Recalled reading this article a while back and just found it. Wouldnt it be great to be able to go to the footy and watch reserve grade before the main game again.
LEADING NRL coaches Craig Bellamy, Des Hasler and Matt Elliott have warned that the demise of reserve grade has bred an over-reliance on tackle-shy Toyota Cup teenagers which threatens the quality of the NRL.
The trio believes the National Youth Competition is having a detrimental effect on NSW's traditional all-age feeder competition, which is battling for profile and relevance after being evicted from NRL venues in favour of the under-20 competition.
In 2008, 45 Toyota Cup players were promoted to first grade and last year that figure rose to 54. In five NRL rounds this year, there have already been 14.
The main worry for Hasler, Bellamy and Elliott is the defence in the Toyota Cup. Already, five games have produced a total of 80 points or more.
But a combination of the second-tier salary cap's bite and an exodus of older-age NSW Cup players because of poor pay and an unpalatable profile is forcing teams to throw unprepared youngsters to the wolves.
"The thing people have to realise is the Toyota Cup is not a true under-20s comp," Hasler said.
"Clubs are recruiting kids at 16, 17 and 18 to give themselves time to see whether they will develop.
"At the moment there are 70 or 80 players unavailable because of injury, and we are trying to rush in these 18 and 19-year-olds.
"It takes time for some players, especially props and halfbacks, to become first graders.
"If we are not careful with the current injury rate, and the way the salary cap makes it difficult to field over-age players, the standard of the NRL could be compromised.
"You could see the quality of our competition dip and no one wants that."
NSW Origin coach Bellamy has been underwhelmed by the performances of the Melbourne under-20 players - all drawn from the Storm's 2009 Toyota Cup premiership-winning team - who he has promoted to his top squad.
"With the way the salary cap works, you have to rely on the under-20s more," Bellamy said. "This year we've brought seven or eight under-20 guys into our top squad, thinking they might play NRL - but they haven't. It's because of defensive issues.
"I like a defensive game and I get really frustrated when I see scorelines like 48-34 and 38-36.
"It's a bit of a worry when you've got guys playing in a comp like that and then coming straight in to first grade."
Elliott said it was inevitable that there would a drop in quality as more over-20s walked away.
"I am a big supporter of getting an all age competition back," the Panthers coach said.
"It's something we really need. Most are just not ready at that age and we are losing a lot of over-age players because we can't keep them in the system. With all the guys we are losing, of course the quality of our main product is going to be affected.
"We are having to make decisions based on age, not on who is the best player."
While none of the coaches want the Toyota Cup scrapped, they feel the all-age competition should be treated as the NRL's premier feeder system. Either that or for the NYC age limit to be increased.
Hasler and Bellamy said the most effective cure would be to return to the traditional three-grade format on match day. But it is understood clubs want to save money by hiring stadiums and staff for less time.
