With the CWRU confirming the return of Dubbo Rhinos into the fold for 2016, as well as likely changes to the structure of the competition, it looks increasingly as though there will be a major divide between some factions in the competition.

The potential changes include dropping the colts competition from an under 20s to under 19s competition, as well as removing the need for all clubs to field first, second, thirds and colts teams.

Already in the last few years a number of the smaller clubs had dropped out of the thirds competition while a few are tipped to add colts to that list next year.

On the other side of the coin, a meeting was held in Bathurst recently where the four most powerful clubs – Bathurst Bulldogs, Orange City, Orange Emus and Dubbo ’Roos – met to draft a letter opposing the changes.

They made an indication that the competition should change to include themselves as well as CSU and Mudgee, each fielding four sides, and playing the Blowes Cup amongst themselves, though CSU have already said they will struggle to field a third grade team.

The other clubs would then move to a revamped GrainCorp Cup second-tier competition.

That submission has been taken onboard by the CWRU but secretary Peter Veenstra confirmed on Wednesday that no decision has been made regarding next season, and a direction would be announced at their meeting next week.

CSU had a disappointing season in 2015 with only their colts team making the finals, and in terms of numbers they battled harder than they ever have before to field sides.

Club captain Jarrod Hyde has a mixed view of the proposed changes but says one in particular will hurt his club.

“We are very much opposed to the dropping of the age from 20 down to 19,” he said.

“We don’t have many under 19s players in a given year. We get a lot of players who have had a year off after finishing school or who are close to being out of that age bracket when they get here even first year out. We also need a grade for those who might be 20 but need a bridge to second grade.

“It is going to be extremely difficult for us to field a side. We’ve already indicated that we will give it a go for 2016 but I don’t know how successful it will be.

“With the third grade competition we have always tried to put together a side, but it has gotten harder and harder and we struggled a fair bit for numbers this season, so I think we will look at giving it a miss if we can.

“Our attitude is that the under 19s concept will hurt a lot of the smaller clubs like Parkes and Forbes.”

On the flipside, Hyde was delighted to see that Rhinos will be making a return to the fold and agrees with the idea that there should be no onus on clubs to field more teams than they are capable of.

“We’re delighted about it, it is good to see them back and to have an extra side to play against is always a positive move,” Hyde explained. 

“I think we saw firsthand a lot of times in the season just gone how hard the small town clubs like Narromine, Parkes and Forbes have to work to get full sides on the park, you’ve got guys backing up and playing two or three times in a day.

“That is serious commitment but it will be good for them to not be put in that situation.”

Hyde wouldn’t be drawn on any suggestion that the so-called ‘big four’ clubs are having too much influence on the direction of the competition or causing a divide with the smaller clubs.

“I can’t really comment on that,” he said.

“I think when the top clubs are performing well and are winning competitions or finishing high on the ladder then naturally they become a bit more influential, but that changes depending on who’s going well at a certain time.

“We’ve given our own views to the CWRU at the start of this year on what we think is a good competition model. That’s all we can do.”