Sydney Subbies 2019

[fkj]

I would think the way forward would be;

Div 1 - 4 Grades + Colts (10 teams)
Drummoyne
Mosman
Blue Mountains
Petersham
Waverley
Colleagues
Knox
Forest (ex Div 2)
St Pats (ex Div 2)
Hunters Hill (ex Div 2)

Balmain drops out for obvious reasons. Forest, St Pats and Hunters Hill come up after a solid 2019 season in Div 2 for all 3 clubs on the field and numbers wise to make Kentwell a 10 team competition again. Div 1 restructured to only 4 grades as the Sutherland Cup is slowly dying off (only 5-6 of the 10 teams can consistently put out a 5ths).

Div 2 - 3 Grades + Colts (8 teams)
Hills
Epping
Lindfield
Barker
UNSW
Redfield (ex Div 3)
Blacktown (ex Div 3)
Newport (ex Div 3)

Redfield, Blacktown and Newport make the jump up from Div 3 after very strong seasons across the board. Div 2 restructured to drop the Richardson Cup (4ths) so there is no extra obligation to the new clubs to put on another grade since only 4 of the 8 teams here can field a 4th grade currently anyway. Safer to go with less grade numbers than more and have clubs over extend themselves. The clubs that can field a 4ths currently would be farmed into Halligans.

Div 3 - 3 Grades - No Colts (9 teams)
UWS Hawkesbury
Hawkesbury Valley
Beecroft
Old Iggies
Balmain (ex Div 1)
Sydney Harlequins (ex Div 4)
Briars (ex Div 4)
Canterbury (ex Div 4)
Macquarie Uni (ex Div 4)

This is about where Balmain belong after their 2019 (no colts for a majority of the year and only 2 grades for the last half of the season) They should be able to find another 15 guys to run around on a Saturday arvo to make up a 3rds. Quins, Briars, Canterbury and Mac Uni come up as all clubs have proven they can hold 3 grades easily. I had to drop the colts out since 5 of 9 clubs have shown they can sustain a side. These 5 teams would form the basis of Radford Cup. Scheduling might be a bit of a pain in the ass here with a bye week but the clubs all seem to be where they belong.

Div 4 - 2 Grades (8 teams)
Oatley
Sydney Irish
Northern Saints
Brothers (ex Div 3)
Convicts (ex Div 5)
Mosman (5th and 6th grades)
Colleagues (5th and 6th grades)
Burraneer (ex Div 5 - colts & player overflow creates 2nd grade)
Chatswood (ex Div 6 - colts & player overflow creates 2nd grade)

Oatley, Irish and Saints stay in Div 4 and Brothers join them after all their 3rds went missing towards the back end of the year or they just never had them to begin with. Relying on Mosman and Colleagues to continue their strong numbers each week to bolster up competition numbers, they would play at home on opposite weeks to their Div 1 teams. Burraneer and Chatswood make the leap after showing they can field a colts for 2019, generally the 2nd grade level is about what Radford Cup colts is so this should be a good fit.

Div 5a - 1 Grade (6 teams - "A" graded competition)
Merrylands (ex Div 4)
Engadine
North Cronulla
Raptors
Manly
Lane Cove

Merrylands moves back down after experimenting in Div 4 and not much coming of it. Engadine, North Cronulla, Raptors, Manly and Lane Cove all had fairly strong showings so are graded in the "A" competition. Only a 6 team competition but is probably for the best considering adding a 7th team would put a bye week in. Less byes the better.

