Cover Photo: Rodders Photos

Tallon Smith

Footy fans in the Central West will get a dose of rugby league action before the start of the Peter McDonald Premiership season with the annual Bathurst Panthers Knockout confirmed for March 14 and 15 at Carrington Park.

The event, which is an annual tradition in the region, will comprise of 20 teams across two divisions of 10 each, each competing for the first grade prize of $7000 and reserves purse of $3500.

Bathurst Panthers President Blake Lawson told Battlers For Bush Footy that the expansion of the event beyond the confines of Group 10 has long been on the cards, as the region looks to establish a strong pre-season event.

“We’re looking at running two team comps, so we’ve got a first grade and a reserves competition,” he said.

“Generally, pretty much as long as I’ve been playing, the last 15 [or] 20 years, this has all been closed pretty much just at Group 10, but now we’ve been allowed to open up to any team that wants to come and join along.”

With a bigger and better event planned this year, Lawson said that teams will get to play sides they may not have played before, allowing players to work on combinations in a different environment before the season.

“Knockouts are usually a bit of fun to get away for a trip, but they’re also a good opportunity for teams to generate trials against teams that [clubs] won’t come up against every week,” he said.

“[There’s also] a bit of prize money that can go along way in country footy and help a lot of clubs get off the ground or help them do some other things that they need desperately.

“Clubs can bring both grades whether it’s first grade, or other types of grades, [or just] one grade as well.

“At the moment we have up to ten teams, but there is potential to increase that if there is enough interest.”

With the event rapidly approaching, Lawson encouraged teams to get their entries in, with more information available on the Bathurst Panthers facebook page.

“We can have a few different teams involved this year, we’re pretty lucky,” he said.

“Mudgee Dragons won it last year, and we’ve won a fair few of them ourselves.

“The best thing is mate, league’s back, we’re getting close to the start of the season, and we’re excited to host the event on the 14th and 15th of March.”

Meanwhile, just two weeks after the Bathurst event, the Central West Black Trackers will also host a pre-season knockout in Wellington, with 16 open men’s and eight under 15’s boys teams set to compete.

The two-day event on March 29 and 30 at Kennard Park offers a $10,000 first prize to the winners of the open age division.

The nomination fee for that event is $2000 for men’s teams and $1000 for under 15 boys sides.