Rugby League just can't get development right!

[Swans4ever]

At a time when RL people are starting to raise the idea of a player draft after allowing it to be destroyed by self interested Sydney clubs - it's surprising that clubs that go out of their way to identify, nurture and develop talent can be lured away by those same self interested clubs at the expense of those clubs that go to the effort!!! Let's see if they can finally bring in a draft that they couldn't in the 80's my guess they don't have the know how or the love for their game to see it thru to the betterment of the sport. Another example of a shoddy organisation!

Tigers sick of poaching game By Ben Chenoweth and Scott Dougherty April 1, 2014, 3:23 p.m.

WESTS Tigers chief executive Grant Mayer has warned NRL power brokers "we are out" unless greater incentives are provided to the club to develop local juniors.

Last week, Menangle boy James Tedesco was linked with a move to "cheque-book" club the Sydney Roosters — however, the rising star has now been tipped to stay at the Tigers.

Fed up with investing money into juniors who are eventually poached by clubs like the Roosters, Mr Mayer told the Advertiser the Tigers may be forced to turn their back on development programs — many of which occur locally — unless the NRL provided incentives.

The result could mean the next Chris Lawrence, James Tedesco, Brett Hodgson or John Skandalis may not forge a career with Wests Tigers.

"If the NRL don't change the way clubs are rewarded or recognised for development, then we are out," he said.

"If they won't reward us for developing young players then I have to make a decision that's best for the business. Development costs up to $1 million a year but we get nothing out of it.

"We could be cold-hearted and put that money into the elite team — but we choose to put it into juniors.

"We are in the business of winning NRL premierships and it [investment in juniors] is hard to justify when you come 15th [on the table]."

Money is poured into various programs and junior sides including Wests Magpies and Balmain Tigers SG Ball and Harold Matthews Cup teams.

Almost half of the Wests Tigers NRL side in round one were products of the club's development system.

The problem, Mr Mayer said, was there were more than 20 other NRL players bred in south-west Sydney playing for other clubs.

"Out of the 16 clubs there are five development clubs, [Wests Tigers], St George, Penrith, Parramatta and Canberra," he said. "In the last four or five years clubs like Melbourne, the Roosters and Broncos have won competitions on the back of clubs [like us] because they are cheque book clubs."

The NRL was contacted for comment last week but did not respond.

The top five Macarthur products that got away:
If the Wests Tigers did become a "cheque book club", it would be local juniors who suffered, Western Suburbs Junior Rugby League chief executive Julie Luke says.

"Wests Tigers give a lot of time and money to juniors," she said.

"At the moment, if a local child shows potential at 17 or 18, nothing stops other clubs from coming in and taking him, and nothing rewards the Tigers for keeping them.

"Being involved in junior rugby league, the ultimate reward is seeing a little bloke you helped run out in the NRL."

She said there "absolutely" should be an incentive for NRL clubs so they could keep the junior players they produced.

Wests Tigers team up with several local organisations including the South West Sydney Academy of Sports. There are 26 players in the academy's Harold Matthews Cup side — separate to the Western Suburbs Magpies and Balmain Tiger sides — and 106 players involved with the academy's under-14s and under-15s development squads.

Wests Tigers are part-sponsors of all three squads.

Academy executive director Gerry Knights said it gave local juniors from the Group 6 and Western Suburbs District Junior Rugby League competitions a "taste of representative football and helped them stay in the game".

"We've been involved with the Wests Tigers for 11 years — that's a long-term relationship in football terms," he said.

The top five Macarthur products that got away:
- Ryan Hoffman, Melbourne Storm: Campbelltown Collegians junior, St Gregory's College Campbelltown student.

- Krisnan Inu, Canterbury Bulldogs: Minto Cobras junior, Ingleburn High School student.

- Jarryd Hayne, Parramatta Eels: East Campbelltown Eagles junior, grew up in Minto.

- Israel Folau, NSW Waratahs: Grew up in Minto.

- Beau Scott, Newcastle Knights: Born in Camden, a Picton Magpies junior.

