NSWRL press release re: Blacktown workers
The NSWRL Board today approved an application by Blacktown Workers that will see the club enter the state's premier competition, Intrust Super Premiership NSW, for the first time in its 52-year history in 2017.
The western Sydney-based club has formed a partnership with the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, with the agreement resulting in the club fielding teams in all three NSWRL senior competitions - Sydney Shield, Ron Massey and Intrust Super Premiership NSW.
All three teams will be play under the banner of Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles, with the home ground being H.E. Laybutt Field at the Blacktown Workers Club.
The partnership will provide a pathway for Blacktown players into the NRL as a feeder club for the Sea Eagles.
NSWRL Head of Football, BJ Mather, said the NSWRL Board was satisfied with the application which enables Blacktown Workers to realise a foundation goal from 1964 to have a team in the state's elite competition.
"It's great for the game that a club with the history like Blacktown wants to make a significant investment into the pathways of Rugby League," Mather said.
Blacktown Workers President, Keith Cochran, is delighted with the partnership.
"It will be a great boost for Rugby League in the district to have players with NRL experience training and playing with our locally grown products," Cochran said.
"Manly is an iconic club and the most successful of the modern era. To link up with them is an opportunity too good to miss."
Sea Eagles Chairman, Scott Penn, said today: "The Sea Eagles are delighted to be partnering with Blacktown Workers on a combined Intrust Super Premiership NSW team for the 2017 season. This significantly enhances our pathways project to supplement our existing structure with a newly formed feeder club arrangement."
So what happens to pathways on the northern beaches? as far as I can see this only makes it harder for kids on the northern beaches and North shore to make it to the NRL and what form will the Manly underage sides take, that it U16, U18 and especially u20?. Canberra and mounties, Manly and Blacktown, Melbourne and sunshine Coast. the way this is going an U18 draft would be preferable, all we are seeing is the complication of pathways and abandonment of areas put in the demographic too hard basket.
Also Blacktown sandwiched between Parramatta and Penrith so their are 2 relatively close pathways for juniors to follow for as far as they choose, as well as other ISP, RMC, SS setups in Wenty and St marys not a million miles away.