Smith vows to fight Australian vultures
Warriors general manager of football Brian Smith has declared war on the other 15 NRL clubs and vows to keep New Zealand’s best young players in the country.
The rival NRL teams are littered with players who grew up in New Zealand, but were then attracted by Australian teams making big promises about fame and fortune.
At the same time, the once all conquering Warriors’ under 20 side has become an embarrassment, they won just three of their 24 games last season and lost their first four this year.
While the Warriors have instigated a policy of promoting their best young players up to the reserve grade NSW Cup as soon as they feel the player is ready, rather than keep them in the Under-20s, the reversal in their junior team’s results has been stunning.
Smith says a factor in that has been the raids by Australian clubs, who have been picking up the best Kiwi players at a younger age.
‘‘One of the things I’ve learnt since I’ve been here, which horrifies me, is that in recent seasons the starting point where talented rugby league players’ careers begin is in some cases 14 years of age,’’ Smith said.
‘‘That’s when other NRL clubs are coming here and identifying and signing players.
‘‘There is a player right now who is 14 and he’s being courted by an NRL club, with an offer that would blow your mind.
‘‘So our choice is either leave the door open for the foxes to come in and take the hens, or we can fight back and do something about it.
‘‘So we’re in the process of making determinations about what the future holds for us, as a development club.’’
It goes against Smith’s personal beliefs to sign up players so young and there is always the possibility of another Etene Nanai-Seturo scenario happening, where he stays in New Zealand, but then decides to switch codes.
‘‘I feel it’s very unhealthy for the game, but we have to go there,’’ Smith said.
‘‘About 30 players are leaving and have been leaving in each of the past few seasons, since these clubs have been raiding New Zealand for 15 year olds. That’s the reality. Are they getting all the best ones? They probably had pretty much open slather at it, so they should have been able to pick the best ones.
‘‘But it doesn’t mean that we haven’t got good ones, because we’ve got some who we’re very confident will become NRL players.’’
However, Smith said the exodus has to end and the club will be more more proactive in identifying and recruiting the best young New Zealanders. ‘‘I feel like there’s got to be a fightback by us,’’ he said. ‘‘We’ve got to get in and get dirty, if that’s what it takes.’’
There is a player right now who is 14 and he’s being courted by an NRL club, with an offer that would blow your mind. Warriors general manager Brian Smith