I can understand the idea of broadening the horizons for selections and agree that it is a good idea. Poorly implemented for this years cohort. During the GPS trial games thus far I have already seen a number of academy boys (so far) outplayed by opposing and own team members. Lets hope the is some common ground before next year. There can be big changes with boys from 15 to 18.
I am not sure how the State Championship format through QSS excluded opportunity to participate and be identified if you were a kid from Peninsula or Central Queensland or wherever.
The existing format already provided for the casting of a net over the entirety of QLD School Sport.
It was more about the conscious desire and will to lessen the volume of participation ,and talent, to lower a standard of competition - for the sole purpose of providing better chances to shine for the marginals.
When it came down to it, the overwhelming majority of the boys that got selected were from Terrace or AIC schools with a liberal dose of Sunshine Coast thrown in ( given they made the final ) and who had already had been heavily combed through after they had made the semis of the U15 tournament 2 years prior up in Townsville.
So clearly it was rooted 10 ways to Sunday and didn't really meet the aim of what was desired by the Reds and for why.
And here is the thing ........3 years prior in U15 JGC , Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow , played on a team of modestly talented teammates from FNQ , where , they largely got beat every game . But the inclusiveness of the Carnival and trying to get the best guys trying out to play only made it clearer that he wasn't being protected in some cupcake event - that he was the real deal and a priority target for Rugby. They missed. But that is not the point.
If you are a genuine talent from a marginal region - you should get noticed - you shouldn't need the competition to be taken down a few notches for this to happen.
It seems as though everyone is so willing to be Jedi Mind Warriored into submission on this one.
