tommy
International Rep
- Jun 5, 2015
- 14,768
- 15,953
Scaffolding mate, scaffolding. Without them nothing new would get built here, they’re helping us expand in other ways. I heard the last one to leave nz has been asked to turn the lights off.
2026 NRL General Discussion Thread
- Thread starter bb_gun
- Start date
- Jul 28, 2016
- 35,570
- 52,024
Their CEO will have to send out more Tweets... has done them well with the whistle
Big Pete
International Captain
- Mar 12, 2008
- 33,953
- 29,696
Gold Coast can have the city to themselves and northern NSW.
Brisbane can have Ipswich and Toowoomba. Along with Wynnum and Easts.
Canberra can regain Logan.
Dolphins can have Norths, Redcliffe & Capras.
Melbourne can have Sunshine Coast.
Perth gets North Sydney and Central Coast. If they want South Africa good luck to them.
If we're taking a State of Origin approach, here is the Broncos squad:
Ezra Mam, Cory Paix, Patrick Carrigan, Billy Walters, Cameron Bukowski, Jaiyden Hunt, Braithen Scott & Beni Allen
They'd also get
Sam Walker, David Fifita*, Kurt Capewell, Phillip Sami, Max Plath, Kulikefu Finefeauaki, Harrison Graham, Jake Simpkin, Josiah Pahulu, De La Salle Va'a, Lhykan King-Tongia, Joe Litidamu, Luke Cesari, John Radel
among others.
- Oct 17, 2013
- 13,410
- 16,348
Melbourne can have Victoria and Canberra can have the ACT. They can get the **** out of my state.
Big Pete
International Captain
- Mar 12, 2008
- 33,953
- 29,696
Canberra had Souths before you or even the Broncos were born. They can have it.
Alright, we'll call Melbourne the Sunshine Coast Storm. Sure, it'll cost the NRL millions in advertisements and television rights but at least there won't be any of that dishonesty!
- Oct 17, 2013
- 13,410
- 16,348
NSW had all of Australia before we were born, it doesn’t make it ok in 2026.
Or the Storm could add something to our game instead of leeching off everywhere else. About time, I say.
Big Pete
International Captain
- Mar 12, 2008
- 33,953
- 29,696
Canberra were still affiliated with Souths and Souths Logan well after the Broncos came into the competition. I don't think Brisbane have done a good job there which is why Logan was happy to get into bed with the Warriors.
They've only developed some of the best players of the modern era and made the game more valuable. The only thing that would change if they entered as Norths Storm is that you'd have to come up with new material.
- Oct 17, 2013
- 13,410
- 16,348
You’re not teaching me anything here, I’m well aware of all of this.
And sure, I’d love some new material. The fact that this competition likes to spout expansion but just spreads talent thinner. Thank god the NRL makes millions from it though, that’s all that matters I guess.
Big Pete
International Captain
- Mar 12, 2008
- 33,953
- 29,696
It's good for the long term health and prosperity of the game. It'll be interesting to see what the NRL does if they run into problems. We could see a complete overhaul of the junior system, with the NRL adopting an AFL type approach.
The whole junior pathways hasn't worked like it should for decades now. Brisbane are a part of that problem as well but you already know that.
- Jul 28, 2016
- 35,570
- 52,024
It feels like more money needs to be invested in Qcup and NSW Cup.
There is too big a gap between NRL and the next tier down.
Instead of trying to setup a reserve grade comp just invest that money into the two comps that literally create all the players that end up in the NRL.
They're the only competitions the NRL have to produce juniors and those two comps bring them through from U6's to U21's and beyond... they need more money to get better coaching, S&C and allow part timers to get paid better so they can focus on getting better at the game.
That will produce more players ready for the elite version of the game... also creates a better class of player in those reserve grade comps for younger development players to compete against.
tommy
International Rep
- Jun 5, 2015
- 14,768
- 15,953
Panthers do it pretty good now don’t they?
Big Pete
International Captain
- Mar 12, 2008
- 33,953
- 29,696
They're the best but they're not happy doing the lion share of development and receiving little compensation for developing talent for the NRL.
tommy
International Rep
- Jun 5, 2015
- 14,768
- 15,953
Your own personal opinion…..was Phil Gould a large part of that becoming something they did?
Big Pete
International Captain
- Mar 12, 2008
- 33,953
- 29,696
Absolutely. His recruitment in that space was the best and he helped cultivate a successful culture at the club.
Before Gus came to the club, they hadn't won a NSW Cup since 1987. Three years into the job and the 2013 NYC premiers graduated and helped them smash Newcastle in the 2014 GF with one of the best forwards of his generation Isaah Yeo leading the way.
Penrith had success at Flegg level, going back to back in the mid-late 00s with players like Wade Graham, Sam McKendry, Tim Grant, Michael Jennings, Jarrod Sammut etc. but those players either got thrown into the deep end or picked up by rival clubs so the culture wasn't great.
Gus' big thing was getting the right people in charge and making the whole process more stream-lined. He had the region he just had to make sure the players were being prepared for success at NRL level.
He wasn't perfect and there were times he made changes for the sake of making them that nearly backfired. Releasing Cleary after one bad season only to bring Hook in maybe his biggest.
