I've thought for a while that academy teams should be disassociated from being directly run by clubs.
Obviously there is an issue in Rugby League that a lot of clubs are clustered in relatively small geographic areas, and it's not feasible for every club in an area to run a top class academy team, both financially and from a player pool perspective.
My proposal is that the RFL should set up academy teams covering areas that have enough of a player pool to justify its existence, as well as development Academies in other areas. There would then be a requirement for any club that wants to be rated as a grade B or higher club to provide a minimum amount of funding towards the cost of the academy in their area, and a higher minimum for clubs that want an A grade. Clubs can choose to fund the academy in their areas at any level above the minimum, and optionally to provide funding to academies in other areas - particularly development areas.
A draft system could then be put in place for any club contributing financially to the academy with picks allocated on a basis reflecting financial contribution. Of course, any drafted player would not be mandated to sign for the club that drafts them (employment law needs to be considered) as this would be restrictive, but any player that is drafted and signs for another club would require mandatory compensation (financial, draft picks, etc.) to the drafting club.
The current academy system reinforces the status of top clubs, currently with backing from the RFL, and doesn't give any realistic proposition of other clubs running their own academy system to any worthwhile level of success. I think it's restricting the potential of Rugby League to develop players and needs to change. It's time for the RFL to show leadership in the development of young players.
