Save Our Sides Protest Rally - SUN 05FEB11

[galahs]

I have been witnessing the AFL stuff in my area (concord) and Penrith and have been extremely impressed. I see it as a good thing not a threat.

League should be worried that people are forming those opinions.

Don't be under any doubt, AFL and NRL are not going to work together hand in hand.
They are fighting for the limited resources. limited sponsorship money, limited talent pool, limited tv rights money etc etc

 

[galahs]

Just on this point….

**_- Teams need to be able to train and play on grounds of their own choosing_**
.....in my experience most junior grounds are owned by councils and to a lesser degree, schools and clubs.

Its not a right for clubs to play there, its a privilege.
Litter, vandalism, graffitti, noise, alcohol, parking, local residents are all issues clubs need to heed

Is Wests JRL somehow overiding councils/schools or whoever owns the particuar grounds certain clubs arent allowed to play/train at....I know these few clubs have decided to go to another district...whats the story on this issue?

Anyone?

NSWRL arn't letting East Campbelltown Eagles, Campbelltown City Kangaroos and the Macarthur Bulls train or play on their own home grounds for playing in a competition outside their district (they are playing in the neighbouring group 6 comp as they don't believe the Campbelltown comp is good enough standard)

It has got as silly as clubs getting threatened with expulsion because kids from these clubs were playing touch footy in a park, and a "spy" dobbed them in to the Junior League.

The whole thing is so petty, and childish.

There is obviously an issue if 3 clubs have left for greener pastures… and there is a bigger problem at hand that people are actively out their trying to make it harder for these clubs to survive, and for the kids of the club who just want to play footy.

 

[Goose]

Just on this point….

**_- Teams need to be able to train and play on grounds of their own choosing_**
.....in my experience most junior grounds are owned by councils and to a lesser degree, schools and clubs.

Its not a right for clubs to play there, its a privilege.
Litter, vandalism, graffitti, noise, alcohol, parking, local residents are all issues clubs need to heed

Is Wests JRL somehow overiding councils/schools or whoever owns the particuar grounds certain clubs arent allowed to play/train at....I know these few clubs have decided to go to another district...whats the story on this issue?

Anyone?

NSWRL arn't letting East Campbelltown Eagles, Campbelltown City Kangaroos and the Macarthur Bulls train or play on their own home grounds for playing in a competition outside their district (they are playing in the neighbouring group 6 comp as they don't believe the Campbelltown comp is good enough standard)

It has got as silly as clubs getting threatened with expulsion because kids from these clubs were playing touch footy in a park, and a "spy" dobbed them in to the Junior League.

The whole thing is so petty, and childish.

There is obviously an issue if 3 clubs have left for greener pastures… and there is a bigger problem at hand that people are actively out their trying to make it harder for these clubs to survive, and for the kids of the club who just want to play footy.

That is a joke.

petty & childish is an accurate description.

I reckon that id support a cause that was fixing these problems. The demand list seems to focus on other stuff however.

 

[galahs]

The problem is we have so many issues tangled up in a giant web out our way that are all holding back the game.

We need to cut them all down and get on with providing opportunities for local kids to play footy locally.

Make it too hard and they will go elsewhere!

 

[Yossarian]

Just on this point….

**_- Teams need to be able to train and play on grounds of their own choosing_**
.....in my experience most junior grounds are owned by councils and to a lesser degree, schools and clubs.

Its not a right for clubs to play there, its a privilege.
Litter, vandalism, graffitti, noise, alcohol, parking, local residents are all issues clubs need to heed

Is Wests JRL somehow overiding councils/schools or whoever owns the particuar grounds certain clubs arent allowed to play/train at....I know these few clubs have decided to go to another district...whats the story on this issue?

Anyone?

NSWRL arn't letting East Campbelltown Eagles, Campbelltown City Kangaroos and the Macarthur Bulls train or play on their own home grounds for playing in a competition outside their district (they are playing in the neighbouring group 6 comp as they don't believe the Campbelltown comp is good enough standard)

It has got as silly as clubs getting threatened with expulsion because kids from these clubs were playing touch footy in a park, and a "spy" dobbed them in to the Junior League.