Div 5b - 1 Grade (8 teams - "B" graded competition)
Maccabi
Dukes
Wakehurst
Renegades
Kings (ex Halligan)
Menai (ex Halligan)
Petersham (5th grade)
Waverley (5th grade)

Maccabi, Dukes, Wakehurst and Renegades all had either 50% win/loss record or less so get thrown into the "B" grade. Kings and Menai both showed they could maintain a side each week in Halligans so should be encouraged to join the fold. Petersham and Waverley both had 5 grades consistently throughout the season in Div 1 and not much looks to change here. Half times changed to 30 (possibly 35) mins for a more social competition closer to the grade that these teams should probably find themselves. To cater for Petersham and Waverley, game times moved from 3.15 to 2.10, this allows the 5ths to stay involved with their Div 1 club on game days at home (something like - 4ths @ 9.40, Colts @ 10.35, 3rds @ 11.50, 2nds @ 12.55, 5 "B" @ 2.10, 1sts @ 3.15)

Radford Cup (8 teams)
UWS Hawkesbury
Hawkesbury Valley
Beecroft
Old Iggies
Briars
Mosman II
Colleagues II
Uni of Wollongong
Any other clubs with a colts side not already in a competition.

Now my knowledge of Radford Cup is sketchy at best but all 8 clubs have shown they can field a colts so having a proper 14 week competition in line with the rest of Subbies would help.

Halligan Cup (currently 9 teams, in order of Division restructure)

Drummoyne 5ths
Blue Mountains 5ths
Forest 5ths
Mosman 7ths
Hills 4ths
Epping 4ths
Lindfield 4ths
UNSW 4ths
Kings 2nds
Any other clubs with a surplus grade.

This is where the extra grades will have to try and survive. Its not ideal but it seems to be the safest way to go. If it is run similar to what Halligans was in 2018 (i.e. proper competition structure from Subbies with a draw) then this could have legs. It would allow teams to play with their main club a majority of the weeks at home if Subbies can work the draw in the right way.

Another option is to throw teams who can definitely field a team week in and week out to be added into the Div 5 "B" grade with preference to the 3 Div 1 clubs purely for scheduling and ground purposes.

------------------------------------

Is it a perfect fix? Probably not. Will all clubs be happy? Again, probably not. However it seems to be the most painless and logical way forward that allows clubs to continue to exist where they belong rather than having teams like Brothers struggle to throw 3 grades out each week and seeing as though Div 1 would move to 10 clubs, not all of them will be able to safely carry a 5ths. From what is laid out above, it helps teams at the top end of town by having consistent games for their lower grades so players don't leave and helps the bottom half of the division structure by bridging the gap between Div 5/6 and Div 4 that currently exists.

Any thoughts, fixes, questions? Is it a shit idea or does it actually have legs?

I see what your trying to do re: Halligans with those clubs with extra grades, but from personal experience a lot of the guys in those teams simply wont travel away from the rest of their club to play, they'll just put themselves as unavailable when that's on the cards. Those players will end up walking away, not just to to another club, but away from the game altogether.

There isn't a perfect solution, thats just one of the issues unfortunately....

 

[Pfitzy]

Any thoughts, fixes, questions? Is it a shit idea or does it actually have legs?

Lot of thought gone into that layout. I guess the main thing to understand from Subbies' perspective is they're ambivalent about a 10-club competition anywhere, given it extends the season by 4 weeks, in effect.

As we've seen already: numbers across the Divisions aren't consistent, and going back out to 18 rounds + finals may exacerbate that.

8 in each Division is the key I think, and then it depends what clubs *think* they have at their disposal at the start of the year, and then what actually shows up

 

[Pfitzy]

P.S. Menai can go back to the tougher competition. To dominate 4 years then disappear is atrocious.

Also: Kings have shown they should be able to field 2 Grade regularly.

Maybe we're just headed to a place where the lowest Grade in each division is optional?

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[Fergus Slattery]

Could not have happened to a nicer bunch of blokes.especially when the HH hooker stuck his finger up to the Forest crowd as he left the field with 10 to go..

I was just an interested observer, but you must be living in Narnia. Your crowd, despite an outstanding ignorance of the Laws were gobbing off at the HH players and the Ref all afternoon. To have been gifted a penalty courtesy of the Ref's lack of composure and then whine about getting the finger speaks volumes you poor grasp of reality. Never looked like giving a penalty for killing the ball until minute 80, despite the fact the ball carrier had two support players latched to his arse and Forest were never going to contest. Some great recruiting by NSW Refs in the last five years..

