Long haul worries clubs

FEARS about the length of the Gold Coast District Rugby Union season have emerged on the eve of Round 1.

While rival competition Rugby League Gold Coast won’t kick off their season until late April after the Commonwealth Games, the senior 15-a-side code will get under way this Saturday. The draw will comprise of three games before a three-week gap for the Games and then 18 further regular season rounds.

A three-part finals series will culminate in a September 15 grand final.

Gold Coast District Rugby Union officials made a deliberate effort to start the competition before the Games in an attempt to attract interest from footballers who didn’t want to wait six more weeks to begin playing matches.

However, key figures from last year’s grand finalists have raised concerns.

Surfers Paradise playing coach Kris Burton referred to the way last year’s 17-round season dragged on at the end when a clear divide emerged between the finals and nonfinals sides.

Burton believes 2018 will be a much closer competition but remains worried about the player welfare impact.

“I think it will stretch too long,” he said.

“It’s the same thing as last year, looking at player welfare and guys playing longer.”

Griffith University Colleges winger Matt Blair agreed the season shaped as a gruelling campaign.

The Knights had several players injured by the time the 2017 decider arrived – Blair himself played with a busted AC shoulder joint.

“The length of the season is tough,” he said.

“It is a really long season.” Perennial underdogs, the Knights are shaping up well and Blair is hoping it could be a case of third time lucky after finishing runners-up to Surfers the past two seasons. They have a bye first-up and will instead host Darling Downs powerhouse Dalby in a trial tomorrow night.

Round 1 will see Surfers play Helensvale, Coolangatta Tweed meet Bond Pirates and Gold Coast Eagles face Palm Beach Currumbin.

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