Great interview here on youth development with Tony Smith......

rlhttp://www.rlcm.com.au/latest-news/24247-rugby-leaguerl

'Whoever speaks loudest, or whoever has the ear of the Rugby League at the time, probably gets their way.'

Very good article, wonder who he is talking about here?

No idea who he couLd bE talking about, i would nEver speculate because you Don't know who readS these boards?

Haha excellent

Either an U21s and U23s competition has to return NOW. With a facility to play two over age players per match.

When I read an article like that I get so angry at the weak leadership centrally and self interest at club level that is doing such a great job at destroying the future prospects of what I consider the greatest team sport in the world. The problem is that I can do nothing about it!

Absolutely spot on.
All of the problems affecting Rugby League are being magnified because the people in charge of the game are useless.
Unfortunately these self serving same people will never do what is best for the game, because that would involve them handing over power to a proper executive body, who would promptly sack them.

Very good article.
I would go for (and was disappointed when they scrapped it) the U23's.
It potentially gives the 19's 4 more years to develop.
I don't know the finances involved but I would have thought you could have had a spending cap. I don't know how it currently works but for me the U23's should be a mixture of part and full timers.
The full timers are those on the fringe of the main squad / returning from injury and the part timers those still developing.

Return of the A team comp anyone? Used to enjoy the Friday nights with the Andy Holbrook and Carl Webb tag team.

When would this mixture of full-time and part-time players train? Would the part-timers play at this level or at championship level? Where are all these extra players going to come from?

You wouldn't need a "spending cap", there are few enough teams in SL that can afford their first team squads let alone over-spend on a u23's squad.

How would a club afford to run three match day squads per weekend, u19s, u23s and first team.

Answer for me would be not to return to promotion/relegation for the reasons Smith gives and for the dual-registration/partnership clubs to work on the basis Warrington and Swinton operated it. That would give any Super League squad player not playing Super League a competitive game each week.

Smith is spot on and it is something I have been rambling on about all year. You have clubs like Featherstone putting money into youth development facilities (their new centre of excellence is superb) yet others in the top flight seem to be neglecting their duty to bring through the best young talent.

We need a clear pathway from primary school through to test football or parents will simply take talented youngsters to other codes.

It doesn't need to start so early and I for one am glad they have got shut of the Service Areas from U11-U15s as they served little purpose.

The problem in the game is from u16s until first team.

Sorry what I mean is there should be a clear line of progression. We are immediately behind the Aussies in that they are born kicking a rugby ball, here it is soccer and so the skills don't come as naturally.

:2frl57x1]

Not sure what he means here.....does he mean all our players will be playing in the NRL and will have picked up Aussie accents? Sounds like a positive development to me.

Or is he saying that the England team will be full of Aussies like all the other international teams are. "“Maybe I am over-reacting, but I’m a bit fearful there might only be a scattering of players with an English accent in the England team in a few years’ time."'"

Would having a draft system not work?

Cumbria
Lancashire
Cheshire
Gtr Manchester
All the Yorkshires
London
Etc etc

Have those run by coaches, have them competing in a county league with a cut off age off 23.
Have a draft system.
Have different age groups from 15 to 21 (22+23) play in 21's
They can only be offerered pro contracts from an agreed age, and employ the Nfl draft system, worst teams getting first pick.