Rugby league and the NRL’s talent raid on rugby union schools has garnered much press as the popularity of the Warriors has boomed in recent years.

With reports of U15 national rugby tournaments being attended in mass by NRL club scouts on the recruitment warpath, the reality is that New Zealand rugby has an excess of playing talent and a short supply of investment available.

Should some of those players secure development deals and head down the rugby league pathway, this is a positive for both codes.

Consider that Roosters star Joseph Manu is now headed to Japanese rugby, on a longer-term journey towards the All Blacks, and not one dollar has been invested by union into his development as a professional athlete.

Much like Sonny Bill Williams who headed to France for his first stint, rugby in New Zealand could be set to benefit from Manu’s switch in the long run. While Manu was playing rugby league, another talented player was given one of the few spots in a union academy.

Williams was one of many young Kiwis who moved to Australia at a young age to pursue league. He turned out to be a great All Black, a game-changer who helped deliver two Rugby World Cups. His offload in the 2015 final to Ma’a Nonu was one of the biggest plays in the final.

Often forgotten is only a certain type of player will fit the criteria for NRL clubs, namely athletes who can become second rowers, centres and wingers. Safe to say that all tight five players will be off the radar. The number of halfbacks and first fives who transition into a league standoff or dummy half is rare.

They are looking for the explosive athletes with power and speed, of which New Zealand rugby has an incredible oversupply of at schoolboy level. Yet at that age picking who will be NRL-capable is a crapshoot. The same goes for projecting early ability in professional rugby union.

It’s a massive risk which New Zealand professional rugby teams know all too well. They’ve seen it play out time and time again, which is why they aren’t going to sign 14-year-olds. From the few that do get a shot in the pathway, there are still the many that don’t pan out for whatever reason.

On the rare occasion they will go after a special talent, as was the case with Etene Nanai-Seturo, it was at an older age and he was able to turn back on his Warriors deal to pursue union.

If you are a prospect looking to head to league, consider that union on both sides of the ditch actually has the better offering for top-tier talent between ages 18 and 20.