NRL Potential Rookie Draft in the NRL

[WahsaurusRex]

NRL Draft
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[WahsaurusRex]

Saw in mentioned in the General Recruitment thread and figured it would be worthy of its own..

Personally, think its a bad idea. Teams have got the hint now and are investing more heavily into junior development than they ever have, and clubs that are shit at developing their players under the current system aren’t going to suddenly right the ship under a Draft

As it stands, there is no incentive to be a bad team. A draft flips that on its head. I just don’t see who would possibly benefit from it.

Young players get forced to move somewhere they don’t want to be, are limited in the money they can earn, and have even more pressure piled onto them.

Most teams don’t get the fruits of their labour in developing young talent. Even if you let teams keep a couple of their top prospects, at that point the “Number 1 pick” is really the 35th, 37th, 41st pick. Not a huge amount of excitement in that. Or if the NRL takes development out of the hands of clubs, that sounds like a fucking terrible idea for one, and two, they will have to front the bill of millions on millions of dollars for something that will bring in next to nothing $ wise,

Teams in the bottom 4, and potentially towards the back of the finals hunt will tank later in the season to try get a better pick.

All that for one event to sell to broadcasters??

I think we should embrace our similarities to Football of the Association variety rather than Aussie or American if we want to develop players better and bring more excitement year-round. Expand internationals, introduce a transfer window, and bring in a national second-tier/reggies competition

I feel like I could talk about it to no end, but that’s just my 2 cents lol

Think a draft will work? Why not? Why would it? How should it be done? Discuss.

 

[hornbybrown]

I hope it never happens, no point spending money on junior pathways if players go into a draft. Gives teams that don’t put effort into pathways a advantage they simply don’t deserve

 

[WahsaurusRex]

Another thing.. In the MLB, some overseas players move to the US for development, then go back to the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rice, Venezuela, etc., so they can get around being selected in the MLB draft and instead sign a better deal as an international free agent.

In that case, why wouldn't the best youngsters just fuck off and do an OE in England or France for a year or two, then come back to circumnavigate the draft.. 1-2 Years in England > Forced to sign for 3-4 Years in Papua New Guinea

Unless the NRL buys the Super League, then I imagine they would be quite accommodating to young Aussies/Kiwis as well. Them being able to market "St Helens featuring the NRLs Number 1 Prospect vs Leigh Leopards, featuring the NRLs Number 2 Prospect" would be great for them.

Or worse than signing for a ESL team, the player signs to play Super Rugby..

 

[tyrael]

Without going into specifics, draft works in American sports because they get paid a lot. That rookie can rent a nice place or in some cases just buy a new house.

What salary will this rookie be on? 50k? What suburb could they afford to rent if they are away from their "home". Remember, they didn't choose to move to whatever team.

It would only work if NRL puts up a home for them until they are no longer a "rookie" and get paid on top of that. But then, why would they do that?

 

[John Nick]

Without going into specifics, draft works in American sports because they get paid a lot. That rookie can rent a nice place or in some cases just buy a new house.

What salary will this rookie be on? 50k? What suburb could they afford to rent if they are away from their "home". Remember, they didn't choose to move to whatever team.

It would only work if NRL puts up a home for them until they are no longer a "rookie" and get paid on top of that. But then, why would they do that?

As with these things the devil is in the detail

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

I think the current systems broken where the clubs at the top and bottom are entrenched.

The Tigers lose their best and the Panthers/ Storm/ Roosters pool talent. It’s not good for the sport in the long term.

I see a draft as a way to help even the talent. Lots of issues implementing it but there are already so many issues with talent pooling, that it needs to be done to support a bigger competition.

It’s very much a bigger picture, good of the game above clubs/ players move.

 

[John Nick]

I think the current systems broken where the clubs at the top and bottom are entrenched.

The Tigers lose their best and the Panthers/ Storm/ Roosters pool talent. It’s not good for the sport in the long term.

I see a draft as a way to help even the talent. Lots of issues implementing it but there are already so many issues with talent pooling, that it needs to be done to support a bigger competition.

It’s very much a bigger picture, good of the game above clubs/ players move.

Seems to work well for the AFL.Why not NRL.

 

[BigUCE]

Without going into specifics, draft works in American sports because they get paid a lot. That rookie can rent a nice place or in some cases just buy a new house.

What salary will this rookie be on? 50k? What suburb could they afford to rent if they are away from their "home". Remember, they didn't choose to move to whatever team.

It would only work if NRL puts up a home for them until they are no longer a "rookie" and get paid on top of that. But then, why would they do that?

AFL draftees are on between 80-100k depending on where they’re selected. Probably the closest comparison?

 

[tyrael]

I think the current systems broken where the clubs at the top and bottom are entrenched.

The Tigers lose their best and the Panthers/ Storm/ Roosters pool talent. It’s not good for the sport in the long term.

I see a draft as a way to help even the talent. Lots of issues implementing it but there are already so many issues with talent pooling, that it needs to be done to support a bigger competition.

It’s very much a bigger picture, good of the game above clubs/ players move.

While I agree that a draft system will even out the talent, the problem is who develops them before the draft and how are they compensated.

In America, college football or NCAA makes a lot of money. Players get drafted then up and coming students want to go to that school.

Will NRL now pay clubs when their player is drafted by another team, especially if it's a highly touted player? While I'll admit, no team will ever be able to keep all their players, they are more likely to show loyalty to a club that's brought them up.

 

[tyrael]

AFL draftees are on between 80-100k depending on where they’re selected. Probably the closest comparison?

