Quote Originally Posted by sapdad View Post
This is a really good question and one that will definitely play out over the next few years.Senior clubs dropping down and clubs without youth ranks will rise and it will result in some medium term issues that NNSW better be prepared for.Regardless,these outcomes are a good thing because it shows the promotion/relegation system works and rewards teams that deserve to be there rather than legacy programs getting a free ride.It also shows the strength of the ZPL level and hopefully raises every level as they push up.I dont think Lakes dropping down last year had a massive impact on their youth and I dont think New Lambton doing the same this year will either.Whoever is the first to drop into ZPL will may be a bigger test case but lets see how it goes.
If it?s Wallsend it won?t affect the juniors that will just fold. Be interesting the teams coming up if they look to add youth. Dudley as first up have looked to add youth with the junior and senior clubs coming together and from I?ve heard have applied for PYL. They are probably in a lucky position to have a junior base. How do a Croatia or Suns do it. Do they just create a junior program from scratch. Then that changes the whole club. Will be interesting times