Western Clydesdales fast approaching major milestone in Intrust Super Cup bid

The Western Clydesdales are expected to announce a key hire that will help propel them closer to the Intrust Super Cup dream.

Former Western Mustangs players Declan Ryan (left) and Riley Wockner. Picture: Nev Madsen

RUGBY LEAGUE: They have taken a huge step forward, but the real work is just about to start for the Western Clydesdales.

The Intrust Super Cup hopefuls will interview candidates for their commercial manager role with a view to filling the position by the end of November ahead of a January start.

The commercial manager will play a key role in helping to source funding and developing the Clydesdales financial plan.

“In May next year we need to present a viable five year plan to Queensland Rugby League," Western Clydesdales secretary Tony Coonan said.

“We will have access to sponsorship and various grants as well as support from the QRL, but we need to show that we are viable beyond that.

“We’re building for the future and that commercial manager role will be a key part of that going forward.

“The interest and support is out there so we’re very confident that when we present that plan the QRL will be able to rubber stamp it.”

Key to the Clydesdales rise has been the community’s backing of the Clydesdales Club.

“The community, not just rugby league supporters, has really thrown their support behind the Clydesdales Club,” Coonan said.

“The support so far is greatly appreciated, but we’d like to stress people can still join.

“It’s a great way to network while also supporting our bid that will benefit rugby league and the Toowoomba community as well.”

Once the financial and off the field framework is in place Coonan believes action on the field will be a natural and swift progression forward.

“The (rugby league) talent is here,” Coonan said.

“We’ve got the players right here in region and if you look at other Intrust clubs there’s plenty of talent from our region already playing at that higher level.

“We’re not expecting to go out there and dominate in our first season, we have to be realistic especially when you consider the quality of the established clubs in the competition.

“But I think we can be a competitive team very early and it won’t take long for us to develop into a very good club.”

New Brisbane Broncos head of football Ben Ikin confirmed it was one of the clubs in discussion with the Clydesdales bid.

The talks are part of the franchise’s desire to invest further into the western corridor outside Brisbane, with the Dolphins likely to snap up development pathways as the 17th NRL club.

But Ikin said any negotiations were still in their infancy.

“It’s all very early stages - the Broncos have had a presence in Toowoomba in the past,” he said.

“We already have a whole stack of game development work in junior clubs (in western Queensland).

“There’s just a thought bubble (at the moment) that we want to make sure that what is rugby league heartland has a connection with an elite level of the game.”

Ikin backed the need for Toowoomba to have a QCup side in principle.

“If there is the appetite to build a sub-elite pathway in Toowoomba and that creates more opportunities for kids to find their way into the highest realms of rugby league, the Broncos are 100 per cent supportive of that,” he said.