NRC never worked because SRU (Premier Rugby here in Sydney) threw their toys out of the cot. At least, the powerbrokers on their board did.
If we accept this is the reality, then the only vehicle that will satisfy them is a competition between existing clubs.
This immediatley creates a local arms race - over and above what already exists - that will continue the erosion of Premier clubs not in the golden circle. The same powerbrokers who lead SRU around by the nose will pump their half-dozen clubs at the expense of everyone else.
What they don't realise is that rugby people like me don't give a brass razoo for Premier Rugby. So it isn't going to grow the game.
In fairness, neither did the NRC - it was designed to facilitate player development, much like ITM Cup/NPC in NZ.
We end up at a point where 6 semipro clubs in Sydney still have the power, but now the rest have no resources whatsoever, and more people walk away from the game.
If this is really where we're heading under RA leadership, you can douse it in petrol and set it on fire. At least it'll keep me warm while I'm figuring out what to do next.
OF COURSE there may be a way to mitigate this: hive off the top 25 players from each club with the money to pay and transport their players, and leave the rest in their local city comp to fight it out under Hospital/Shute/Dent/Dewar/etc.
I still won't give a flying rodent's hindquarters for the comp.