Four towns on the same highway without Senior Men’s teams in 2024

By Tallon Smith

Country rugby league is again reeling after more clubs announced they will be sitting out the 2024 season this week.

The latest losses have centred around the New England region, with the Tenterfield Tigers the latest club to announce their withdrawal after being unable to form competitive teams for the season.

The club, which competes in the Border Rivers competition after leaving Group 19 in 2020, issued a statement via facebook earlier today, with player numbers again cited as the principal reason for their demise.

“It’s with heavy hearts that we announce the unfortunate withdrawal of the Tenterfield Tigers Mens and Ladies League Tag sides from this season’s Border Rivers Competition,” the statement read.

“Despite our best efforts, we’ve faced challenges with player numbers that have made it extremely hard to field a competitive team.

“We understand the disappointment this news may bring to our supporters, sponsors, and the wider rugby league community. However, rest assured that this decision was not taken lightly, and we explored all possible avenues to keep the team intact.

“We’ll continue to work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the future success of the Tigers, and we look forward to seeing our Mens and Ladies League Tag sides back in action as soon as possible.”

The Tigers’ decision follows a difficult start to 2024 for the game in the New England region, with Group 19’s Uralla Tigers, Glen Innes Magpies and Guyra Super Spuds also not fielding Senior Men’s sides in 2023.

The Magpies also issued a statement this week, saying that “due to Injuries, Lifestyle and Family & Work Commitments we have had 22 players from 2023 unable to recommit.”

The club will still field Ladies League Tag and Under 18s teams this year, however the withdrawal of their senior team is sounding alarm bells given the town is one of the largest in the group with a population of 9,000 people.

Guyra’s fate has been known for slightly longer, however their demise was more surprising than most, coming after a Minor Premiership and finals campaign last season.

With the game recording higher participation numbers across the country last year, it was hoped that 2024 would see less clubs entering recess compared to the 28 last year.

However, after a good start to the year, there has been a surge in the past two weeks, with a number of clubs across NSW making the call to withdraw from football in 2024.

Other clubs across the state on the list of clubs without a Senior Men’s team in 2024, include Condobolin, Narooma, Dunedoo, Binnaway, Burrangong, Boomanulla, Lower Macleay, Abermain-Weston and Morisset, along with the Orara Valley Axemen and Bellingen Magpies following the ill-fated Combined Valleys merger.

Meanwhile, Group 19 will be contested by eight clubs in 2024 after the release of the competition’s draw earlier in the week.

Defending premiers Narwan will be joined by Armidale, Inverell, Moree Boomerangs, Warialda, Bingara, Tingha and Walcha in the Senior competition.