The creation of a new Junior Rugby League company to ensure the future of the game in the Macarthur region was met with overwhelming support at a meeting involving the NSWRL and junior clubs at Wests Campbelltown on Wednesday 27 February.
The Wests Tigers Macarthur District Junior Rugby League Ltd will be responsible for overseeing all junior competitions in the region.
The meeting was attended by NSWRL Chief Executive David Trodden and saw a five-person board elected from the representatives of the 12 clubs in the region.
“The Macarthur region is an important nursery for Rugby League and the decision to launch a new entity to manage competition in the area is exciting for the future of the game in the region,” Trodden said.
“The decision reached by the parties last night is an important one and a positive step forward allowing clubs to now get on with preparations for the 2019 competition season, to be known as the Wests Tigers Macarthur District Junior Rugby League.”
The NSWRL has already delivered on several initiatives for the region including the delivery of iPads to help with online registrations, a strategic planning session for clubs and stakeholders, while the appointment of an administrator is near completion.
A season launch will be held at Wests Campbelltown on 7 March at which the new body’s official logo and website will be unveiled.
Wests Group Macarthur Chief Executive Tony Mathew said: “I think it’s fantastic. It’s an enormous step forward and with the collective weight of the NSWRL, Wests Tigers, Wests Magpies, Wests Campbelltown and the support of the local clubs, we see it as only a positive step.
“Collectively with the amount of resources that we will all contribute without any question it has to be an enormous success.
“The opportunity to align everything with Wests Tigers with creating pathways regarding coaching and development will be a significant component for change and we look forward to seeing the outcomes.”
Wests Tigers General Manager Football Kelly Egan said: “We at Wests Tigers have always supported initiatives for the propagation of Junior League in the Macarthur and Liverpool areas. We look forward to supporting the positive outcomes which have resulted from recent decisions.
“We thank the Junior League clubs, Dave Trodden from the NSWRL and Wests Leagues Campbelltown for their ongoing support of Junior League in the district and look forward to an exciting 2019 Junior League season.”
Liverpool Catholic Club Secretary Renea Smith, who was elected to the new board, said: “We’re looking forward to the future alongside the clubs within the area.
“The support from NSWRL has been excellent and we have a strong direction of where we want to go and are looking forward to the start of the season.”
