Country Rugby League East Coast Regional Manager Kevin Hill says bush footy future is bright

In a season that has seen Port City again set the pace in Group 3, some other clubs have struggled and forfeited reserve grade and first grade fixtures.

The Breakers have only lost one game in the last two seasons and Hill said the Group 3 competition as a whole needed to move into the future.

One way of doing that would be via a salary cap-style concept.

“The CRL, the East Coast region and its senior groups are currently investigating and reviewing ‘Player Points Systems’,” Hill said.

“These will act like a salary cap within the group to ensure the even distribution of playing talent.

“This helps to reward player development within communities and assists in eradicating the ‘spend more, get more success’ theory that can easily bring grassroots sporting clubs undone.”

Hill’s comments quashed concerns about the future of bush footy from Group 3 chief executive Barrie Smith who feels senior rugby league is dying.

After all four minor premiers this season in the Group 3 competition had been Port Macquarie clubs, Smith raised concerns about the future.

He suggested a Premier League type competition that could involve clubs from Forster-Tuncurry to Coffs Harbour.

It would only include two clubs from Manning-Wingham and a merged Taree-Old Bar as well as Port Macquarie.

While the dominance of one or two clubs over a period of time was a challenge for some, it was up to the rest of the competition to catch up.

Hill said it was not uncommon in any sport for clubs or teams to develop a winning culture and maintain success over a few seasons.

“(That is just) a result of good leadership at their respective club,” Hill said.

Forster-Tuncurry forfeited a reserve grade match a month ago before they were then beaten 90-0 in first grade.

Port City belted Taree 74-0 while Wauchope raised the half century in a 60-6 smash-up of Forster on the same weekend.

The Macleay Valley Mustangs also forfeited their final three matches of the season.

“It’s not ideal, but it’s not a new phenomenon in community sports to have dominant teams and occasional lopsided scores,” Hill said.

Hill also said the East Coast region would investigate ways to prevent situations such as those the Mustangs faced from happening again.

“We need to look closer at the main reasons people in the country play our game – which is for fun, recreation with mates, sense of community and inclusion,” he said.

Hill felt the future of the Group 3 competition was “very positive”.

“If we continue to remember that change is essential to moving into the future, along with the need to adapt our basic product offering, we can ensure it’s appealing for people to want to be involved with.”

CRL chief executive Terry Quinn said participation numbers had steadily increased across the CRL in the past few years.

“Last year’s final participation figures saw an increase in senior males, new and returning players and a phenomenal increase in female participation,” he said.

“We’re currently reviewing this year’s statistics and are on track for some great results – with one-third of all nationally registered players competing in CRL competitions.

“We do see teams fold, but we don’t see too many players leave the game. Often they will leave one club to join another.”