GROUP 19 president Mick Lewis has expressed his disappointment for the group and for the Tingha community following the withdrawal of the Tingha Tigers from this season’s competition.
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“I know how much the Tingha community values its rugby league and how passionate they are about it,” Lewis said.
“We’re hoping that it will be only a one year recess and that they’ll be back in the near future.”
Lewis said it meant a new draw needed to be done.
“We don’t think it would be workable to go through the balance of the year with two byes in the draw,” he said.
Lewis said he was aware it might cause problems, particularly for clubs like Inverell with shared facilities with other organisations.
“We’re trying to organise it so that where Inverell had home games previously, they will continue to have home games, if that can be done,” he said.
Lewis said the new draw will be a big challenge because Inverell was not the only club with shared facilities.
“Moree Boars and Armidale have to share their ground with their junior league,” he said.
“Both of those clubs are also requesting that, where possible, home games be maintained. We’re probably fortunate in a way that there’s a game representative bye this weekend.
“All clubs were drawn not to play this weekend because of the Northern Division trials. So we have another week up our sleeve to get things organised.
Lewis said after Tingha’s big defeats in rounds one and two, it was obvious that their withdrawal was a distinct possibility as their players drifted off to other clubs.
“Obviously we could see that happening, but it’s hard to stop once it starts,” Lewis said.
“A couple of key players for Tingha signed with Inverell very early on in the piece and once that started it was really a death knell for Tingha.”
Lewis said the original draw was done on the basis that Tingha would be viable for the season.
“You’re not Nostradamus; you don’t see into the future. You’ve got to take clubs on face value, and when they say they are going to be all right, then you’ve got to take their word for it,” Lewis said.