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<big>Canberra eyes fruitful partnership</big>
BY LEE GASKIN
The Canberra Raiders are hoping to replicate the success of their Souths Logan partnership when they return to the NSW Cup with western Sydney club Mounties.
The Raiders and Mounties signed off on the deal yesterday, which is expected to be ratified by the NSWRL.
Mounties currently field a team in the NSWRL's second-tier competition, the Bundaberg Red Cup, but with the assistance of the Raiders will be promoted to the NSW Cup next year.
Players not required in Canberra's match-day NRL squad will be filtered back to Mounties.
There will be no restrictions on the number of players the Raiders are required to field on a weekly basis.
A change in dual registration rules forced the Raiders to end their fruitful four-year association with Souths Logan Magpies.
With the help of Raiders-contracted players, the Magpies claimed the joint venture club's first Queensland Cup premiership in 2008.
Raiders coach David Furner hoped the Mounties and the NSW Cup would provide his squad's ''transition players'' with an adequate level of competition.
''The Souths Logan affiliation was tremendous,'' Furner said.
''With Mounties, we're looking at similar sort of structures.
''The main focus for the club is those transition players, that if they haven't played first grade they can develop in a competition ready for first grade.''
The Raiders' affiliation with a team in the NSW Cup also means the club can enter sides in the state's premier under-age competitions, SG Ball and Harold Matthews Cup.
Both Canberra teams were originally scrapped from this year's competitions before a compromise was reached.
NSWRL chief executive Geoff Carr was supportive of the Raiders joining forces with the Mounties for next season.
''It's very important the Raiders are back,'' Carr said.
''The Raiders became a member of the NSWRL in 1982, and it's great that they're back in our state's premier competition.''
Several Raiders players not considered for first-grade football this season, such as Travis Waddell, Mark Ioane and Mark Appleton, will remain with Souths Logan for the remainder of the year.
The rest will be allocated to Canberra Raiders Cup clubs today.
Mick Picker (Goulburn), Trevor Thurling (Queanbeyan Blues) and James Stuart (Tuggeranong) will return to their junior clubs.
Furner said the current situation wasn't ideal, but was one he was prepared to manage.
''The position we're in at the moment I've never been in before, nor has the club, in the sense we've had to send certain players to Souths Logan and [they] can't come back to the NRL and then we've got players in the local comp,'' he said.
''It's a well-run comp, they've got a lot of passion in each of the clubs here locally.
''It's just an odd one we've got to manage.
''It's about getting game time for the players so they're still on track if they're needed in first grade.''
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/canberra-eyes-fruitful-partnership/2211745.aspx?storypage=0
BY LEE GASKIN
The Canberra Raiders are hoping to replicate the success of their Souths Logan partnership when they return to the NSW Cup with western Sydney club Mounties.
The Raiders and Mounties signed off on the deal yesterday, which is expected to be ratified by the NSWRL.
Mounties currently field a team in the NSWRL's second-tier competition, the Bundaberg Red Cup, but with the assistance of the Raiders will be promoted to the NSW Cup next year.
Players not required in Canberra's match-day NRL squad will be filtered back to Mounties.
There will be no restrictions on the number of players the Raiders are required to field on a weekly basis.
A change in dual registration rules forced the Raiders to end their fruitful four-year association with Souths Logan Magpies.
With the help of Raiders-contracted players, the Magpies claimed the joint venture club's first Queensland Cup premiership in 2008.
Raiders coach David Furner hoped the Mounties and the NSW Cup would provide his squad's ''transition players'' with an adequate level of competition.
''The Souths Logan affiliation was tremendous,'' Furner said.
''With Mounties, we're looking at similar sort of structures.
''The main focus for the club is those transition players, that if they haven't played first grade they can develop in a competition ready for first grade.''
The Raiders' affiliation with a team in the NSW Cup also means the club can enter sides in the state's premier under-age competitions, SG Ball and Harold Matthews Cup.
Both Canberra teams were originally scrapped from this year's competitions before a compromise was reached.
NSWRL chief executive Geoff Carr was supportive of the Raiders joining forces with the Mounties for next season.
''It's very important the Raiders are back,'' Carr said.
''The Raiders became a member of the NSWRL in 1982, and it's great that they're back in our state's premier competition.''
Several Raiders players not considered for first-grade football this season, such as Travis Waddell, Mark Ioane and Mark Appleton, will remain with Souths Logan for the remainder of the year.
The rest will be allocated to Canberra Raiders Cup clubs today.
Mick Picker (Goulburn), Trevor Thurling (Queanbeyan Blues) and James Stuart (Tuggeranong) will return to their junior clubs.
Furner said the current situation wasn't ideal, but was one he was prepared to manage.
''The position we're in at the moment I've never been in before, nor has the club, in the sense we've had to send certain players to Souths Logan and [they] can't come back to the NRL and then we've got players in the local comp,'' he said.
''It's a well-run comp, they've got a lot of passion in each of the clubs here locally.
''It's just an odd one we've got to manage.
''It's about getting game time for the players so they're still on track if they're needed in first grade.''
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/canberra-eyes-fruitful-partnership/2211745.aspx?storypage=0
