Big Pete
International Captain
- Mar 12, 2008
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The NSW clubs have an advantage where there is a clear pathway into the team.
So if we take Innes as an example he has an opportunity to play in the trials, play Flegg, force his way into NSW Cup and potentially play NRL.
If he stayed in Brisbane, he'd still have that opportunity to play trials. However after that he's got to try and force his way into the Bears while playing local A grade.
If he's struggling, he may not get a proper look in until the NRLQ season and even then that's not proper footy.
The NRL, the NRL clubs and the QRL are looking into this so the situation will improve but the Broncos are missing out on those depth players which was always a hallmark of the club.
It's a tough one. On one hand, if a player can't crack QCup then you really shouldn't stand in their way. On the other hand, it's tough to give them those opportunities when the QCup clubs have their own agendas.
They won't turn down a player if they're as promising as a Reece Walsh, Selwyn Cobbo, Brendan Piakura etc. but if it's an option between a veteran player who's proven time and time again they can do a job or some untested kid from the affiliate, they're always going to have that natural inclination to stick with their guy.
Sorry got caught up ranting - to answer the second part - a lot of the NSW clubs are run by the NRL clubs these days - so they just sign their semi pro deal with the club and report to their training sessions. Whereas with let's say Latrell Siegwalt - his deal would have been through Souths Logan and then on top of that he gets his T&T deal with the Broncos but as soon as that's finished he's back on his Magpies deal which is usually just a supplemental income.
