Central Coast RL forfeits controversy: Erina and Woy Woy to be fined, potentially kicked out of semi-finals

A final round forfeits controversy could see Erina and Woy Woy booted out of the finals after Toukley lost $15,000 in revenue in the latest furore to engulf the drama-plagued Central Coast RL competition.

Two high-profile Central Coast rugby league clubs have been fined and face being booted out of the next week’s finals after controversially forfeiting final rounds in decisions being described as “pathetic, gutless, a joke and f---ing piss weak”.

Top-placed Erina Eagles have caused a furore by abandoning all grades against second-placed Toukley Hawks, who had planned a sponsors and old boys day on Sunday.

Fourth-placed Woy Woy forfeited to sixth-positioned Wyong at Morry Breen Oval.

Erina’s decision will cost Toukley up to $15,000 in bar sales with Erina only informing their opponents on Saturday.

The Eagles could also lose a home final as punishment with some of their own players turning on the club.

Woy Woy and Erina officials have told Rugby League Central Coast (RLCC) that injuries prevented them fielding teams although rival clubs claim they were simply wanting to rest players before the finals and injury excuse was unacceptable.

Toukley was robbed of a chance to farewell retiring players at its home ground after Erina forfeited games in open age, reserve grade, ladies league tag, women’s tackle and first grade.

An Erina open age player who remained anonymous angrily turned on his own club by posting: “What a gutless move by our club. It’s completely against the spirit of rugby league and what we should stand for as a club.

Erina Eagles forfeited every grade against Toukley Hawks. Picture: Michael Gorton

“Toukley have old boys day this weekend and there’s a few players I know personally that had family coming to watch them for the last time play at Toukley.

“Toukley have spent a lot of money for Sunday and Erina give them (late) notice. What a f---ing joke. I hope karma gets them in the finals. Not to mention the amount of washout games the comp has had this year. F---ing piss weak.”

The RLCC has fined Erina and Woy Woy $1000 each.

“If they don’t have those fines paid by midweek they will be subject to being disqualified from playing in the semi-­finals,” RLCC chairman Nathan Waugh said. “I think there were 11 forfeits (including lower grade games) over the weekend.

“I’d like the clubs to provide evidence of (their injured players) if they could. Ultimately, it’s not a good look for clubs to be forfeiting the last round of the season.

“There will be changes to the by-laws about forfeiting matches in the final few rounds of the season. We don’t believe it to be acceptable.”

Toukley’s social media post informing fans and club members of Erina’s mass forfeit.

Erina is four points clear on top of the table so could forfeit and still first finish after the regular season.

“It’s extremely disappointing that a club (Erina), given their status in the competition, has decided to forfeit a day that Toukley has organised for their old boys and sponsors,” said David Hoban, coach of the rival Dora Creek Swampies.

“The league has to step in and do something.

“We are playing in a pretty good competition and they are allowing this to happen. It’s wrong.”

Toukley took to social media to vent their anger.

“To our valued sponsors, we are sincerely disappointed that we couldn’t give you the day that we had planned, however it was out of our control. Hopefully you can get behind the boys and girls next week in the semis,” the club’s post read.

“To our league tag and reserve grade team, if we had known that last week was (to be) your last game we would have made more of a fuss. I’m sorry that your season has ended this way.

Toukley had planned an Old Boys’ day.

“To our under 5’s and 6’s, sorry you didn’t get to play in front of a big crowd and have fun on the jumping castle…we will make it up to you. It is a really disappointing way to end the regular season as we had so much planned.”

Rival club Kincumber Colts also attacked Erina, saying: “Absolutely disgusting behaviour from Erina Eagles. Shows how self-absorbed that club is, complete disregard for another club. Probably cost Toukley at least $15000 in lost revenue.

“Borders on match manipulation and certainly not ‘playing in the spirit of the game’. There should be further penalties for this.”

Former Sunday Telegraph sports reporter and Central Coast resident, Cameron Bell, didn’t pull any punches in a social media.

“This is weak and pathetic. Erina has forfeited every grade in the final round against premiers Toukley, presumably to rest players before finals,” Bell posted.

“How can CCRL let them get away with it? Hawks lose money, departing players don’t get a send-off. Wrong on so many levels. They should be kicked out of finals for treating CCRL comp with such contempt.

“It’s taking the piss. First v second, grand finalists from the past two years and Erina forfeit the final game in all grades just before finals. Some clubs do anything to scrape a team together every week. They need to be sanctioned.”

Woy Woy cannot have a home final moved after the RLCC banned all games from being at Woy Woy Oval earlier this season due to crowd and player misbehaviour.