Grounds for promotion
MUDGEERABA are in talks to relocate their club in a landmark move that would financially underpin their maiden Rugby League Gold Coast A-grade entry.
The Redbacks are locked in battle with Helensvale to join the eight-team premier senior division in 2019 after news that Tweed Heads will withdraw from the competition to become a true representative outfit.
Mudgeeraba have never fielded an A-grade side in their 26-year history but have proudly developed talent such as Test players Darius Boyd and Ben Hannant.
“With 430-plus juniors year in, year out, the hard thing for us is when the kids get to a certain age the pathway for them kind of stops and they’ve had to look at other clubs that have the Agrades and so on,” president Alec Betham said.
“What we’re trying to do is build the pathway to keep the kids local.”
The Redbacks will have to prove that they meet various criteria to be promoted, including having the financial clout to support an A-grade side.
That’s where relocation plans come into play.
The Redbacks are in preliminary talks with Turner’s Engineering, who have bought 54ha of land behind Mudgeeraba Bowls Club that is proposed to become a home for greyhound and harness racing plus the Gold Coast Show.
“Where we are at the moment, we sit under a lease which is owned by Burleigh Bears so all income from say the bar, we don’t make anything on that,” Betham said.
“That as well is where we need to make sure we tick those boxes so financially in the eyes of the district we are meeting what they need.
“So if there is a possibility to move us in 2020 via Turner’s Engineering, it is going to open up so many doors for the club itself to standalone.
“It would be good for the community too because we would have a working bistro in there so that is jobs for people and what we’re looking at is training rooms downstairs so community organisations that we partner with, they can use the space as well.”
Another issue with their current Firth Park site – which could be turned into AFL fields if the Redbacks move – is the lack of ability to charge entry fees.
Mudgeeraba have enjoyed on-field success this season, with all three of their senior sides making finals.
Their top squad in the Doug Lipp Cup will meet Currumbin in the grand final qualifier on Sunday.