The whole thing is so petty, and childish.

There is obviously an issue if 3 clubs have left for greener pastures… and there is a bigger problem at hand that people are actively out their trying to make it harder for these clubs to survive, and for the kids of the club who just want to play footy.

That is a joke.

petty & childish is an accurate description.

I reckon that id support a cause that was fixing these problems. The demand list seems to focus on other stuff however.

I'm not necessarily agreeing with them but I can understand the NSWRL's position. Letting big teams leave their divisions to play elsewhere can lead to a lot of problems. I do have sympathy for the argument that the focus should be on improving things within Wests Juniors but there are plenty of examples of clubs leaving to play in other comps because they think it is more profitable/competitive (I'm thinking of Wyong up my way for one). The end result is normally a further weakening of the comp they leave reducing the standard there even more.

 

[galahs]

Yes you are right on one account. Them leaving has weaken the Wests junior Comp.

but the arangement became unworkable.

For example, when East Campbelltown had a Bundy Cup side…
they often had to move players up from A grade to fill in for injuries at Bundy Cup. Maybe they played 1 or 2 games at Bundy Cup then were dropped back to A Grade.

Well the junior league now classed them as a 40 point player so they couldn't fit in the sides point system and ended up having to sit out the rest of the season.

coaches missing thur 5pm deadline by 15 minutes to have players rego in because they were stuck in M5 traffic, meaning kids couldn't play on saturday. Even though phone calls were made explaining why they will be late.

Stuff like that.

in the end its about getting kids on the footy field isn't it?

Wests Junior League needs to be started fresh.

 

[galahs]

The Macarthur Advertise and Macarthur Chronicle will run articles on the Protest this week.

 

[Yossarian]

Yes you are right on one account. Them leaving has weaken the Wests junior Comp.

but the arangement became unworkable.

For example, when East Campbelltown had a Bundy Cup side…
they often had to move players up from A grade to fill in for injuries at Bundy Cup. Maybe they played 1 or 2 games at Bundy Cup then were dropped back to A Grade.

Well the junior league now classed them as a 40 point player so they couldn't fit in the sides point system and ended up having to sit out the rest of the season.

coaches missing thur 5pm deadline by 15 minutes to have players rego in because they were stuck in M5 traffic, meaning kids couldn't play on saturday. Even though phone calls were made explaining why they will be late.

Stuff like that.

in the end its about getting kids on the footy field isn't it?

Wests Junior League needs to be started fresh.

The Bundy Cup has a lot to answer for. The Entrance have a similar issue up on the CC. They can barely field an A Grade team because the CCRL won't allow players to back-up from Bundy Cup. Playing in that ego fest almost killed a few other teams up here. Woy Woy is still recovering…

 

[system]

If I may I would like to seek some clarification on some of the junior football issues.

* Where does the root of the problem lie in the schism between some clubs (who went to Goup 6) and the administration of the junior league in the Macarthur area?

* Is there widespread corruption and bad faith dealings within the admin of said junior league?

* Is the 2012 State Cup side managed by the same administration in whole or it part?
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Some other issues.
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* The reduction in funding by Wests Ashfield which seems to be attributed to intervention by Wests Tigers by some, isn't it more plausible that the downturn in profit and projected profit by the clubs own auditing is responsible for the funding reluctance and sever level drop than some overlord intervention by WT?

* Wouldn't a Bundy Red Cup team based out of Campbelltown carrying the Wests Tigers logo achieve much the same end in terms of branding and association or even greater than a Western Suburbs Magpies State Cup team? Conversely a Wests Tigers State Cup side playing out of the Macarthur and a Bundy Red side playing out of Leichhardt both named Wests Tigers?

* I have heard rumblings that the rental charge for CSS is astronomical compared with any other NSW Cup ground and that the Council gouges far too much money from the club. It is the reason that after the refit no NSW Cup finals games were reallocated to the stadium. Can anyone confirm this?

