Reply to thread

Message: [QUOTE="Coxy, post: 2341862, member: 1764"] The problem the Broncos and the NRL clubs in general have is there's no real outlet for second string players to "outgun" first graders. Let's face it, Q Cup, NSW Cup, Toyota Cup, all those second tier competitions are not in the same ballpark as NRL. They don't play the same tactics, structures, hell, even the same rules. A player can dominate that level and then look completely useless in first grade. So what's the option? Play a halfback off the bench and give him 20 minutes game time? Doesn't prove much. They either won't get into the rhythm of the game, or they'll rip apart a tired opposition. Make them start and will they last 80 minutes? Probably not. If Wallace isn't up to snuff in 2011, or even just "average", there's no way you could say "Ben Hunt has outgunned him" even if he's scoring 4 tries and setting up 11 tries every game in Q Cup (OK, maybe you could). I really hope the NRL Independent Commission has on its agenda creating a national 2nd tier competition of quality that's a GENUINE stepping stone to NRL. Frankly I'd consider something like a reserve grade competition with a cap on players over 23 or 25 able to compete (say 2 or 3). Still call it the Toyota Cup. Give some experienced guys a run, have the kids come through playing against a smattering of hardened footballers as well as up and comers. It'd be a MUCH better platform on which to judge fringe players than the joke that the Toyota Cup is now. And with the powers that be discouraging single-club-affiliations with Q Cup, you can't even get a look at a number of your fringe players playing together week in, week out under similar structures and conditions to first grade. This issue plus the salary cap is, IMO, the main reason the NRL competition standard is going backwards. [/QUOTE]

Verification

Active Now

No members online now.

Total: 4 (members: 0, guests: 4)

Reply to thread

Log in

Active Now