Interesting you mention that Red Heavy because I was about to say, I think gambling on games would be a bigger integrity issue at this level.
Every betting agency these days carries markets for premier grade, sometimes margin markets as well.
Performance enhancing drugs have no place in any sport. I would hope the QRU and RA are doing their part to monitor gambling and gaming trends as well.
Ruggy your new talent leads me to something that I have see over the last 5+ years is the fast tracking of school boy star straight into Premier grade first year out of school & the fact that some clubs use the promise of a premier grade spot in the recruitment of the tender aged talent.
Is it in the player's best interest in terms of their rugby development?
I know the Lynagh's, Little's, Flatley's play for Qld first year out but the Eales, Horan's, Kefu's all came through colts.
I'm not professing either pathway as it is a horses for courses scenario - just food for thought.
It's such a great question, my beliefs is a lot of it depends on the player (which I think you were getting at). Some players are physically up to playing the top tier of club land and some players end up with injuries (which might not of happened if they were playing a less physical opposition).
Do you think players feel like they have to make it in prems straight out of school or they'll miss out on pathways or a potential career?
it
Pathway is an interesting as boys know if they don’t get selected for under 19 NRC then they will never be looked at.
Talking of talented youth - do you think Souths will bring through into QPR20 a fair swag of their 2019 Colts 1 premiership team who were very dominant this year?
Souths have been smart in terms of a development from the bottom up as opposed to the Buzz buy/bring in method which worked in 2015 but not so good for long term club culture in my honest opinion.
Camo I am giving South a wrap here.
That would be a turn up, he was at a lot of UQ games this year wearing his Red Heavies cap.I hear George Gibson is going to the Nest.
What coach from BBC has gone to Souths?
Drahm is still at BBC.
That would be a turn up, he was at a lot of UQ games this year wearing his Red Heavies cap.
Tipping will be happening again in 2020.