http://www.mooneevalleyweekly.com.a...for-bigger-challenge/2570061.aspx?storypage=1
VRL: Wolves aim for bigger challenge
BY TEO PELLIZZERI
29 May, 2012 12:00 AM
THE North West Wolves believe their club is ready for the next stage of their development by playing at the next level in a NSW-based competition.The club will look to raise the sponsorship revenue necessary to field a team in NRL feeder competition, the Bundaberg Red Cup, although it's still some way short of the financial requirements.
The Bundaberg Red Cup, established by NSW rugby league and Country rugby league in 2003, is a 10-team league created as a semi-professional competition replacing the Sydney metropolitan league but also incorporating teams from the NSW central coast.
Click on the image below for our gallery of the North West Wolves v Craigieburn clash.
Eight of the 10 teams in the competition are from Sydney's western suburbs. It's a level below NRL "reserve grade", the NSW Cup.
The Wolves field all their senior and junior divisions in Victorian Rugby League but have ambitions of fielding a senior team in the Bundaberg Red Cup as well.
Wolves president Ross Christensen said the aim was to provide a path for home-grown Victorian players to rise through the ranks into the NRL.
"Our aim is to get our club into a higher competition. We've got he invitation, we just need the sponsors.
"We just need to raise money now. We need another sustainable $200,000 a year.
"You compare that to (suburban) Aussie Rules, that's half as much as (some clubs) in the area raise.
"We could get a Victorian club as a genuine feeder club to the NRL, home and away fixtures, with the aim of then going to the (next level up) NSW Cup.
"We hope to raise the bar but we want people to follow us too."
The Bundaberg Cup in its current format has had extensive team turn-over, with half a dozen teams hailing from either metropolitan Sydney or fringe Sydney suburbs withdrawing since 2005.
Christensen used his son Aaron, a Calder Cannons listed player, as an example.
"If (a TAC Cup player) plays well he gets drafted, but if you're a Victorian playing rugby league in VRL how far can you go?"
Bundaberg Red Cup competition chairman Geoff Gerard spoke at the Wolves' annual business lunch held last week.
Christensen said the playing visit of Matt Geyer to the Wolves had been a big boost for the club.
"Matt was here at 8.30am to watch our under-10s," Christensen said.
"He bought a professional attitude and we hope that rubs off on our club. These days that's the most important thing.
"For someone like Matt to walk along behind us and say what we're doing is positive, that's great.
"We look at our club and we look at what happens in VFL, TAC Cup, VPL premier league soccer, the good things that those competitions do. We have to be a benchmark."
