‘Tear a club apart’: Fears over Coast league plans
A leading coach concedes a bold Gold Coast plan has the potential to “tear a club apart”.
NRL
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CURRUMBIN coach Martin Griese concedes any loaning of elite talent to Rugby League Gold Coast sides has the potential to “tear a club apart”.
The former Intrust Super Cup player admits the prospect of gaining Burleigh or Tweed talents in 2020 seems good on paper.
With the RLGC on hold until at least June 1, it shapes as a chance to re-energise grassroots clubs – but also comes with a danger.
Griese has had “preliminary chats” with Seagulls coach Ben Woolf which could lead to the Eagles beefing up their current agreement of three dual-registered players.
“It would be good for the league,” he said of the plan.
“But from a team point of view I can see that it would be a bit disruptive as well.
“The other guys would have trained together for a pre-season and built combinations and friendships and all of a sudden there are a handful of players from Burleigh and Tweed dropping back.
“It would be disheartening; I remember when I played at Burleigh the Titans would do that to us all the time and it would tear the club apart.”
Griese said the current points cap rules would need to be relaxed in order to give the concept the green light.
“And then you’ve got to find the money to pay them. Everyone has already done their budgets,” he said.
For now, the coach has been monitoring his players’ welfare as best he can from isolation.
“I’m talking to my boys daily, just trying to make sure they’re ready to go,” he said.
“We’re not getting much info at this stage so I’m just wanting everyone to be ready on two weeks’ notice if we get the green light.
“It’s tough sitting at home and not being in sports.”
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