"We've looked at the salary cap and the club funding model; what we haven't looked at is player development and how we treat that to recognise clubs like Canberra Raiders,'' Smith said. "We've got to have a system that recognises those clubs which do the great job the Raiders do [with junior development]. "Everybody's clear it's something that's perhaps been a bit of a loose end, and it's something we're committed to having looked at by the end of the year.'' Smith said he would analyse a number of different options, but it's too early to reveal details. "It's a combination of salary cap concessions and recognising there are additional funding needs for areas like the Raiders,'' he said.

"We want 16 competitive clubs. It's about getting that balance right and recognising the difference in clubs, because they're not all the same. It costs a lot of money to develop a player; I think we need to recognise clubs like the Raiders for doing that." Asked if transfer fees could be introduced, Smith said: "We'll look at a system which creates as much balance as we possibly can; we'll look at all the options.'' Smith insisted he isn't concerned at Canberra's inability to attract big-name players, despite offering substantially more money than incumbent clubs. In recent weeks the Raiders have missed out on key targets, such as Melbourne's Kevin Proctor and Penrith's Josh Mansour, before Tigers fullback James Tedesco reneged on a three-year deal to join Canberra. "All things go in a cycle and I wouldn't say it's a worry, I'd say we need to get a system in place from a development perspective where the Raiders are recognised,'' he said.

"Hopefully they'll have a better season on-field next year, and that'll be an attraction in itself.'' Raiders chairman Allan Hawke believes the NRL is taking the club's stance more seriously in the wake of the recent dramas surrounding Tedesco and Milford. "They [Hawkins and Furner] had a very fair meeting, and they came away thinking the NRL now understands the seriousness of the issue,'' Hawke said. "We want to see that backed up with action. "The last week has probably given them a better perspective of the difficulties we face in attracting people to come to Canberra.'' Hawke will raise the junior concession issue again at the NRL chairman's meeting on June 19.

"I'd be surprised if it wasn't on the agenda, and if it's not there's three or four other clubs in the same position as us who want to push that issue to the NRL,'' he said. "If we're going to put our code front and centre against the competition [for young talent] we face, we have to be fair dinkum about it. "Our reputation for developing talent we have around the district is unparalleled, I believe. It's how we get an even break. "I'm sure the NRL don't want us to just be making up the numbers. We certainly don't want that. "That's why we've been so strong about his argument.''