Bring back reserve grade

[Brent81]

Hi guys

After much thought on the topic, I'm now sold on the idea that reserve grade needs to be brought back (even at the expense of the under 20s comp).

Reserve grade would give the 20 year olds an opportunity to play with older and more experienced players and it would allow clubs to retain a second tier of experienced players.

From a fan point of view, reserve grade was always great because you got to see players go from colts/u20s etc to reserves to firsts.

Your thoughts?

 

[jarro65]

I thought they were bringing it back ??

Maybe i heard it wrong :001_unsure:

 

[Coxy]

Hi guys

After much thought on the topic, I'm now sold on the idea that reserve grade needs to be brought back (even at the expense of the under 20s comp).

Reserve grade would give the 20 year olds an opportunity to play with older and more experienced players and it would allow clubs to retain a second tier of experienced players.

From a fan point of view, reserve grade was always great because you got to see players go from colts/u20s etc to reserves to firsts.

Your thoughts?

Totally agree. I don't see any benefits coming from the 20s competition. In fact, the standard of the NRL has gone down since it was introduced in 2008. It seems more often than not players get promoted from 20s to firsts, instead of from their 2nd tier players.

The downside is the impact it would have on the Queensland Cup. Many clubs have affiliations with Q Cup clubs and so have senior second string players there. Having reserve grade would take that talent away from the Q Cup.

I think I'd like to see the reserve grade comp a blend of Under 20s and true reserve grade. Even if each side has a quota of players over 20 they're allowed to have, say 8 of the 17. That way the 20s who are playing are getting that experience with more established players, those established players are still playing within the same structures and framework of first grade, and there'd still be left over players that could still benefit the Q cup clubs. And if anything it'd provide a better pathway for Q Cup players to make their way into the NRL.

 

[Mr Fourex]

I agree .......Bring Back the Biff !!

opps.....

I meant, Bring back Reserve grade. :blushing:

:winky:

 

[noisetheory]

agree with coxy. a minimum of 6 or 7 or 8 u20s kids per team would be a good way to do it.

 

[Morkel]

 

[Big Pete]

Should have been one of the first changes the commission made.

It's just common sense. By making an unrestricted national reserve competition, you can develop the more experienced talent at an accelerated rate and give them the attention they deserve.

It'd certainly benefit our club. As I understand it, our NRL contracted players only spend one session with their QRL counterparts and that's only if they're set to represent that club on the weekend. As you can see, it'd hardly be beneficial to say Ben Hunt to go down that route and the opposite end of that shtick is to let him spend more time with that affiliate in which case he's out of sight and you're trusting somebody who is, by rank, at a lesser level than you.

By introducing a reserve grade, they could train at the club with their mates who they know and it wouldn't be such a horrible stigma to be dropped.

TBH, I think the QRL clubs hate it more than the players do because it disrupts their prep.

 

[Harry Sack]

Should have been one of the first changes the commission made.

It's just common sense. By making an unrestricted national reserve competition, you can develop the more experienced talent at an accelerated rate and give them the attention they deserve.

It'd certainly benefit our club. As I understand it, our NRL contracted players only spend one session with their QRL counterparts and that's only if they're set to represent that club on the weekend. As you can see, it'd hardly be beneficial to say Ben Hunt to go down that route and the opposite end of that shtick is to let him spend more time with that affiliate in which case he's out of sight and you're trusting somebody who is, by rank, at a lesser level than you.

By introducing a reserve grade, they could train at the club with their mates who they know and it wouldn't be such a horrible stigma to be dropped.

TBH, I think the QRL clubs hate it more than the players do because it disrupts their prep.

Couldn't agree more with the whole post and the bold is an especially apt point. We wouldn't see anywhere near the loss of talent if there was a reserve grade Broncos.

 

[1910]

Should have been one of the first changes the commission made.

It's just common sense. By making an unrestricted national reserve competition, you can develop the more experienced talent at an accelerated rate and give them the attention they deserve.

It'd certainly benefit our club. As I understand it, our NRL contracted players only spend one session with their QRL counterparts and that's only if they're set to represent that club on the weekend. As you can see, it'd hardly be beneficial to say Ben Hunt to go down that route and the opposite end of that shtick is to let him spend more time with that affiliate in which case he's out of sight and you're trusting somebody who is, by rank, at a lesser level than you.

By introducing a reserve grade, they could train at the club with their mates who they know and it wouldn't be such a horrible stigma to be dropped.

TBH, I think the QRL clubs hate it more than the players do because it disrupts their prep.

Why would they develop quicker at reserve grade than Qld Cup? Considering the Qld Cup's success rate at providing every team with players this really isn't backed up with anything.

Yes if you're not required by the NRL club you train once with the QRL club and then play on the weekend. So you're still with the NRL side all week.

No one is out of sight, NRL coach will see them all week and then you watch the DVD and communicate with the coach of the QRL club on Monday to ask about attitude and performance.

