Under 20's still good to go in 2017

Despite recent reports, the Holden Cup Under 20's National Youth Competition is set to survive into the 2017 season.

Following the release of Shane Richardson's NRL game strategy blueprint earlier this year (prior to his departure and subsequent return to the Rabbitohs), the competition was set for the scrapheap - and while it remains likely to be finished up some time in the coming years, it appears to have earned a stay of execution at least for a tenth season.

Introduced in 2008 and designed to encourage clubs to blood young talent, the competition has come under fire over much of the nine seasons so far for a lack of focus on defence, resulting in a higher points-per-game average than senior competitions. More worryingly, the pathways change the introduction of the Under 20's format created has fans and executives alike worried about the effects of young players thrust in the spotlight then being returned to park football when required to play Intrust Super Premiership and Intrust Super Cup competitions once they rise above the age bracket for the NYC.

Further, clubs have expressed concerns over the running costs of the competition, which sees the lion's share of NRL matches preceeded by a Holden Cup fixture - adding to game day and venue costs for home teams, as well as travel costs for away teams.

It remains to be seen how Richardson's 'Platinum League' proposal in NSW will change the landscape of the game, but for 2017 at least, the National Under 20's competition remains.