Mustangs an NRL model
RUGBY LEAGUE: The focus of the Western Mustangs has naturally been their participation in the QRL statewide competitions.
In recent times they have renewed the push for inclusion into the Intrust Super Cup competition, continuing on the legacy of the Clydesdales.
But unwittingly, the Mustangs could serve as the perfect case study if an NRL team was to relocate to Toowoomba for the rest of the 2020 season.
Hastings Deering Colts coach Eugene Seddon knows better than most the intricacies of running a statewide league team out of Toowoomba.
The club conducts its high performance program out of The Fit Lab, a facility that received praise from a man regarded by some as the best rugby league coach of all time.
“If there were to move, there’s no reason why a team couldn’t base here,” Seddon said.
“The Fit Lab has its high performance centre, and talking to Steve Nance (former
Broncos strength and conditioning coach), he thinks its just as good as what NRL clubs have presently.
“When Wayne Bennett was up here, he made the same comment.
“When you’re talking about a training base, there’s a field that has hosted an NRL game.
“As far as the football department point of view, everything is already here.”
With the Mustangs endeavours, they’ve travelled the state from Cairns and Townsville, through to Mackay and central Queensland.
Seddon said with the combination of an airport and easy access to Brisbane, entry to and from Toowoomba hasn’t caused the slightest of concerns.
“Travel hasn’t been an issue. The bus services here and the airport at Wellcamp we’ve used a few times and it hasn’t been a problem,” he said.
“As far as teams flying in on a charter flight, there’s easy access for teams that need to fly into our region.
“If push comes to shove, this only strengthens and highlights the resources here for a (Mustangs) Intrust Super Cup push.
“If we can host an NRL team, what’s stopping us from hosting an ISC team?”
Toowoomba Regional Council deputy mayor Geoff McDonald echoed the sentiments of Seddon about the standard of the Toowoomba Sports Ground.
“We’ve been able to retrofit the oval, and because it is state government owned, it would receive good support from the state government to see it happen again,” McDonald said.
“It hosted Gold Coast vs St George Illawarra when they were getting ready for the Commonwealth Games, and this is a bit similar with it being potentially forced on them.
“One of the impediments of having NRL teams is the cost of having players here that the host club forgoes. It’s a bit different now, you can’t have the (same) number of people at the ground, which means there’s no better chance for regional towns.”