CRL decision shocks Coffs

A DECISION by CRL to award hosting rights for the 2012 under-18 championships to Wingham ahead of Coffs Harbour has stunned local sporting officials.

A golden opportunity to showcase the rich talent flowing from Group 2 rugby league nurseries has been hampered by an unpopular CRL decision. . Picture: Trevor Veale

A DECISION by Country Rugby League to award hosting rights for the 2012 under-18 championships to Wingham ahead of Coffs Harbour has stunned local sporting officials.

Coffs Harbour City Council made the bid to host the carnival on April 14-15 next year at BCU International Stadium and Group 2 chairman Greg Mayhew attended a CRL meeting in Sydney that voted on the proposal.

But the decision went 45-4 to Wingham, with only two votes held by Mayhew and two by South Coast Group 7 delegates favouring Coffs Harbour.

Sources say just days before the meeting Coffs Harbour was the only applicant and chief administrator Jim Anderson was told to keep a weekend free in the draw, as Group 2 would be hosting.

However, Mayhew said that the night before the vote he was told by a neighbouring Group 3 official about the late bid entered by Wingham and that Coffs Harbour's submission would fail.

"Jokingly, I asked if that meant Port Macquarie in the middle should be host and he then told me Wingham was going to get it," he said.

"Obviously I thought he was pulling my leg, as comparing the two facilities is like chalk and cheese.

"After speaking in favour of Coffs I was still fairly certain of success and must say I was totally shocked by the decision."

It's no secret in league circles that Group 2 is seen as "offside" with the senior body.

Tensions have risen since a series of failed appeals over the defunct Gimbisi Valley and Dunghutti clubs.

Local officials have been critical of inaction at the highest levels in the face of encroachment by rival codes, particularly the expansion of AFL and the Sydney Swans.

Most recently the Group lodged a complaint over the standard of accommodation allocated to the senior team at Narrabri during the representative season, which is known to have left noses out of joint.

Asked if it was possible that the failure of the bid from Coffs Harbour was payback, Mayhew replied: "I can't confirm that one way or another but if somebody took that view, it would be interesting.

"In a straight comparison between the two venues, Coffs Harbour wins hands down on every count.

"There are six regions from all across the state coming for this and just the accommodation alone leaves Coffs way in front."

Mayhew hopes the decision was sparked by a need to take the game to areas where resuscitation is needed most.

"If that's Wingham or Dongdingalong, I hope all those that voted so heavily one way realise that other codes have targeted Coffs Harbour and it's a region that needs help," he said.

"After a couple of lean years, hard work will see a great many talented under-18s playing for Group 2 next season, and it would have been an enormous boost to rugby league to have them playing in front of home crowds, on home soil, against the best in the state.

"I think the decision not to let that happen was wrong and totally embarrassing."

Sports Unit manager Nikki Greenwood said she had not been officially notified of the result of the bid and heard about the decision from a television news report.

"We always follow up our submissions and as soon as possible, I'll go through official channels to see what the story is," she said.

Originally published as CRL decision shocks Coffs