COMMITMENTS with other codes will prevent Port Macquarie from fielding an under-18 girls side at the NSW State Championships in Wollongong this weekend.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Some of their players have rugby league commitments and NSW Touch Football has hosed down any speculation players from other affiliates can fill the void left.
The Makos were hoping to be given dispensation to allow two players from Taree be drafted in to take their 10-player squad up to 12.
But NSW Touch general manager Dean Russell said such a decision would open up the opportunity for affiliates to abuse the system.
"We can't allow players to swap clubs mid-competition," he said.
"I understand their disappointment, but we're also told from Port Macquarie it is because some of them have rugby league commitments so they chose to play rugby league than touch.
"It would be a ridiculous situation to allow an affiliate to qualify for the state finals and then you open the door up for them to go and get the best players from teams in their area that didn't qualify."
Russell said they would "love to have Port Macquarie attend" in the under-18 girls division, but it wasn't possible.
"Unfortunately that's a decision that is outside of our hands," he said.
The NSW Junior State Cup has grown to such an extent a two-weekend event had to happen and there was the chance other affiliates and teams could face a similar situation.
"It's unfortunate (to have a team pull out)," Russell said.
"But it doesn't matter if they're (trading) the world's best players or the world's worst players; it's more the principle and the Pandora's Box that would be opened up.
"There's an opportunity to trade players before competitions, but not during.
"Somewhere along the line I would get a phone call from an irate parent because their son or daughter has been dropped out of the team because they wanted to bring someone else in."
What else is happening in sport?
While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox from the Port Macquarie News. To make sure you're up to date with all the news, SIGN UP HERE.