League feud may be over | Northern Rivers Sport | Local Sports in Northern Rivers

11th July 2009

www.sportingpulse.com

THE big league feud in Grafton could be a thing of the past next year as the Rhinos look for approval to head south and join the Group Two competition.

After two years of plying their trade in the Northern Rivers league, Grafton Rhinos officials are convinced a move to the Group Two is necessary for the club's continued survival.

“With the way the NRRRL is structured, we are very concerned about our future,” Rhinos' spokesman Shane Osborne said.

Travelling distance, player recruitment and sponsorship revenue have all been cited as reasons for the move south.

But Osborne said it was Grafton's strong links to the Group Two region that made the move such an attractive proposition.

“I think rugby league is the only sport which goes north and not south,” he said.

“We think the basis of our supporters are more interested in us playing Group Two teams such as Woolgoolga, Orara Valley and Coffs harbour then they are with Tweed Heads or Cudgen.”

The move is not without its dangers, especially considering the club will lose one of its major drawcard events - the local derby against the Grafton Ghosts.

However, Osborne said the club had weighed up all the options when considering the switch from the NRRRL.

“It's a punt, we realise that ... but we believe our future is in Group Two,” he said.

“At the end of the day it's about our survival.”

If they are successful it will mean Grafton has one team in the Northern Rivers league and one team in the Group Two competition.

A suggestion has already been made that if that happens a regular charity shield game should be played between the two clubs as a pre season trial.

Group Two officials have been sent a letter by the Rhinos asking for their thoughts on the move and this will be considered later this month.

The group's chief administration officer, Jim Anderson, said he'd be delighted to see such a professional club as the Rhinos turn their attention south.

“Years ago Grafton was part of this league and we'd have three busloads of supporters coming along with them for games at Bellingen and Coffs Harbour,” he said.

“Obviously we'd love to reinvigorate our competition and adding the Rhinos would be a great way to do just that.”

The Group Two league currently involves teams from Port Macquarie through to Woolgoolga. There has been talk, however, that Port Macquarie may be lured back to the Group Three league, which would mean the furthest south the Rhinos would have to travel would be Kempsey.

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