South Darwin Rabbitohs confident it can fill A and Reserve Grade teams after recent forfeit

South Darwin Rabbitohs are confident it can field two senior teams this weekend after a “last minute” forfeit last weekend against Litchfield.

SOUTH Darwin Rabbitohs are confident it can put two senior teams on the park this weekend after forfeiting last Saturday’s A and Reserves Grade fixtures as several players have gone “MIA”.

Bunnies coach Willie May told the NT News the dual forfeit was down to several players suffering flu-like symptoms and “the runs”, a glut of injuries at the back-end of the season while others had work or family commitments, leaving the playing list decimated for round 13 against Litchfield.

However, some Reserves players had also stopped turning up due to their team’s inability to make finals.

The forfeits prompted NRL NT general manager Tony Crowe to seek a please explain from the club.

At the time it was believed a family illness had impacted players.

The Rabbitohs have struggled to fill teams in its reserves grade in recent weeks. Picture: Glenn Campbell

The club had already forfeited its last two Reserves games leading into Saturday’s fixture, with six or seven pulling out at the “last minute”.

“We’ve been having some problems,” May said.

“A few guys have gone MIA due to knowing we’re not going to make finals.

“The B grade boys have decided to miss the last couple of rounds. It puts a lot of pressure back on their teammates. Last week killed us.”

However, May, who took over as head coach heading into the 2022 season, said the club’s senior availability had improved on the past two seasons.

South Darwin are no strangers to forfeits being unable to field A and B Grade teams on several occasions over the past few seasons.

Darwin Brothers against the Rabbitohs in round 10. Picture: Glenn Campbell.

In previous years, the club had requested to withdraw from A Grade to focus on building their senior playing group, but was unable to achieve that goal due to the league’s laws.

The Bunnies have also been without a senior win over the past few seasons.

“It’s pretty good from where the club has been the past couple of years,” May said.

“We’re doing a lot better. The last thing I wanted was to forfeit again, I tried to hold off as long as I could.

“But I have that duty of care to not let 10 blokes run out and get hammered and have more injured blokes.

“They had to have blokes play in both grades (previously), this year has been 90 per cent better than what it was.”

Further to the club’s senior playing woes, they were unable to enter a senior women’s team leading into the 2022 season.

This came after the club was forced to withdraw from the competition in 2021 after forfeiting three times.

However, May was confident he could field two senior teams this weekend.

“We should be right to have a full A squad, and we had a fair few boys down at training from B grade, fingers crossed that we have a B grade side as well,” May said.

“The club is looking good, the club off the field is looking good. We’ve just got to be a bit better on it.”

Crowe said the league would do all it could to support the club but player unavailability was reflective of community-level sport.

“They’re doing the best they can,” Crowe said.

“I think they’ll be better next year for the work they’re doing this year. They’re working their backsides off with limited resources.”