 

[fkj]

I was just an interested observer, but you must be living in Narnia. Your crowd, despite an outstanding ignorance of the Laws were gobbing off at the HH players and the Ref all afternoon. To have been gifted a penalty courtesy of the Ref's lack of composure and then whine about getting the finger speaks volumes you poor grasp of reality. Never looked like giving a penalty for killing the ball until minute 80, despite the fact the ball carrier had two support players latched to his arse and Forest were never going to contest. Some great recruiting by NSW Refs in the last five years..

Funny mate, I was just an interested observer myself, no affiliation to either team, so there goes that theory. Mind you this whole rant screams being from HH so maybe have a think about it champ.

Maybe brush up on the laws about killing the ball as well. You're right, HH player had two players latched behind, and Forest didn't contest the breakdown. The HH player got tackled, support players fell on top of him, made no attempt to keep their feet, didn't allow a contest. That's basically the definition of killing the ball, end of.....

 

[Fergus Slattery]

Funny mate, I was just an interested observer myself, no affiliation to either team, so there goes that theory. Mind you this whole rant screams being from HH so maybe have a think about it champ.

Maybe brush up on the laws about killing the ball as well. You're right, HH player had two players latched behind, and Forest didn't contest the breakdown. The HH player got tackled, support players fell on top of him, made no attempt to keep their feet, didn't allow a contest. That's basically the definition of killing the ball, end of...

Thanks for the condescension 'champ', usually a symptom of either being wounded by facts or the lack of a rebuttal. I have nothing to do with HH, am associated with a Shute Club, I just happened to be adjacent to the Forest crowd. Do you know under what circumstances a Ref might ignore 'killng the ball'? How about the fact that Forest elected not to contest in the previous four breakdowns and did not appear to do so on that which attracted the penalty? Have you ever Reffed at any level? Familiar with what follows on an unwillingness or an inability to contest possession? What happens in a lineout when the throw is not straight but the defending team elects not to contest? You'd be a Forest supporter alright, you're emotion betrays you old mate

 

[fkj]

Thanks for the condescension 'champ', usually a symptom of either being wounded by facts or the lack of a rebuttal. I have nothing to do with HH, am associated with a Shute Club, I just happened to be adjacent to the Forest crowd. Do you know under what circumstances a Ref might ignore 'killng the ball'? How about the fact that Forest elected not to contest in the previous four breakdowns and did not appear to do so on that which attracted the penalty? Have you ever Reffed at any level? Familiar with what follows on an unwillingness or an inability to contest possession? What happens in a lineout when the throw is not straight but the defending team elects not to contest? You'd be a Forest supporter alright, you're emotion betrays you old mate

OK so you admit they killed the ball, thanks for the clarification...

 

[footy_footy]

I think you'll find that the Forest crowd aren't alone in their ways and I do agree they are pests. I will however concede that despite my dislike for Forest at times they always have a strong crowd and clearly have a strong culture. Congrats to them on a great 2019 . From my experience the St Pat's crowd is invariably obnoxious and abusive whilst Lindfield love mouthing off at anyone and everyone, particularly out the front of their decrepit club house. I'm sure there are many other examples throughout the divisions. Like it or not it seems to be engrained in suburban rugby. There is a line yes, and it does get crossed from time to time but subbies has far bigger problems than pissed idiots on a hill or a sideline.

As for refereeing, the games done now and it's not going to change. You could argue all day long about the semantics and intricacies of killing the ball but whilst it will hurt Hunters Hill no doubt, Forest got the job done. I can't see any reason to blame the referees. There was probably 100 calls throughout the day that could have gone either way and some of the went against Forest in colts others went against Hunters Hill from 4th grade to 1st Grade. It's part of the game and don't let it ruin a thrilling finish to a very competitive Barraclough Cup season.

