TOOWOOMBA rugby league officials are moving swiftly to make sure some of the region's best footballers don t abandon the Darling Downs after the Toowoomba Clydesdales announced they would not be part of the 2007 Queensland Cup competition.
The club's dire financial state was cited as the reason for the decision.
There has been continuing speculation about the depth of the Clydesdales' financial worries for the past few seasons. However, yesterday s announcement still came as a surprise to Toowoomba Rugby League chairman Noel Davis, who described it as a massive blow.
"It's important now that everyone works together," he said.
"Because it's not something that has happened in the past." Davis said he would meet with a squad of footballers who were registered with both the TRL and the Clydesdales in order to make sure they remained in what was one of rugby league s most prolific rugby league player nurseries.
"I've spoken to the board today and it's important we get some incentives in place to keep these players in Toowoomba," he said.
"But I think we'll lose three or four straight away.
"It's important we create pathways and opportunities for these players to play representative football so they have the chance to progress through the rugby league ranks. The Clydesdales have been aligned with the Brisbane Broncos for seven years, a relationship that has helped keep the club afloat.
However, Clydesdales chairman Frank Martin said a meeting this week with the Broncos' hierarchy, who had pledged to support the club in 2007, showed their help would not be enough to keep them financially viable next season.
"The Broncos gave us a cheque for $50,000 after the meeting so we can meet all our creditors for the 2006 season," he said.
"This decision has not been made lightly.
"I have sat down with our CEO and tried to cut all costs to the bone, discussed these matters with the Broncos and our major sponsor Clive Berghofer and my board, but we still have a shortfall of about $100,000 after Clive s and the Broncos' commitment." The Clydesdales' proud place in Australian rugby league history dates back to the early part of last century.
Traditionally, they were a representative side made up of players from Toowoomba.
The Clydesdales won the first Queensland Cup in 1996 with a full roster of Darling Downs players before falling into financial hardship in the late 1990s. The Brisbane Broncos came to the club s rescue in 1999, providing not just financial support but also players. Many of the Broncos 2006 NRL premiership-winning side such as Sam Thaiday, Dane Carlaw and David Stagg had significants stints in the blue and red of Toowoomba. The Clydesdales won their second Queensland Cup in 2000. They were favourites to win their third title in 2006 after taking out the minor premiership by 2 points. However, they were thrashed by the Redcliffe Dolphins 27-6 in the grand final.
