Hervey Bay Seagulls fight to stay alive
The president of the Hervey Bay Seagulls says the rugby league club will fight tooth and nail to not forfeit after sending out an SOS for players.
Fraser Coast
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The president of the Hervey Bay Seagulls says the rugby league club will fight tooth and nail to not forfeit games after sending out an SOS for player recruitment on their Facebook page.
After defeating Past Brothers 34-14 to win the 2022 Bundaberg Rugby League grand final, the Seagulls have flown into a perfect storm in this campaign, with players moving on to other clubs, retirements and injuries to senior players all hitting at the same time.
That in turn has led to defeats in all six rounds of the competition, with losses of 62-4, 70-8, 50-0, 76-8 and 84-6, before last week’s 20-0 loss at the hands of Past Brothers.
Joey Witteman is in his first year as president of the club which is also celebrating its 50th year.
A former junior at the Seagulls, Witteman said there had been talk within the club that the A-grade side could be forced to forfeit games, which in turn could lead to them dropping out of the BRL.
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But the president said he was determined that was not going to happen.
“We’re just trying to make sure we can turn up every week,” he said.
“I don’t want to have to pull the team, especially it being our 50th year and us being reigning premiers.
“We are going to get through this 100 per cent.
“The community support behind us has been phenomenal and despite getting beaten by 50+ points every week the players are putting their bodies on the line.
“They don’t care about the scoreboard. It’s just about doing it for each other.
"The noise when we scored our one try against the Wallaroos when we lost 84-6 was amazing, so I know the support is there."
The club’s Facebook’s message called for players to help the senior sides, but the president said the junior ranks were in good shape.
“If we can get over this speed hump, we will be OK,” he said.
“It takes a lot more courage to turn up every week and get bashed and lose 50+ every week than it does to turn up and win.
“When you’re on a winning streak you’re on a high and when you’re on that losing streak and you just can’t kind of get a break, it’s tough trying to keep that morale up.
“But our juniors have to be one of the strongest in the whole of the Wide Bay.
“This year we have more than 100 kids just in under-12s and our under-15s and under-18s are also in good shape.
“I know we’ve been down this path before. We’ve just got to find a way to stay above it.
“We have to fight. That’s all we can do.”
BRL chairman Mike Ireland was sensitive to the Seagulls’ plight and said the league would do all it could to help.
“We don’t want any club dropping out,” he said.
“Every club goes through it. You look back probably eight or nine years ago, Waves in Bundaberg were in the same trouble and a couple of other clubs have been through it more recently.
“We just have to help them work through it.
“They did lose a lot of players from last year and that’s not an ideal situation to win a premiership and then struggle the following year.
“The coach going to Easts and players following him also made it difficult.
“But we’re prepared to help them and I know the other four or five clubs are very keen to give them a hand if they can.
“If we can help them out in any way, we certainly will.”
Here is the club’s Facebook message:
After being 2022 BRL premiership winners, the Hervey Bay Seagulls have been dealt a heavy blow with a loss of players from last season due to retirement and relocations.
In its 50th year, the seagulls are struggling to attract enough committed players for both senior grades - reserve and a-grade.
This predicament could result in heartbreaking news for the community as forfeiting senior grades could result in removal from the BRL competition making it harder to return in future years.
The Seagulls are on a recruitment drive for dedicated players to save our club. Whether reserve or a-grade, we want you.
Registration is completely free and covers your insurance and playing kit (including shorts and socks yours to keep) and a bus for away games to Bundaberg (only four Bundaberg games remain). If you’re interested, come down to Ralph Stafford Park, Hervey Bay Tuesday & Thursday nights 6-7pm and show your commitment! This isn’t just about saving senior grades, it’s about saving Hervey Bay seagulls for the future generations to come through!
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