Bob Walsh has been involved in rugby league at all levels for decades but the decision to scrap the Group 11 senior rugby league season on Tuesday marked the biggest of his career.
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The Group 11 president, former deputy chair of Country Rugby League, and current NSWRL board member said while Dubbo clubs CYMS and Macquarie were disappointed by the call it was a unanimous decision to abandon first grade, reserves, and league tag for this year.
The under 18s will go ahead in some fashion but the exact structure of the competition is yet to be confirmed, with a combined Western Rams league with clubs from Group 10, the Castlereagh League, and Woodbridge Cup potentially involved.
Group 11's decision to abandon senior footy came less than an hour after Group 10 had made the same decision as the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions it has forced continues to have a major impact.
Group 11 has been running since 1946 but this will the first year without senior competition.
It marked a career first for Walsh, as well.
"Most certainly," he said when asked if it was the biggest decision he'd be a part of.
Walsh was almost lost for words when describing the magnitude of the decision.
"To call off a whole competition. It's certainly ..." he trailed off.
The call to vote on Tuesday night came about quickly after the Nyngan Tigers on Friday became the first team in the Western Rams region to withdrawal from competition in 2020.
The Tigers highlighted the financial impact as COVID-19 as the major reason for their decision in a statement to the Group 11 board.
The Wellington Cowboys had previously informed Group 11 they would only take part in a competition if all seven clubs were involved and Forbes Magpies coach Cameron Greenhalgh said he felt the same on Monday.
Narromine president Archie Harding had previously raised serious concerns about the viability of a competition in 2020 after all play was put on hold back on March 18.
All rugby league involvement was put on hold then and NSWRL was expected to provide a major update on June 1 but lack of information on senior sport from the state government means sporting bodies all over the state remain in limbo.
"You can understand it," Walsh said.
"Clubs' avenue of fundraising is gone."
The structure of the under 18s competition is now almost certain to cause conjecture.
While there is no senior footy in both Group 11 and Group 10, it will be up to individual clubs to decide their next move once given options from NSWRL.
Walsh stated the Nyngan and Narromine clubs at this stage were against the idea of playing any under 18s as well while there was no certainty Wellington's juniors would take to the field as well.
NSWRL's Western Region manager Peter Clarke is expected to liaise with clubs across the Western Rams region in the coming days.
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Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
