NRL looking at Gus' plan for summer comp
Brett Graham 2 hrs ago
Premiership-winning coach Phil Gould has proposed a short summer competition to be run prior to Christmas in an effort to help rising stars who've been hit by the cancellation of lower-tier leagues.
The New South Wales Rugby League this week cancelled a number of competitions, including the NSW Cup and Jersey Flegg, two of the major pathways for emerging NRL talent.
It's the second straight year those two competitions have been unable to be held, as the COVID-19 pandemic plays havoc with sporting schedules.
With Sydney in lockdown, players are also unable to train as a group, or visit the gym, a serious impediment to the development of young players.
In an effort to help the next generation, Gould yesterday sent a proposal to NRL bosses Andrew Abdo and Peter V'landys with a view to running a competition through November and December for NSW Cup and Jersey Flegg players who haven't been able to get on the field.
Phil Gould wearing a suit and tie smiling at the camera© Getty Phil Gould
Gould, now the general manager of football at the Bulldogs, said he'd received a "really good reception" to the idea.
"It gives some incentive for those fellas who haven't been training to keep training, and prepare themselves for a November competition," he said on his Six Tackles with Gus podcast for Wide World of Sports.
"I think for a lot of our younger players, we're seeing a bit of it this year, a lot of fellas introduced to NRL who haven't played a lot of football over the last two years.
"There would be even more if we waited until next March before we could expose them too it."
Video: NRL Highlights: Titans roll the Cowboys - Round 21 (Wide World of Sports)
NRL Highlights: Titans roll the Cowboys - Round 21
With the cancellation of the second-tier competitions in both 2020 and 2021, Gould is conscious of the impact that's having on the next generation of stars.
"It's the second year in a row that they've had very limited football," Gould said.
"They had very little last year and not much more this year, it's very difficult for everyone across the game, development wise, having kids that have missed their age group, or missed their opportunity, or missed important years of development.
a group of baseball players standing on top of a field: Sam Walker playing for North Sydney against South Sydney in the round three NSW Cup match in March.© Getty Sam Walker playing for North Sydney against South Sydney in the round three NSW Cup match in March.
"The way things are here in Sydney at the moment, they can't even come together and train, they can't go to a gym, or come to our gym.
"They're all in isolation."
Gould said even if an official competition can't be organised, the clubs based in western Sydney, such as the Bulldogs, Eels, Tigers and Panthers would be keen to organise a series of stand-alone matches.
He also dismissed concerns about the summer heat, noting that night matches prior to Christmas would typically be played in much more favourable conditions than the pre-season trials in the usual February window.
"Whether it's official or unofficial, I think we'll see some lower-grade football leading into Christmas, and even early January, as part of the preparation for next season.
"I think that's really important, if we could get a nighttime competition for eight to ten weeks, I think that would be terrific.
"If you combined that with a women's competition, it gives the girls a chance to play too, because they've missed out on all their football now.
"We're still trying to grow that part of the game."
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!
Brett Graham 2 hrs ago
Premiership-winning coach Phil Gould has proposed a short summer competition to be run prior to Christmas in an effort to help rising stars who've been hit by the cancellation of lower-tier leagues.
The New South Wales Rugby League this week cancelled a number of competitions, including the NSW Cup and Jersey Flegg, two of the major pathways for emerging NRL talent.
It's the second straight year those two competitions have been unable to be held, as the COVID-19 pandemic plays havoc with sporting schedules.
With Sydney in lockdown, players are also unable to train as a group, or visit the gym, a serious impediment to the development of young players.
In an effort to help the next generation, Gould yesterday sent a proposal to NRL bosses Andrew Abdo and Peter V'landys with a view to running a competition through November and December for NSW Cup and Jersey Flegg players who haven't been able to get on the field.
Phil Gould wearing a suit and tie smiling at the camera© Getty Phil Gould
Gould, now the general manager of football at the Bulldogs, said he'd received a "really good reception" to the idea.
"It gives some incentive for those fellas who haven't been training to keep training, and prepare themselves for a November competition," he said on his Six Tackles with Gus podcast for Wide World of Sports.
"I think for a lot of our younger players, we're seeing a bit of it this year, a lot of fellas introduced to NRL who haven't played a lot of football over the last two years.
"There would be even more if we waited until next March before we could expose them too it."
Video: NRL Highlights: Titans roll the Cowboys - Round 21 (Wide World of Sports)
NRL Highlights: Titans roll the Cowboys - Round 21
With the cancellation of the second-tier competitions in both 2020 and 2021, Gould is conscious of the impact that's having on the next generation of stars.
"It's the second year in a row that they've had very limited football," Gould said.
"They had very little last year and not much more this year, it's very difficult for everyone across the game, development wise, having kids that have missed their age group, or missed their opportunity, or missed important years of development.
a group of baseball players standing on top of a field: Sam Walker playing for North Sydney against South Sydney in the round three NSW Cup match in March.© Getty Sam Walker playing for North Sydney against South Sydney in the round three NSW Cup match in March.
"The way things are here in Sydney at the moment, they can't even come together and train, they can't go to a gym, or come to our gym.
"They're all in isolation."
Gould said even if an official competition can't be organised, the clubs based in western Sydney, such as the Bulldogs, Eels, Tigers and Panthers would be keen to organise a series of stand-alone matches.
He also dismissed concerns about the summer heat, noting that night matches prior to Christmas would typically be played in much more favourable conditions than the pre-season trials in the usual February window.
"Whether it's official or unofficial, I think we'll see some lower-grade football leading into Christmas, and even early January, as part of the preparation for next season.
"I think that's really important, if we could get a nighttime competition for eight to ten weeks, I think that would be terrific.
"If you combined that with a women's competition, it gives the girls a chance to play too, because they've missed out on all their football now.
"We're still trying to grow that part of the game."
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!
