Gold Coast junior rugby league: Parkwood Sharks furious over zero points rule

A Gold Coast junior rugby league club is at loggerheads with its governing body over a rule technicality that will see the team play out the season for zero competition points.

A GOLD Coast junior rugby league club is at loggerheads with its governing body over a rule technicality that will see the team play out the season for zero competition points.

Frustrated parents of Parkwood Sharks under-14 players have labelled the decision “unfair”.

But the Gold Coast Junior Rugby League has fended off criticism saying the rules are no different to any other year.

The team started the COVID-19 disrupted competition in the first division but made the decision to demote itself to a lower grade after a player shortage.

ELITE SCHOOL HIRES POLICE FOR GPS GAMES

The club’s members are furious.

PALAZZO VERSACE: INSIDE STORY OF COAST’S FAMOUS HOTEL

In doing that the club is unable to play finals footy and now sits last on the competition ladder with zero points, despite winning at least one game.

District rules state if demoted “the team will be ineligible to play finals in the lower division”.

President of the club and coach of the under-14s, Ronan Byrne, said they approached the Gold Coast Junior Rugby League district to be regraded, but were not told of the implications.

Players from the Parkwood Sharks are furious. Photo: Scott Powick

Mr Byrne said he was not aware of the rule and had he known what was at stake he wouldn’t have agreed without consulting his players.

“I think it crucifies the kids trying to have a go,” he said.

“Melbourne Storm had to play for zero points every time they played in 2010 but we’re hardly rorting the salary cap.”

WHY FIFITA CAN TAKE TITANS TO THE TOP

Club members are sounding off over the issue.

A “pissed off” Sione Afu, whose son and two friends moved from Victoria to attend Keebra Park High School, said the boys were “shattered”.

“Of course it’s unfair. They’re registered to play. Their parents have forked out money for these kids to play, and now they are playing for no points,” he said.

Jolais Mahony, whose son also plays in the side, said the boys were excited by the prospect of finals.

“We’ve got 19 boys now … all saying ‘so why are we coming then, we may as well not play anymore’,” she said.

“For every year we’ve struggled to keep players … and these boys really love it, they’ve got a strong bond.”

Both parents claim another club was regraded last year and was able to play for points.

But Gold Coast Rugby League boss Peter Daley, said that club had moved grades prior to a ball being kicked and said the rule had been in place for at least four years.

“No club is specifically told, they are all fully aware that if they choose to go down that is what happens,” he said.