A FINAL decision on whether the under 18 and 16 rugby league competitions in Group Three will remain as 18 and 16 is expected to be made at the Country Rugby League's annual conference this month.
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The change to the age classification was introduced as a three year trial into the East Coast Region by the Country Rugby League. The trial ended last season.
Under the criteria players who turn 18 after June are permitted to stay in the junior grade for one more season. The rationale was that too many players didn't progress from 16s to 18s or 18s to senior grades because they weren't physically ready or didn't have the required skill level.
It was claimed that many dropped out of the game completely.
If successful in the East Coast competitions (Groups Two and three and the Northern Rivers Rugby League (NRRL) the CRL planned to extend the concept into other Country Rugby League areas.
Regional area manager Kevin Hill will make a report for the CRL annual meeting this month based on player registrations and input from Groups Two and Three and the NRRL.
However, Group Three president Wayne Bridge admits he has reservations.
"I think to some extent it was abused,'' he said.
"I think in the last three years we've seen clubs, or at least coaches, hold back older kids in the under 18s just to win a premiership. That's not what it was designed for.''
He cited the case of the three premiership winning sides in the Group Three under 18s in the past three years. Under 16s is run by the Group Three Junior Rugby League.
"Forster-Tuncurry in 2014, Port Macquarie last year and Wauchope this season all had a lot of older kids in their sides,'' he said.
"I think some of those players would have been capable of going through to grade. And I wonder how many other kids didn't play thinking they wouldn't get a game because of the older kids were still there.
"We've expressed this concern before to the Country Rugby League. I don't think a final decision should be made just on registration figures.''
Meanwhile the Group Three annual meeting will be held next Sunday at the Wingham Services Club.
No major changes are expected to the group executive, with Wayne Bridge and secretary/treasurer Barrie Smith unlikely to be challenged.
However, a number of contentious issues will be discussed, including Macleay Valley's bid to be re-admitted into the competition for next year.
See Friday's Times for further details.
