Article from:
Penrith Panthers: Kick the Sydney Roosters out of compBy Steve Mascord | November 08, 2008 12:00am
Fuming ... Panthers boss Barry Walsh. Photograph: Phil Hillyard / The Daily Telegraph
PENRITH have written a scathing letter calling for the Sydney Roosters to be kicked out of the league they helped start 101 years ago. Panthers chairman Barry Walsh says if the inner-city club did not want to take part in the SG Ball and Harold Matthews junior competitions it should no longer be affiliated with the NSW Rugby League.
He has also called for the National Rugby League to investigate the Roosters, alleging they have effectively handed over the eastern suburbs to Australian football.
In a 740-word missive, obtained by The Daily Telegraph, Walsh wrote: "We believe there is a need for the National Rugby League to seriously consider whether or not Eastern Suburbs meets the criteria of the other districts.
"And, further, that there is a need for the NSWRL to seriously consider their affiliation and future involvement with the (club)."
The Roosters announced two months ago they would not enter teams in the under-16 and under-18 competitions, although it's expected they will now form a joint venture with Newtown in the 18s.
It is understood Sydney Roosters recruitment manager Peter O'Sullivan has since been raiding Penrith juniors heavily.
Walsh continued: "We believe the decision is virtually handing over the Eastern Suburbs junior league district to Australian rules, who must be delighted with the outcome.
"We would suggest they have not weighed up the damage their decision will do to the development of the game and their district and throughout rugby league."
New Roosters chief executive Steve Noyce said: "As things stand, we will be working with Newtown in entering an SG Ball team while the Roosters junior league will field a team in under-16s. So there will be opportunities for kids."
Walsh said most clubs expected the Roosters to poach their talent and called for the leagues to act to prevent this.
"If Eastern Suburbs is to be allowed to continue in rugby league without having a Harold Matthews and SG Ball team and allowed to contact talented players from other district representative teams, there needs to be a complete re-think and significant increase in development fees," he said in the letter.
The complaint renews hostilities between two clubs with a rocky relationship. Star Brad Fittler and coach Phil Gould were poached by the Roosters, and the Panthers once photographed crowds at the Sydney Football Stadium to prove the foundation club was fudging figures.
Walsh declined to expand on the points made in the letter.
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,24616740-5006066,00.html
