Correct - 16 teams playing in their NRL jerseys/colours the game before first grade each and every weekend at the NRL ground.
2010 poses a very good question, work will still need to be done to improve the quality and depth but this would be a good start. Gives reserve grade games and players exposure and has them playing just before first grade and hanging around afterwards so they know what level they need to aspire to play in the top grade
Having the first grade team catch some of the reserve grade game beforehand and chatting with players ect can only help
I might just be imagining things back from when I was a young supporter and it was a different era but I don't remember watching reserve grade back in the day and it being such a large chasm in quality that we see today, maybe there was just more talent and genuine fringe players around I dunno but I think the structure of the comp at least wasn't adding any additional hindrance
NSW cup as it stands just seems to be a dumping ground for has-beens, never will bes and talented young players who are too old for Holden cup. Holden cup could use some tweaking as well as per BWB's recommendations.
I understand reserve grade teams must be filled and the 1-17 can't all be potential first graders there will still need to be genuine reserve graders in those squads and that's fine but it's about improving the quality of those teams on the whole and the competition in which they play.