so as I said, its the quality not the quantity. I would disagree that the NRL clubs back room set ups don't make a difference though. Most SL clubs spend less than 2million quid running their clubs, most NRL clubs are spending over 5 million quid. It has to be making a difference or else they are seriously wasting alot of money!

Yes, they are stronger. Only a complete idiot, a real fool, wouldnt find it immediately obvious that a 30year old Australian is going to be better than an 18 year old kid.

The point people are making, Hull Kingston Australia fans are conveniently ignoring is If we give that 18year old kid, first grade experience, better coaching, better training, nutrition, sports science, preparation, etc etc the the 18 year old in 3 or 4 years may turn out better than the 30 year old. Maybe not better than him at his peak, but there is a good chance he could be better than the 30 year old who is winding down his career.

This has the complete opposite affect to your point about the standard dropping, and us losing fans, sponsors, viewers etc. Because after the first 2/3 years where the standard falls, it begins improving, and soon it is in fact of a higher standard, producing more better players resulting in a better more intense competition which will be a huge positive in itself but will also better prepare our international players.

Because they dont have 105 players, they have plenty more. The best 105 have gone through NRL youth development systems (which we dont have because we dont need them, if Chaz I'anson doesnt immediately work out you can drop him for Blake Green) NRL intensity competition, and NRL training programmes.

We could do something similar and send our 200 best pospects to Australia, hope 105 get first grade gigs, it would probably make our international side as good as Australia and NZ, but unfortunately leave or domestic game in the same state as NZ.

...exactly. and if the NRL see the domestic comp in NZ growing too quickly for their liking then you can be sure a second NZ NRL team will appear.
The NRL is a great comp....but from what I have seen over the last 14 months:

They (The NRL) spend too much time worrying about other codes........when they should have the confidence in their own offering and ignore the AFL.
The NZRL has got its house in order (almost.....come on Auckland.....get with the programme)
The NRL/ARL/Australian Public don't give a toss about International RL. The only reason PNG are even mentioned in dispatches is because it is yet another pacifica player pool for them to pillage when there own conveyer belt grinds to a halt.
Australia is big country...and NRL is big in 2 states..........the efforts at expansion are slightly better than SL's only because of the money available to them......and Murdoch owning the expansion outfits such as Melbourne.

...I would love to see a backer come into NZRL and throw some decent cash at the domestic competition......there is no doubt that with the money on offer, the game here could grow big enough to support a decent standard competition, but the NRL wouldn't want that as it doesn't suit there aganda.....

Thought Pat Richards didn't count on the quota due to his Irish heritage and playing international RL for Ireland

Hull Foreign Contingent have got Heremaia off quota because he played in this country in 06/07 but has been back in Aus for the last 4 years. This from a well established superleague side, come on Smokey TA,plenty to say about a club finding its way in superleague but for one of the BIG four!!

Who the hell are you dropping for Hull to get into the big four? Big 6 possibly, big four, not a chance.

And yes, its disappointing Hull are trying to get more overseas players in, they have done a lot of youth development and brought through plenty of youngsters before, have a big amateur game in the area and really shouldnt be doing so.

I would love Rovers to give the youth a chance, especially now we have the security of a 3 year licence. Invest money in the off field stuff and see what happens.

I hope we can find a way to work with the clubs in Wales. Their players are going to need a place to play, so lets see if we can give them that.

I would love Rovers to give the youth a chance, especially now we have the security of a 3 year licence. Invest money in the off field stuff and see what happens.

I hope we can find a way to work with the clubs in Wales. Their players are going to need a place to play, so lets see if we can give them that.

We have 7 under contract for next season, with one more probably going to leave (Joel Clinton) so 6. (Including Rhys Lovegrove who is actually on our homegrown list).