MELBOURNE have accused the NSW Rugby League of giving rugby union a leg-up by kicking the Storm out of its junior representative competitions.
NSWRL says the Storm cant compete in Under-16s Harold Matthews and Under-18s SG Ball competitions next year because they have ended their association with Cronullas NSW Cup side and will instead align themselves with Sunshine Coast in Queenslands Intrust Super Cup.
Thats despite the Perth-based West Coast Pirates being allowed to compete in the SG Ball despite having no senior side.
Were just very disappointed the Melbourne Rebels will effectively be given a leg-up, Storm football manager Frank Ponissi tells RLW.
When they told us of their ruling, we offered to field a side in Victorian state colours with no obvious association with the Storm but they turned that down, too.
We dont recruit at that age group they are all Victorian kids and we are competitive without really being much hope of winning it.
It helps us attract players over rugby union, that we play in those competitions.
Its just an opportunity for these kids to play a game of football. Were hoping to get them a start in the Queensland competition but it seems crazy they have to fly over NSW to play
a match.
But NSWRL chairman Dave Trodden has defended the hard line, saying the NSW Cup was on its knees only a few years ago because clubs were choosing to play in Queensland instead.
The Perth example, that is completely different, he says. They are not choosing to support a Queensland competition in preference to ours.
At one point we were down to eight teams in the State Cup because clubs such as Canberra and Manly chose to field teams in Queensland.
Thats when this rule was brought in. Everyone wants to support 16s and 18s but you need a pathway up to State Cup for footy in NSW to be viable.
By hosting teams from Perth and Melbourne, we provide them with a whole-of-game benefit within our structures.
But that doesnt mean were obliged to continue providing that when it is to their benefit and our detriment.
Storm head coach Craig Bellamy lashed the NSWRL over the issue in his newspaper column recently.
But Trodden says the change would not hand future Origin players to Queensland because the qualification rules state a player must have lived in NSW or Queensland before the age of 13 to represent that state.
Under the rules, home-grown Storm centre Mahe Fonua (above) cannot play State of Origin.
