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http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,24422868-5006066,00.html
Roosters out of junior comps
By Steve Mascord | September 30, 2008 12:00am
FOUNDATION club Sydney Roosters have concluded their centenary season by pulling out of the Harold Matthews and SG Ball junior competitions, citing cost-cutting.
For the first time, the red white and blue will not be seen in the NSW under 16s and Under 18s competitions in 2009 following an historic decision made by the Roosters board last week.
Chief executive Brian Canavan said the Roosters would continue to offer scholarships to players in those age groups but admitted players may have to be recruited from other clubs and areas at an older age.
"It comes down to financial constraints, with the impact of the poker machine tax, the reduction in the leagues club grant and other factors,'' Canavan said. "It is very unfortunate but all clubs are dealing with it in different ways.
"This is what we've decided to do.''
The Roosters have competed in the under 16s since 1970 and the SG Ball since 1965. Canavan said he did not know of any other traditional clubs withdrawing from the 2009 Ball and Matthews at this stage.
But he rejected suggestions the culling of the teams would require the tricolours to do nothing but poach players from other clubs.
"We don't have a big junior base but we will still be offering scholarships, they will play school football which is a shorter season,'' he said.
"We won't send players out of our area to play,'' he said, adding they scholarship holders could play for rival teams "if they so wished''.
Manly chief executive Grant Mayer has confirmed, meanwhile, that the Sea Eagles have withdrawn from the NSW Cup for next season.
"We are going to enter a team in the Queensland Cup next year called the Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles,'' he said.
"There is still no structure for the NSW Cup for next year as far as I know."
A discraceful decision.I would love to know the thoughts from some of the legends that have come through their ranks ie Peardy,Johnny Mayes,Bunny Reilly and Horrie Hastings.I think they would be absolutely mortified.
A sad day for rugby league and junior development.
Roosters out of junior comps
By Steve Mascord | September 30, 2008 12:00am
FOUNDATION club Sydney Roosters have concluded their centenary season by pulling out of the Harold Matthews and SG Ball junior competitions, citing cost-cutting.
For the first time, the red white and blue will not be seen in the NSW under 16s and Under 18s competitions in 2009 following an historic decision made by the Roosters board last week.
Chief executive Brian Canavan said the Roosters would continue to offer scholarships to players in those age groups but admitted players may have to be recruited from other clubs and areas at an older age.
"It comes down to financial constraints, with the impact of the poker machine tax, the reduction in the leagues club grant and other factors,'' Canavan said. "It is very unfortunate but all clubs are dealing with it in different ways.
"This is what we've decided to do.''
The Roosters have competed in the under 16s since 1970 and the SG Ball since 1965. Canavan said he did not know of any other traditional clubs withdrawing from the 2009 Ball and Matthews at this stage.
But he rejected suggestions the culling of the teams would require the tricolours to do nothing but poach players from other clubs.
"We don't have a big junior base but we will still be offering scholarships, they will play school football which is a shorter season,'' he said.
"We won't send players out of our area to play,'' he said, adding they scholarship holders could play for rival teams "if they so wished''.
Manly chief executive Grant Mayer has confirmed, meanwhile, that the Sea Eagles have withdrawn from the NSW Cup for next season.
"We are going to enter a team in the Queensland Cup next year called the Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles,'' he said.
"There is still no structure for the NSW Cup for next year as far as I know."
A discraceful decision.I would love to know the thoughts from some of the legends that have come through their ranks ie Peardy,Johnny Mayes,Bunny Reilly and Horrie Hastings.I think they would be absolutely mortified.
A sad day for rugby league and junior development.
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