Central Coast and Newcastle Rugby League combine under-19 competitions

With just five teams in the competition this season, a player shortage has forced a massive change to the Central Coast Rugby League’s under-19s competition moving forward.

The youth grade of the Central Coast Rugby League senior division is set for its biggest shake-up in decades, with a reduction in playing numbers leading officials to amalgamate the competition with its Newcastle and Maitland equivalent.

Starting next season, the Central Coast under-19 competition will combine with the Newcastle and Maitland under-18.5 grade to form a single competition across the Central Coast-Hunter region.

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In what were four-way discussions between the CCRL, Newcastle Rugby League, Hunter Junior Rugby League and the NSWRL, the bodies have also opened the door for Wyong and The Entrance to enter teams in the Newcastle Rugby League under-19s competition if they so wish.

This competition, which is separate to the Newcastle and Maitland under-18.5 grade, features clubs that compete in the Denton Engineering Cup, the Hunter’s premier competition.

Given that the Roos and Tigers have teams in the Denton Cup first grade competition, it would allow for draw alignment in the under-19 grade.

The Central Coast under-19s competition is set for a massive shake-up. Picture: Sue Graham

The four league bodies also said that they would discuss the issue of allowing players to move between the various competitions, as well as other rules, over the coming months.

Commenting on the move to create a combined competition, Central Coast Rugby League president Gerard Andrews said: “It provides the opportunity for current under 17s and continuing under 19s players from both regions to participate in a competition with similar abilities resulting in both competitive balance and competition sustainability.”

Player shortage behind decision

The changes mark a huge departure in how the Central Coast under-19 competition has taken place in the past. Traditionally, all eight clubs in the Central Coast senior division fielded teams in the grade – along with reserves, opens and, in more recent years, league tag – with the games acting as curtain-raisers to the first grade fixture.

But under the new format involving various Hunter teams, the complex nature of the draw is likely to make it difficult for under-19 teams to regularly play at the same venue and on the same day as their respective first grade sides.

The matter of draw alignment and the inability of all club teams to play at the same ground on the same day has been an issue that has raised the ire of some clubs in the Central Coast competition this season, as several clubs have been unable to field a full complement of teams.

Wyong’s Zac Gillett is one of many players to progress from the under-19s to first grade in 2023. Picture: Sue Graham

One of the main reasons behind the lopsided draws, and indeed the driver behind the decision to amalgamate the Central Coast and Hunter competitions, is the player shortage in the under-19 age groups.

The issue is a longstanding and universal one across various sports, however the effects of Covid-19 have exacerbated the situation and led to a dramatic reduction of teams participating in this age group.

For example, the Central Coast under-19s competition has just five teams this year, down from a full complement of eight as recently as 2021.

The Newcastle and Maitland 18.5s also has just five teams, while in the Newcastle Rugby League under-19 competition – which Wyong and The Entrance have been invited to join – just six of the nine Newcastle clubs have entered teams this season.

“Player numbers, and as a result, team numbers in the under-18s and under-19s highest age group is an issue in all regions,” said Adam Devcich, the general manager of Newcastle Rugby League, who added that the changes will “give all players at that age across the Hunter and Central Coast regions an opportunity to play the level that best suits them in competitions that are sustainable”.