Rugby League Central Coast: Erina stripped of home semi-final

One Central Coast club has been hit with the ultimate punishment on the eve of the finals with hosting rights stripped. See the full list of punishments handed out by a furious league.

Erina has been stripped of hosting rights for this weekend’s major semi-final. Picture: Michael Gorton

The Erina Leagues Club has said it is “disappointed” with the actions of its Erina Eagles rugby league arm and has pledged to review the club’s football department at the end of the season after the Eagles forfeited five games of football against Toukley last weekend.

In a statement attributed to Erina Leagues CEO Tony Jeffcott – the first public comment from Erina following the incident – the leagues club criticised the decision to forfeit games across the board and said that it “apologises unreservedly” to the Hawks.

Toukley was set to host a bumper old boys’ and sponsors’ day at Darren Kennedy Oval in what was the final round of the regular season.

“The Erina Leagues Club is currently undertaking a full review of its Leagues Club Operations, including matters pertaining to the Erina Rugby League Football Club,” the statement read.

“The Board of Erina Leagues Club is disappointed with the events that transpired on Sunday 25th August, with the club forfeiting all scheduled football games at Toukley. Erina apologises unreservedly to the Toukley club and their fans.

The Erina Leagues Club has said it is “disappointed” with the Eagles’ actions. Sue Graham

“The Board accepts full responsibility for what transpired last Sunday and ensures our members a full review of the football department’s operations will take place following the completion of the 2024 season.

“We thank our members, sponsors and supporters for their ongoing support of the Erina Leagues Club.”

The statement comes after Erina met for a board meeting on Monday night.

It also followed furious debate within the broader Central Coast rugby league community, with a group of Erina members and former and current players, known as The Nest, calling for an investigation into the forfeits. They also called for the subsequent removal of the club’s first and reserve grade coaches if they were found to be responsible for the decision.

ERINA STRIPPED OF HOME SEMI-FINAL

It has been an eventful week for Erina, which was stripped of hosting rights for this weekend’s home semi-final in the Rugby League Central Coast competition.

On Tuesday the RLCC board confirmed that it had moved Sunday’s major semi-final fixtures, which were set to feature Erina in firsts, reserves and league tag, from Erina Oval to Toukley’s home ground, Darren Kennedy Oval. This means that both Saturday’s minor semi-finals and Sunday’s games will be held at the Hawks’ home ground.

It comes after first grade minor premiers Erina forfeited five grades – firsts, reserves, opens, women’s tackle and league tag – against defending premiers Toukley on Sunday, citing an injury crisis in the club.

The decision sparked a furious reaction from local league fans on social media, given that the Hawks had planned a huge old boys’ and sponsors day.

The events would have included a celebration for club stalwart Matt O’Brien, who was set to play his 200th game for the club, a jumping castle for kids and a big club announcement from Wyong MP David Harris, among other events.

It was suggested that the forfeit could have cost Toukley around $15,000 in revenue.

Erina (in tricolours) forfeited five grades against Toukley on Sunday. Picture: Sue Graham

The RLCC board’s decision also adds an extra level of intrigue into this weekend’s first grade clash, with the Hawks and Eagles set to a clash in a rematch of the past two grand finals.

Toukley will now host its first grade and women’s tackle sides in the major semi, while the club’s open grade side will play at home in the minor semi-final on Saturday.

The saga capped off a controversial final round of the regular season, which saw Woy Woy forfeit its first and reserve grade fixtures against Wyong.

Both Erina and Woy Woy were fined $1000 – the maximum amount allowed under the RLCC’s by-laws – while Woy Woy has also had its canteen allocation for the finals taken away and given to another club.

WOY WOY HAS ITS SAY

Remarkably that wasn’t the only controversy of the weekend, with Woy Woy forfeiting first and reserve grade games against Wyong at Morry Breen Oval on Sunday.

While the clash between fourth-placed Woy Woy and sixth-placed Wyong wouldn’t have had any bearing on the top four, the decision has added another chapter to the strained relationship between the two clubs.

The fixture would have been a rematch of the infamous round eight clash that resulted in a wild brawl spilling out of the side of Woy Woy Oval. Wyong fan Justin Bayley was suspended by the NSWRL from all rugby league-related activities for 20 years as a result of racist abuse he sent Woy Woy’s Andrew Fifita on social media, while a string of Woy Woy players were charged for their part in the brawl.

Woy Woy has been at the centre of a controversial season in the RLCC. Picture: Sue Graham

In explaining his club’s actions, Woy Woy president David Carr said that while the club was severely short on players, the decision to ultimately forfeit the match, which was made on Saturday afternoon, was influenced by Erina’s actions.

“We probably would have had six players if we played, but it also had a lot to do with Erina forfeiting their game,” said Carr.

“If they forfeited and them and Toukley got a week off before the semis then why shouldn’t we?”

Carr said the club had intended to play the game, however that the situation changed on Saturday when more players were ruled out and he heard of the Eagles’ decision.

“We were going to play. All week we were playing. I had blokes telling me they didn’t want to play because they still had their troubles about safety at Wyong,” he added.

“But I told them last week that we’d play, that it’s not in our DNA to forfeit. I said we’d play first grade, we wouldn’t have had enough players for reserve grade, but I said if they didn’t play then they’d be in breach of contract and I’d fine them for it.”

Carr added: “But as the week went on players were starting to get ruled out. Then I spoke to (coach) Blake (McLean) on Saturday and he said that he’s got six players. I said, ‘Well Erina has done it, so we’ll just forfeit.’ It wasn’t taken easy.”

The Roosters had already sewn up fourth place on the ladder. Picture: Sue Graham

Indeed, Woy Woy’s decision to forfeit the match comes after both Erina and Terrigal forfeited games against the Roosters earlier in the season, in protest to what they saw as a lack of action from the RLCC board in relation to what they considered consistent bad behaviour from Woy Woy players, officials and fans.

Carr did note that the topic of forfeiting was a touchy one for his club given what had happened in earlier this season, and said that it was only considered because the first grade side had already secured fourth spot and a place in the finals.

“And it only so happens that because we beat The Entrance (last weekend) that we were in a position where we could. We’re not proud, we didn’t want to do it. I rang around our committee and said, ‘I don’t really want to do this, but it’s only $1000, so do we take the hit?’”

And although admitting that his club’s call was influenced by Erina’s decision to forfeit, Carr said the Roosters were legitimately going through an injury crisis.

“Even though we don’t have to, we’re happy to give the list of players injured, signed off by our level-two trainer, who said he didn’t want them playing,” he said.

“We can show during the last four or five weeks of the competition where we’re having three or four blokes playing reserve grade and then playing first grade, so we’ve only got one fresh player on the bench. We’re struggling. I can’t speak for Erina. That’s up to them how they deal with it.”

The RLCC board has handed down punishments in light of the weekend’s incidents, slapping both Erina and Woy Woy with $1000 fines – the maximum allowed for forfeits under the division’s by-laws. Both clubs have paid their fines.

Erina finished the season as undefeated first grade minor premiers. Picture: Sue Graham

In light of the weekend’s events, RLCC chairman Nathan Waugh noted that the board will make changes to its by-laws to try and prevent this situation from occurring in the future.

“They’re being worked on as we speak and there will be a new set of by-laws that are dramatically changed for the 2025 season, which will have hard-and-fast deterrents, especially around matters like what has occurred on the weekend – that won’t be happening again moving forward.”

Some other rugby league competitions include provisions that see clubs banned from playing finals football if they forfeit games late in the season.

“All of that’s on the table, to be reviewed, looked at and added to the by-laws moving forward,” said Waugh.