General Mt Albert wants to join big league

[warriors4life_old]

From www.stuff.co.nz

By STEVE KILGALLON

The Warriors may no longer stand alone as Kiwi rugby league's only side in an elite Australian competition following an audacious bid by the Auckland Lions to play in the National Rugby League's reserve grade.

And the old-school tradition of watching three grades play on one day could return with the Warriors and the Auckland Rugby League planning a combined side in a proposed NRL under-20 competition.

The Warriors appear to be backing the proposal from the Lions, the country's strongest club side, to play in the NSWRL Premier League from next year.

They would suit up in blue and white to generate cross-Auckland appeal, play home games at Mt Smart Stadium as Warriors' curtain-raisers and draw on Warriors fringe players. Kiwi coach Brian McClennan could be offered a director of football role.

The Lions have been lobbying senior Australian league officials and plan to lodge a formal bid within a fortnight.

The team is the defending Bartercard Cup champion and is run from the famous Mt Albert club, which was the forerunner of the Warriors when they bid for a place in the Winfield Cup in 1989.

The Lions would still field a Bartercard side, but bid leader Tony Sadgrove, the club's chairman, said the concept was designed to add the "missing rung of the ladder" between that competition and the NRL.

"We already have the players, the management and the ground: I think we would be competitive almost immediately," said Sadgrove.

"We think it is a very good idea with a lot of pros, and not many cons. People think we wouldn't be able to do it - but we've been through all of this when we first explored the Warriors idea."

Sadgrove intends to seek NZRL support this week and emphasised the move was not intended to be divisive: "The Bartercard Cup is a good competition ... but it isn't quite at the level where players can step straight into the NRL."

The Warriors no longer want to farm out spare players to different clubs. Chief executive Wayne Scurrah said the club was weighing its options but admitted Premier League was "a competition we have to get into". He is awaiting an NRL decision on the viability of an under-20 competition.

A cautious ARL chairman Cameron McGregor said both plans were "very preliminary at this stage" but indicated the ARL would be guided by the Warriors' desires.

 

[warriors4life_old]

I believe it would be very good to have them in NRL reserve-grade, but would all the best players from the Bartercard Cup play for Auckland that are close to making the Warriors?

 

[warriorfaithful*_old]

I believe it would be very good to have them in NRL reserve-grade, but would all the best players from the Bartercard Cup play for Auckland that are close to making the Warriors?

I dunno. :?

 

[Jesbass_old]

I believe it would be very good to have them in NRL reserve-grade, but would all the best players from the Bartercard Cup play for Auckland that are close to making the Warriors?

Not sure, w4l, but it basically serves as a bit of a feeder club for the Warriors, if I read it correctly. That's got to be a good thing.

 

[warriorfaithful*_old]

I believe it would be very good to have them in NRL reserve-grade, but would all the best players from the Bartercard Cup play for Auckland that are close to making the Warriors?

Not sure, w4l, but it basically serves as a bit of a feeder club for the Warriors, if I read it correctly. That's got to be a good thing.

Yeah exactly jesbass.

 

[*Kimmy*_old]

Its a good idea imo, as the Lions are a good side. Would be good to see.

 

[MiXmasterreece_old]

I believe it would be very good to have them in NRL reserve-grade, but would all the best players from the Bartercard Cup play for Auckland that are close to making the Warriors?

It would seem to be abit of a pipe dream at the moment... im sure details will emerge a little further down the track if they ever got that far.

 

[blain91_old]

It would be a great use 4 trying out young hopefulls such as fai and packer. Would be good to see how the cope instead throwing them into the deep end straight away.

 

[fiamacho_old]

From www.stuff.co.nz

By STEVE KILGALLON

The Warriors may no longer stand alone as Kiwi rugby league's only side in an elite Australian competition following an audacious bid by the Auckland Lions to play in the National Rugby League's reserve grade.

And the old-school tradition of watching three grades play on one day could return with the Warriors and the Auckland Rugby League planning a combined side in a proposed NRL under-20 competition.

