Central Coast Rugby League: Mixed emotions as new-look under-19s competition kicks off

With some clubs leaving the competition and others returning, there are mixed emotions as the Central Coast RL under-19s prepare for a delayed kick-off to the season.

There is a sense of both excitement and frustration around Central Coast rugby league circles as the local under-19s competition is finally set to kick off this weekend.

Initially scheduled to start on May 5, three weeks after the kick-off of the other RLCC grades, the competition was ultimately delayed by another week due to last weekend’s wet weather.

Six teams – Erina, Kincumber, Ourimbah-Berkeley Vale, Terrigal, Umina and Woodberry – will compete in what is a very different-looking 19s competition in 2024, with just two of last year’s five clubs fielding a team.

One of the key features is the amount of new or returning teams to the grade.

Umina will field an under-19s team again after a long absence, Terrigal returns after a year without a youth side and Ourimbah will have its first presence in the grade since 2021 after entering a joint team with Berkeley Vale.

In addition, Hunter side Woodberry will join the competition for the first time as a late inclusion after the Warriors’ Newcastle and Hunter Rugby League under-19s competition fell apart.

“We’re full of excitement. We’re obviously moving into a competition that’s unknown to us but we’re really happy that we’ve kept our main playing group together and we can’t wait,” said Woodberry president John Leao.

However arguably the biggest change is the absence of traditional heavyweights The Entrance and Wyong, who have followed their Denton Cup teams in joining the Newcastle Rugby League under-19s competition in what is somewhat of a controversial decision locally.

Initially announced last year as part of broader plans to merge the Central Coast and NHRL under-19s competitions, the CCRL and NewRL boards said the proposals to allow the Roos and Tigers to head north would “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”.

But it’s clear that the decision isn’t universally popular.

“Rather than look after the comp and stop taking from other clubs, they then take their teams into the Newcastle comp,” said Terrigal president Dave Lyons.

“I don’t why they’re taking them out of the local area, it’s got me beat why they’d almost want to sabotage the local comp, Wyong and The Entrance. Wyong does a lot for the local comp in a lot of other ways, but in this regard I think it’s silly.”

Terrigal will field an under-19s team again in 2024. Picture: Sue Graham

Indeed, much of the criticism has focused on a perception that the clubs are leaving the local competition in a difficult position during a time when playing numbers in the under-19s age group have been thin.

While the proposed merger of the CCRL and NHRL under-19s competitions was designed to create a kind of second-tier youth grade across the Hunter-Central Coast region with a healthy number of teams, the plans were rejected by Central Coast clubs over concerns the extra travel would affect registration numbers.

This meant that Wyong and The Entrance’s departure to Newcastle could have left the local competition in a tough spot.

In fact, the competition was set to have just five teams in 2024 until the collapse of the NHRL 19s and some quick thinking saw Woodberry join as a sixth side in late April.

“We could have had seven and with Woodberry we could have had eight – that would have been better than having a five-team comp,” said Kincumber president Lyndon Duncan. “But now that it’s happened there’s no point whingeing about it.”

The decision start of the under-19s season one three rounds after the other grades was based on calculations of a five-team comp, however Woodberry’s inclusion has now allowed for an even 15-round season without byes.

“Having that sixth team in there is awesome. And big ups to Woodberry, because from my understanding they’re going to have to travel most weeks,” said the Kincumber president.

RLCC seniors chairperson Scott Openshaw said while the Roos and Tigers have been given permission to enter the Newcastle under-19s competition this year, applications will be assessed on a year-by-year basis.

“We’ve allowed it go through this year. But going forward, all teams that wish to play in the Newcastle competition will have to apply with Rugby League Central Coast, and decisions will be made accordingly.”

Despite the frustrations of having just six teams, Kincumber’s Lyndon Duncan said he can see some positives from the departure of Wyong and The Entrance.

“I know this sounds silly, but I think it might have helped Ourimbah come back because they had more people to choose from. Toukley got pretty close (to fielding a team) as well.

“If it means that we can get those Toukleys and Budgewois and Ourimbahs back, hopefully it’s going to be for the better.”

A combined Ourimbah-Berkeley Vale team (in black and white) will feature in the under-19s competition. Photo: supplied

Duncan suggested that without the two largest clubs, who often have much of the more elite junior talent on the Coast, some other prospective under-19s players may have felt less apprehension about strapping on their boots with their local clubs.

“If you look at the clubs that are left, except for Erina, there are no leagues clubs, no money clubs. They’re just boys who want to play footy now, not those who are trying to make the NRL. Now it’s more ‘I want to play for my local club, let’s go. I don’t have to deal with these clubs,’” he said.

Wyong Roos and The Entrance will compete in the Newcastle under-19s competition this season. Picture: Sue Graham

“I’m pumped that Umina’s back and Ourimbah’s back. It’s a great thing. Terrigal’s back. Not having Terrigal last year was shocking, so to have those clubs back is only good for the game. And if it only took losing Wyong and The Entrance, so be it.”

He added: “While it’s frustrating to have a six-team comp when it could have been eight, maybe there’s a silver lining there.”

While not all may share that view, there is a broader sense across the board that player numbers in the under-19s have improved compared to the previous couple of years, and there is a hope that more clubs will enter teams in the under-19s grade next year and beyond.

But for now, there’s just one thing on the minds of this year’s crop of under-19s.

“Our boys just want to play footy,” said Duncan. “I’m sure the board had their reasons in delaying the season but our boys haven’t played real footy yet and that’s a bit frustrating for them. They’re ready to go.”