back_to_the_future
Juniors
- Messages
- 114
Very interesting letter found on parra district jrl website
LOYALTY OR CASH?
A particular Club has pushed its own agenda to the press in order to justify their own individual stance and remedy.
Over the past 30 years of A Grade football within this district the almighty dollar has been the catalyst towards 1st Division premiership glory, whereby the team who paid the most walked away with the trophy.
In 1990 the Junior League of the day banned payments to players, to counteract the licensed club team domination of the game and then emerged the non-licensed club teams who became cashed-up by affluent hotels or funds received by ill-gotten gains. These underhand payments completely turned around the fortunes of the competition and there commenced a decade of premierships to previously uncrowned teams.
Come 2003, with the demise of the Metropolitan Cup and specifically the reserve grade element, the Parramatta Junior League introduced the revamped Parramatta Cup which was designed to cater for the void left by no reserve grade competition in the newly formed Jim Beam Cup. There was a re-introduction of player payments, however a salary cap type rule limited the amount payable, per team, in 1st Division to $30,000 per season.
From 2003 to 2009 the Clubs with the finance graced the 1st Division competitions and come season 2009 two past dominant teams withdrew from the top division as the past funds were not available because of financially hard times. This happening resulted in only 4 teams nominating for 1st Division and these teams ironically enough were the only 4 teams within the district who paid their players.
Once again the perils of the mighty dollar had an adverse effect on the 1st division competition.
During the 2009 season a Parramatta Junior League Club raised the issue of once again banning the payment of players, this proposal was tabled at the junior league seminar in October where Clubs voted in favour of the venture by 15 votes to 5.
This decision was ratified by the junior league board of management and payments were subsequently banned from season 2010 and beyond.
This ruling will increase the number of players in all A Grade competitions and simultaneously spread the player talent more proportionally to allow more teams to complete in the top division.
The Junior League has formulated a declaration for players to sign prior to their registration, stating they will not receive remuneration in any form for playing rugby league within the Parramatta District. Similarly each Club Secretary and President will also be required to sign a declaration stating the Club and others will not pay players.
Some maintain there will be a drain of players from the district to other areas with their ultimate aim to chase the dollars. We at Parramatta Junior Rugby League are confident overall of LOYALTY prevailing over CASH.
The payment of players problem is not restricted to Parramatta, other districts have and are experiencing the same problem where the paid teams are dominant, causing a reluctance for teams to enter the top division. The problem can be masqueraded by forming a 1st division competition with 12 or more teams whereby the teams with lesser ability share the pain of defeat which is less frequent because there are more teams within the competition.
Currently we are examining all avenues in an endeavour to cater for all levels of A Grade. The best solution is to form a combined A Grade competition with the Penrith District which would allow the payment of players. In this regard Parramatta have four Clubs being, Cabramatta, Hills District, Mounties and Wentworthville who are prepared to join this venture however Penrith reveal only St Marys from their district is keen on the idea.
Bob Millward from the New South Wales Rugby League has been approached by Parramatta Junior League with the suggestion of the NSW Rugby League to make it mandatory for Bundy Cup Clubs within Parramatta and Penrith Districts to have their No.1. A Grade team play in the combined competition. This would add Windsor and Brothers to the competition as well as another team which has pledged its entry from outside these two districts. This would form an extremely viable 8 team competition. The first approach to Mr Millward proved fruitless and we are awaiting a reply after our second advance.
Without the Penrith teams, we are virtually assured of five 1st Division teams, which includes the outer district team. We will continue in our pursuit to formulate the best possible A Grade competitions to suit all of our stakeholder teams and in doing so be mindful of the need to cater for the majority and propagate the game and not heed to the demands and wants of any selfish individual clubs.
Terry ROSE
Last Modified on 18/12/2009 11:54
LOYALTY OR CASH?
A particular Club has pushed its own agenda to the press in order to justify their own individual stance and remedy.
Over the past 30 years of A Grade football within this district the almighty dollar has been the catalyst towards 1st Division premiership glory, whereby the team who paid the most walked away with the trophy.
In 1990 the Junior League of the day banned payments to players, to counteract the licensed club team domination of the game and then emerged the non-licensed club teams who became cashed-up by affluent hotels or funds received by ill-gotten gains. These underhand payments completely turned around the fortunes of the competition and there commenced a decade of premierships to previously uncrowned teams.
Come 2003, with the demise of the Metropolitan Cup and specifically the reserve grade element, the Parramatta Junior League introduced the revamped Parramatta Cup which was designed to cater for the void left by no reserve grade competition in the newly formed Jim Beam Cup. There was a re-introduction of player payments, however a salary cap type rule limited the amount payable, per team, in 1st Division to $30,000 per season.
From 2003 to 2009 the Clubs with the finance graced the 1st Division competitions and come season 2009 two past dominant teams withdrew from the top division as the past funds were not available because of financially hard times. This happening resulted in only 4 teams nominating for 1st Division and these teams ironically enough were the only 4 teams within the district who paid their players.
Once again the perils of the mighty dollar had an adverse effect on the 1st division competition.
During the 2009 season a Parramatta Junior League Club raised the issue of once again banning the payment of players, this proposal was tabled at the junior league seminar in October where Clubs voted in favour of the venture by 15 votes to 5.
This decision was ratified by the junior league board of management and payments were subsequently banned from season 2010 and beyond.
This ruling will increase the number of players in all A Grade competitions and simultaneously spread the player talent more proportionally to allow more teams to complete in the top division.
The Junior League has formulated a declaration for players to sign prior to their registration, stating they will not receive remuneration in any form for playing rugby league within the Parramatta District. Similarly each Club Secretary and President will also be required to sign a declaration stating the Club and others will not pay players.
Some maintain there will be a drain of players from the district to other areas with their ultimate aim to chase the dollars. We at Parramatta Junior Rugby League are confident overall of LOYALTY prevailing over CASH.
The payment of players problem is not restricted to Parramatta, other districts have and are experiencing the same problem where the paid teams are dominant, causing a reluctance for teams to enter the top division. The problem can be masqueraded by forming a 1st division competition with 12 or more teams whereby the teams with lesser ability share the pain of defeat which is less frequent because there are more teams within the competition.
Currently we are examining all avenues in an endeavour to cater for all levels of A Grade. The best solution is to form a combined A Grade competition with the Penrith District which would allow the payment of players. In this regard Parramatta have four Clubs being, Cabramatta, Hills District, Mounties and Wentworthville who are prepared to join this venture however Penrith reveal only St Marys from their district is keen on the idea.
Bob Millward from the New South Wales Rugby League has been approached by Parramatta Junior League with the suggestion of the NSW Rugby League to make it mandatory for Bundy Cup Clubs within Parramatta and Penrith Districts to have their No.1. A Grade team play in the combined competition. This would add Windsor and Brothers to the competition as well as another team which has pledged its entry from outside these two districts. This would form an extremely viable 8 team competition. The first approach to Mr Millward proved fruitless and we are awaiting a reply after our second advance.
Without the Penrith teams, we are virtually assured of five 1st Division teams, which includes the outer district team. We will continue in our pursuit to formulate the best possible A Grade competitions to suit all of our stakeholder teams and in doing so be mindful of the need to cater for the majority and propagate the game and not heed to the demands and wants of any selfish individual clubs.
Terry ROSE
Last Modified on 18/12/2009 11:54
