No, the Storm have the same model as the Broncos and they have had success.
What's our current arrangement with the affiliates??
Like do we give them financial support, coaching, clinics for their juniors, etc.?
I worry that NRL athletes are getting beyond Qcup and NSW cup guys that arent in a Top 30 system and getting all the strength and conditioning that goes with it.
If the next level down cant keep up... and realistically how can part time footy players be expected to keep up with full time athletes that have everything looked after for them... then where do we find the late bloomers in qcup that help with fleshing out a squad... the Kobes and Jensens.
And if we cant find them from our affiliates then we have to buy them from other teams Top 30 squads.
I think we have a good balance geographically at the moment with Wynnum in Brisbane, the strong Logan catchment with Souths and then a GC rep in Burleigh.
Is there any option to get into really long term agreements with these clubs... like +10yrs... and then work with them so that their facilities, coaching, high performance, etc. is basically top of the qcup.
Redcliffe will grow as the Dolphins grow so that is potentially the closest a QLD team is going to have to a NSWRL setup where they can go from U8's to NRL... but is there an option for Broncos to do something similar via our affiliates where we just have a serious long term arrangement that U8's from those clubs can see a pathway to NRL via Broncos.
Work with them on funding to ensure they can keep up as much as is possible.
Sure we will lose some kids but building with the relationship with the affiliates has them telling us which kids are the real deal and we can look to make sure they stay.
It seems like broncos development system is identifying the best kids, give them scholarships at 13 or so, most likely provide some clinics, etc. but then waiting for them to get through Meninga and eventually assigning them to an affiliate.
We leave a lot of the development in the hands of the affiliates, but they only have so much in terms of resources... NSWRL teams basically have pathways from U8' to NRL and I'm sure there are advantages particular in coaching and fitness programs... possibly even the use of facilities ie. being able to use the NRL team's high performance centres, etc.