 

[PiggiesLeft]

I

I would think the way forward would be;

Div 1 - 4 Grades + Colts (10 teams)
Drummoyne
Mosman
Blue Mountains
Petersham
Waverley
Colleagues
Knox
Forest (ex Div 2)
St Pats (ex Div 2)
Hunters Hill (ex Div 2)

Balmain drops out for obvious reasons. Forest, St Pats and Hunters Hill come up after a solid 2019 season in Div 2 for all 3 clubs on the field and numbers wise to make Kentwell a 10 team competition again. Div 1 restructured to only 4 grades as the Sutherland Cup is slowly dying off (only 5-6 of the 10 teams can consistently put out a 5ths).

Div 2 - 3 Grades + Colts (8 teams)
Hills
Epping
Lindfield
Barker
UNSW
Redfield (ex Div 3)
Blacktown (ex Div 3)
Newport (ex Div 3)

Redfield, Blacktown and Newport make the jump up from Div 3 after very strong seasons across the board. Div 2 restructured to drop the Richardson Cup (4ths) so there is no extra obligation to the new clubs to put on another grade since only 4 of the 8 teams here can field a 4th grade currently anyway. Safer to go with less grade numbers than more and have clubs over extend themselves. The clubs that can field a 4ths currently would be farmed into Halligans.

Div 3 - 3 Grades - No Colts (9 teams)
UWS Hawkesbury
Hawkesbury Valley
Beecroft
Old Iggies
Balmain (ex Div 1)
Sydney Harlequins (ex Div 4)
Briars (ex Div 4)
Canterbury (ex Div 4)
Macquarie Uni (ex Div 4)

This is about where Balmain belong after their 2019 (no colts for a majority of the year and only 2 grades for the last half of the season) They should be able to find another 15 guys to run around on a Saturday arvo to make up a 3rds. Quins, Briars, Canterbury and Mac Uni come up as all clubs have proven they can hold 3 grades easily. I had to drop the colts out since 5 of 9 clubs have shown they can sustain a side. These 5 teams would form the basis of Radford Cup. Scheduling might be a bit of a pain in the ass here with a bye week but the clubs all seem to be where they belong.

Div 4 - 2 Grades (8 teams)
Oatley
Sydney Irish
Northern Saints
Brothers (ex Div 3)
Convicts (ex Div 5)
Mosman (5th and 6th grades)
Colleagues (5th and 6th grades)
Burraneer (ex Div 5 - colts & player overflow creates 2nd grade)
Chatswood (ex Div 6 - colts & player overflow creates 2nd grade)

Oatley, Irish and Saints stay in Div 4 and Brothers join them after all their 3rds went missing towards the back end of the year or they just never had them to begin with. Relying on Mosman and Colleagues to continue their strong numbers each week to bolster up competition numbers, they would play at home on opposite weeks to their Div 1 teams. Burraneer and Chatswood make the leap after showing they can field a colts for 2019, generally the 2nd grade level is about what Radford Cup colts is so this should be a good fit.

Div 5a - 1 Grade (6 teams - "A" graded competition)
Merrylands (ex Div 4)
Engadine
North Cronulla
Raptors
Manly
Lane Cove

Merrylands moves back down after experimenting in Div 4 and not much coming of it. Engadine, North Cronulla, Raptors, Manly and Lane Cove all had fairly strong showings so are graded in the "A" competition. Only a 6 team competition but is probably for the best considering adding a 7th team would put a bye week in. Less byes the better.

