Quote: Pat Bateman "Statistically there are less and less juniors playing rugby league. I’m pretty sure it’s dropped by 1/4 in the last 10 years. This will have and is having a huge impact on the quality of players coming through for sure. We can have as many SL teams as we want, but the quality will be even worse.'"
But if the pathways aren’t there up to elite level where lucrative careers can be made then there will be reduction at youth level. The issue for me is pathways and the whole structure and investment levels need reviewing.
It may not be there short term but again there will be more opportunity for elite level sport/academy so there will be natural growth over time. Citing only leads to further reduction in my opinion.