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The NRL is weighing up the idea of introducing a draft system in order to even the playing field between the strong club’s rosters and the weaker ones.
The Daily Telegraph reported the worst season of blowouts in 86 years has forced the NRL to look at a rookie draft to help spread the talent across all 17 teams once the Dolphins join the party in 2023.
The Telegraph caculated that 38 of the top 50 players in the NRL come from six clubs in the Panthers Storm, Rabbitohs, Sea Eagles, Eels and Roosters, who coincidently made up the top six of last season’s ladder.
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NRL CEO Andrew Abdo is adamant the game needs to explore ways to create more balanced rosters across the entire competition by spreading out the playing talent.
“We want to have a competition where teams begin each season with genuine hope for competitiveness,” Abdo told The Daily Telegraph.
“Every competition in the world in any sport has clubs doing well and clubs going through tougher times. It ebbs and flows.
“But as a governing body we need to create and always think about ways to establish balance over the long term.
“There is no denying there is a gulf but there are a range of factors. And we’ll monitor it carefully over the next couple of seasons.”
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The easiest way to ensure the best young and up and coming talent doesn’t find its way to the same six clubs is to introduce a rookie draft, similar to what is seen in the AFL.
In the AFL the worst teams each season are given the best chance of climbing up the ladder by having the first picks in the draft each year.
While he believes that a draft would take time to put in place and make a difference to balancing the squads across the NRL, Abdo said the NRL would consider all options.
“A draft is a great way to distribute young talent and it’s been used successfully in other sporting codes,” Abdo said.
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“The commission will always consider any element or tool at its disposal to create an exciting competition because we’re in the sports entertainment business.
“There are technical reasons why a draft hasn’t been implemented in the NRL and we need to work through those.
“The whole idea is to develop and identify talent and spread it across all clubs in the competition.
“It’s difficult to see it happening in the short term but we’ll look at everything.”
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