What is everyone's opinion of the dumping of Premier League and having only an 'elite' Under 20 comp? I don't understand it all but it seems that development past 20 is going to be a thing of the past - either you are up to NRL standard or you get a job mending fences. Is that right? Thoughts...
I think it is a cynical attempt by clubs to save costs. Mind you Superleague did the opposite and something needs to be done to reign things in. Not every good player under 20 is going to make it and many other players make it later on. Given that Jye Mullane was a Junior International is evidence of this. Props and forwards in particular don't bloom till late 20s. Blocker had a good point the other day in talking about young players learning from older ones. The other point is that fringe player is basically stuffed. You don't make NRL and you have nowhere to play. Fortunately Manly will have PL side next year but what happens after that is anyone's guess. Short-sighted in my view, especially for clubs that don't have big junior bases, but maybe that is the main idea!!!
Stupid move, Manly seem to have set themselves up nicely with a Premier league side still going and the Sunshine Coast side emerging. Jim Beam Cup will probably pick up in standard with a lot of those fringe players heading there I would guess.
