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At the moment all the NSW Cup teams (excluding Auckland and Melbourne) are east coast teams that all fit between Newcastle and just past Woollongong.
It is not a true statewide competition like the QLD Cup is. The NSW Cup really needs some country teams like Western Division (winners of the original Amco Cup), Riverina and Northern Rivers, etc. to be a true statewide competition.
Has anyone heard of anything about other country teams joining the NSW Cup?
Don't the NSWRL have a long-term strategic plan for where their premier competition is headed ? How and when they plan to expand to a proper statewide competition.
Too busy telling others what they can and can't do to look after their own business.
The NSW Cup looks like fielding 14 teams next season with the return of Canberra (possible Gouldburn joint venture) and Manly (possible Mounties or Harbord Diggers feeder).
An improvement on previous seasons!
Country teams would be best to enter the Jim Beam Cup as the NSW Cup clubs act as direct feeders to the NRL. Without a feeder relationship that would give these clubs access to fringe NRL players they would not be able to compete with the stronger NSW Cup clubs.
why melbourne only just joined the comp and have done quite well. on the subject of country teams, weve gotten past the point where theres stand alone nsw/q cup teams that dont feed directlyto nrl sides, like north sydney bears 2003-2004 and easts tigers before the entire qcup comp was aligned with the broncos. if theyre gonna have a team from outside of the major metro areas theyd still have to be aligned to an nrl side like the northern pride with the cowboys
Thats a real shame! Could that be due to the reason that the NRL club was docked financially therefore do not have the same budget to work with? Just when you thought Melbourne local rugby league would benefit from having a representative team to strive for. 2 steps forward- 4 steps back! Surely NSWRL would see real benefit in having a Victorian state based team in the competition?
Finisnace is a big issue overall so I recko there should be more pumped into the lower tiers
I reckon the NRL should help establish a national RG by putting in $500K per NRL club
At NSW Cup level after a merger beween Bundy Cup and NSW Cup plus NSW country divisions, Adelaide and Perth. These teams should get $250K each from the NSWRL with Melbourne / Perth / Adelaide given a extra $100K to cover transport costs
Wow that doesn't sound good for the Magpies. Don't get me wrong, I love Western Suburbs, and have even coached juniors there, but it looks like a slippery slope. First a name change, then the fringe players get moved...
couldnt agree more.I think it will be damaging to the merger.Alot of players will want to play for wests tigers in nsw cup just for the name.. Interestingly, if wests and balmain win their respsective games this weekend, the grandfinal will be a beauty. Be assured it will be a bashathon!!!
Sheens is keen to have 1 team which would killing off Balmain and Wests and that should never happen they need their own identity.
It is a stupid idea to have country divisions in the State cup as how would guys travel 4 times a week to and from training plus travel to Sydney to play and perform. Some guys drive 2-3 hours each way in these areas so how could they afford to do that give?
I believe that the Dragons should have their own State cup team out of Illawarra and called the Steelers which would have a chance to have Steeler fans keep their history as they do have junior rep sides.
The state cup side that's currently out there is the Shellharbour Dragons. Unless there's already something in the works or they're planning to drop out I doubt you'll see Illawarra involved. The Steelers are still there at Ball/Matts level anyway, as are St George.
Regarding Illawarra I thought I'd read that Illawarra Wests were contemplating entering an agreement with the Dragons.
The club's traditionally been one of the stronger Illawarra club with the financial support of two leagues clubs. They also entered a team in the Metro Cup for a seaon during the 90's.
Also dissapointing to see Balmains decision. Whilst I understand Ryde Eastwoods contribution is largely financial will they continue to provide such support if their contribution isnt recognised within the clubs identity?
It's also a massive show of disrespect to the Wests part of the merger, which is potentially the future of the club due to the large junior base.