Sunshine Coast men’s 47th Battalion side suffers mass player exodus

A Sunshine Coast selection furore has left a representative league side facing discomfort and players slugged with suspensions on the eve of an iconic tournament.

The Sunshine Coast 47th Battalion Men’s side remains in limbo.

A Sunshine Coast selection furore has left a representative league side facing discomfort and players slugged with suspensions on the eve of an iconic tournament.

The 47th Battalion carnival is one of bush footy’s most cherished competitions but a mass exodus of players days out from the June 7 start date in Bundaberg has split the rugby league fraternity and dented Sunshine Coast’s aspirations of success.

The women’s side has been locked away but tensions are high after a multitude of men’s players made the decision not to compete despite being selected.

The turmoil follows the Sunshine Coast and Gympie Rugby League Association’s decision to play catch-up games this weekend instead of having the scheduled bye for the representative tournament.

“It is a shame that a few players have had to pull out and leave us in a tough spot,” Coolum Colts and Sunshine Coast men’s head coach Matt Smith said.

Head coach Matt Smith. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“I love working with other players from other clubs, getting an insight into how they play and what their thought processes are.

“Even just talking to the players at training, seeing how they gel together and knowing they’re keen to go away and represent the region is exciting.

“That’s the most disheartening thing for me is knowing these guys want to put in and give it a crack but there’s some others who are pulling the pin with little niggling injuries and not the right mindsets.”

The initial squad of 25 players was reduced to 21 in the first 24 hours of being named with those players now suspended by the QRL for this weekend’s A-Grade fixtures.

In the past few weeks a further three squad members have picked up long term injuries, ruling them out of playing in the 47th Battalion tournament.

Following last weekend’s round 8 fixtures up to eight players forcibly withdrew from the side, leaving 11 names on the team sheet just four days out from the competition.

Falcons winger Connor Cox in action in 2019.

Some departures have included suspension and injury while others have been from the local club’s perspective of player risk and want to keep their A-grade side as strong as possible.

According to the QRL, if selected in a representative team players must provide medical clearance or a well constructed reason to be omitted from the side.

It’s understood a handful of players attempted to submit documentation prior to the selection of the men’s 47th Battalion squad, ruling themselves out for personal and family reasons.

For the Sunshine Coast, it was determined in April that they would reschedule their rained out round one matches to this weekend.

It’s believed further penalties will be enforced if players are to take the field for their local side, after having already been selected.

The team would also be absent of Falcons wider squad members who have been available to drop back and play in the tournament in years gone by.

Smith said on Wednesday morning his coaching staff had been able to confirm a 15-man squad but were still searching for a handful more.

Originally published as Sunshine Coast men’s 47th Battalion side suffers mass player exodus