Group Nine’s new board are looking to implement a salary cap or player pointers system.
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The equalisation method was a key competent of a strategic plan released this week.
While what form it will take is yet to be determined, operations manager Bob Hay believes it’s important for Group Nine’s future.
“Some sort of system is imperative to helping clubs keep their finances in check and trying to develop from within,” Hay said.
“A sort of system where there is a reward for developing your local juniors.
“What that is yet is to be discussed once again with the clubs, and it has to go back to the clubs to make the ultimate decision, but most other groups in Country Rugby League are operating under some sort of similar system.
“Whether it is a points system or some sort of cap is something we are going to work on.”
Similar systems have been discussed before but never introduced.
AFL Riverina introduced a soft salary cap in 2018 which will be strengthened this season.
The board believes the five-year-plan is a good way to bring some direction.
Among the 18-page plan is a focus on strengthening the competition and Hay said there is a strong focus on increasing player numbers.
Numbers have dropped in each of the last three seasons, down to a low of 956 in 2018.
The focus is on getting back to the figures of 2015, where they were 1164 registrations.
“There’s a focus on growing the game and getting numbers back to what they were pre-2015,” Hay said.
“There has been a bit of a drop-off in player numbers and a focus on trying to increase participation rates, in particular trying to help clubs get their local juniors progressing through to senior grades.”
The Group is also looking to secure an official relationship with the Canberra Raiders.
A NRL game will be played in Wagga this year, and again in 2020, plus the Raiders will be the major sponsors of the new nines pre-season event however a formal deal, similar to Penrith in the west and the Bulldogs on the North Coast.
Around $5000 will be up for grabs for the tournament in Cootamundra on March 19 with negotiations still ongoing for the women’s side.
