traditional RL area. Asking around I was told that my area is a high growth area meaning sports clubs were growing fast and becoming more numerous. Some of the RL and some RU clubs approached their state leagues only to be told once they had set up the club with all the stuff that goes with it they could formerly approach the league for assistance. In other words they got the cold shoulder . Remember this is RL and RU . Along comes AFL not only throws money at them but seduce the council with grounds and also hands on help with the new clubs . That's the story I've been told , so just hearsay but I know a lot of parents who have never seen a game of AFL now have their kids playing . Funny thing , about 40 years ago a friend of mine wanted to start a second div club in Wollongong . He wrote to all the clubs and the nsw RL for advice and or assistance . Only 1 club replied . Sent them a set of jerseys and footballs and wished them luck. The club is still running today. Makes you wonder where RL would be without volunteers and parents.