NRL NT boss Nigel Roy to maintain support for South Darwin’s struggling player numbers after senior forfeits in round 12

NRL NT general manager Nigel Roy was disappointed in recent senior forfeits from South Darwin but expressed that the sporting body would continue to support the club

South Darwin Rabbitohs forfeited their senior round 12 games. Picture: Che Chorley

NRL NT general manager Nigel Roy was disappointed in recent senior forfeits from South Darwin but expressed that the sporting body would continue to support the club.

The Rabbitohs forfeited both their men’s and women’s senior games against the Nightcliff Dragons over the weekend due to lacking player numbers.

It is the third time the women have forfeited meaning they are no longer able to contest the 2021 senior season.

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The club has struggled for numbers over the past few seasons conceding forfeits and heavy losses as a result.

Roy stated that the NRL NT were doing what they could to help boost numbers for the club to create a competitive six-team senior contest.

Such aid included coaching development, training regimes and a player loan initiative requiring the support of other clubs.

“It’s of course disappointing that the games were forfeited over the weekend,” Roy said.

“The league has looked to assist clubs over a number of years and we’ve worked with South Darwin heavily surrounding player base and club governance.

“Our operations manual dictates that if a team forfeits three times they will be suspended until they can field a team, we followed that process and sadly South Darwin were unable to field a side.

“We wish to continue to work with them to make sure they can be as strong as they can be. A senior competition with six strong clubs is the ideal format.

“Every club goes through their lean periods and unfortunately the Rabbitohs are going through a longer than hoped one.”

Nightcliff president Mark Wright was not happy with the result which saw Dragons lose out on revenue in what was their home game.

The club were most displeased to have only found out about the forfeits half an hour before the games were set to be played.

“It’s disappointing. There was a lot of effort from a lot of people and to be told of the forfeit half an hour before is disappointing,” Mark Wright said.

“We’re not angry at Souths, this is a league issue. It happens week in week out and it’s clear they have a player problem. The league needs to come in and help sort it out.”