[Swans4ever]

Here is the link to the above article
http://www.macarthuradvertiser.com.au/s ... e/?cs=1185

[Cracker]

If I remember correctly, the version of the draft that the NSWRL went with was different to that of the VFL and it was ruled illegal in the courts as a violation of trade practice. Since then rugby league has been spooked by the idea of a draft. I heard someone say that they are waiting for someone to challenge the AFL draft's legality along the same lines, but since then free agency has been introduced.

[Swans4ever]

If I remember correctly, the version of the draft that the NSWRL went with was different to that of the VFL and it was ruled illegal in the courts as a violation of trade practice. Since then rugby league has been spooked by the idea of a draft. I heard someone say that they are waiting for someone to challenge the AFL draft's legality along the same lines, but since then free agency has been introduced.

It will never be challenged - 1st the AFLPA support it, 2nd it has been in operation for so long it would be an important consideration - it is akin to Dr's learning their trade at a hospital as a student, lastly everyone sees the benefits of a draft from player to club so it will never be challenged.

[Cracker]

You can never be sure of that, Swans4ever. I admire your loyalty and you could be right, but it's never as cast iron as that.

[Swans4ever]

You can never be sure of that, Swans4ever. I admire your loyalty and you could be right, but it's never as cast iron as that.

IM experience the longer something like a draft is in place the more difficult it is to challenge it - when looking at restraint of trade convention in an industry is an important factor. I don't think just because it happened in RL it is inevitable that someone will do it in the AFL - it has been in place and is an accepted practice for so long that it would be very difficult to rule it as a restraint of trade.

[cos789]

The AFL is set up differently from the nrl.
There is no restraint of trade as the draft just distributes the players
not prevents them from playing. Players are also free to play in leagues outside the AFL.

[Cracker]

Players are NOT free to play in leagues outside the AFL. I don't know where you got that idea from, Cos789. Second string teams in the VFL do not count incidentally because they are still playing in effect for their AFL club. No listed AFL player can play in Albury for example at a whim.

[cos789]

Players are NOT free to play in leagues outside the AFL. I don't know where you got that idea from, Cos789. Second string teams in the VFL do not count incidentally because they are still playing in effect for their AFL club. No listed AFL player can play in Albury for example at a whim.

Players play for leagues outside of the the AFL ALL THE TIME. All the time.

The fact you can only play in one league at a time only re-inforces my point.

[Cracker]

Players are NOT free to play in leagues outside the AFL. I don't know where you got that idea from, Cos789. Second string teams in the VFL do not count incidentally because they are still playing in effect for their AFL club. No listed AFL player can play in Albury for example at a whim.

Players play for leagues outside of the the AFL ALL THE TIME. All the time.

The fact you can only play in one league at a time only re-inforces my point.

Tell me who Buddy Franklin can play for right now. Anyone?

[cos789]

Players are NOT free to play in leagues outside the AFL. I don't know where you got that idea from, Cos789. Second string teams in the VFL do not count incidentally because they are still playing in effect for their AFL club. No listed AFL player can play in Albury for example at a whim.

Players play for leagues outside of the the AFL ALL THE TIME. All the time.

The fact you can only play in one league at a time only re-inforces my point.

Tell me who Buddy Franklin can play for right now. Anyone?

Really.

I was expecting a more intelligent response than that.
Why don't you try something like "whilst an AF players is free to (attempt to) play in any AF league there is no other league commensurate with the AFL".

[Cracker]

You're missing the point. We are speaking of the draft, correct? This only applies to the AFL. Therefore I am speaking of the AFL, and only the AFL.

Now again, tell me who Buddy Franklin can play for right now. Anyone?

[cos789]

Right now ? He signed a contract. Come on, try a little harder would you. Too easy.

[Cracker]

You're failing to understand. The implication coming from you is that Franklin can play for any AFL club. Not just Sydney. Any of the 18 clubs. He can also play for any local club.

No he cannot.

He can only play for the Swans. He cannot play for anyone else. Yet according to you above;

"Players play for leagues outside of the the AFL ALL THE TIME. All the time."

Is this still 'too easy' for you? Or are you going to admit that you have this one wrong?

[cos789]

You cannot understand BASIC LAW.
You cannot just walk out on a contract.
A contract is a contract.
There are repercussions if you enter a contract.
Obviously a player is free up and until he signs a contract.
I thought the level of discussion would be above that of basic assumprions.