Shellharbour admitted

[yakstorm]

Its official now:
http://www.nswrl.com.au/article.php?id=140

Shellharbour City admitted to Jim Beam Cup

Shellharbour City, from the Group 7 competition of the Country Rugby League, have been admitted to the NSW Rugby League’s Jim Beam Cup competition for 2007.

The Chairman of the Jim Beam Cup, Mr. Bob Millward, made the announcement after close consideration of their application by the combined NSW and CRL competition committee.

The President of the Shellharbour club, Peter Blaine, was ecstatic when told the news at the NSW Leagues Club yesterday. “This is a great boost for the South Coast, we believe it will give the many talented young players of the area additional avenues to display their abilities and assist them in achieving their dreams of playing Rugby League at the elite level.”

“The addition of Shellharbour to the competition continues the plans of the competitions joint management committee to expand both the number of teams competing in the competition plus the areas from which teams are drawn,” Mr. Millward said. He also expected further announcements on possible new Jim Beam Cup teams in coming weeks.

Shellharbour will be required to continue fielding teams in the Group Seven competition in first, reserve grades and under 18’s.

 

[Nfed]

Do you know when Seven Hills are due to make their presentation. They wanted to come in this year. Apparently, Shellharbour got the nod 5 minutes after they completed their presentation.

 

[2 True Blues]

Is Shellharbor connected at all to the St George Illawarra club. I actually "seriously" tried to ask that question on the Saints forum and got the usual denial that they are at all IN FACT connected with Illawarra ETC !!!!!

Must be good for their club anyway.............

 

[Henson Park Hornets]

Great... Another Orimbah.

 

[2 True Blues]

Great... Another Orimbah.

It's actually a very strong league down there mate, always has been, and the population has ten folded in the last few years down there......

 

[cumberlandsashes81]

While the Illawarra competition has traditionally been very strong, I don't have any personal experience of the Group 7 - South Coast competition (so no real reason why St.Geo/Ill. would be involved) that Shellharbour City currently play in...

I think there's only ever been one other south coast NSW team at this level of football (there may have been in the old Second Division or Metro League). During the 1990s Wests Illawarra Red Devils entered a team in the Metropolitan Cup as the 'Illawarra Red Devils'. There was always speculation that Collegians would enter a team but this has never materialised obviously.

If Shellharbour have the funds to stay in the competition (and their move dosen't destroy Group 7), and not forfeit any games then this is a positive move for the game and for the competition.

Let's all wait and see how many other CRL clubs are attracted by the bright lights of Foxtel coverage...

 

[2 True Blues]

A sensible answer at last. Thanks mate, and so true !!!!

 

[2 True Blues]

From the Sunday Telegraph August 27th:

We have had plenty of phone calls from players interested in playing in the jim beam Cup next season, and we also held a meeting with St George Illawarra last week to look at some joint initiatives. The Dragons backed the Shellharbor "Sharks" application in a letter to the NSWRL board.

But dont fear LOL This also : Shellharbor's Jim Beam Cup side will play under a new nickname and colours though ( geuss the sharks thing will have to go ).

Their inclusion takes to 10 the number of sides in the 2007 comp with two more possibly to be included. Blaine believes there is a NSWRL vision to make the JB Cup a QLD Cup style competition, and the south coast must be part of it. It;s not cheap, there is a $150,000 cap, although they dont think they will reach it.

The Shellharbor Sharks will still have a side in the group 7 south coast competition.
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