National Rugby Championship to provide greater opportunities for Australia’s best young talent

IT has taken seven years to be reborn but the NRC has the same directive as the old ARC - finding more talent for Australian rugby.

CMSPORTS_Queensland Reds rugby Union players and brothers Anthony & Saia Fain'gaa pictured at the Club's headquarters in Brisbane this morning Thursday May 22, 2014. Pictures: Jack Tran / The Courier Mail

THE one-off Australian Rugby Championship of 2007 leaked millions of dollars that the code could not afford but its powerful promotional spiel was spot on — “See the Wallabies of tomorrow today.”

“You don’t know me...yet,” were the first words of a cherubic Luke Burgess on the 2007 ARC television ad.

Images of AJ Gilbert, the late Shawn Mackay, Matt Hodgson, Ben Daley, David Pocock doing a push-up (of course), Kurtley Beale, Josh Holmes, the Faingaa brothers and others flashed onto the screen extolling that same ambition.

Not all made it to the Wallaby jersey but the fact so many did is the greatest recommendation for the new Buildcorp National Rugby Championship that opens an 11-week season on Thursday at Ballymore.

It has taken seven years for this more cost-savvy incarnation of the pathway concept to be reborn with the same valuable bottom line — finding more talent to feed into Australia’s professional rugby system.

The law variation to reward greater try-scoring with a three-point conversion and just two for the despised penalty goal is a positive hook to lure more fans to games plus the live game broadcast by Fox Sports each Thursday.

The tribal following of New Zealand’s ITM Cup or South Africa's Currie Cup is a long way in the future.

The NRC is at the curiosity stage but spitting out some fresh Super Rugby players for the 2015 season will be an instant spin-off.

The 11-week season will enable Brisbane City coach Nick Stiles and Queensland Country counterpart Steve Meehan to appraise a new crop of aspiring club players and Reds’ Wider Training Squad players in higher company beside perhaps seven or eight Reds in any game.

The right attitude to handle travel demands, back-up with consistent performances, improve with a full gym program and show star quality moments will all be part of this nationwide audition for Super Rugby contracts.

For Brisbane, props Pettowa Paraka (Easts), Sam Talakai (Sydney University) and Sef Faagase (University), hooker Andrew Ready (Easts), flanker-lock Tim Buchanan (University) and livewire flanker Michael Gunn (Easts) are among those with most to gain with strong seasons.

Australian Under-20s flyhalf Jake McIntyre (Sunnybank) will work with Quade Cooper, who is assigned to the Brisbane team.

There is a definite 2015 Reds wing spot open so Chris Kuridrani (GPS), Junior Laloifi (Sunnybank) and flyer Harry Parker (University) are a trio with a prize to shoot for.

BRISBANE CITY

Key Reds on the roster: Jake Schatz, Nick Frisby, Samu Kerevi, Ben Tapuai, Lachie Turner, Curtis Browning, Dave McDuling

Captain: Curtis Browning

Coach: Nick Stiles

Young guns to watch: Sam Talakai (Sydney Uni), Michael Gunn (Easts), Jake McIntyre (Sunnybank), Harry Parker (Uni)

First game: v Sydney Stars at Ballymore (Thurs, 7.30pm)

QUEENSLAND COUNTRY

Key Reds on the roster: Greg Holmes, Saia Faingaa, Beau Robinson, Mike Harris, Anthony Faingaa, Ben Lucas, Jamie-Jerry Taulagi

Captain: Anthony Faingaa

Coach: Steve Meehan

Young guns to watch: Lolo Fakaosilea (Sunnybank), Campbell Magnay (GPS), Pierce Fitzgerald (Brothers), Scott Gale (Uni)

First game: v NSW Country at Bond University, Robina (Sat, Aug 30, 3pm)

HOW THE NRC WORKS

*Nine teams playing nine rounds plus two weekends of finals until November 1

* Eight games in Queensland at Ballymore (4), Gold Coast (2), Townsville and Suncorp Stadium * Brisbane City v Sydney Stars will be the first of Fox Sports’ live broadcasts on Thursday night * Law variations include three-point conversions, two-point penalties and reduced time limits to set scrums and take shots at goal

Originally published as National Rugby Championship to provide greater opportunities for Australia’s best young talent