League: Elite development on the table

The Warriors are desperate to find a competition for their elite development squad and are hopeful an NRL proposal to introduce an under-20 league comes to fruition.

The NRL and Australian Rugby League (ARL) are currently investigating the feasibility of an under-20 competition to be introduced in 2008 and a decision is expected soon.

This would help the Warriors build greater depth considering they are one of only two NRL clubs - the other being the Storm - who aren't supported by a reserve grade side or team playing regularly in a junior competition such as the Jersey Flegg in New South Wales.

Although all NRL clubs voted unanimously to back the concept in principle last month, there are reservations from members of the ARL board towards an under-20 competition because of the high operating costs.

"At the moment [an under-20 competition] is an option and is being explored," ARL CEO Geoff Carr said. "It would cost $2 million to run and there are some who think the money would be better spent elsewhere.

"There's already an under-20 league that caters for 11 of the 15 NRL clubs and there are concerns whether we should spend a lot more money just to include the other teams."

The Warriors have identified their elite development squad as a way to help the transfer of juniors to the first grade. Although most play in the Bartercard Cup each week, they rarely play together as a competitive side.

If the under-20 league goes ahead, the Warriors would look to find an interim competition to play in next year, like the Bartercard Cup or Fox Memorial. If the proposal is scuppered, they will look to enter a team in a domestic competition from 2007.

"I'd be disappointed if we don't have a team playing in something next year," Warriors CEO Wayne Scurrah said. "That includes Bartercard Cup, Fox Memorial or a youth competition.

"We are optimistic [about the under-20 competition getting the green light]. I believe it's one of the reasons we haven't been as consistent as we should have been. We haven't got the ability for young players to be developed in an NRL-type culture."

The NZRL and Auckland Rugby League are keen to help the Warriors but it's a matter of finding room to fit them in. The Bartercard Cup, for example, was recently revamped and all franchises are guaranteed their places until the end of 2007.

The NZRL are presently reviewing their junior competitions and the Auckland Rugby League are hopeful of adding an under-20 league to the National Junior Competition (NJC) which currently caters for under-16s and under-18s.

The Warriors have also enquired about entering a team into an Australian competition, such as the Jersey Flegg. There is some precedent, with the Cowboys, Broncos and the old Gold Coast Chargers all having played in a NSW competition in the past.

It's not a new problem for the Warriors after their reserve grade and youth sides were scrapped after the Super League war of the late 1990s. They used NSW premier league side the Newtown Jets as a feeder club in 2000 and have more latterly sent fringe players to play Bartercard Cup.

* Fui Fui Moi Moi (Eels) won't be released and Iosia Soliola (Roosters) is extremely doubtful to join the Kiwis squad to take on Great Britain in St Helens on June 28 (NZT).

Greg Eastwood (Broncos) and Ben Roberts (Bulldogs) have both been released - although Eastwood is a doubt with a hamstring injury - while David Kidwell (Storm) and Clinton Toopi (Warriors) have been told they can play barring a crisis at their own club. A decision will be made after this weekend's games.

The NZRL will not contest the clubs over Moi Moi and Soliola.