Next year’s Group 4 competition will remain as is, at least for the 2015 season.

After weeks of procrastination, a resolution was finally reached at a group meeting in Gunnedah on Sunday. 

Club representatives voted to keep the existing structure of a first and reserve grade (First Division) competition and a separate Second Division league, despite rising discontent among some clubs who say the current system is not working.

At the crux of the conundrum is a weakening First Division competition.

“We need to look at ways of lifting the standard of First Division clubs,” Group 4 president, Michael Schmiedel, told the gathered parties.

“Because the depth between First and Second Division is getting closer.”

Touted as the group’s premier competition, First Division (North Tamworth, Gunnedah, West Lions, Narrabri, Wee Waa and Oxley Diggers) has suffered a slow bleed of players into the second-tier, Second Division competition in recent seasons.

As a consequence, its eight-club format which last year included Kootingal, Barraba, Dungowan, Walcha, Werris Creek, Bendermeer, Boggabri and Manilla clubs, has grown stronger by the year but at the expense of its fellow group neighbours.

Two possible options were tabled for consideration on Sunday – the first would have merged First Division’s reserve grade into Second Division; the other would have scrapped reserve grade to combine First and Second Division clubs in one giant competition.

But the two alternatives were never a realistic option at this late stage of the year, Schmiedel said.

“We’re sticking as per the normal structure which we pretty much knew would happen.

“I think purely because there was not enough time for clubs to prepare for the 2015 season if we had changed the structure.”

A restructure was mooted earlier in the year by the group but the proposals failed to gain traction.

So the question begs, why hold a meeting if the writing was already on the wall?

“I can’t answer that one,” Schmiedel replied.

Pressed further, he said the meeting was to satisfy clubs in the final decision.

“I think it was more about making clubs happy that they still have the power to keep us where we’re at.” 

Another dilemma for the group was the possible departure of Wee Waa from next year’s first grade competition due to insufficient numbers, thereby reducing the league to a five-team setup.

Some were concerned if the competition was reduced, it would further weaken the group but Country Rugby League regional manager Scott Bone highlighted the case of Illawarra Rugby League which fielded only six clubs in its recent competition and remained one of the strongest in the CRL.

“The real difference is the strength of their first grade,” Bone said.

A new development to emerge from the meeting is the election of a Group 4 steering committee which will report directly to group executives to help advise and develop a plan for the 2016 season.

“Hopefully it will help fix up some of the flaws in the structure of competition,” Schmiedel said.

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A deal is also being brokered this week for Gunnedah to host the annual Wests Knockout pre-season league carnival on March 28-29.

Negotiations were in the final stages with council and the local cricket schedule regarding the use of Kitchener Park for the event but alternative venues were also being sought.