Honeti Tuha has signed with Windsor for 2021
Heard Guildford are out for 2021 with most of their players heading to Windsor as they want to continue playing together
With so many clubs appearing to have no funds there may be a struggle to find enough clubs unless a number of Country clubs play again. I recall one year in the early 90's Wenty Leagues found that previous annual accounts had contained a $1 million overstatement of profits. That was a lot of money in those days. The club did not pull out but they didnt win a game in either grade. Not long after they were back to signing everybody available.
Going back further, in 1965 Penrith had recruited a decent side, won the minor premiership and then went out with consecutive losses in the finals. Come the time for the players picnic and payment of bonuses and a young winger named Roger Cowan finds he is the only member of the football club commitee attending. It turns out that somehow the Leagues Club made no money that season and the players would only get 50%. Roger became CEO of the Leagues club, a job held for about 50 years, the club made stacks of money and 20 guys who had or would later play 1st grader, were recruited for the important 1966 season, and the guys were paid their other 50% for 1965.
They struggled a bit during the rounds, winning 9 out of 14 to finish equal 3rd but then beat Arncliffe, Cronulla and finally Wenty in the Grand Final. Alan Clarkson reviewed their game against Arncliffe for the SMH and concluded they were all past their best. While Jack Sinclair and Tony Brown, who both played for Australia, were certainly past their peak, Bob Landers, who had played for NSW, was in the middle of a career that saw him become the 3rd player in the history of 1st grade to score more than 1,000 points. Also Bill McCall played every game in 1st grade in the following season and Tom Wilson played all but one game, Barry Harris, another who had played for NSW, played 15 games in 1967 while Wal Crust made 37 top grade appearances over the next 3 years. Throw in Bruce Ranier and Easts Stalwart, Doug Ricketson and it is clear that this was the strongest 2nd tier side ever to take the field.
