This.

The funding has to be as equal as possible, and there has to be one salary cap. Otherwise P&R is just an illusion that puts clubs in danger of over-stretching themselves.

I love the new system, but the funding gap definitely needs addressing asap

The only reason there are not enough quality players around is that the clubs aren't being forced to develop them. If we keep reducing the number of SL clubs depending on how many quality players we have, then pretty soon we will be down to just 4 or 5 teams.
The issue has to be tackled, otherwise we wont have a top level of the game as we wont have enough quality players and we will never catch the Aussies up.

No, the trouble is that the clubs don't have TIME to develop them. The current system that has 1st team then U19 means that once you're over 19, if you're not some wonderkid superstar then your career is pretty much done. Of to a lower team to get spanked every week and have your development stunted if you're lucky. If you're unlucky, guess what kid? You're only going to be playing and training part-time.

A proper reserve grade needs to be introduced. Not only will it allow players time to develop but it will also mean teams do not have to push players back into the first team following injury.

The U19's has only been in place for a few years. The system isn't the one we need but it's also not the main factor in why there's not enough quality youth development. It's because most clubs decide not to do it. They make an active choice to sign players instead of putting the money, time and effort into developing them.

A proper reserve grade will both weaken and be a competitor to the Championship, not to mention the fact that most clubs won't properly resource the current academy system never mind an additional tier of professional players.

If we actually want to catch up to the Aussies in terms of player development then we have to cut SL off and the Championship clubs be used as feeder clubs. The certainty of no relegation gives clubs the opportunity to plan and to give youth development a chance rather than, say, signing Kevin Locke, Scott Moore, Lee Smith etc.

We can't have it all ways. We can't b!tch and whine that licensing doesn't give Championship clubs a way into SL and then, when the threat of relegation is returned, complain about player development and not want the Aussie system that is one of the 2 biggest advantages they have in terms of player development and also b!tch and whine when a system (DR) is introduced to try and find a middle way.
Because that's what's happened in RL in the space of 2 years.

Ialso don't agree with the argument that SL and the Championship should be on the same funding and same salary cap. If they were then there is no point having 2 divisions.

Warrington and others are running an U23s team next season.

IIRC they're proposing to play some U23 friendlies.

Bit different to running a full time U23 team over the duration of a league season, which would need an additional 10-15 players on top of the current first team and Academy squads.

I reckon it will, sooner or later. Bradford weren't a million miles away and we've seen in various cup ties that the top championship sides can manage the odd upset against lower SL opposition in a one-off game.

www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/s ... atch_rant/?

www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/s ... atch_rant/?

The current format is the hors d'oeuvres for the two FT tens, 4/5 Champ clubs will be FT in 2016 add in Toulouse, Welsh and Canada and you are virtually at the 20.

Close, but no cigar. I admire your optimism, but I still think the deck is stacked a bit too heavily.