• Bombala returns to the league

• Batemans Bay comes home

Former Group 16 president Russell Fitzpatrick has support within Group 16 to run for the Country Rugby League (CRL) presidency.

At the Group 16 AGM last weekend the Eden Tigers tabled a request for the group to back Mr Fitzpatrick’s nomination to the role. 

To be eligible for the position, Mr Fitzpatrick had to be part of the Group 16 executive, and a delegate to the CRL. 

He was voted in as senior vice-president of Group 16, and also delegate to the CRL by one vote over Dean Lynch.

Mr Lynch was elected unopposed as Group 16 president, but has since resigned the position. 

Mr Lynch said there was  “a number of issues which arose” that forced him to step back from the position. 

Mr Fitzpatrick now has less than two weeks to make an official entry for the CRL presidency. 

“The nominations close on November 14,” Mr Fitzpatrick said.

“I now have to attend a greater southern region meeting, which includes Group 6 and Group 7. 

“If they support the move I will go ahead and lodge my application,” he said. 

If Mr Fitzpatrick makes an official nomination for the role he could then seek formal support from Group 16. 

Mr Fitzpatrick said it was unfortunate that CRL moved to reduce the number of delegates to one from each club. 

“I was a delegate last year, but there always used to be two. 

“Unfortunately it has been cut down to one delegate from each group. 

“I think the more people you can have contributing, the better.”

However, Mr Fitzpatrick said a number of positives are coming from the meeting. 

There is the possibility of as many as 10 teams nominating in the first grade competition, while the under 18s and league-tag have been significantly boosted. 

“I think you would have to go back to 2005 was the last time we had nine teams affiliated.”

One of the most surprising outcomes is the return of Bombala as a standalone club in the Group 16 competition. 

Delegates from the club attended the meeting and made nominations for a first grade side and league-tag team. 

After earlier playing alongside the Bulldogs as the Bluedogs, the Bombala teams will form a standalone club as the Bombala Blue Heelers. 

Bega Roosters president Garry Arkin said the Bombala delegation was headed by an icon of the club. 

“Terry Perkins, a former Bombala player, was the spokesperson on the day and Terry was a crack player back in the ’70s and ’80s,” Mr Arkin said.

“The return was a real surprise and came out of left field.”

The Batemans Bay Tigers made nominations to include three grades, with the potential for a league-tag team to follow. 

Group 16 welcomed the move, but the cross-over will have to be approved by the CRL. 

“It has to be approved for them to come back, but I think that will just be a formality,” Mr Fitzpatrick said. 

“Over the years I think they could grow to be a competition powerhouse.”

Mr Arkin also said the club’s first grade squad will be headed up by former NRL player Matt Cross. 

“Matt will be the coach, and I understand that he could also be putting on the boots,” Mr Arkin said. 

“League-tag will be a work in progress for them.”

Mr Arkin said the Pambula-Merimbula Bulldogs also announced the inclusion of a first grade squad.

“They’ve signed Kieran Pearce as captain coach and two halves from Gundagai.”

For Fitzpatrick and Arkin, a highlight coming from the meeting was the boost to the under 18s competition. 

“The under 18s struggled a bit last year [with just four teams],” Mr Fitzpatrick said. 

“Most clubs will field under 18s, including Eden so there are good signs even at the grass roots level.”

There are currently six teams assured for the under 18s, with Candelo-Bemboka just waiting to confirm numbers. 

“The inclusion of Batemans Bay and Eden in the under 18s, then if the Panthers join will boost it from four to seven,” Mr Arkin said. 

Meanwhile, Batemans Bay is the only club yet to nominate a league-tag side. 

However, Mr Fitzpatrick said there is still time for the club to come up with numbers in the ladies league. 

“The league-tag is continuing to grow and Batemans Bay haven’t fallen flat on it, they are looking for numbers and will be able to nominate at the January meeting.”