Inside Shoulder
Nathan Sharpe (72)
Yes, finally some common ground IS. Since its inception (2003) the NGS/NTS has included boys that consider Rugby League as their preferred sport. I believe the NGS program is of such a high quality that players should not be allowed to be included that are “half committed”. Your experience with the “mungoes” is by all accounts a common one. I have actually heard adult League coaches tell children as young as 11 that “it would be in their best interest to stop playing Union” If I were a parent of a kid getting this sort of advise, I would be questioning the integrity of these people. Anyone who goes out of their way to make it hard for a kid to play any sport should not be involved in kids sport. I think there becomes a time for all kids who play both codes at the elite level to make a choice. It appears 16 is becoming the “line in the sand” for both codes now.
dont worry their integrity has been questioned - the guy who dreamt up the training time had been coaching these kids through the ages in union while holding, i think, an admin position at the relevant junior league. To be fair to him his son got (justifiably) benched for the state champ final....so union was on the nose in that household!