State Youth Cup

[The Who]

Does anyone know the format of this comp in 2018?
How many teams? Will they play before the First Grade?
I've tried to investigate but have found nothing concrete, only articles dating back to 2016 stating that the Holden Cup will be scraped in 2018 in favour of a State-Based comp.
It seems a mess if there is no definitive guidelines so close to the season starting.

 

[manly al]

Hope that Manly has retained Wayne Lampkin in the clubs junior system , the Manly 20 's last season had some real talent but he still seemed to really do wonders to mould them into a premiership winning combination . Plus his connections with the stronger R L school nurseries in Sydney . I thought i read somewhere where some N S W country regional teams may be included but that could be just speculation . The N Z warriors junior format and standard seems to need an over haul and some improved format . Most of the Storm 's juniors come from Q L D so they may as well mostly stay there in the respective feeder clubs and there is already a form of youth competition in Q L D now . Definitely will not be televised games at this stage but still important to bridge the gap between S G ball and reserves and other similar junior national formats and arrangements with some type of respective junior player progression comp . Would be excellent if the much improved and recent stronger Manly junior base can continue

 

[Not Paul Kent]

Going back to the old Jersey Flegg competition. Will include old teams like the bears much like NSW Cup.

 

[smithy]

Teams that field NSW Cup teams are fielding Flegg teams for their feeder NRL clubs. Will be played before NSW Cup games. So ours should be badged as blacktown

 

[Ben]

Is it under 23's?

 

[The Who]

Is it under 23's?

I think it's still under 20s, but no longer a 'national' comp.
There doesn't seem to be any clarity on the format which is an indictment on the NSWRL and the NRL, especially as the comp is due to start in three months.
Who is Manly/Blacktown playing in this comp, where and when?

 

[Smokin Joe]

The little I know.... The Qld state comp is called Hastings Deering colts,Melbourne,NQ,Broncos,Gold Coast will field U20's side in this competition(the rest of the teams will be from QRL sides and any who choose to apply) as well as having their feeder clubs in the senior QRL intrust competition.The rest of the clubs including ours will field sides in the NSW Jersey Flegg competition(including the Warriors,Newcastle and Raiders although I don't know if the Warriors have chosen to field a side).St.George/Illawarra will field a combined side,not sure if the Tigers and Magpies are fielding separate sides or a combined one.I am thinking that all clubs will still be named after the parent club from what I have seen(we will probably be known still as Manly,not Blacktown at the U20/18/16 levels,but I am not 100% on this.)Interesting for the Warriors as they would have to foot the travel bill for all 3 grades every 2nd week to NSW.I don't know how many rounds the season is but I am sure others might...I believe other clubs can play teams in the competition if they choose to apply (like the Bears who I think are signed up),Central Coast etc....

 

[The Who]

Thanks Smokin'. You know more than the rugby league officials.
Let's hope that we get to see our Under 20s when Manly's NRL team is playing a NSW-based club, along with the Manly Workers Reserves.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Thanks Smokin'. You know more than the rugby league officials.
Let's hope that we get to see our Under 20s when Manly's NRL team is playing a NSW-based club, along with the Manly Workers Reserves.

It is just my opinion,but this is where having the alliance with Workers out west will help us in the future.We will get some of the talent out there into our juniors (U16s')and with the emphasis off the U20s' and the big reduction in the salary cap for the U20s' it means it will be harder for rival clubs to pick off the young talent as they will not be able to throw large money at them(unless they want to put them into their 30 man squad or their 6 man development squad and we chose/choose to not place them in ours).It is not perfect but it is a method to help clubs retain some of their talent better,there will always be young players wanting to make a change for whatever reason,but it is taking away money as the primary reason and with the opportunity to live and play in the Manly area hopefully it can be a drawcard for some young players as well as keeping ours.Third party arrangements and providing jobs etc... for some of the players might be an incentive to go elsewhere.However it may bring Rugby Union back into the equation as League has been able to cherrypick the best talent,with less money to poach union talent,some of the best talent like Tom Wright may stay.Guys like Albert Hopoate may also be more likely to go...