Mudgeeraba to enter new era

MUDGEERABA have been granted entry into Rugby League Gold Coast’s A grade competition in 2020, less than 12 months after their push for a maiden top-flight team was rejected.

Having worked closely with the governing body since being knocked back last October, the Redbacks’ dreams came true when the RLGC board rubberstamped their inclusion at a meeting on Tuesday night.

The club has this season made a compelling on-field case for an A grade berth, with the second and third grade sides both reaching grand finals and the under-20s making the semis.

However, president Alec Betham said it was the strength of the club’s off-field activities that had proved the major difference.

“(RLGC) looked at a lot of things … finances, facilities, the ability to take a gate at games. Those were some of the contributing factors,” second-year president Betham said.

“They were concerned we wouldn’t be able to do that. What negated that was our ability to take the club back from the management of Burleigh Bears.

“They held the lease for our facilities for 10 years but from the first of July we were able to take our own facilities back.

“The only way to be sustainable was to (have things in order) in the back of house.

“We have got over 600 players at the club. We fielded teams in division 1 in every age group. What we wanted was a pathway for our players. Everyone is stoked.”

Betham said the club was under no illusions of immediate success when they joined the seven-team competition, but said they were prepared to play the waiting game.

“We know that the next couple of years are going to be tough,” he said.

“We want to thank Rugby League Gold Coast. There was a few on the board that really helped our submission to get in this year.”

RLGC general manager Scott Dunshea said the Redbacks would be a welcome addition to A grade next season.

“The biggest thing for us was making sure they are sustainable heading forward,” he said. “We didn’t want a team in there for three or four years that then steps away.

“It’s going to be hard to begin with but they’ve got a good base to work from.”