A merger between the Woodbridge and Mid West cups is on the cards with a three conference system floated as one of the ideas.
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The Woodbridge Cup AGM was held Thursday night and president Andrew Pull said clubs agreed to do "whatever we can to assist" the Mid West competition which featured just five teams in 2021.
"Whether they joined us, or there's some kind of crossover pool, our clubs as a whole would be happy to support them," Pull said.
This came a week after returning Mid West president Dallas Booth said NSWRL had floated the idea of moving the Canowindra Tigers and Molong Bulls from Woodbridge to join CSU Mungoes, Orange Warriors, Oberon Tigers, Portland Colts and Lithgow Bears in Mid West.
Pull played down this possibility however and said it would be an "all or nothing" move.
"Nobody wants any of our clubs to leave, so I don't think that could happen," he said.
"But every one of our clubs was supportive of assisting Mid West in getting their clubs playing rugby league.
"There were about five or six ideas that were thrown out that could be done. For example, one big comp and everyone play each other once, to a two year draw for example and I stress example."
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Pull's preferred route - should a merger be necessary - would see Woodbridge and Mid West clubs divided into three conferences.
The Mid West teams would be 'eastern', the Woodbridge teams in the far west - Peak Hill, Condobolin and Trundle would be 'western' while the remaining Woodbridge sides - Canowindra, Cargo, Eugowra, Grenfell, Manildra and Molong - would make up the 'middle' division.
If this path were chosen, the eastern clubs would play against the middle competition as well as their local derbies again to top up the round, the western clubs would play the middle clubs and local derbies against themselves.
I was just so proud that all the clubs said if we can help them, we'll help them.
- Andrew Pull
This means the middle clubs would play everyone, while east and west would not meet until the finals.
"That's just one option though," Pull stressed.
"I was just so proud that all the clubs said if we can help them, we'll help them.
"The big thing about Woodbridge that not many people outside Woodbridge know is for the last ten or so years, while it is very competitive on the field, off the field the clubs do everything they can to assist each other because they know we need each other to play against and how important it is that every small community has a rugby league team.
"They look at that as say Oberon and Portland and the clubs that are being suggested as important to their communities too. So if we can do something to help them we certainly will be."
Pull said there is more flexibility in the Woodbridge competition than for example Group 10 or 11 and that this factor could help any future merger.
"We've lost clubs over 40 years and we've picked up clubs over 40 years," he added.
"Our cut-off date is January 31 for entry to the competition because things change so quickly in small towns. If you have three people move away that could be your team.
"January 31 we'll know exactly what our numbers are and I believe Mid West will know a bit more about how their competition is going and we'll have a sit down then and come up with a final plan.
"If it gets to the stage where Mid West don't have many clubs, then there's a 100 per cent chance that something will be happening. But if Mid West pull something out of the bag and end up with six clubs by January 31, then it won't be needed."
There is the possibility of Blayney Bears joining the Mid West Cup, if they opt to not play reserve grade in Group 10.
Booth, who is a former coach of Oberon Tigers, believes both competitions will come together in the future, in one way or another.
The Woodbridge Cup board members remained the same as last year, with Andrew Pull, Erin McCann, Stephen O'Byrne, Peter Seale, Sue Herridge, Andrew Whatman, Adam Gersbach and Barry Shean all back again.
Official positions will be appointed at a meeting in the near future, although Pull is likely to remain as president.
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Riley Krause
I am a senior journalist for ACM in the Central West. I cover council, human interest, crime and breaking news. Got a tip? Text me at 0448 239 132 or email me at riley.krause@austcommunitymedia.com.au
