The Tathra Sea Eagles have been given the green light to return in Group 16 competition after a meeting earlier this week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Club president Peter Finucane said the committee had been working tirelessly since before Christmas to meet a deadline set by the governing body.
On Tuesday, the Tathra club presented a 28-strong list of men’s players as well as 16 women to form a league-tag outfit.
“We’ve got something positive at last and things are happening,” Mr Finucane said.
“It was a bloody big relief [when Group 16 signed off] we can actually sleep at night again.”
The group has signed off on the Eagles as a standalone reserve grade side with the league-tag contingent as well.
“At this point they’ve recognised us the same way as Candelo-Bemboka,” Mr Finucane said.
There are still a few hoops to jump through as the club could be joined with another through the portability rules, but Mr Finucane said it was a highlight just to be welcomed back.
“We’ve been working towards it for the last couple of years but been getting knocked down, but we’re excited,” he said.
“We’re bringing 30-40 players back to Group 16 that haven’t played in a few years and some newcomers too.
“It's early days, but we're on the field and we just want to be playing football.”
The playing list is yet to be graded and the club will wait on news as to whether the Sea Eagles stand alone or will join another club through the portability rules.
The club president said the biggest factor was providing rugby league for the town and a future pathway for the junior league club.
“Moving forward if we do run as a standalone club we’d love to run a couple of days in conjunction with our juniors to have that flow-on effect,” Mr Finucane said.
“We’re going to try our hardest to rebuild a first grade over the next year or two and give our juniors that pathway instead of losing them to other sports.”
Mr Finucane said senior league had been “sadly missing” from Tathra in recent years and was excited to see it back.
With pre-season competitions to launch in late February and March, Mr Finucane said there had already been some Tuesday training sessions at the Tathra Beach Country Club.
“You don’t have to commit, but everyone is welcome, if you want to have a look we’re just getting going and we’d love a few more names on the roster,” Mr Finucane said.
Training is Tuesdays from 6pm at the Tathra Beach Country Club.
Jacob McMaster
I am passionate about amplifying people's stories and trying to do them justice in the written word. I find pressure washing videos soothing. email me jacob.mcmaster@austcommunitymedia.com.au or 0406 212 845.
I am passionate about amplifying people's stories and trying to do them justice in the written word. I find pressure washing videos soothing. email me jacob.mcmaster@austcommunitymedia.com.au or 0406 212 845.
