Well done AFL and GWS. =D>
NRL: Local administrator declares Rugby League in Macarthur region “dead”
November 9, 2015 5:16pm
Peter Way
Macarthur Chronicle Campbelltown
WHAT was once the heartland of rugby league in Sydney has now been declared “dead” by East Campbelltown Eagles life member Daniel Draper.
He said in the past two years rugby league in the Macarthur region had lost more than 500 players.
“That’s enough players to fill 20 teams,” he said.
Draper blames a number of factors for the decline.
“Other sports are much more proactive than league in terms of being visible to junior clubs and schools,” he said.
“The Western Sydney Wanderers (A-League) and GWS Giants (AFL) come out here on a regular basis to do clinics and school visits, you hardly ever see the Wests Tigers out here.
“Wests Tigers have neglected the area, Western Suburbs Magpies have moved to Liverpool, and we have no facilities for rugby league in the area.
“Soccer is getting a great facility at Lynwood Park with synthetic pitches, an administration base and a great setup.
“Rugby league doesn’t have anything like that.
“Our players have to travel all the way to the other side of Liverpool at Warwick Farm to play representative football, that’s not fair to most of the Group 6 area.”
Former Campbelltown Mayor, Councillor Paul Lake, said rugby league’s governing body had let down the grassroots of the game.
“If numbers are down it’s because the Wests Tigers have not been present in the local area for a long time,” he said.
“If you had a team based in the area, that would certainly help.
“The NRL governing body have been concentrating more on the top flight of the game than the grassroots.
“Dave Smith (former NRL CEO) never had an interest in the game out our way.”
Draper said Campbelltown Council could and should do more for the game to bring back the Tigers and the Western Suburbs Magpies.
“If you have the choice of paying to use Campbelltown Stadium or getting paid $100,000 to play at ANZ Stadium, I know where I’d play too,’’ he said.
“The Tigers are going base their operations at Liverpool if everything goes to plan, why can’t Campbelltown Council convince them to use its centre of excellence.”
The Macarthur Chronicle is seeking comment from Western Suburbs Junior Rugby League officials but could not reach them today.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslo ... 7599439862
Sports codes NRL, AFL, cricket vying for support
November 9, 2015 5:32pm
Peter Way
Macarthur Chronicle Campbelltown
“The NRL controls the Wests Tigers and their decision to not call the region home must have a massive impact on kids deciding to play AFL or soccer and not rugby league.”
Chief executive of the GWS Giants AFL club Dave Matthews said the Macarthur region had been one of the club’s most prolific in terms of its supporter base and said that would also have an impact on junior participation rates.
“It’s terrific to see impressive growth in both Giants memberships and junior participation in the Macarthur area this season,” he said.
“We invest a lot of time in our community initiatives right across western Sydney and Campbelltown/Macarthur is one of our fastest growing regions.
“To have such strong support in the area is fantastic and we look forward to seeing numbers increase even further in the years to come.”
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslo ... 7602106872
liar extraordinaire 
