CDRL club president backs radical proposal
A radical plan that would help the Cairns and District Rugby League work through a coronavirus-affected 2020 season could become a permanent feature of the competition, if one club president has his way.
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A radical plan that would help the Cairns and District Rugby League work through a coronavirus-affected 2020 season could become a permanent feature of the competition, if one club president has his way.
Mossman-Port Douglas Sharks president Jason Fasano is backing a proposal for the CDRL to divide its 11 clubs into two groups if and when community rugby league returns this year.
“I believe we should be playing in pools now and not travelling as far as what we did previously,” he said.
“Let’s just go into smaller groups, where we can have five or six clubs in our group and the southern group have five or six in theirs, and let’s just get on the paddock.
“If it can work this year, there’s no reason why it may not work next year and the year after that.
“For Mossman to go all the way to Tully or vice-versa, it’s a bloody long way to go.”
Fasano also proposed a top-eight finals system for a potential 2020 season with the top four sides from each pool.
“That way, almost everyone gets to play finals footy, bar three teams,” he said.
“Every game will be like a final — it will be a lot of fun and a lot of entertainment.”
The Sharks would have been shooting for a third straight CDRL premiership this season, but Fasano said winning the competition wouldn’t be the focus once back on the field.
“Our squad, like every club, I think, is just smashed,” he said.
“Who knows what we’re going to throw on the paddock when it comes around, but you’ve just got to give it a shot and have a bit of fun.
“I know that at the end of the year, they’ll still call it a premiership, but it probably won’t be.
“It’s just about keeping guys on the paddock and trying to make do.”
Fasano said, in any case, a potential 2020 season should be wrapped up by the start of November.
“Regardless of what’s gone on this year, you still need that off-season for that ‘let’s go again next year’ sort of scenario,” he said.
Community rugby league in Queensland remains suspended up to June 1.
A possible return is still contingent on a review of the current Queensland Health directive, which remains in place until May 19.
Originally published as CDRL club president backs radical proposal