By Tallon Smith

The Deniliquin Blue Heelers are all but set to enter the ProTen Community Cup next year after their proposed admission to the competition was unanimously approved by the competition committee at its AGM on Sunday.

Existing clubs voted 5-0 in favour of the proposal, with the Narrandera club unable to vote due to their continuing director being an apology on the day.

The final hurdle for the club is for the move to be ratified by the NSWRL Bidgee Region, led by Manager Dave Skinner.

Skinner has been a supporter of the expansion back to Deniliquin, helping the club with raffle and auction items including a signed State of Origin jersey to help the newly re-formed club get back on its feet after almost half a century in rugby league purgatory.

Deniliquin previously had a club based in the Victorian Rugby League’s Goulburn Murray competition in the 1990s, called the Deniliquin Raiders, however the Blue Heelers last competed in the NSW-based Group 17 competition in 1977.