NRL 2022: Penrith Panthers open to rookie draft system, QRL backs plans to spread junior talent
While the all-conquering Panthers are open to a draft for NRL rookies, another major player has thrown their support behind a model similar to the AFL.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Queensland Rugby League CEO Rohan Sawyer has thrown his support behind a draft system for rookie players, backing the move to a model like in the AFL.
It comes as powerhouse club Penrith have revealed they would be open to a draft, believing it would help them ward off NRL rivals from poaching their best young talent.
“I’m a supporter of the draft system, it’s not often that I give the AFL too much praise, but they do some great stuff,” Sawyer said on SENQ.
“I think it’s something we really seriously need to look at in rugby league, I understand there are challenges where people live and with movement.”
The AFL’s national draft allows clubs, based on where they finished on the ladder, to pick the game’s best unsigned talent.
Players picked are then contracted to their respective club on a two-year deal. As well as a draft, the AFL has a trade period where players, and draft picks, are exchanged between clubs.
Sawyer believes a draft in the NRL would work to ‘equalise’ talent across the competition.
“I don’t think that’s any different in any sort of workplace, we have people who are fly-in workers, who at young ages as apprentices have to fly in and fly out for work.
“Obviously we have to look after the wellbeing of our players but to really get some talent equalisation, to put them into a system what is essentially a traineeship, I think a draft would be something really good to have a look at.
“We can make a true pathway at that junior level, where clubs don’t have to compete across trying to sign players at such young areas to keep them in their catchment, the merits of the draft allows people to have an even playing field.”
ARLC chairman Peter V’landys confirmed that a rookie draft system is “a talking point” in Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations with the Rugby League Players Association.
The Panthers now own a junior pathways program that is the envy of the rugby league world. But the club’s junior talent riches have made it a target for rivals ready to lure players away from the foot of the mountains.
This year, new franchise the Dolphins landed a huge recruitment coup, signing local junior Isaiya Katoa. The 18-year-old is considered the best prospect in his age group.
After investing in his development, Penrith were bitterly disappointed to see the youngster join another club.
WHICH DRAFT MODEL?
Under the model preferred by the Panthers, clubs would be able to quarantine their best youngsters from a rookie draft.
“There’s a couple of different ways you could do it (draft) and the big thing for us is … I don’t think you could go to a full draft like in the American college system … but fundamentally, we’re happy to do work in development as long as we have the opportunity to keep the players we want to keep before anyone else has a crack at them,” Penrith District Rugby League chief executive Matt Cameron said.
CLUB BACKING
It is understood there is support from some clubs for a draft, where junior players are distributed among clubs, but no such appetite exists for an internal draft for players with a top-30 contract.
The NSWRL introduced an internal draft in 1991 but it was quashed by the High Court as a restraint of trade. Terry Hill was the face of a class action against the NSWRL after he was drafted to Eastern Suburbs instead of Western Suburbs, where he wanted to play.
V’landys revealed a rookie draft was discussed as part of ongoing CBA talks.
“There’s no support for a draft, not so much a rookie draft, and there is probably a difference between the two,” V’landys said. “Nonetheless, it is in discussion at the moment.
“It is certainly a talking point we are having with them.”
BIGGEST HURDLE
Historically, the biggest stumbling block in working towards a rookie draft in the NRL has been the decentralised nature of junior development, where each club is responsible for funding and nurturing its respective pathways.
“Nothing is too hard. If you put your mind to it, you can achieve it,” V’landys said.
“If we believe it’s in the best interest in the game, we will always pursue it no matter how hard the process might be.
“We’ve proven that because we made a lot of hard decisions over the Covid period.
“Anything that makes the system work better is on the table. But whatever that is, it has to satisfy the fans, the clubs and the players. Everyone has got to be happy with it, whatever path we go down.
“We are still looking at ways of improving the system.”
JUNIOR DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE
News Corp understands one system being explored is staggered salary cap dispensation for developing juniors.
The longer a player has been in a club’s pathway, starting at the Harold Matthews level, before signing an NRL deal, the greater cap support the club would receive.
The dispensation portion of the player’s salary would not be included in the cap.
The reward for Penrith’s $2.5 million annual spend on junior pathways has been back-to-back NRL titles, with 12 players from last Sunday’s grand final triumph having come through its development program.