The Warriors appear to be backing the proposal from the Lions, the country's strongest club side, to play in the NSWRL Premier League from next year.

They would suit up in blue and white to generate cross-Auckland appeal, play home games at Mt Smart Stadium as Warriors' curtain-raisers and draw on Warriors fringe players. Kiwi coach Brian McClennan could be offered a director of football role.

The Lions have been lobbying senior Australian league officials and plan to lodge a formal bid within a fortnight.

The team is the defending Bartercard Cup champion and is run from the famous Mt Albert club, which was the forerunner of the Warriors when they bid for a place in the Winfield Cup in 1989.

The Lions would still field a Bartercard side, but bid leader Tony Sadgrove, the club's chairman, said the concept was designed to add the "missing rung of the ladder" between that competition and the NRL.

"We already have the players, the management and the ground: I think we would be competitive almost immediately," said Sadgrove.

"We think it is a very good idea with a lot of pros, and not many cons. People think we wouldn't be able to do it - but we've been through all of this when we first explored the Warriors idea."

Sadgrove intends to seek NZRL support this week and emphasised the move was not intended to be divisive: "The Bartercard Cup is a good competition ... but it isn't quite at the level where players can step straight into the NRL."

The Warriors no longer want to farm out spare players to different clubs. Chief executive Wayne Scurrah said the club was weighing its options but admitted Premier League was "a competition we have to get into". He is awaiting an NRL decision on the viability of an under-20 competition.

A cautious ARL chairman Cameron McGregor said both plans were "very preliminary at this stage" but indicated the ARL would be guided by the Warriors' desires.

This is just fantastic but it is also a "slap in the face" for the Warriors, not from the Lions but the fact that a New Zealand Club is in a position to petition the N.R.L and make big noises about it, whereas our NRL Team with a stable full of Development Players has said NOTHING !!!

My point is why have the Warriors said NOTHING ??? The fans have been screaming out for a Team to play Reserve Grade for years, the fans have identified this as a major flaw in the Warriors Development and now a Club side is making noises about it.

Forget about the fact that "it is only a rumour" and it is "only a pipe dream" this is completely irrelevant, it has everything to do with seeing as though you are doing something about it.

If the Lions are successful I would forget about the Warriors Development Squad, I would be more interested in playing for the Lions and getting exposure at Reserve Grade Level.

 

[Swanley_old]

Good point Fiamacho.

I am sure the Warriros may have something to do with this if it goes ahead.

Just what is anybody's idea.

 

[Jesbass_old]

From www.stuff.co.nz

By STEVE KILGALLON

The Warriors may no longer stand alone as Kiwi rugby league's only side in an elite Australian competition following an audacious bid by the Auckland Lions to play in the National Rugby League's reserve grade.

And the old-school tradition of watching three grades play on one day could return with the Warriors and the Auckland Rugby League planning a combined side in a proposed NRL under-20 competition.

The Warriors appear to be backing the proposal from the Lions, the country's strongest club side, to play in the NSWRL Premier League from next year.

They would suit up in blue and white to generate cross-Auckland appeal, play home games at Mt Smart Stadium as Warriors' curtain-raisers and draw on Warriors fringe players. Kiwi coach Brian McClennan could be offered a director of football role.

The Lions have been lobbying senior Australian league officials and plan to lodge a formal bid within a fortnight.

The team is the defending Bartercard Cup champion and is run from the famous Mt Albert club, which was the forerunner of the Warriors when they bid for a place in the Winfield Cup in 1989.

The Lions would still field a Bartercard side, but bid leader Tony Sadgrove, the club's chairman, said the concept was designed to add the "missing rung of the ladder" between that competition and the NRL.

"We already have the players, the management and the ground: I think we would be competitive almost immediately," said Sadgrove.

"We think it is a very good idea with a lot of pros, and not many cons. People think we wouldn't be able to do it - but we've been through all of this when we first explored the Warriors idea."

Sadgrove intends to seek NZRL support this week and emphasised the move was not intended to be divisive: "The Bartercard Cup is a good competition ... but it isn't quite at the level where players can step straight into the NRL."