Div 5b - 1 Grade (8 teams - "B" graded competition)
Maccabi
Dukes
Wakehurst
Renegades
Kings (ex Halligan)
Menai (ex Halligan)
Petersham (5th grade)
Waverley (5th grade)

Maccabi, Dukes, Wakehurst and Renegades all had either 50% win/loss record or less so get thrown into the "B" grade. Kings and Menai both showed they could maintain a side each week in Halligans so should be encouraged to join the fold. Petersham and Waverley both had 5 grades consistently throughout the season in Div 1 and not much looks to change here. Half times changed to 30 (possibly 35) mins for a more social competition closer to the grade that these teams should probably find themselves. To cater for Petersham and Waverley, game times moved from 3.15 to 2.10, this allows the 5ths to stay involved with their Div 1 club on game days at home (something like - 4ths @ 9.40, Colts @ 10.35, 3rds @ 11.50, 2nds @ 12.55, 5 "B" @ 2.10, 1sts @ 3.15)

Radford Cup (8 teams)
UWS Hawkesbury
Hawkesbury Valley
Beecroft
Old Iggies
Briars
Mosman II
Colleagues II
Uni of Wollongong
Any other clubs with a colts side not already in a competition.

Now my knowledge of Radford Cup is sketchy at best but all 8 clubs have shown they can field a colts so having a proper 14 week competition in line with the rest of Subbies would help.

Halligan Cup (currently 9 teams, in order of Division restructure)

Drummoyne 5ths
Blue Mountains 5ths
Forest 5ths
Mosman 7ths
Hills 4ths
Epping 4ths
Lindfield 4ths
UNSW 4ths
Kings 2nds
Any other clubs with a surplus grade.

This is where the extra grades will have to try and survive. Its not ideal but it seems to be the safest way to go. If it is run similar to what Halligans was in 2018 (i.e. proper competition structure from Subbies with a draw) then this could have legs. It would allow teams to play with their main club a majority of the weeks at home if Subbies can work the draw in the right way.

Another option is to throw teams who can definitely field a team week in and week out to be added into the Div 5 "B" grade with preference to the 3 Div 1 clubs purely for scheduling and ground purposes.

------------------------------------

Is it a perfect fix? Probably not. Will all clubs be happy? Again, probably not. However it seems to be the most painless and logical way forward that allows clubs to continue to exist where they belong rather than having teams like Brothers struggle to throw 3 grades out each week and seeing as though Div 1 would move to 10 clubs, not all of them will be able to safely carry a 5ths. From what is laid out above, it helps teams at the top end of town by having consistent games for their lower grades so players don't leave and helps the bottom half of the division structure by bridging the gap between Div 5/6 and Div 4 that currently exists.

Any thoughts, fixes, questions? Is it a shit idea or does it actually have legs?

I think the only thing that we can change here is that we open the competition to sponsors

DIV 1 Sponsored by .............

DIV 2 Sponsored by ..............

and so forth

the funding administered by separate committee that pay for development of the competition

 

[Rugby Central]

I
I think the only thing that we can change here is that we open the competition to sponsors
DIV 1 Sponsored by .....
DIV 2 Sponsored by ......
and so forth
the funding administered by separate committee that pay for development of the competition

........now I've stopped laughing....do you know anyone who would pay for these competitions. Nearly all Club sponsors are either current or ex-players or part of the local community. Can you see anyone paying money for something that they have no interest or influence in.
More importantly, even if the money could be found, what are the chances that RA or NSWRU would do what ever they could to get their cut and stuff the whole thing up.

Love of Subbies and good commercial sense or not easy bedfellows.

 

[Seagull Butler]

Funny mate, I was just an interested observer myself, no affiliation to either team, so there goes that theory. Mind you this whole rant screams being from HH so maybe have a think about it champ.

Maybe brush up on the laws about killing the ball as well. You're right, HH player had two players latched behind, and Forest didn't contest the breakdown. The HH player got tackled, support players fell on top of him, made no attempt to keep their feet, didn't allow a contest. That's basically the definition of killing the ball, end of...

Ok, so from someone that wasn't just an interested observer:

The call was rough (First time I've seen it called this season, let alone in the game with 6 seconds left) but we shouldn't have let them get back to that close to us in the first place. Whether it was right or not I don't know as I was on the ground in the previous ruck.

Congratulations Forest for winning it and I wish their players the best of luck next year.

On the crowd behaviour v our hookers behaviour - anything I say is going to seem like sour grapes so I'll just say that the crowd banter I heard in the 20 minutes I was on the field was beyond anything I've got playing at Melwood.