Just quickly I still believe the protest rally is trying to serve two purposes that are compatible only in the minds of some.

The issue of Junior League should be geared up for and representations made to the Independent Commission. The old admins will do nothing as it serves their interest not to. I think you would find a champion in Phil Gould as he has a great passion for Western and South Western Sydney junior leagues. If you have not already (I am assuming you have) Group 6 clubs should be invited to take part as the issues of Junior Football affect them as well. However if the rally becomes less about the long maligned state of the junior leagues and more about ranting against WT, betrayal and the guaranteed handful of morons who call for the disbanding of the JV you will quickly lose high profile support because they are smart enough to realise that you do not solve the root issue by attacking the apex club of the region

The other issues regarding NRL games and greater involvement in the region are Wests Tigers issues and should be addressed separately.

Finally be careful that organisation is properly handled and that guidelines for behaviour are well laid out and known by all taking part. Obviously the best course of action would be keynote speakers.

 

[1_4_chicken_chips]

Just on this point….

**_- Teams need to be able to train and play on grounds of their own choosing_**
.....in my experience most junior grounds are owned by councils and to a lesser degree, schools and clubs.

Its not a right for clubs to play there, its a privilege.
Litter, vandalism, graffitti, noise, alcohol, parking, local residents are all issues clubs need to heed

Is Wests JRL somehow overiding councils/schools or whoever owns the particuar grounds certain clubs arent allowed to play/train at....I know these few clubs have decided to go to another district...whats the story on this issue?

Anyone?

well i do know two sides from liverpool were packing up kit and heading to the dogs comp an under 12s and an under 16s.but that was because of internal problems within their club …

 

[1_4_chicken_chips]

Some people are trying to sell 3 clubs going to group 6 as gospel,, sides from those clubs went over but still had heaps of teams in the main wests comp ..i cant recall the mccarthur bulls how many sides did they have?
The juniors are travelling along pretty strongly inho.
campbelltown city and easts campbelltown are still in the wests comp for 2012..the mcarthur bulls , well who made that club up to start some BS.

 

[galahs]

Campbelltown Eagles and Campbelltown City Kangaroos only have their senior sides playing in Group 6\. Their junior sides still play in the Wests junior Comp.

unlike other local comps, Wests junior League runs both the juniors (kids 16 and under) and the seniors (18's and up). In most other regional comps seperate boards run each of these age divisions.

Last year Wests junior League had 5 senior A grade teams in its competition and one was made up in the last minute by the Wests Tigers sending fringe U20's players back to boost the numbers. That is terrible for a region our size.

Now to clarrify, Western Suburbs Magpies Football club and Wests junior League are completely seperate entities. Since 2001 they have only been linked by name.

Yes, if Wests Tigers had a full time bundy Cup and NSW Cup team based out of Campbelltown that would probably fullfill the areas senior representative requirements.

Campbelltown Council charges close to $2000 a game for the NSW Cup matches, and $20,000 a game for the Wests Tigers.
The biggest issue with the Magpies playing at Campbelltown Stadium is that we can't run our own catering or bar. So we lose money on the hiring of the ground. Financially we'd be better off playing at a smaller suburban ground, of which non are of suitable standard out in Sydney's South West. ANOTHER ISSUE WE NEED RESOLVED!

I agree… the protest rally is definately NOT about disolving the Wests Tigers or bringing back the Magpies in the NRL. But it is definately about getting a fair go from them, which we definately are not.

 

[galahs]

Front page of the Chronicle!
Back page of the Chronicle!

http://digitaledition.macarthurchronicle.com.au/

 

[Guest]

All well and good but it's unreasonable and unrealistic to expect the Tigers to relocate the Toyota Cup squad out there. One thing Concord offers is unity and stability for the Wests Tigers and they're not going to ruin that by having the Toyota Cup squad train elsewhere.