The Panthers were also crowned champions in NSW Cup, Jersey Flegg and SG Ball, becoming the first club in the game’s 115-year history to achieve such a feat.
For a club like Penrith, greater salary cap support, which is being negotiated as part of CBA talks, is a welcome incentive.
“That’s an ongoing conversation at the moment within the NRL and obviously they are working on a new CBA at the moment and they have talked about modifications in that to help development clubs, that would be great,” Cameron said.
“But the challenge for the NRL is coming up with a model that suits 17 clubs. You can’t just come up with a model that suits us and no one else.”
But regardless of whether Penrith receive further salary cap support, or if a rookie draft is introduced, Cameron said the club is committed to junior development.
Even if it means losing players like Katoa and Matt Burton, who joined Canterbury this year after helping Penrith to premiership victory in 2021.
“We’re trying to future-proof the club,” Cameron said. “So whether Ivan (Cleary) is here, I’m here, Peter (Graham) is here, Brian (Fletcher) here, whoever’s here, in five years from now, 10 years from now there are systems put in place that just continue to develop good young players and good young men to play for Penrith.
“We know we’re going to lose players. And the challenge for us is to work really hard at a lower grade level and find those players who can come in.
“Like, Matt Burton left last year and Izack (Tago) just slid straight into that spot and he’s won another ring so that’s our challenge moving forward.”
Panther’s future clouded after latest contract threat
-Dean Ritchie
The manager of Liam Martin has warned Penrith that the club would be “unwise” to push the grand final-winning star onto the NRL open market.
“The pressure is on Penrith, not on us,” Martin’s agent, Allan Gainey said.
Martin – selected in Australia’s World Cup squad – remains locked in delicate negotiations with Penrith.
It appears Martin’s asking price and Penrith’s offering price aren’t that far apart but a deal cannot be struck. Gainey and Panthers CEO Matt Cameron continued dialogue late last month.
Martin, 25, is off contract after next season but rivals clubs can sign him from November 1.
“I think it would be unwise if Penrith let it go that far,” Gainey said.
“Liam certainly backed up what we consider his value with his grand final performance, culminating with selection in the Australian World Cup squad.
“We’re not that far from getting the deal done but I can’t understand why they can’t get it done. The pressure is on Penrith, not on us.
“They want him to stay and his first preference would be to stay – he’d like to be a career player at Penrith. But what we have to put to them is definitely not unrealistic. It’s far from unrealistic. He has more than consolidated and proven his value in the grand final and Kangaroos selection.”
Cameron said his club was “working towards” a new deal for Martin.
Penrith is also engaged in trying to re-sign Stephen Crichton and Brian To’o, also off contract after next season. Crichton has been linked with Canterbury where he could play fullback.
Martin was just one of multiple standout players in Penrith’s big grand final win over Parramatta on Sunday night. He ran for 136 metres and completed 34 tackles. He also posted 59 post-contact metres and logged one line break.
Martin wants a new deal at Penrith but Gainey won’t budge on his asking price.
Three clubs - Melbourne, Parramatta and Cronulla - have been mentioned as possible suitors if Martin does leave Penrith.
Eels assistant coach Trent Barrett is an uncle to Martin, the pair hailing from Temora in the NSW Riverina. Barrett also helped Martin when an assistant coach at Penrith.
Panthers hooker Api Koroisau spoke about his anguish at having to leave the club for Wests Tigers next season. He enjoyed career-best form during 2023 and was a key reason behind Penrith’s success.
“To go to the Tigers is another challenge but I never thought about turning back,” Koroisau said. “I signed with Wests Tigers in the pre-season and made my peace with it. I might shed a tear (when leaving) but I will stay open-minded.
“The emotions haven’t hit me yet. Once all the partying is done and I’m sitting at home by myself, and there’s no more training, that’s when it will hit me the hardest, knowing I won’t be back with the boys anymore.
“Everyone said how hard it would be to go back-to-back – it’s only been done a few times – so to get the chocolates, it’s such a relief, it’s awesome.”
Urgent contract dilemmas Panthers must solve
-Michael Carayannis
If Penrith were baulking at Liam Martin’s $550,000 asking price before Sunday’s grand final they might have heart palpations next time they sit at the negotiation table.
And they should ensure fan-favourite Brian To’o is locked down before he gets on the plane for England.
