NRL investigating plan to revive extinct National Youth Competition in 2026 | Full details

The NRL is investigating the revival of the National Youth Competition - which was controversially scrapped in 2017 - in a move to align the under-21s competition with the 17 clubs. See the full details.

Manly players won the 2017 Holden Cup grand final. Picture: Brett Costello

The NRL is investigating the revival of the National Youth Competition which produced superstars Latrell Mitchell, Kalyn Ponga and Tom Trbojevic as part of rugby league’s march towards 20 teams.

This masthead can reveal QRL boss Ben Ikin and Roosters coach Trent Robinson are part of a nine-person committee exploring the potential return of the NYC for the 2026 season.

The National Youth Competition was controversially axed at the end of 2017 amid concerns over the cost of the under-20s league, a spate of blowout scorelines and player-welfare issues.

But under a sweeping review of the code’s pathways and ‘vertical integration’ structures, the NYC is back on the agenda.

Talks are in their infancy but the NRL has commissioned a steering committee including Ikin, Robinson, Storm football boss Frank Ponissi and Penrith chief executive Matt Cameron.

ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys has previously flagged the return of an NRL reserve grade but that plan has been scuppered in favour of a proposed NYC competition aligned with the 17 clubs.

Ben Hunt narrowly lost the inaugural NYC title in 2008. Picture: NRL Photos

If the concept is given the green light, the NYC will return as an under-21s competition encompassing existing Jersey Flegg teams, plus four junior Queensland outfits from the Broncos, Titans, Cowboys and Dolphins.

The national under-21s competition would provide a curtain-raiser option for NRL fixtures and deliver extra content as the ARL Commission prepares to open talks on the code’s next $1 billion-plus TV rights deal for 2028 and beyond.

NRL powerbrokers have privately canvassed the opinion of leading club chief executives, with South Sydney boss Blake Solly and Brisbane’s Dave Donaghy supportive of an under-21s resurrection.

“We don’t have a great deal of information on the proposal, and whether it is a replacement for the current NSWRL Jersey Flegg competition,” Solly said.

“But if the proposal (for a return to NYC) is funded properly, reduces the rampant inflation in pathways costs, and makes the whole system far more efficient and responsible, we’re supportive.”

Launched in 2008, the NYC, once known as the Holden Cup, was a breeding ground for some of the NRL’s current superstars.

The under-20s competition lasted a decade and was heavily criticised for costing some clubs around $1 million a season, not to mention the spate of scorelines in excess of 70 points per game as defence went out the window.

But the youth league produced a slew of future champions, including Mitchell, Trbojevic, Ponga, Joey Manu, Payne Haas, Victor Radley, Pat Carrigan, AJ Brimson, Ben Hunt and Dylan Edwards, Luke Keary, Daly Cherry-Evans and Valentine Holmes.

Rising coaches who had stints in the NYC before progressing to the NRL included Cameron Ciraldo, John Morris and Anthony Griffin.

Broncos CEO Donaghy, who was the boss at Melbourne when the under-20s was axed, sees merit in an NYC rebirth.

“My first thought would be we need to look at all of this holistically,” he said.

Kalyn Ponga in the Cowboys Holden Cup side. Picture: Wesley Monts

“Often we bring in a new competition or a new idea without a thorough thought for what the unintended consequences may be.

“It’s great that the committee is approaching it in that manner, but I think it’s really important as a Queensland-based club that there needs to be parity with our competitors.

“The previous NYC was too expensive to run and for me it was too long, so it was a lot to ask young men to be copying the exact program of the NRL.

“There were also a range of welfare issues, so if we’re serious about bringing it back, let’s give it thought based on the challenges that we’ve experienced in the past.”

It is understood the steering committee has had one meeting in the past fortnight.

Penrith's Corey Waddell is tackled by Roosters’ Joseph Manu during the 2016 Holden Cup U20s Grand Final. Picture: Brett Costello

The likes of Ikin, Robinson, Ponissi and Cameron will spend the next three months analysing rugby league’s structures before making formal recommendations to the NRL.

One of those recommendations could be the implementation of the NYC under-21s for the 2026 season.

QRL chairman Bruce Hatcher believes the return of a national youth competition could be a coup for the code.

“Ben Ikin is part of a committee that includes people from some of the really strong NRL clubs,” Hatcher said.

“It’s really about looking at areas where we can develop the game better.

“A national under-21s competition creates an ideal pathway and it virtually gets the clubs operating hand-in-glove with their junior structures.”

Originally published as NRL investigating plan to revive extinct National Youth Competition in 2026 | Full details