The CRL will ensure they understand exactly what is expected of them and will keep a pretty close eye on the new comp. CRL refs will be used so no misbehaviour will be tolerated. They're on a 12-month trial contract so they have to meet expectations or they could lose their affiliation. Clubs that had their applications refused by CRL Groups will be allowed to play because while they were excluded from individual Groups that does not mean they are excluded from other Groups (in this case it's the new comp rather than an existing Group). The biggest question is why some of these clubs are allowed to play under the CRL when they owe money, but it seems the CRL is willing to forget those debts for now.
In a related matter, the CRL has asked Group 2 to re-hear an application by the Gimbisi Warriors to play in G2 this year while Group 19 must do the same with Narwan. Those meetings will take place next week and if they are accepted they will return to their Groups. If not they will play in the new comp. TBH the new comp needs them because team numbers are starting to decline. They named 14 originally but that has been reduced to nine. Of the nine clubs expected to play, two (those that I mentioned) may go back to Groups, while at least one that I know of is struggling for player numbers and will not have a junior side. In fact I can't see them getting enough teams for a decent junior comp.
The clubs in the new comp are not allowed to poach players that are already registered to CRL clubs for 2007. They will probably also have a rep side that will play against CRL Groups. They have said they are going to NZ to play the Maori at the end of the year and will also play Lebanon but there is some skepticism as to whether those games will actually take place because I've heard that the Maori RL know nothing about it.
The new comp will not be called the Nations Aboriginal Super League. Exacty what it will be called is yet to be confirmed but the organisation is now calling itself NSW Aboriginal Rugby League and Sporting Inc. (NARLSI). They will get a seat on the CRL general committee but want a seat on the management committee, though they probably won't get it. It will start, at this stage, on the first weekend in April. They said they will try to avoid clashes with local CRL games and reckon they will be able to get all the grounds they need to run the comp.
That's about as much as I know. They are meeting with the CRL on Monday so maybe after that we will know more. They didn't go about this the right way, but fortunately the CRL have been forgiving enough to negotiate and this is probably the best outcome.