 

[Ozzie Bob]

Mate unlucky with the way things turned out on Saturday. Your first grade team had a big turn around after the first few rounds to fly through to the grand final.

To win second grade and 4th grade and have four teams in the grand final would suggest HH have had a great season after being relegated.

I strongly believe that Forest, HH and Pats should be pushed up to 1st Division to allow a proper restructure of the different divisions.

Ok, so from someone that wasn't just an interested observer:

The call was rough (First time I've seen it called this season, let alone in the game with 6 seconds left) but we shouldn't have let them get back to that close to us in the first place. Whether it was right or not I don't know as I was on the ground in the previous ruck.

Congratulations Forest for winning it and I wish their players the best of luck next year.

On the crowd behaviour v our hookers behaviour - anything I say is going to seem like sour grapes so I'll just say that the crowd banter I heard in the 20 minutes I was on the field was beyond anything I've got playing at Melwood.

 

[RuggerFan1]

can someone inform with what happened with Balmain? from being a powerhouse, then to forfeiting every game?

 

[thetraitor]

can someone inform with what happened with Balmain? from being a powerhouse, then to forfeiting every game?

Balmain are returning to their original form. Pre-2011, pre-money.

 

[HeavyB]

I would think the way forward would be;

Div 1 - 4 Grades + Colts (10 teams)
Drummoyne
Mosman
Blue Mountains
Petersham
Waverley
Colleagues
Knox
Forest (ex Div 2)
St Pats (ex Div 2)
Hunters Hill (ex Div 2)

Balmain drops out for obvious reasons. Forest, St Pats and Hunters Hill come up after a solid 2019 season in Div 2 for all 3 clubs on the field and numbers wise to make Kentwell a 10 team competition again. Div 1 restructured to only 4 grades as the Sutherland Cup is slowly dying off (only 5-6 of the 10 teams can consistently put out a 5ths).

Div 2 - 3 Grades + Colts (8 teams)
Hills
Epping
Lindfield
Barker
UNSW
Redfield (ex Div 3)
Blacktown (ex Div 3)
Newport (ex Div 3)

Redfield, Blacktown and Newport make the jump up from Div 3 after very strong seasons across the board. Div 2 restructured to drop the Richardson Cup (4ths) so there is no extra obligation to the new clubs to put on another grade since only 4 of the 8 teams here can field a 4th grade currently anyway. Safer to go with less grade numbers than more and have clubs over extend themselves. The clubs that can field a 4ths currently would be farmed into Halligans.

Div 3 - 3 Grades - No Colts (9 teams)
UWS Hawkesbury
Hawkesbury Valley
Beecroft
Old Iggies
Balmain (ex Div 1)
Sydney Harlequins (ex Div 4)
Briars (ex Div 4)
Canterbury (ex Div 4)
Macquarie Uni (ex Div 4)

This is about where Balmain belong after their 2019 (no colts for a majority of the year and only 2 grades for the last half of the season) They should be able to find another 15 guys to run around on a Saturday arvo to make up a 3rds. Quins, Briars, Canterbury and Mac Uni come up as all clubs have proven they can hold 3 grades easily. I had to drop the colts out since 5 of 9 clubs have shown they can sustain a side. These 5 teams would form the basis of Radford Cup. Scheduling might be a bit of a pain in the ass here with a bye week but the clubs all seem to be where they belong.

Div 4 - 2 Grades (8 teams)
Oatley
Sydney Irish
Northern Saints
Brothers (ex Div 3)
Convicts (ex Div 5)
Mosman (5th and 6th grades)
Colleagues (5th and 6th grades)
Burraneer (ex Div 5 - colts & player overflow creates 2nd grade)
Chatswood (ex Div 6 - colts & player overflow creates 2nd grade)

Oatley, Irish and Saints stay in Div 4 and Brothers join them after all their 3rds went missing towards the back end of the year or they just never had them to begin with. Relying on Mosman and Colleagues to continue their strong numbers each week to bolster up competition numbers, they would play at home on opposite weeks to their Div 1 teams. Burraneer and Chatswood make the leap after showing they can field a colts for 2019, generally the 2nd grade level is about what Radford Cup colts is so this should be a good fit.

