Seriously, has Ralph and his chums got a pair or what?

The RFL are [imeant[/i to be the governing body, the rulers, the leadership so to speak of the sport of rugby league in the UK. Any government of any kind that cannot lead is not fit for purpose.
Fob it off and blame the clubs...NO! The RFL to be recognized and respected, they must; initiate, implement and sustain! This is what leadership is about. The NRL can do it, they are more active unlike the passive RFL.
Any wonder then that the NRL generally get what they want? The RFL sit back and say nothing.

rlhttp://www.totalrl.com/column-dont-just-support-reserve-grade-rfl-make-it-happen/rl

So on the one hand everyone is saying the RFL need to be stripped of power as the SL clubs need to take control of decision making,
And on the other hand some people are demanding the RFL tell the SL clubs exactly what to do.

I know you’re a WUM, but the extent to which the RFL has the authority to lead is often overstated in my opinion. They’re largely an administrative body that implements decisions voted for by the clubs. If enough clubs want it, it’ll happen. The idea that they can make major changes in the face of resistance or even reluctance from the clubs is a stretch.
They might sneak through the odd pet project if nobody minds too much, but mostly their job is to do what they’re told by their stakeholders. Democracy of a sort, innit?

As the majority have said it should be made compulsory in Superleague, the RFL may back track on the idea though if Toronto and Toulouse get promoted to Superleague.

All great in theory, but where is the money & more worrying all the players coming from? There are just not enough players good enough for most first teams let alone another tier below, Why do you think the Hull teams have combined the academy?

I know the article is an opinion piece, but it has some major rhetorical flaws.

If there is such a wide consensus, why do clubs need to be forced into it?

Are there any negatives? No, apart from those i’m going to dismiss as being an argument for another day.

If the benefits are blatantly apparent... but they’re clearly not to all stakeholders, including some of those who’d be paying for it. At least not across both benefit and cost. Anything looks good if you only examine the benefits. Does it offer value? That’s a key question, so...

Various figures and countless examples prove its value apparently. Well cite some of them. Hopefully, they’ll be better than the ‘not a coincidence’ argument of a couple of years ago.

Reserve grade could offer value, but there are definitely counter arguments and to pretend otherwise makes your position look weaker rather than stronger imo.

Spot on.

In my opinion if we have a proper reserve grade it makes the Championship obsolete.

I understand why Championship clubs fans are against feeder clubs but in my opinion that’s what many of them need to become.

I would rather see an u18s and u21s before dual reg. In fact I would encourage loans rather than dual reg so as to reduce the messing around that league one and championship clubs face.

Rimmer's legacy would already surpass that of Nigel Wood if reserves were brought back. Also unacceptable that Salford in the super league don't have an academy. Not sure if they're the only ones in SL without one

Just scrap the u19s and have a reserve grade. Most of the players who'll be playing in it will probably be u19 anyway. I really don't understand why this is being made so complicated.

So without any research you just stick the boot into us ? Our multi millionaire former owner scrapped our academy so maybe you should take it up with him ?

Don’t know what difference that makes?

It was Salford that made that decision so it’s still right to criticise Salford for that.

One of the reasons why someone like Koukash wasn’t right for the sport and an example of the many stupid, rash, short-sighted & short-termist decisions he made at Salford.

He had the cash to make Salford a strong club. He chose not to.

Shows just because someone has money doesn’t mean they know how to run a club.

I do think there is a tendency for advocates of reserves to imagine it’ll combine the best bits of the old A teams and the modern NRL reserve grade without any of the more difficult elements.

The A teams were relatively inexpensive but only had to produce semi-pro players for most of their history. Which is perhaps why they work well for Fax and Keighley. Would Jake Shorrocks benefit massively from competing at that level?

The NRL system is, I assume, much more expensive and has partially developed from mergers, a P&R-free system and formerly independent clubs becoming feeder teams. None of which would garner much support here.

Also, I think your first point about the Championship is exactly right. If there was a shift in perception, so that it were seen as a stepping stone rather than a career graveyard, it’d largely solve the problem more simply.

Unlike 90% of SL teams Toulouse already have reserves..

Koucash has/had plenty of money but, lacked patience, wanting success overnight.
In many ways he was a good match for RL.