The NRL has set a July timeline to finalise its pathways program

THE NRL has set a July timeline to finalise its pathways — seven months after the blueprint was handed down by former executive Shane Richardson.

NRL head of strategy Shane Richardson today delivered his state of the game announcement at NRL Central. Picture. Phil Hillyard

THE NRL has set a July timeline to finalise its pathways — seven months after the blueprint was handed down by former executive Shane Richardson.

Richardson has since returned to South Sydney after his plan was met with a lukewarm reception by stakeholders when it was announced in December.

A four person subcommittee of club chief executives has met and are entrusted to engage with all clubs in a bid to gain some clarity about the game’s development systems.

An email was drafted to NRL club’s last week following a meeting between Peter Doust (St George Illawarra), Don Furner (Canberra), Jim Doyle (Warriors) and Paul White (Brisbane) at the NRL’s Moore Park headquarters.

About 10 topics were listed for discussion with the most conjecture surrounding rookie contracts, development fees, restrictions on under-aged players and links between NRL and NSW Cup sides.

The current three-tiered system of development fees is expected to be totally revamped in 2018 while there is uncertainty surrounding the make-up of the under-20s competition which will cease in its current format at the end of next year.

A state-based competition is favoured but there have been discussions to lift the cut off age to 21 and shorten the length of the season to mirror the under-16 Harold Matthews and under-18 SG Ball competitions which have nine rounds in their respective regular seasons.

Don Furner says he agrees with ‘90 per cent’ of the Pathways proposal.

Each subcommittee member is charged with speaking to three NRL clubs with Furner talking to the Tigers, Parramatta and Manly.

Furner said he agreed with “90 per cent” of Richardson’s proposal.

“You have to take your club hat off and think what’s the best thing for the game,” Furner said. “Most of it on the surface looks to be heading in the right direction. It doesn’t matter what system you come up with, what age you decide to allow players to debut in the NRL or what age they can first sign a rookie contract. There is always going to be a ‘what if’ scenario and sometimes you don’t run into these until two or three years down the track.”

“What it does do is benefit the clubs who do put time into development. It does help reward the clubs who pick their rookies and put them into the NRL. Those systems are very good because you do not want to undermine how much effort and resources clubs put into development.”

The subcommittee is expected to meet within the next three weeks before formalising a proposal to the NRL.

Originally published as The NRL has set a July timeline to finalise its pathways program