Bush footy in NSW about to get major revamp with television, streams and new tiers part of the future

Bush footballers will soon be travelling overseas, playing on TV, even competing in new tiered ‘zones’ as part of innovative blueprint to save country rugby league. Find out all the exclusive details on the wild plan. News Corp can reveal NSWRL officials are readying to roll out ‘One State’ – an exciting, new strategic plan set to impact every club, and footballer, across NSW. In the biggest change for bush football, powerhouse clubs will be invited to compete from next season in a new statewide Ron Massey Cup, boasting teams from Sydney, Newcastle, Canberra, even Fiji. NRL NEWS The NSWRL will also divide the state into six news zones – each of which will boast not only its own tiered competitions, but links to NRL franchises. Other proposals include the live-streaming of bush games, rebranded development officers and access for regional clubs to marketing and finance experts. With the old Country Rugby League body now scrapped, the NSWRL is looking to grow the game – and create pathways for the next Boyd Cordner, Latrell Mitchell or Cody Walker – using a new structure involving the entire state. Chief executive David Trodden revealed the overhaul would also create more cash for regional rugby league than ever before. “This is the key to unlocking bush footy’s huge potential,” he said. RON MASSEY CUP Starting next year, elite bush teams like Dubbo CYMS and North Tamworth will be invited to play in the statewide Ron Massey Cup. Created as a third-tier state league, the competition will match the best of country NSW against sides from Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, Canberra, even a side from Fiji. The NSWRL will also assist in funding travel costs. “And imagine the impact of Fiji playing, say, Dubbo CYMS in Dubbo,” Trodden said. “Or North Tamworth travelling to Fiji for a game. “This new competition provides opportunities for clubs to play sides of equal ability no matter where they’re based.” Already, the NSWRL has test run the idea via this year’s Presidents Cup competition – created for nine Sydney and regional teams who wanted to play despite COVID. Indeed, the success of the competition is proved by the fact this Sunday’s grand final will see Maitland Pickers face Glebe Dirty Reds at Bankwest Stadium. Importantly, all Ron Massey Cup teams must still provide a side for their local first grade competition, which will then ensure a more even playing field regionally. ZONING From next season, the entire state will be split into six geographic zones – each one containing roughly 15,000 players across junior, senior and female leagues. While many of the old group competitions will initially remain, Trodden said the aim was to increasingly grow the sport via tiered leagues across each zone. “Bush football hasn’t been able to access growth opportunities because the structure made no sense,” he said. “It limited opportunities. “So this is no longer one size fits all. “We won’t be constrained by group boundaries or junior league boundaries. A tiered system across zones is what we’re working towards.” LIVE STREAMING Trodden revealed the NSWRL was “absolutely” keen on live streaming blockbuster bush games in 2021 and had already undertaken pilot programs. Only last Sunday, a Group 9 final between Young and Tumut was streamed. “We streamed the Harvey Norman women’s semi-final at Leichhardt, the Presidents Cup final in Maitland, plus the Group 9 final,” Trodden said. “And the best of those by a fair distance was Tumut versus Young. So live streaming is absolutely in our plans given there is a real appetite for it.” PARTICIPATION The NSWRL believes moving elite teams to Ron Massey Cup will then create a more level playing field in regional zones – thereby encouraging increased participation and crowds. “When competitions become an unattractive proposition, people drop out,” Trodden said. “So the key to retaining players is ensuring competitive balance. “You will also have that 15-year-old in Dubbo who previously thought ‘I can’t play NRL, why stay in the game?’ now thinking he can still compete against Sydney teams, travel to Fiji, play in big home games … that all helps.” At a junior level, there will be a move towards creating game day hubs that limit travel, while lower tier senior teams would travel no more than 150km for games. DEVELOPMENT OFFICERS The NSWRL is also taking control of all the state’s development officers – previously controlled by the NRL. Trodden said having recruitment and retention under one body would free up resources previously consumed by “duplication” between the organisations. The NSWRL will also be providing club volunteers with access to finance and marketing experts to better help with running clubs. IMPLEMENTATION Kicking off in 2021, the One State proposal will be rolled out over three years. “This is our blueprint for all of NSW,” Trodden said. “A platform for the state to unlock its entire potential.” Rugby league’s brightest told to focus on HSC Rugby league’s brightest young stars will be encouraged to focus in Year 12 on schoolboy competition — and schoolwork — as part of a sweeping changes to junior pathways. News Corp can reveal the age brackets for Harold Matthews, SG Ball and Jersey Flegg are all set to be increased from 2021 – moving to U/17, U/19 and U/21 respectively. Trodden said the changes were focused on those talented Year 12 students who have previously been asked to juggle SG Ball with school footy and HSC studies. “At 18, we’ve been expecting young guys to train and play SG Ball, play schoolboy footy and then still go and study for the HSC,” he said. “So we want to take the pressure of junior (representative) footy away from that. Allow them to focus on completing their HSC and playing schoolboys.” While Trodden admitted there would be a “small number” who still played SG Ball in Year 12, the majority could focus on study and schoolboy competition. “That’s the major driver,” he said. “There should never be an ‘us and them’ mentality with schools. “Balance and perspective should always be encouraged.” The age group changes are set to be made as part of One State — an exciting new strategic plan which, overseen by the NSWRL, is set to impact every club, and footballer, across the state. Apart from restructuring NSW into six zones, the blueprint also outlines plans for increasing participation numbers of junior players, females and grassroots referees. Asked about the zones, Trodden said there was no longer a distinction between the old Country Rugby League regions and metropolitan Sydney. Elsewhere, the Tarsha Gale Women’s competition will also change age brackets to U/19s, while the Andrew Johns Cup (U/16s) and Laurie Daley Cup (U/18s) will both remain unchanged.