This year at least quite a few players hadn't committed to either code by the time the Australian Schoolboy Championships were played. Some had a finger in each pie and then made their decision later.
Some, as mentioned, chose league but how many other promising players were offered an opportunity in league and chose rugby?
I know of a couple without mentioning names.
I think it cuts both ways and its just the way the cookie crumbles.
What would you suggest as a solution to the problem of players taking the money and choosing league?
It's an excellent question SLV and don't think there is a simple answer or silver bullet, but as been proffered before many times in these pages, proper funding for grassroots and the sub NRC competitions would certainly help.
The reality is that Mungo is hard on the hunt and they attempt to lock in talent (and loyalty) to their code as early (or earlier) than U15, where lads get their first taste of the NRL when they get selected for Harold Matts.
Loig are quite clever in that Matt's effectively acts a s a junior NRL comp and has a lot of support with within the cashed up NRL. From personal experience when a dual code player makes both Matts and Rugby Rep teams at 15 the pressure comes on from the loig to commit to league and forget Rugby.
Their entire focus gives the impression of long term nurturing and pipe-lining of talent to support their game and with talented teenagers pulling contracts of 60K plus is it any wonder that the prospect of a wheelbarrow full of the filthy lucre sways them to the dark side.
So I'd suggest Union lose the hearts and minds of these guys by the time they are 16/17 and while they may also be excellent Union players they will never be part of Union's future. Offering such lads the the pinnacle of development opportunities as a member of senior School Boy Rep teams ahead of other similarly talented lads who are focused on pursuing the elite Rugby pathway is IMO detrimental to game's future. Why do it when they've already confirmed their allegiance to the devil by signing away their souls?
Getting back to your question we have a host of structural, financial, organisational issues in Union which are also stopping us competing with league at the critical U18-20 stage.
The example of the Shute Shield being effectively abandoned by the ARU and forced into being an amateur league courtesy of the withdrawal of funding is difficult to understand. The crumbs the Shute Shield Clubs do receive would be lucky to fund the purchase of a cardboard corner post.
Another sickening example would be to compare the money that flows into the Holden Cup against the money that flows into the Sydney and Brisbane Colts Competitions....not even close.
Faced with a choice between a diet of bread and water and Wagyu fillet with all the trimmings it's natural that Wagyu gets the nod....and yes while money doesn't buy you happiness it does buy you a better form of unhappiness.
As They say in Thailand....No Money no honey mista!!!!
