Exodus
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@zedsdeadbaby said in Exodus:
To an extent - but if you’re being presented one pathway to the Warriors that looks pretty straight forward then another which is more complicated, you can see the differences.
In rugby, you could have one set of coaches at NPC telling you one thing about your development. Another set at Super (in a different city) telling you another
I think the pathways system here does need an overhaul.
I recently made a kind of ‘rugby pyramid’ for this year’s NZ U20s (what grades they went through and still need to go to get to the highest level). And while I think you’re right that there’s quite a few different team environments – NZR, NPC, SR – at the same time, you can move through the system really quickly if you make the right teams. Sinton is a good example of this: he’s very young but it’s already clear how he could take that third halfback spot at the Chiefs in either 2026 or 2027, after already making NZ U20s and playing for the Steamers this year.
NZ Rugby pyramid from this year's NZ U20s perspectiveAnd while you’re within just the single system in the NRL, there are quite a few grades (SG Ball, Jersey Flegg, NSW Cup) you have to get through, which can take a fair while. So I’m not sure the one is that more straightforward than the other.
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The big difference is the age at which you can start to earn decent money, and for some 17-19 yr olds a RL contract can be life-changing, whereas a rugby player doesn't really earn that much at the same age unless you have a NDC or PU contract. I doubt the PU academy players earn that much in comparison to RL development players. Leka Halasima's contract would be much higher than a SR player of the same age.
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And while you’re within just the single system in the NRL, there are quite a few grades (SG Ball, Jersey Flegg, NSW Cup) you have to get through, which can take a fair while. So I’m not sure the one is that more straightforward than the other.
Grades are still with same team and if youre good enough age isnt a problem and to the point @Bovidae raises..you can earn significant coin faster (on average), especially with more teams about to come in
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The difference in the NRL is you can play in 3 different grades in the same year. Where you can't do that in New Zealand rugby with the way the season is structured. Just look at Makasini from last years schoolboy game. He played SG Ball, Jersey Flegg, NSW cup and made his NRL debut all in the same year.
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@zedsdeadbaby said in Exodus:
To an extent - but if you’re being presented one pathway to the Warriors that looks pretty straight forward then another which is more complicated, you can see the differences.
In rugby, you could have one set of coaches at NPC telling you one thing about your development. Another set at Super (in a different city) telling you another
I think the pathways system here does need an overhaul.
He was at the Crusaders/ Ta$man, they have the most defined pathways of any teams in NZ, so seems like a B/S excuse (from him personally). If he was good enough he would have come through quickly.
Leka Halasima's contract would be much higher than a SR player of the same age.
Leka is a bit of an anomaly, he's an outstanding first grade starter and international and that's because of his play in a breakout year. A young Super player who became an AB (I know that's unlikely under our current AB coaches) would be on a decent contract too. Can't compare Leka money with your average young player trying to make it in either sport.
The difference in the NRL is you can play in 3 different grades in the same year. Where you can't do that in New Zealand rugby with the way the season is structured. Just look at Makasini from last years schoolboy game. He played SG Ball, Jersey Flegg, NSW cup and made his NRL debut all in the same year.
It might be a bit slower in NZ rugby, but if Inch was good enough he might have had a season of NPC under his belt. Will be interesting to see if makes fast progress next year, although I assume he's aged out of S.G Ball but might still be eligible for Jersey Flegg?
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So I’m not sure the one is that more straightforward than the other.
NRL is far, far less complicated, and it's not close. I'll use the Qld system as i know it a bit better.
Talented school kids get academy contracts. Once you are in the academy you play for the feeder Q-Cup side at either age group level or in the seniors if you are a jet. Probably both in the same year. If you are killing that you play NRL if a spot opens up.You get paid, you have the ability to float up and down grades according to talent and opportunity. There is 100% synergy between all the levels. And even if you train with one squad all week, you may play for someone else on the weekend. The Q-Cup sides are full of guys who train with the NRL team all week and only drop back once not required.
It's a very simple and transparent system that works really well for player development. Everyone playing at the same time makes every grade stronger as well.
(the only real difference in NSW is that the Cup sides are genuine reserve grade sides, while in Qld each NRL side farms their players to 2 or 3 teams, hence the reason NSW dominates the National Club GF). -
That sounds fit for purpose.
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@mariner4life said in Exodus:
(the only real difference in NSW is that the Cup sides are genuine reserve grade sides, while in Qld each NRL side farms their players to 2 or 3 teams, hence the reason NSW dominates the National Club GF).
There's a slight asterisk to that, the NSW Cup has former teams like the Bears and Jets along with the reserve grade teams. I think the Bears are unaligned but the Jets might be aligned to a 1st grade team. I assume the Bears will be aligned to the WA when they come in. Also Wiki, for what it's worth, seems to align the Qld Cup sides to specific NRL teams, your lot has two - the Mackay and Northern Pride. Melbourne has two teams in the Qld Cup and one in NSW Cup. (That was an interesting little rabbit hole to go down).
