Mustangs future looks bright
EACH weekend The Chronicle sport team looks at pressing issues on the Saturday Soapbox.
Q: Should the success of the Western Mustangs under 18s and under 20s this season lead to admission into the Intrust Super Cup?
Ben Drewe: THE success of the current crop of Mustangs under 18s and under 20s are prime examples of why the push for inclusion in the Intrust Super Cup is so important.
Toowoomba can certainly produce the talent, especially as former Highfields and Clydesdales junior Brodie Croft has been selected in the Queensland Residents team on top of being considered to take over from Cooper Cronk at Melbourne next season.
There is great talent produced in the region but I don’t think one strong year on the paddock in under-age competitions warrants automatic inclusion.
Sure, it is a motivation to get things happening soon so these talented kids can stay in the area, but the business case will be the thing that now gets the Mustangs over the line.
Anton Rose: I THINK the region will have to be a bit patient about this.
Yes, the Mustangs are going great right now but it has taken almost an era of success for regional clubs to get a sniff of Intrust Super Cup action.
Toowoomba certainly has the talent, but with any big organisational decision there is a mountain of red tape to get through.
Let’s just hope that the Mustangs carry this season’s success over for a few years to come.
Glen McCullough: I DON’T have enough knowledge of the bridge between state under-age and senior rugby league to pass an opinion. But I know someone who does.
Mustangs chairman Paul Reedy has steered a steady course for our region’s representative rugby league future since taking on the task of trying to resurrect the then floundering Toowoomba Clydesales.
I have nothing but admiration for the leadership and judgment he’s shown to get us to this healthy stage.
I recall doing one of the first “Clydesdales revival” stories with him back in 2010 and being impressed with his measured approach to climbing that mountain.
He’s hardly put a foot wrong since and I’m sure Reedo will know when the time is right to take the next leap.
Q: With the temperature dropping this week, training for winter sports becomes far less enticing. What is your best excuse to get out of training?
Anton Rose: NO ONE questions “the runs”.
It’s a classic go-to that stops all queries in its tracks – nobody wants any further graphic detail of your plight and leaves you to watch Seven Year Switch in peace.
An old favourite of mine however is “dog ate my boots”. I haven’t had a dog since I was nine.
It’s exactly the reason why I never offered to host one of the after-game sessions at my house.
I can imagine the befuddlement on their faces as they scour the house for a canine companion only to find seven tabs of catch-up TV open on my web browser.
Just suck it up next time is my advice.
Ben Drewe: THE flu would be my go-to move.
There is always so much of it around at the moment and you want to do everything you can to beat it so you’ll be right for the weekend.
The flu is a logical choice. You can also appear considerate to your team mates as well by saying that you don’t want to give it to anything else.
There you go, how thoughtful and considerate is that.
TAB DIVIDENDS