ARLC and Andrew Abdo not in favour of Western Clydesdales

The Western Clydesdales have responded to a stunning broadside from NRL CEO Andrew Abdo who questioned their position in the Hostplus Cup competition. Go inside the leaked email and the fallout here

Leaked emails reveal Australian rugby league boss Andrew Abdo has abandoned one of the country’s most fruitful talent nurseries and sparked an ugly fallout within its own ranks.

Abdo has been caught out turning his back on Toowoomba’s Western Clydesdales, who operate in a region that has produced the likes of Johnathan Thurston and Shane Webcke, and left the Queensland Rugby League carrying the tin to keep the club afloat.

For more than 15 years the Clydesdales were resigned to Queensland Cup scrap heap – a footnote in the history of statewide rugby league.

Now, less than a year after their return to Hostplus Cup action, the club’s relevance is under fire from one of Australian rugby league’s most powerful bodies.

“The ARLC, as you are aware, has not approved the participation of the Western Clydesdales in the QRL Hostplus Cup and does not consider that such participation is in the best interests of the game as a whole,” NRL CEO Abdo said in a recent email to the Queensland Rugby League.

Abdo’s comments rocked the Western Clydesdales board and its community of supporters, but the club has vowed to fight for its cause alongside the QRL.

It’s understood the ARLC’s withdrawal of support will lead to a funding “shortfall” for the QRL.

“In a nutshell, it means the QRL is going to continue to fund us, but they’re not being funded by the ARLC as part of the overall funding that comes down from the ARLC for the Western Clydesdales’ participation in any competition,” club CEO Shane Sullivan said.

“The ARLC provides funding top down to the QRL and NSWRL.

“The budget that was submitted ahead of our entry in July 2022 for the 2023 season has still not been approved by the ARLC.

“They have been dragging their heels on that, and as part of the response to that budget and our submission for next year’s budget they’re saying we’re not part of their strategic thinking.”

Despite the potential added financial pressure, the future of the Clydesdales is not in doubt, according to CEO Sullivan.

“We have the full support of Ben Ikin and the QRL, and we are very appreciative of that,” Sullivan said.

“The QRL have previously stated how happy they are with our work, and they are excited about our future in the BMD Premiership.

“Part of the fight is now proving our relevancy to the ARL but we will continue.

“When you look at the work we are doing to develop pathways for our region’s players and the talent this region has produced it shouldn’t be that hard a sell, but it’s something we have to do now.”

Sullivan believes the ARLC is guilty of not understanding a region that has produced more than 40 NRL players, nearly 190 QRL representatives and 50-plus Australian players in the past.

“We were quite shocked by the statement, and it’s very disappointing,” Sullivan said.

“I think it points to a lack of understanding about the region and what it means to rugby league.

Clydesdales' Esom Ioka (right) takes on the Northern Pride line during a Hostplus Cup match. Picture: Brendan Radke

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo.

“What they (the ARLC) are essentially saying is that the Western Clydesdales are not in their strategic thinking and that this area is not important for rugby league, and I think that is a ridiculous statement to make.

“Queensland Rugby League, by accepting the Western Clydesdales back into the (Hostplus Cup) competition means it is now a true statewide competition.

“Now we have a network of clubs of Hostplus Cup and BMD (Premiership) clubs working on the development of the game.

“It’s not just the QRL or the NRL, it’s all these clubs working on the development of the game.”

The ARLC and NRL were contacted for a statement but did not reply by deadline.