Central Coast Rip - why do they bother?

[girvie]

The Central Coast Rip are a big joke in the Jersey Flegg competition.

They haven't won a game for 2 years.

They constantly get smashed.

Today they only had 14 players in their game against North Sydney. I think it is totally unbelievable that they could be 3 players short for a game in the Jersey Flegg competition.

Why haven't they been kicked out of the competition?

I could see this happening in a park football, but it shouldn't be happening in Jersey Flegg.

 

[roopy]

There is a good chance the RIP will be a junior side for the Storm next season - and will have a PL side as well. They should also play out of Gosford.
If they don't come good next year - i say boot them.

Having said that, the central coast has about 600,000 people and is league heartland, and they also produce a lot of top class players.

 

[c_eagle]

By the Jersey Flegg level, the top players in the CC have been snapped up by NRL clubs.

 

[roopy]

The Knights sign a couple of RIP players every year - but I think it will flow the other way next season if the Storm take over. I can see several of the Knights top of the table Flegg side moving to the RIP, and some of the PL side as well. (all to play PL)

 

[2 True Blues]

Are the STORM going to actually support the RIP ????

 

[cumberlandsashes81]

I haven't really watched JF for a number of years and I hadn't realised the Rip were travelling that badly... Zero wins in 2 seasons clearly brings into sharp focus League's issues on the Central Coast.

Obviously, making sure the 'grass-roots' of Rugby League on the Central Coast are strong is a high priority for the NSWRL. No CC team can be 'booted' out of a competition as they are too strategically important.

Though, I think the Central Coast is becoming a headache for the NSWRL and something needs to be done. The CC JBC teams appear to be about to pack up and follow Wyong into the Newcastle competition, the Rip JF can't win a game, and John Singleton is threatening to take his money (and BlueTongue Stadium) to Rugby Union and finance a Australian Provincial Championship team (would a disastrous investment so he's probably bluffing)...

The support for League is clearly there on the Coast (it is number 1 by a fair margin) yet this support isn't being leveraged into anything significant such as a CC-based NRL team or even a couple of good senior clubs playing in a state-wide competition and contributing to NRL development.

 

[roopy]

Are the STORM going to actually support the RIP ????

I think it is a very neat answer for the storm if all sides have to enter a junior side in an NRL wide competition as has been suggested - and entering a PL side based on the CC is the answer to them falling out with their feeder clubs this year.
All it would take is for them to find accomodation for 10 or so juniors and 10 or so PL players on the coast, and the rest could be made up of CC hopefulls. They would also probably want to bring in a couple of quality coaches and some support staff.
It seems a logical solution to a few problems the Storm face for next season - and a lot cheaper than setting up a junior team to play out of Melbourne and a decent local comp for their reserves to play in.

 

[brook]

Today they only had 14 players in their game against North Sydney. I think it is totally unbelievable that they could be 3 players short for a game in the Jersey Flegg competition.

I think that may have happened to Balmain for at least one game this season, I know we've played a few with a short bench due to a horrid injury toll.

 

[morri (cWo)]

what does RIP stand for

 

[cumberlandsashes81]

what does RIP stand for

It's 'Rip', as in a 'rip tide'? A reference, presumably, to the central coast's beach life-style... No idea where the name came from.

 

[Jeffles]

The CC's problem is that they cannot compete with the budget of the other NSWRL clubs. Further, there is no real path up to PL and so they may see the Rip as a dead end. The NSWRL brought them in presumably to counteract a "drain" of elite youth players brought about by the absence of elite RL on the CC. What they probably don't realise is that good CC players are not in danger of leaving RL, they simply go to nearby clubs with money - Norths, Newcastle etc.

The link up with the Storm will do wonders for them. CC kids can get a chance to move further up the ranks without having to leave home. This may appeal to many.

 

[yakstorm]

In fairness to the Rip they are slowly making improvements in both Harold Matthews and S.G. Ball in the last few seasons, finished equal 13th and 11th respectively, and originally they were just as woeful in these grades as Flegg, so over time they are getting their act together and bringing kids through.

This was the first year they paired up with the Central Coast Academy of Sport for those lower grades, and the results seem to be appearing there. Throw in that they formed a slight connection with the Sharks. These types of things will take a while to pay off but I think eventually they will become competitive of some sort over time.

Of course, all of this could be sped up if they form a direct link with a NRL club, and if the Storm come on board, expect some big improvements, but I'm not keen on seeing clubs disappear from the competitions.

 

[philstorm]

When the Storm joined with Norths Devils, they were on the rocks both financially and on the field. Hopefully we can build a good relationship with RIP and in the meantime, pick up a couple of gun players.

 

[from the hill]

Good idea, while your at it why not kick out Norths SG ball & HM

 

[morri (cWo)]

It's 'Rip', as in a 'rip tide'? A reference, presumably, to the central coast's beach life-style... No idea where the name came from.

cheers. stupid name.

 

[Utey]

Who wants to play for a club which is not affiliated with an NRL club. Once that happens theyll be sweet and be able to attract some talent.

 

[philstorm]

Do they have any good youngsters coming through?

 

[Utey]

Do they have any good youngsters coming through?

Probably not, they would all be poached by NRL clubs.

 

[Henson Park Hornets]

Who wants to play for a club which is not affiliated with an NRL club. Once that happens theyll be sweet and be able to attract some talent.

it would be better to play for the Rip rather than running around in the Central Coast comp if you missed out on a NRL club? At least you are playing in the same grade and have a better opportunity of being spotted by an NRL club?

 

[cumberlandsashes81]

it would be better to play for the Rip rather than running around in the Central Coast comp if you missed out on a NRL club? At least you are playing in the same grade and have a better opportunity of being spotted by an NRL club?

This is a similar issue that the Central Coast clubs are having with the JBC... What do they gain from being in the JBC as opposed to the Newcastle or Central Coast competition?

Wentworthville had the same question about the Metropolitan League in the 1970s when they decided to leave the competition and play in the Illawarra competition (as a result Ryde-Eastwood won each of the 3 seasons of the League...)