Country Rugby League chief executive Terry Quinn is all too aware the NRL has been planning for expansion but he remains wary of a bush-based side competing in a new-look State Cup.
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Australian Rugby League Commission Chairman, Peter Beattie, and NRL CEO Todd Greenberg spoke on March 27 after the launch of the game’s Strategic Plan for 2018-22.
Part of the plan is expansion with Country New South Wales named as a potential base for a side which would be competed in a NSW State Cup.
The plan states the NRL has put expansion back on the table, with the new State Cup competitions providing a pathway for clubs seeking to be part of the NRL in the long-term. It will be open for teams from areas such as Perth, Country New South Wales, New Zealand and Ipswich.
Quinn, who has spent some time off work recently and wasn’t aware of the strategic plan announcement that Tuesday morning, confessed he would need more time to go over the release.
But he was adamant a club can’t just be thrown at a city or town within the Country Rugby League without proper planning.
We don’t want a standalone team in the bush. We want to feed into an NRL club.
- Terry Quinn
“I can’t see the country having an NRL team. That’s a bit too ambitious,” he said.
“I think you’ll see a club linked with an NRL club. Like Western is with Penrith now.
“We don’t want a standalone team in the bush. We want to feed into an NRL club and I feel we can do that better through the under 16s, 18s and 20s.”
The Western Rams are currently aligned with the Penrith Panthers and a number of Panthers Regional Academy Program were held out west during the off-season while a host of the region’s most promising juniors are already playing lower grades with the NRL club.
The Penrith Panthers also had a side contest this season’s under 16s Andrew Johns Cup and the under 18s Laurie Daley Cup, the two junior country championships.
Those pathways are the main focus for Quinn and the Country Rugby League at this time and he said more funding is needed to to achieve success there.
Quinn has “spoken at length” with New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) officials in recent times in relation to expansion
“We want to grow into it,” he said of a regionally-based side.
“We want a pathway for kids to want to be a part of.
“We want to see them play for a side and then go into the NRL and if they can’t make it then they can still play for that State Cup side.”
Having juniors wanting to play rugby league is something Greenberg is determined to have as well.
"We will work hard to encourage more young people – boys and girls – to take up rugby league and remain in the game,” he said.
Quinn was also adamant any formation of a country-based side can not impact on regional competitions.
“We’re not opposed to it, as long as it is constructive and doesn’t destroy local footy,” he said.
“We want to help create pathways and develop juniors.”
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
