LEAGUE DRAMA ROLLS ON
THE Rugby League Gold Coast board have beaten a race against the clock to break a club boycott but a State Government slip-up could mean it has all been for nought.
The Coast’s governing body has scrambled to assemble a season draw and nail down financial information in response to a Friday deadline set by a block of nine clubs, who threatened to walk away from the season last Sunday.
The disgruntled nine, which included A Grade sides Currumbin, Mudgeeraba, Ormeau and Runaway Bay, demanded information on playing dates, venue numbers and financial particulars no later than yesterday in an ultimatum leaked to the Bulletin.
Rugby League Gold Coast have delivered on two of those demands but were unable to clarify on venue numbers after a health department delay prevented the release of information on easing Stage 3 COVID-19 restrictions.
Competition manager Brendon Lindsay said the board had done everything in its power to answer the clubs questions by deadline.
“The last piece is the State Government and unfortunately that’s out of our control,” he said.
“We were hopeful we could have included that info but we couldn’t because it hasn’t been announced. That will be last piece of information our clubs will be looking at.”
A nine-week junior season will begin on July 24, with a senior season of the same length starting one week later.
The final two weekends of September will host grand finals for juniors (September 18-20) and seniors (September 25-27).
Returning clubs will buoyed by significant financial support from RLGC, Queensland Rugby League and Australian Rugby League Commission, Lindsay said.
RLGC has elected to waive all player administration fees for 2020, slashing an expected $100,000 off the cost of playing rugby league for the community.
Further expenses will be saved with an ARLC payment of $500,000, which a QRL spokesman said would cover the insurance costs of every junior club in the state.
The rollout of those funds will be handled by QRL’s southeast Queensland division, with details to be confirmed next week.
Rugby League Gold Coast have committed to invest $40,000 towards “senior and junior costs” in the region, supported by another $44,000 from QRL towards senior football and referee costs on the Coast.
“There has been a lot of work in the financial space to try to make the season work and honestly it’s been needed, most definitely,” Lindsay said.
“We’ll be able to cover some costs, like referees, and portions of bills.”