Leeds have being replicating this approach without dual registration for some time, with a number of younger players loaned out to NL and SL clubs.

This is a good step IMO, as its facing the reality of how inadequate the Academy is in developing players. Playing age-group rugby is no subtitute for learning against harder and more experienced opponents. Here in Aus there are feeder competitions like the Queensland Cup where youngsters are exposed to palying with and against very good semi-pros on a weekly basis, and they make the step up far more easily.

From what I've seen there are a large number of kids getting into SL first teams with absolutely appalling basic deficiencies in their game, which I suspect aren't being ironed out because at Academy level they don't need to be.

I understand some of the concerns of NL fans, but wouldn't you like to see the best 18-year olds play for your team for a while? If it's done right it should be a win-win for all concerned.

Having said that, it's also a real indictment of the changes to the reserve structure that were made when they got rid of the A-Teams.

Its the way things should have been done for years now.

I feel sir there is a slight contradiction in your 2 comments above.

In answer to your question, I think most fans could put up with 1 or 2 loaned players short term, after that it does become a feeder league style feel to it.
Ceratianly I'd much rather my club try recruiting from within and building up its own youth structures and giving those players hope /a chance rather than some kid snapped up as "a excess" by SL clubs.

Perhaps a better idea would be to give the new "franchise" clubs the pick of these youngsters and leave the Championship(s) as a stand alone competiton worth winning in its own right.

Just completely unrealistic.

Lower grade clubs in England think they can develop their own players, build them up into stars, they will all stick together and they will get promoted up to SL level and win the SL title and rule all of mankind.

Its a load of rubbish!

Lower grade clubs are just a step on the ladder. Young players dont set their sights on playing for a National League club!

Players come through and move on when they get better.



The reason so many lower grade clubs in England are dying a slow painful death is because they think they are something they will never be. If these clubs realised their place on the ladder and set themselves up where they belong on that ladder, they would be so much stronger and well off.

Things changed for many in July 08.
I think many lower league fans prefer to see there own/ local players (and not necessarily give a monkeys if the club goes to SL or not), of course players will go for the money, however many fans would rather watch kids from there club play rather than a variety of kids from various SL clubs play for 6 - 7 games or 1 season, the upshot of the club that does that is that it becomes the A Team for various SL clubs (which begs the question why scrap the A team structure) or goes bankrupt as the few fans remaining go to watch the Amateur game.



If the RFL realised that Championship RL if left as a proper stand alone league with each club equal (same imports /full time players / all can be relegated or promoted from Champ 1) could attract fans (not millions but enough to maintain a interest in the game in these towns) then I think they would see some movement.
True this would offer zero straight away to SL and its International teams, however many players playing SL have at some point or other followed a lower league club or played for it (or that towns amateur club) so indirectly its attracting a player pool if not a supporter base (it also gives ex SL players a couple of years footy to play before they retire by stepping down a division).

If the RFL are hellbent on creating a player pool than create a SL "reserve" league structure (that allows all ages) and have them as feeder clubs.
Would probably stand a better chance of getting a few through the gate to watch em play if its there 2nd tier club they are paying to watch.

Dont forget this is what the RFL have told them they have to do

They [ RFL ] criticise Championship clubs for not producing players

I'm sure most Championship clubs dont really want to run reserves given the choice

Like Hull KR you mean?

Hmmmmm

Come franchise application time which club do you reckon will get the credit for 'producing' or 'developing' any dual registered players?

one day the rfl will astound us all by actually NOT changing the rules of the game. there is no other sport where the rules are changed presumably for the sake of it almost every season.

We are unique. Groundbreakers. Nonconformist.

Ergo, Rugby League is cool.

ok

I am a supporter of a championship One club, the Cougars. I don't want to see our club lose it's identity by borrowing players on an ad hoc basis from a superleague club, believe it or not people we dont ALL see superleague as the be-all-and-end-all of rugby league. I would rather be proud of my club at this level than feel we had somehow 'cheated' our way up the league.
Good luck to all clubs in the superleague, it's a great competition - but it isn't the only one.