 

[Fraze23]

Instead of complaining about the problem, shouldn't those concerned take action and perhaps run for the board of Western Suburbs Junior Rugby League?
That way you could have direct input and solve the problems that are occuring and change the direction that rugby league in the area is headed.
I apologise if this has already been suggested. It just seems to me that your issue lies with Western Suburbs Junior Rugby League, not the Wests Tigers itself.

 

[wtfl1981]

Willow - there is unity for WT NRL and NYC at concord but WT is a 50/50 jv representing the inner west + south west of sydney (not mentioning the 2 x 1908 clubs) difficult geographically yes, but WT need a better presence in the macarthur area from grass roots footy development and administration to the 'issue' of only 4 nrl games a year at a great stadium that the campbelltown council and league community has invested alot into over the years.
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[Yossarian]

Willow - there is unity for WT NRL and NYC at concord but WT is a 50/50 jv representing the inner west + south west of sydney (not mentioning the 2 x 1908 clubs) difficult geographically yes, but WT need a better presence in the macarthur area from grass roots footy development and administration to the 'issue' of only 4 nrl games a year at a great stadium that the campbelltown council and league community has invested alot into over the years.
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The JV is between Balmain and Wests not regions of Sydney (inner-west/South-west). I'm happy to listen to your other arguments but to suggest the WT is a geographical union is starting from a false basis.

 

[wtfl1981]

Well its never going to be a geographical union. My point is WT should pay more attention to the macarthur area then WT currently do so (not saying more than inner west but atleast equal to)

St george-illawarra have a good working balance between kogarah and wollongong (train at both etc) that formula didnt harm them taking a NRL premiership in 2010\. WT could still have a HQ at concord but i see no harm in venturing out to ctown or uws macarthur grounds to show that WT is also campbelltown's NRL team.
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[system]

All Dragons football operations were run out of Wollongong under bennet and Oki Jubilee was only used for training in the lead up to playing there

 

[Muffstar]

From the Telegraph

FOUNDATION club Western Suburbs Magpies are about to approach their final winter in Sydney before they vanish once and for all.
But the diehards out west are not prepared to go quietly, organising a protest rally on February 5 to fight for survival.

When the Magpies merged with Balmain in 1999 to form the Wests Tigers, one of the agreements was Wests and Balmain maintain their own identities in the NSW Cup.

But as of 2013, Wests Tigers plan to field just one team in the Cup to save money for junior development - meaning Wests Magpies will cease to exist at senior level.

Officials at Wests have privately fumed they have received the raw end of the deal from the Wests Tigers marriage. They do not appear on the Wests Tigers logo, and in recent years have watched all NRL fringe players sent to Balmain.

Magpies chairman Paul Dillon last night said he was disappointed with the Wests Tigers and their plans to enter just one team in the Cup - even if it sounded the death knell of the same club that made Tommy Raudonikis, Noel Kelly and Keith Holman household names.

Even if they wanted to go it alone, the Magpies could not afford it as major backers Wests Ashfield, who spend $300,000 on the Cup side, will end their association at season's end."We're very disappointed with the Wests Tigers, and what should have been a wonderful celebration has come to this," Dillon said.

"The agreement was the Wests Tigers be the NRL side, and Wests and Balmain remain in the NSW Cup. We offered to the Tigers to play in the NSW Cup with a Magpies jersey and stick a Tiger on the sleeve but they said no."

Dillon said there were disgruntled junior clubs in the region who had been barred from training and playing in the Campbelltown district. He said the protest also wanted to highlight the need for more than four NRL games to be played at Campbelltown.

The merger has meant Wests Tigers have needed to spend up to $1 million annually to support two NSW Cup teams.

Tigers chief executive Stephen Humphreys said last night that junior development programs needed to be a higher priority than running two State Cup sides.

"In my opinion Wests Balmain and Wests Tigers spend an inordinate amount of time, money and effort on the NSW Cup, and I believe we'd all be far better off if some of that time, effort and money was redirected into the junior leagues and junior development programs," he said.

"I've expressed that view to the Wests Tigers directors."

Western Suburbs Magpies will maintain an identity in the junior representative competitions but cease to exist at senior level.