Clubs consider latest plan to complete finals before holidays

Rugby League Ipswich board member David Nugent believes his sport has a ‘corporate citizen’ role working to finish the 2021 season. See the important issues being considered.

Brothers back Michael McDonald displays the skills which will hopefully be back on show when Ipswich rugby league resumes. Picture: Bruce Clayton

LOOKING after clubs and sponsors. Helping people enjoy the upcoming school holidays and supporting businesses.

Rugby League Ipswich board member David Nugent believes clubs have been given a common sense “return to play’’ road map to complete the 2021 season.

While the experienced Ipswich administrator knows it’s difficult pleasing everyone, he is confident the latest rugby league resumption plan will provide a measure of certainty.

“I’m a big one for the shared wisdom approach,’’ Nugent said.

“If you have a number of brains working on this, you are going to get a better outcome.

“It’s a problem shared is a problem halved.’’

Nugent chaired the latest three-hour meeting that came up with a series of solutions to save the Rugby League Ipswich senior and junior seasons.

Recently appointed board members Ken Kennedy and Sharon McRae were involved in preparing the way forward along with Nugent, interim chairman Anthony Breeze and David Martin.

QRL office staff also provided valuable assistance.

Nugent said clubs were given a detailed outline of proposed changes for officials and coaches to consider over the weekend.

He said club officials were welcome to respond early next week with any gaps or major issues that may need ironing out.

“I think we’ve got a good plan,’’ Nugent said.

“We learnt a bit from last year playing our grand final in the middle of October.

“The school holidays is a big deal because you’ve got all your volunteers wanting to go away.

“We want to be a good corporate citizen too.

“We realise that Queensland relies so heavily on the hospitality and tourism industries.

“If we don’t give a chance for people to go away and have their camping trips and their trips up to Port Douglas or whatever they might do, then we’re not doing the right thing by each other either.’’

Nugent said the board were “really conscious’’ of not interfering with that important time away.

“We rely so heavily on small businesses to be sponsors of our competition and of our teams,’’ he said.

“If we play through the school holidays, I think that would cruel some tourism aspects for people.’’

Rugby League Ipswich board member David Nugent.

Nugent said trying to get finals completed before the September school holidays was one of the major challenges.

Other issues included Saturday school sport for high school children, having match officials available, Ipswich Jets home games, and the availability of the North Ipswich Reserve, Alan Cumming and Len Johnson Ovals.

Volunteer availability and the desire to give them a break after the season concludes was another consideration along with summer sports commencing, player eligibility for finals and warmer weather.

Nugent said the Rugby League Ipswich board and QRL office staff finalised the proposal after last Wednesday night’s meeting.

“It’s really good to have that diversity of thought,’’ Nugent said, having been on the RLI board since 2016.

“The office staff were fantastic working in some cases out of hours around the clock to get this out before the weekend so that the clubs could have maximum time (to assess any issues).’’

Great photos before footy finals kick off

If current community sport restrictions are eased this week, a number of key decisions will be implemented. They include:

* Training can recommence from Monday, August 23, subject to approval and compliance with any Queensland Health directives;

* Games are planned to restart on Friday, August 27;

* Gala days are set down for under 6 (September 12), under 7 (August 29) and under 8 (August 28), including the completion of Tackle Ready programs;

* A round of fixtures still to be played in the under 9 to under 17 competitions;

* Finals series will be staged for teams from under 13 to A Grade;

* The senior grand finals are on Sunday, September 19 with junior finals on Friday, September 3 (Development League) and September 4 and 11 (Premier League);

* Video taping of remaining games to continue for under 13 to A Grade.

Brothers and Jets A-Grade teams will hopefully be muscling up again when Rugby League Ipswich competition is allowed to return. Picture: Bruce Clayton

Nugent hoped the revised playing conditions would come into effect when the community sport shutdown ends next Sunday afternoon.

“Fingers crossed it comes together and we can train on the Monday night and play on the Friday after,’’ he said.

“The intent of getting that plan out to the clubs on Friday was so that they could gear up to have people available at their venues . . . to train, to mark the fields, to mow the grass, whatever they need to do.

“To give them as much time to prepare to go back to training on Monday, the 23rd.’’

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