National Youth Competition

NRL Toyota Cup
Sport	Rugby league
Inaugural season	2008
Manager	Michael Buettner
Number of teams	16
Countries	Australia  New Zealand
Premiers	Melbourne Storm (2009)
Website	NRL.com
Broadcast partner	Fox Sports
Related competition	National Rugby League

"National Youth Competition" redirects here. For the Ukrainian association football competition see Ukrainian National Youth Competition

The National Youth Competition (sponsored as the Toyota Cup) is the official development competition for the Australian National Rugby League. It commenced in 2008.^[1] The competition consists of teams from the 16 clubs that presently participate in the NRL competition, fielding squads made up of players between the ages of 17 and 19.^[2] The draw and structure mirrors the NRL, with games played as lead-ins to the corresponding first-grade NRL games.^[3] The competition uses a salary cap in the same way as first-grade NRL, and puts a heavy focus on life outside of football for the players.^[4]

History

Effect on existing competitions

There is ongoing speculation as to how the Queensland Cup will fare with the introduction of the National Rugby League's Under-20s competition in 2008.^[5] The Jersey Flegg Cup now goes to the winner of the National Youth Competition's minor premiership. ^[6]

"The best Under-16s Harold Matthews and Under-18s SG Ball teams to compete with their Queensland counterparts for "National champion" status from 2008 onwards, with the added incentive of potential selection in Australian U16 and U18 sides to play New Zealand each year." ^[7]

"Kaspar Crawley was given the honour of refereeing the 2008 Grand Final."

National Youth Competition Premiers

Season	Grand Final Information			Minor Premiers
	Premiers	Score	Runners-Up
2008	Canberra Raiders	28 - 24	Brisbane Broncos	Canberra Raiders
2009	Melbourne Storm	24 - 22	Wests Tigers	Manly Sea Eagles

Teams & Coaches

• The St. George Illawarra Dragons U20s side is coached by Steven Price.
• The Parramatta Eels Under 20s Side is coached by Matt Cameron.
• The Penrith Panthers Under 20 side will be coached by current 2007 Premier League coach Steve Georgalis ^[8]
• The New Zealand Warriors have already announced Welfare and Development Officer Tony Iro as head coach and community and development manager Dean Bell as team manager for 2008.^[9]
• The South Sydney Rabbitohs Under 20 side will be coached by Daniel Irvine.
• The Sydney Roosters Under 20 side will be coached by Adrian Lam.
• The Wests Tigers Under 20 side will be coached by Peter Gentle
• The Brisbane Broncos Under 20 side will be coached by Anthony Griffin, he coached Redcliffe Dolphins to successive Queensland Cup grand final appearances, and also coaching Queensland Residents to success last year.^[10]
• The Newcastle Knights Under 20 side is coached by Rohan Smith, son of Knights' Head coach Brian Smith

Television Coverage

Australia

• Free To Air: Channel 9 show a Player of the week on the The Sunday Footy Show with Andrew Johns and the Grand Final as part of the Grand Final Coverage. ^[11]
• Subscription television: FOX Sports show 2 games live every weekend, live coverage of the Toyota Cup precede Fox Sports' Super Saturday and Sunday live NRL coverage.^[12]

New Zealand

All New Zealand Warriors home games in the U20's competition will be shown live by Sky NZ.^[11]

Records

• List of records in the National Youth Competition

Footnotes