Martin not only booked himself a spot in Australia’s World Cup squad but also gave the Eels a reason to splash serious cash come November 1.
Martin was locked in a battle with in-form Parramatta back-rower Shaun Lane for the final spot in Australia’s 24-man squad.
Lane had been arguably the best forward in the NRL coming into Sunday’s grand final after a string of man-of-the-match performances.
That catapulted him into Australian calculation after making the Kangaroos short-list.
But those hopes died after just 40 minutes on Sunday night when Martin stood directly opposite him and he dominated the Eels forward.
Martin has made a name for himself defensively but it was his running game which was so dangerous on Sunday.
By half-time Martin had ran for more than 100 metres. By contrast Lane was about half of that as the Eels struggled with possession.
Martin terrorised Parramatta’s right edge of Lane, Dylan Brown and Bailey Simmonsson all night.
The back-row spot was the most contentious heading into the premiership decider but Martin is all but certain to add an Australia jersey to go with his two premiership rings and NSW appearances.
That performance though will have a lasting impact on Parramatta officials. Martin is expected to hit the market come November 1 after being unable to close out a contract extension with Penrith for when his deal expires at the end of next year.
Martin has been in talks with the Panthers for almost three months, but Penrith is struggling to find the cash needed to lock down the 25-year-old long-term.
His asking price of $550,000 is set to be gazumped by what Martin could now claim on the open market.
The Eels are going to make a rich play for Martin as a long-term replacement for Wests Tigers bound Isaiah Papali’i.
Teammate To’o put off his own contract talks to focus on Penrith’s run home but he too could break Penrith’s budget with team’s clambering to make him the highest paid winger in the game at $600,000.
His statistics were staggering, running for more than 200 metres, scoring two tries and making seven tackle busts.
To’o will join a host of Penrith teammates including Stephen Crichton and Jarome Luai in playing for Samoa after opting against making his Australian debut.
CONTRACT FRENZY FOR GRAND FINAL STARS
MOVING ON
■ Reed Mahoney (signed with Bulldogs in 2023)
■ Marata Niukore (Warriors)
■ Isaiah Papali’i (Wests Tigers)
■ Oregon Kaufusi (Sharks)
■ Api Koroisau (Wests Tigers)
■ Viliame Kikau (Bulldogs)
UNCERTAIN
■ Nathan Brown: Free to negotiate with rival clubs.
■ Jaeman Salmon: Only GF player with no deal for 2023. Linked with Canterbury.
■ Charlie Staines: Linked to a player swap with Tyrone Peachey at the Tigers.
■ Spencer Leniu: Panthers will struggle to keep him long-term so may head elsewhere in 2023.
NOVEMBER 1 FREE AGENTS
■ Shaun Lane: Has agreed to a new deal. Expected to be announced post grand-final.
■ Stephen Crichton: Going to market. Linked with Canterbury.
■ Liam Martin: Waiting for Panthers to agree to a four-year deal. Parramatta circling.
■ Mitchell Moses: Planning to go to market. Will earn more than $1m if he can lead Parramatta to a premiership. Former club Tigers circling.
■ Brian To’o: Panthers confident he will re-sign but may have to wait until November 1.
■ Will Penisini: Club confident a long-term deal will be reached.
■ Jake Arthur: Likely to go to November 1. Dad and coach Brad wants him to stay and learn from his experienced teammates but may leave if a halfback position becomes available at a rival club.
■ Dylan Brown: Expected to be in demand. Melbourne have him earmarked as a potential Cameron Munster replacement.
■ Scott Sorensen: In line to make his Kiwis Test debut. Improved player whose value has risen.
■ Waqa Blake: Expected to get to November 1. His deal has been subsidised by the Panthers but is in line for a major pay cut.
Watch every match of the Rugby League World Cup LIVE & Exclusive to Fox Sports, on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
More Coverage
Originally published as NRL 2022: Penrith Panthers open to rookie draft system, QRL backs plans to spread junior talent
Gus’ ‘doctored’ claim ignites NRL conspiracy
The NRL Grand Final’s controversial no try scandal has taken a wild turn despite the game releasing the angle the decision was based on.
Kangaroos selection shocks: NRL legends’ Test careers appear over
Mal Meninga has dropped a major selection bombshell by overlooking both James Tedesco and Kalyn Ponga for Kangaroos selection, with the list of surprise omissions and debutants not ending there. See the full squad.