One of the few advantage we have over a lot of others may be wiped out.
http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/south-sydney-boss-shane-richardson-backs-fast-tracking-rookie-draft/story-fndv36md-1227019117629
IN years gone by, the mere mention of an NRL draft has been howled down as a dirty word in rugby league.
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Ever since Terry Hill successfully had it thrown out as a restraint of trade in the High Court in 1991, NRL power brokers have been too frightened to revisit the concept.
>
Until now.
>
The Sunday Telegraph can reveal introducing a rookie draft is firmly on the NRL’s agenda for the 2017 season, the same year as the next TV broadcasting deal will be brokered.
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The concept was initially raised at a salary cap review earlier this year, with the NRL since further investigating a number of different draft structures including rival code AFL.
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NRL boss Dave Smith is a huge supporter of the rookie draft concept, which is designed to spread the best young talent in the game across all 16 clubs and work in conjunction with the salary cap.
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South Sydney chief executive Shane Richardson has welcomed the rookie draft discussion, urging the NRL to fast-track it and make it a major event for the start of the 2016 season.
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“I’d like to see it brought in as soon as possible, I don’t see why it can’t be brought in for 2016,” Richardson said.
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“It would be good for the game. The argument against it has always been would Joey Johns have played in Newcastle if we had a draft.
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“I always answer with the same point. Brett Kimmorley played for Melbourne because Joey Johns was playing for the Knights and they were both Newcastle juniors.
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“Firstly, it’s been proven elsewhere in so many different competitions whether it be in the NFL in the US or the AFL closer to home.
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“Secondly, it enables kids to stay in the areas they’ve grown up in instead of bringing them down at ridiculously young ages and then burning them out.
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“Thirdly, the amount of money we waste by pouring money into young players under the age of 18.
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“I estimate we set fire to between $4 million and $6 million a year. The only people who really win out of that are the player managers, who get six per cent of it.
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“It’s an opportunity for the NRL to have a centrally-funded and controlled development program which benefits everybody across the board.
>
“It’s a win-win for everybody and I think it’s the only way forward.”
>
One of the current NRL proposals contains a clause about strong development clubs such as Penrith, North Queensland, New Zealand, South Sydney and Canberra being allowed to cherrypick a select number of young guns, who would be exempt from the draft.
>
But under this model, clubs such as premiers Sydney Roosters would be severely disadvantaged.
>
Manly coach Geoff Toovey agreed with the concept of a rookie draft in principle but warned “the devil will be in the detail from the NRL”.
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“It’s something that no doubt needs a lot of thought put into it but it is certainly a viable proposal going forward,” Toovey said.
>
St George Illawarra and Canberra both supported the concept, with the Sydney Roosters one of a number of clubs to push the NRL for more information.
>
“For a club like ours that spends a lot of money and a lot of energy in developing players we need to be very careful on how a draft system might operate,” Dragons CEO Peter Doust said.
>
“We already have a commitment to develop players on behalf of the overall game. In 2013, St George Illawarra produced 70-odd players that were playing the game at other clubs.
>
“They came through our system. In saying that I do understand it gives teams at the bottom a chance to refresh their rosters.
>
“So I’m happy to consider the principle of introduction if the devil in the detail is explained as well.”
>
Originally published as Bunnies boss backs fast tracking draft
http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/south-sydney-boss-shane-richardson-backs-fast-tracking-rookie-draft/story-fndv36md-1227019117629
IN years gone by, the mere mention of an NRL draft has been howled down as a dirty word in rugby league.
>
Ever since Terry Hill successfully had it thrown out as a restraint of trade in the High Court in 1991, NRL power brokers have been too frightened to revisit the concept.
>
Until now.
>
The Sunday Telegraph can reveal introducing a rookie draft is firmly on the NRL’s agenda for the 2017 season, the same year as the next TV broadcasting deal will be brokered.
>
The concept was initially raised at a salary cap review earlier this year, with the NRL since further investigating a number of different draft structures including rival code AFL.
>
NRL boss Dave Smith is a huge supporter of the rookie draft concept, which is designed to spread the best young talent in the game across all 16 clubs and work in conjunction with the salary cap.
>
South Sydney chief executive Shane Richardson has welcomed the rookie draft discussion, urging the NRL to fast-track it and make it a major event for the start of the 2016 season.
>
“I’d like to see it brought in as soon as possible, I don’t see why it can’t be brought in for 2016,” Richardson said.
>
“It would be good for the game. The argument against it has always been would Joey Johns have played in Newcastle if we had a draft.
>
“I always answer with the same point. Brett Kimmorley played for Melbourne because Joey Johns was playing for the Knights and they were both Newcastle juniors.
>
“Firstly, it’s been proven elsewhere in so many different competitions whether it be in the NFL in the US or the AFL closer to home.
>
“Secondly, it enables kids to stay in the areas they’ve grown up in instead of bringing them down at ridiculously young ages and then burning them out.
>
“Thirdly, the amount of money we waste by pouring money into young players under the age of 18.
>
“I estimate we set fire to between $4 million and $6 million a year. The only people who really win out of that are the player managers, who get six per cent of it.
>
“It’s an opportunity for the NRL to have a centrally-funded and controlled development program which benefits everybody across the board.
>
“It’s a win-win for everybody and I think it’s the only way forward.”
>
One of the current NRL proposals contains a clause about strong development clubs such as Penrith, North Queensland, New Zealand, South Sydney and Canberra being allowed to cherrypick a select number of young guns, who would be exempt from the draft.
>
But under this model, clubs such as premiers Sydney Roosters would be severely disadvantaged.
>
Manly coach Geoff Toovey agreed with the concept of a rookie draft in principle but warned “the devil will be in the detail from the NRL”.
>
“It’s something that no doubt needs a lot of thought put into it but it is certainly a viable proposal going forward,” Toovey said.
>
St George Illawarra and Canberra both supported the concept, with the Sydney Roosters one of a number of clubs to push the NRL for more information.
>
“For a club like ours that spends a lot of money and a lot of energy in developing players we need to be very careful on how a draft system might operate,” Dragons CEO Peter Doust said.
>
“We already have a commitment to develop players on behalf of the overall game. In 2013, St George Illawarra produced 70-odd players that were playing the game at other clubs.
>
“They came through our system. In saying that I do understand it gives teams at the bottom a chance to refresh their rosters.
>
“So I’m happy to consider the principle of introduction if the devil in the detail is explained as well.”
>
Originally published as Bunnies boss backs fast tracking draft