Cost is a big reason for clubs not to want it, it costs a lot to fly 70 people all around the country every week.

 

[Big Pete]

Why would they develop quicker at reserve grade than Qld Cup? Considering the Qld Cup's success rate at providing every team with players this really isn't backed up with anything.

I was talking about the NYC.

Queensland Cup is a great resource when you're not spreading talent around.

Yes if you're not required by the NRL club you train once with the QRL club and then play on the weekend. So you're still with the NRL side all week.

Which is basically a lose/lose situation if you're in Ben Hunt's position.

No one is out of sight, NRL coach will see them all week and then you watch the DVD and communicate with the coach of the QRL club on Monday to ask about attitude and performance.

Missing my point - I was discussing a scenario in which a player like Ben Hunt would have to spend more time with Norths and wouldn't feel as included as he would if there was a national reserve grade competition.

I've got nothing against the Queensland Cup. However, I don't feel like the Broncos are getting the most out of the situation and it's impacting on the development of our players. A national reserve competition would sort out a lot of the reservations.

 

[1910]

How are the Broncos not getting the best out of it- the whole team is from the Qld Cup bar Wallace. What more could a reserve grade produce? How's it impact development?

You're not shunned to Qld Cup in nearly all cases you're sent to a club you have some sort of affliation with so you're going back to where you came or the area you're from. Tasi played with his brother last week in a area he is from. He wasn't sent to the Russian front.

You claimed that an unrestricted reserve grade comp would produce talent at a quicker rate- why? You never mentioned the the NYC.

 

[Big Pete]

I posted in reference to Brent81's post which included...

even at the expense of the under 20s comp

I don't believe our players or depth are where they should be. For years we refused to play our stars of the 20s in spite of them being ready for QCup and I feel it stunted their growth. Corey Norman, Dale Copley, Kurt Baptiste, Ben Hunt, Dane Gagai etc. should have been playing QCup much sooner than they did but the Broncos changed their development policy sometime around 2009 because the 20s got off to an awful start.

Nothing compares to being able to train at the Broncos facilities with other players you've spent the off-season with and that you know. One session isn't enough, especially if you're a halfback where organising the team and the attack is critical. Players get to play in the positions they're being groomed for (how was Maranta going to become a better winger playing five eigth for Norths for instance?), at NRL facilities where they get to be apart of the match day experience and there is never a hint of isolation.

That last point isn't just about the Broncos either, I'm talking competition wide where it's no secret the NSW Cup players feel excluded in all the hoopla.

 

[Allo]

The best part of reserve grade is the entire squad, say they up the whole number to 36-40, (2x17's, NRL and reserves, plus a few extra) can train with and against one another. A training 'trial game' every week. Players can be swapped around every so often so everyone learns the defence/attack no matter which side you're playing for. Readies the reserves for NRL call ups and allows the full 1st grade side to run attack/ defence drills like they would in a game. 13 on 13. (honestly I have no idea how they train now, but I suspect it's not that way). Also allows players to form combinations and get to know how everyone plays so when the first grade side is depleted, you don't have half a 1st grade side and a bunch of QCup players from multiple clubs trying to gel inside a week. Also gives the coaches a better idea of how any reserve players would work in the top grade side.

NSW basically have this already as they enough clubs for one NSWCup team each (Mounties=Canberra, Wolves=Penrith, Wenty=Parra etc).
I can see how the Qcup teams and u20's will be weakened by probably not having any NRL-experienced players, but they should just be a stepping stone. It's a great, talented comp, but the players picked into reserve grade will get to play all the NSW teams, which have a lot more NRL-experienced players and would be better for their development to play a team with 5-10 NRL guys as opposed to QCup teams with maybe 2 or 3. Also on the away games, both teams travel together. any late injuries, coach has his pick of the reserve grade team for a sub and one of the 'extra' reserves takes his place in reserves

 

[1910]

I don't understand this argument that they will train more with the Broncos. They don't miss any Broncos' sessions. They train at Red Hill all week.

Flawed too to say that Hunt can't show his best for Norths with one session a week with them- didn't seem to hurt Cherry Evans flying up to the Sunshine Coast every Friday in 2009 having one session and then playing- winning a comp and player of the year.

 

[Coxy]

Yes, but the Broncos haven't had a player of Cherry Evans calibre come through the club since Karmichael Hunt left....that's a separate issue.

The Under 20s is a joke of a competition. It's glorified touch football. Ditch it. Bring back reserve grade. No extra cost to clubs. And a far better pathway to the NRL.

 

[Splinter]

I would be more than happy on game day to watch U18s, Reserves and then A grade

 

[Big Pete]

As Coxy said, DCE is DCE. The Sunshine Coast was Manly's only second grade feeder as well - which is basically what I want the Broncos to have.

 

[Coxy]

I would be more than happy on game day to watch U18s, Reserves and then A grade

I'm sure all fans would, but it'd be the $$$s.

Having Reserves + A grade would cost no more than 20s + A Grade, and would be better quality football.