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Message: [QUOTE="Big Pete, post: 3273865, member: 1899"] Like I said, Penrith make a compelling argument however that isn't the standard across the entire competition. North Sydney, Blacktown, Newtown, Mounties, Western Suburbs etc. all compete at this level and it's only been in the last couple of years that Wentworthville and Wyong have made way. What you'll find is, those clubs act independently and they're loaned players by their NRL affiliates to bolster their roster. On one side you have Penrith and on the other you have the defending premiers Melbourne who operate under the same system as the Broncos. It suggests to me that there are pros and cons to both systems and while from a fan perspective it maybe nice to have it all under one umbrella it may not be as useful as it sounds. For me the lesson with Penrith wasn't what Gus did with the NSW Cup team. It was everything underneath and the pathway into the NRL team. Despite having one of the best junior catchments in the game, Penrith would rush all their young players into first grade. Not only would that take a toll on the Lachlan Cootes, Tim Grants, Wade Grahams etc. but it denied their junior players the experience of being successful. So when Gus brought in the Newtons, Kites, Sowards, Wallaces etc. it just gave their younger players time to develop and prosper at the appropriate levels. The first generation of talent didn't pan out, but the ones who came through from U/14s on have really prospered. [/QUOTE]

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