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PORT Macquarie will have to beat perennial venues such as Coffs Harbour and Wollongong to claim the senior State Cup for 2018.
When you also throw Dubbo, Wagga Wagga and Newcastle into the mix, it promises to be an interesting decision the NSW Touch Football Association will have to make.
General manager Dean Russell said Port Macquarie stacked up well alongside Coffs Harbour and Wollongong.
“That’s not to say there are elements that Coffs Harbour may be greater in and Wollongong might be greater in than Port Macquarie,” he said.
“But overall, currently what we’ve been able to experience, Port Macquarie is ticking all the boxes that we need.”
While Russell has a personal love for the area and has formed strong relationships with the relevant parties, he knows it will come down to one simple thing.
“Have the best tender … it really is as simple as that,” he said.
"Have the best tender … it really is as simple as that."
- Dean Russell
“It’s very easy for all of us to simply equate that the State Cup is always in Port Macquarie because it’s been here for 28 years so there are people who play at our event who have never played a State Cup at any other venue.
“Now, some of those other venues may think they have a stronger chance this time around because we have been in Port Macquarie for so long.
“Some of those venues in the last couple of tenders may have wondered if they were really a chance of getting it given we have such a strong relationship with Port Macquarie.”
The general manager said they were nearly at a generational change where there would be people who had never played at a venue other than Port Macquarie.
He said he lost count of the amount of times he was asked at last weekend’s event what the next step was going to be.
“I must have been asked a thousand questions by our participants about it over the weekend and their message was loud and clear,” he said.
Of those he spoke to, the majority vote was to keep the event in Port Macquarie and at Tuffins Lane.
Russell also looked at the bigger picture and knows there is more to the final decision than just satisfying Touch NSW.
"Overall, currently what we’ve been able to experience, Port Macquarie is ticking all the boxes that we need."
- Dean Russell
“I get that we bring in a lot of revenue to the town,” he said.
“I know there are probably hoteliers and accommodation houses who have never experienced a first weekend in December without a State Cup so there are a lot of people in this discussion.
“We’re just one voice.”
Russell said they would continue to work with council as they aim to come up to the best decision for all parties involved.
“If Port Macquarie has the best tender, whether that’s at the current location or at a proposed new location, it will win the tender,” he said.
“It’s as simple as that.”