COACH Jamie Lind is confident Merewether Carlton will "only get stronger" after the cancellation of the 2021 Hunter Rugby competition on Friday meant the Greens had to settle for the minor premiership.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Hunter Rugby followed a recommendation from NSW Country that competitions be cancelled after the statewide COVID-19 lockdown was extended until at least September 10.
"There really is no option for us," Hunter Rugby Union president Glenn Turner said. "It is disappointing and it is unfortunate, but the impact on us is minor compared to the impact of COVID on many other parts of the community.
"It is pointless to think that there will be a return to community sport without severe restrictions any time soon."
Merewether, chasing their first top-grade premiership in a decade, were on top of the table when the competition was suspended earlier this month with three rounds remaining.
"We are bitterly disappointed but, by the same token, we finished first with a game in hand over second-placed Wanderers," Lind said. "We have made some good improvements on the last season, 2019, when we finished fifth. It is disappointing not to draw a line under that with a victory on grand final day.
"If anything, we will only get stronger. All our boys live around here. They are not going anywhere."
It is the second straight Hunter Rugby season impacted by COVID after last year's competition was abandoned before the first round.
"It is possibly premature," Lind said. "It is a real disappointment for Hunter Rugby that we have had another season cancelled. I know there are some things out of their control."
Before the lockdown was extended, NSW Country had released protocols for back to play. Where competitions were suspended for six weeks, clubs were required to have eight training sessions, including modified trial games, before games could resume.
"If the lockdown was lifted on September 10, that training period would take us through to the middle of October before games could start," Turner said.
Lind believes the training sessions could be squeezed into two weeks.
"It is different to last year, the guys are at peak fitness," he said. "They are seasoned up. We could have wrapped the training up in two weeks and then gone straight into a grand final."
This year's Anderson Medal, awarded for the first grade player of the year, and other regular-season accolades will be awarded as normal.
The cancellation of the senior competitions somewhat overshadowed confirmation that Hunter Rugby will run an under-19s competition for at least the next three years.
Hunter Juniors president Kobus Hattingh has been pushing hard for the competition, which will include teams from the Central Coast.
"It is a great collaboration between the seniors, juniors and Hunter Wildfires," Hattingh said. "We have done the numbers and only 25 per cent of kids from under-18s transition into seniors.
"We put together a schools program this year. We had 12 teams compete and I have schools knocking on the door now wanting to be part of it in 2022. We work so hard to get new players into the game, then we lose them.
"We are hoping with an age-based competition, the bulk of those kids will hang around. A lot of them, physically and mentally, aren't ready to step into the senior grades. If we can keep them for another year then they will be ready to filter into grade."
The under-19 competition would also provide a player pool for the Hunter Wildfires colts (under-20s), which play in the Sydney competition.
"We are going to make the colts competition very special," Hattingh said. "I hope that will be the base for the Wildfires. The best kids won't have to go to Sydney."
Turner said the formation of the under-19s competition and the Wildfires' return to the Sydney competition were designed to grow the game in the region.
"If we keep kids in the game, we can grow the game," he said. "The initiatives like the Wildfires and under-19s competition are initiatives that the zone is taking to build community engagement and participation in rugby. It is that simple."
Lind agreed that the introduction of an under-19s competition, which will not be compulsory for clubs, was "positive"
"That is the positive news this week ," he said. "We are very supportive of that. That is a true pathway to get kids engaged and then get them into the Wildfires."
IN THE NEWS
- 'Miracle' aged care residents of Edgeworth head home after COVID outbreak
- IS claims responsibility for Afghanistan airport bloodbath
- No holding back tide as ocean hits Stockton sports fields
- Pfizer fury: supply woes in Hunter despite donut day, freedom promise
- Point to prove: field goal victory cements Knights' finals berth
- VOICES OF THE HUNTER: Peter Saul on treating patients and bushland
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark: newcastleherald.com.au
- Download our app
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Google News