Genuine question, but doesn't AFL make way more than NRL?

 

[John Nick]

Genuine question, but doesn't AFL make way more than NRL?

Yes mate but not a huge difference
Probably an extra 10/15 %.
Thats my understanding anyway for context

 

[Inruin]

I think the current systems broken where the clubs at the top and bottom are entrenched.

The Tigers lose their best and the Panthers/ Storm/ Roosters pool talent. It’s not good for the sport in the long term.

I see a draft as a way to help even the talent. Lots of issues implementing it but there are already so many issues with talent pooling, that it needs to be done to support a bigger competition.

It’s very much a bigger picture, good of the game above clubs/ players move.

The salary cap means they can't keep everyone. The tigers are a basket case of a club who don't seem to have a clue about managing their roster or cap. A draft would take years with them getting first round picks and then they would probably release them. They also have a good junior program so should be in a better position than they are.

 

[John Nick]

The salary cap means they can't keep everyone. The tigers are a basket case of a club who don't seem to have a clue about managing their roster or cap. A draft would take years with them getting first round picks and then they would probably release them. They also have a good junior program so should be in a better position than they are.

The fuckwit management in Tigerland shouldn't be the reason not to consider the draft scheme.
Probably all the more reason to look at it

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

The salary cap means they can't keep everyone. The tigers are a basket case of a club who don't seem to have a clue about managing their roster or cap. A draft would take years with them getting first round picks and then they would probably release them. They also have a good junior program so should be in a better position than they are.

I think clubs can get in a downward spiral. Shit clubs so get shit coaches and management. Flows into the few decent players wanting out so you get a shit roster that can’t recruit itself out of a hole and decent young talent leaves at the first opportunity. Then they get stuck having to pay overs to get anyone half decent which locks them into the downward spiral.

Opposite happens with the top clubs. Get their pick of coaching and playing talent.

 

[John Nick]

I think clubs can get in a downward spiral. Shit clubs so get shit coaches and management. Flows into the few decent players wanting out so you get a shit roster that can’t recruit itself out of a hole. Downward spiral.

Opposite happens with the top clubs. Get their pick of coaching and playing talent.

Shit clubs with Shit management should not be the reason for not looking into the draft system

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

It’s not just the Tigers. At the other end, we’ve had only 3 teams win the comp in the last 10 years and the same teams making the top 4 every almost single year.

A draft is one of a few options to fix the lopsided nature of the comp. Other options off the top of my head could include:

- the salary cap weighted toward the bottom of the ladder
- salary cap bonus’s for hard to recruit places/ bottom 4 clubs
- Salary cap discounts for local juniors/ long service players
- making players move to the highest offer (or hold that value against the cap if discounted)

All have their issues but could be looked at with the worry about non competitive teams in an expanded competition.

 

[Inruin]

I think clubs can get in a downward spiral. Shit clubs so get shit coaches and management. Flows into the few decent players wanting out so you get a shit roster that can’t recruit itself out of a hole and decent young talent leaves at the first opportunity. Then they get stuck having to pay overs to get anyone half decent which locks them into the downward spiral.

Opposite happens with the top clubs. Get their pick of coaching and playing talent.

Well run clubs have more stability. Perhaps the key is running your club properly. How did Penrith turn themselves around? How have the bulldogs turned themselves around?

Depends what problem you are trying to solve by having a draft.

Penalising well run clubs because others don't have their shit together doesn't seem to be the answer for me. In fact there would be a bigger argument that young players going to a shit club is detrimental to their development.

As other have said, American sports it works because rookies get paid multiple millions a year. Imagine being forced to move potentially to a new country and on $80k a year development contract. Too bad if your partner is settled and has a career.

Salary cap puts enough pressure on squads that works well enough IMO. The Penrith club has managed their squad and cap almost perfectly over the last 5 years. They have bought in and released players as needed which also has flow on effects to other clubs like the dogs and tigers.

How do you envision the draft working? Only used for players who aren't in the top 30 of a club already? Any player wanting to change clubs has to go in the pool? Transfer windows? Who pays for grassroots development? Do clubs get a transfer fee for developing a player that gets drafted by another club?

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

Well run clubs have more stability. Perhaps the key is running your club properly. How have the bulldogs turned themselves around?

Can you run your club properly when it’s in a downwards spiral and nobody game changing wants to be there? The only way out is a powerful key person, willing to step in as a circuit breaker, not simply running better.

For the Bulldogs it has been Gould.

I get your point about penalising well run clubs. I just see it that the game has to be bigger than the clubs or players and believe the well run clubs will still feature highly - hopefully just not as much.

How would a draft work? Don’t know the details but I like transfer fees to reward and still encourage junior development.

 

[Inruin]

Can you run your club properly when it’s in a downwards spiral and nobody game changing wants to be there? The only way out is a powerful key person, willing to step in as a circuit breaker, not simply running better.

For the Bulldogs it has been Gould.

I get your point about penalising well run clubs. I just see it that the game has to be bigger than the clubs or players and believe the well run clubs will still feature highly - hopefully just not as much.

How would a draft work? Don’t know the details but I like transfer fees to reward and still encourage junior development.

The Storm probably have the best record over the last 15 years. A good coach, stability, good management. Many other clubs have turned themselves around in recent years. The Panthers being the best example. The Warriors and Bulldogs are on the path. If a club is not willing to invest in a plan and have patience a draft isn't going to fix that. I'm not seeing the issue that will be solved by having a draft and how it would work in any practical way for players