Ahoy there Prince !
So Prince ....I was chasing some advice on what the P2G should look like
Well Mr Owens, as you have asked, I will give you my 5c worth but I definitely do not have all the answers. However, I know you and many other contributors will so let me kick you off.
The starting point is that this is a Pathway to Gold and not the Yellow Brick Road. We're off to see the Wallabies not the Wizard of Oz.
Like any good pathway, the foundations must be solid and made to last. Let's assume three key objectives for the pathway:-
1. It must have longevity - a sustainable model is critical to ensure long term success of the programme. Corporate backing and a long term view are also critical.
2. It must cast a wide net and that net must have strong connectivity and engagement at each level - whilst private schools have traditionally supplied a high proportion of Wallabies, there are many players missed by their recruitment net because of later development, changes in desire, inappropriate development or just bad luck. The programme must develop a multi faceted approach that assists to capture talent at school, club and cross code/sporting points across the country. The current talent identification and silo into GPS schools in NSW and QLD (heavily funded and supported in the vested interests of the respective schools) ensures some degree of diversity of talent and culture in terms of origin of players. But this has not bred any consistent success at the national school or under 20 level. We need to have more baskets for the multiple types of eggs and opportunities for these other than being lucky enough to be selected because their school coach is the GPS First XV coach that year! What about boys who don't want to or are unable to go to a GPS school? Why have a lopsided GPS v CAS (NSW) or AIC (QLD) game to choose talent and then get the majority of those same guys from GPS schools to national level only to fail miserably against NZ?
3. It must be about passion for the jersey and the ultimate goal. Copy NZ - as much as possible replication is the ultimate form of flattery and whilst we will never have the rugby culture that NZ oozes, we need to ensure there is passion for the Gold at every level. Not just when the Wallabies are successful. The Wallabies obviously play a big role here in garnering respect for the ultimate destination - that is, the wattle gold of the Wallabies jersey (which in my humble opinion has lost its gold and is more canary yellow). Line the colours up from 1991 and 1999 to today's version and tell me I'm wrong. Let's ensure it is a genuine pathway to GOLD and not a brick road to yellow.
HRH