I definitely agree it's less complicated now (less so when the Warriors used to send their players to different NSW/Qld Cup teams back in the day), but I still think it's a B/S reason from Inch considering he was in the most coherent system in the country. Just seems like he wants to play league, and fair enough, from the sounds of it he almost signed with them before signing with the Ta$man/Crusaders. Will be interesting to watch his career unfold. He's certainly got a profile now, on the league forum I'm a member of they think he's the best young player to come out of NZ.
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The difference in the NRL is you can play in 3 different grades in the same year. Where you can't do that in New Zealand rugby with the way the season is structured. Just look at Makasini from last years schoolboy game. He played SG Ball, Jersey Flegg, NSW cup and made his NRL debut all in the same year.
Omg.
So good players can be moved up over the season to suit their level of talent and ability.
I cant believe they can get away with that.
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The difference in the NRL is you can play in 3 different grades in the same year. Where you can't do that in New Zealand rugby with the way the season is structured. Just look at Makasini from last years schoolboy game. He played SG Ball, Jersey Flegg, NSW cup and made his NRL debut all in the same year.
Omg.
So good players can be moved up over the season to suit their level of talent and ability.
I cant believe they can get away with that.
don't fucking start. The NPC dinosaurs will gather the pitchforks and torches.
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@mariner4life said in Exodus:
The difference in the NRL is you can play in 3 different grades in the same year. Where you can't do that in New Zealand rugby with the way the season is structured. Just look at Makasini from last years schoolboy game. He played SG Ball, Jersey Flegg, NSW cup and made his NRL debut all in the same year.
Omg.
So good players can be moved up over the season to suit their level of talent and ability.
I cant believe they can get away with that.
don't fucking start. The NPC dinosaurs will gather the pitchforks and torches.
These young men should be greatful for the privilege to get paid $40,000 for three months work. Foregoing other potential earnings with the hope of making it into one of the five professional teams in another comp.
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do they all get $40k? that's better than i thought TBH.
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@mariner4life yeah I dont think it is, I think it is less than $20k?
Not sure, why, but a figure of $12k is in my head (obviously many in the NPC sides wil get more)
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oh yeah i would totally stick my life on hold for 6 months for 12 grand.
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@mariner4life said in Exodus:
do they all get $40k? that's better than i thought TBH.
Was a rough guess at the current cap of $1,100,000 divided by a squad of 28. Of course the kids won't be getting the average. Two or three guys might be getting 80 - 100k. With quite a few getting between 10 and 20k. With there being an expectation they don't work. Will be a lot worse when it drops to $840,000 for the team.
NRL top 30 is over 12 mil NZ.
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From the 2025 Collective Agreement.
the minimum amount which must be paid to a Player by way of Provincial Union Retainer is $21,000.
In respect of each Contract Year during the Term, the maximum amount which can be paid to a Player by way of the aggregate of Provincial Union Retainer, Provincial Union Individual Performance Incentives and Provincial Union Non-Financial Benefits is $55,000, provided that each Provincial Union may pay up to two Veteran Players up to $85,000. A Veteran Player is a Player who has played at least one game (except where unavailable for an entire competition due to injury or at the direction of the NZRU) in the Premier Competition for the same Premier Competition Team (and/or its predecessor competition, the National Provincial Championship), in eight or more Contract Years.
It would be interesting to know how many veteran players there are. Someone like Tom Parsons might fall into the category. You could still play overseas in the NZ off-season.
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From the 2025 Collective Agreement.
the minimum amount which must be paid to a Player by way of Provincial Union Retainer is $21,000.
In respect of each Contract Year during the Term, the maximum amount which can be paid to a Player by way of the aggregate of Provincial Union Retainer, Provincial Union Individual Performance Incentives and Provincial Union Non-Financial Benefits is $55,000, provided that each Provincial Union may pay up to two Veteran Players up to $85,000. A Veteran Player is a Player who has played at least one game (except where unavailable for an entire competition due to injury or at the direction of the NZRU) in the Premier Competition for the same Premier Competition Team (and/or its predecessor competition, the National Provincial Championship), in eight or more Contract Years.
It would be interesting to know how many veteran players there are. Someone like Tom Parsons might fall into the category. You could still play overseas in the NZ off-season.
The only guys eligible with Otago would be Nareki, TUJ and Coltman. The criteria really limits the players who can get the deal.
Even if 21K is more than initially thought. Still fuck all.
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Just seems like he wants to play league, and fair enough, from the sounds of it he almost signed with them before signing with the Ta$man/Crusaders. Will be interesting to watch his career unfold. He's certainly got a profile now, on the league forum I'm a member of they think he's the best young player to come out of NZ.
There is also a rumour that Metcalf will test the open market and it would not surprise me if the Warriors have been sweet talking him knowing this. He then gets fast tracked quickly and in his position thats big money