The Warriors no longer want to farm out spare players to different clubs. Chief executive Wayne Scurrah said the club was weighing its options but admitted Premier League was "a competition we have to get into". He is awaiting an NRL decision on the viability of an under-20 competition.

A cautious ARL chairman Cameron McGregor said both plans were "very preliminary at this stage" but indicated the ARL would be guided by the Warriors' desires.

This is just fantastic but it is also a "slap in the face" for the Warriors, not from the Lions but the fact that a New Zealand Club is in a position to petition the N.R.L and make big noises about it, whereas our NRL Team with a stable full of Development Players has said NOTHING !!!

My point is why have the Warriors said NOTHING ??? The fans have been screaming out for a Team to play Reserve Grade for years, the fans have identified this as a major flaw in the Warriors Development and now a Club side is making noises about it.

Forget about the fact that "it is only a rumour" and it is "only a pipe dream" this is completely irrelevant, it has everything to do with seeing as though you are doing something about it.

If the Lions are successful I would forget about the Warriors Development Squad, I would be more interested in playing for the Lions and getting exposure at Reserve Grade Level.

Under our old management, all sorts of rediculous things went on to satisfy the egos and power trips of those in charge.

The current management have only been in place for less than 12 months. One of the first things they talked to the NRL about was about getting a reserve grade side for the club as of 2007. This has been in the works for months. There is a process to go through, but the Warriors definitely haven't done nothing.

 

[fiamacho_old]

Fair point Jesbass on the current Management I have obviously made a blanket statement.

I'll put it to you another way - If there was going to be a Reserve Grade Team and let us hypothesise and say that this is a Warriors initiative.

Q. Why use the Lions?
Q. Why not use the Warriors Development as the basis for the Reserves?
Q. Why should the current Lions Barter Card players make way for the Warriors Development Boys?
Q. Why should the Lions let the Warriors Development guys steal the spotlight from them?

This is a business and far as I am concerned if I was one of the Lions Players I would not be happy for the Warriors Players to have the opportunity to play Reserve Grade. I would be ecstatic that MY Club got us to play in he High Exposure Reserve Grade Comp. by using our success as a Club, for any player this is what will eventually put food on the table.

 

[warriorfaithful*_old]

Q. Why not use the Warriors Development as the basis for the Reserves?

Now theres a better idea IMO.

 

[Jesbass_old]

Fair point Jesbass on the current Management I have obviously made a blanket statement.

I'll put it to you another way - If there was going to be a Reserve Grade Team and let us hypothesise and say that this is a Warriors initiative.

Q. Why use the Lions?
Q. Why not use the Warriors Development as the basis for the Reserves?
Q. Why should the current Lions Barter Card players make way for the Warriors Development Boys?
Q. Why should the Lions let the Warriors Development guys steal the spotlight from them?

This is a business and far as I am concerned if I was one of the Lions Players I would not be happy for the Warriors Players to have the opportunity to play Reserve Grade. I would be ecstatic that MY Club got us to play in he High Exposure Reserve Grade Comp. by using our success as a Club, for any player this is what will eventually put food on the table.

As a Lions player, (hypothetically, of course! :lol: ), it would make sense to go through the Lions club to get exposure on a reserve grade level, with the presumed goal of playing well enough to catch the attention of NRL scouts.

But I don't see anything wrong with letting the Warriors play in reserve grade as well. I think that if Lions players were to complain that the Warriors development side were also in Premier League, (I think that's the level both sides are looking to join), then they had might as well also complain about the Roosters having a Premier League side. I don't see why they'd complain about the Warriors joining reserve grade. If anything, it gives those Lions players the opportunity to show up the Warriors players, asuming they're good enough.

From the point of view of the Warriors, having a reserve grade means that players who aren't representing the first grade side are no longer scattered to the four winds, and can actually play together as a team. That means potential future team mates can learn how each other plays and hypothetically build combinations. It also means tha their combination keeps the first grade players on the ball, and sharpens the skills of the reserv grade players.