A number of positives are coming out of the latest Group 16 rugby league meeting.
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The Candelo-Bemboka Panthers will be given the chance to go ahead as a standalone club, while players from Tathra are being welcomed back into the fold with a partnership opportunity.
Tathra is yet to officially reform as a club, but has been invited to enter players in the under 18s draw, which will likely be part of a combined Panthers, Eden Tigers, Tathra under 18s roster.
Incoming Group 16 president Allan Wilton said it was the right move to try and get Tathra back in.
“They will have the full support of Group 16 to form part of that combined side,” Mr Wilton said.
“It will be good to bring rugby league back to Tathra, because it’s all about community.”
There has been a push to ensure game days feature a number of games for fans, rather than a skewered draw that sees just single or a pair of games played on any day.
With the Panthers to play host to their reserve grade side and the Pink Panthers league-tag outfit, the club will also welcome the addition of the proposed three-town under 18s line-up.
This also means the Pambula-Merimbula Bulldogs will stand alone, so games will likely run across seven grounds every game day, giving fans more options for getting out to support their team.
The Cobargo-Bermagui Eels will also be returning this year with the club yet to lock in partnership with another club through the portability rules.
However, they’re likely to sign on with the Eden Tigers for another season after the partnership proved successful for both clubs.
Group 16 has also locked in dates for it’s season opening drawcards including the Group 16 Nines competition and the Indigenous v All Stars match.
The Nines will run at Moruya’s Ack Weyman Oval on March 11 with a venue yet to be announced for the All Stars round the following week.
Mr Wilton said the All Stars round would be moved to an under 23s format in line with the new representative structure under the CRL.
Group 16 will now vie for representative spots with the Canberra-based Group 8 draw.
The day will also feature the under 16s and under 18s representative trials.
Mr Wilton said he was also delighted to announce Bega’s Ryan Apps had been added to the coaching staff for the newly combined Group 16, Group 8 tie.
The competition proper is scheduled to run from April 1st with a full draw yet to be released.