Div 5a - 1 Grade (6 teams - "A" graded competition)
Merrylands (ex Div 4)
Engadine
North Cronulla
Raptors
Manly
Lane Cove

Merrylands moves back down after experimenting in Div 4 and not much coming of it. Engadine, North Cronulla, Raptors, Manly and Lane Cove all had fairly strong showings so are graded in the "A" competition. Only a 6 team competition but is probably for the best considering adding a 7th team would put a bye week in. Less byes the better.

Div 5b - 1 Grade (8 teams - "B" graded competition)
Maccabi
Dukes
Wakehurst
Renegades
Kings (ex Halligan)
Menai (ex Halligan)
Petersham (5th grade)
Waverley (5th grade)

Maccabi, Dukes, Wakehurst and Renegades all had either 50% win/loss record or less so get thrown into the "B" grade. Kings and Menai both showed they could maintain a side each week in Halligans so should be encouraged to join the fold. Petersham and Waverley both had 5 grades consistently throughout the season in Div 1 and not much looks to change here. Half times changed to 30 (possibly 35) mins for a more social competition closer to the grade that these teams should probably find themselves. To cater for Petersham and Waverley, game times moved from 3.15 to 2.10, this allows the 5ths to stay involved with their Div 1 club on game days at home (something like - 4ths @ 9.40, Colts @ 10.35, 3rds @ 11.50, 2nds @ 12.55, 5 "B" @ 2.10, 1sts @ 3.15)

Radford Cup (8 teams)
UWS Hawkesbury
Hawkesbury Valley
Beecroft
Old Iggies
Briars
Mosman II
Colleagues II
Uni of Wollongong
Any other clubs with a colts side not already in a competition.

Now my knowledge of Radford Cup is sketchy at best but all 8 clubs have shown they can field a colts so having a proper 14 week competition in line with the rest of Subbies would help.

Halligan Cup (currently 9 teams, in order of Division restructure)

Drummoyne 5ths
Blue Mountains 5ths
Forest 5ths
Mosman 7ths
Hills 4ths
Epping 4ths
Lindfield 4ths
UNSW 4ths
Kings 2nds
Any other clubs with a surplus grade.

This is where the extra grades will have to try and survive. Its not ideal but it seems to be the safest way to go. If it is run similar to what Halligans was in 2018 (i.e. proper competition structure from Subbies with a draw) then this could have legs. It would allow teams to play with their main club a majority of the weeks at home if Subbies can work the draw in the right way.

Another option is to throw teams who can definitely field a team week in and week out to be added into the Div 5 "B" grade with preference to the 3 Div 1 clubs purely for scheduling and ground purposes.

------------------------------------

Is it a perfect fix? Probably not. Will all clubs be happy? Again, probably not. However it seems to be the most painless and logical way forward that allows clubs to continue to exist where they belong rather than having teams like Brothers struggle to throw 3 grades out each week and seeing as though Div 1 would move to 10 clubs, not all of them will be able to safely carry a 5ths. From what is laid out above, it helps teams at the top end of town by having consistent games for their lower grades so players don't leave and helps the bottom half of the division structure by bridging the gap between Div 5/6 and Div 4 that currently exists.

Any thoughts, fixes, questions? Is it a shit idea or does it actually have legs?

Nothing is ever going to be perfect but I think this is as good a suggestion as I've seen. Good stuff.

Capping grades and splitting your huge clubs I think does need to happen. I get the argument that it separates players from their clubs but in the case of Mosman, Colleagues if you still have 2 grades travelling together it should still have that club sort of feel. Could even have 5ths, 6ths and 7ths in a div 3 3 team comp if they're going to have the numbers.

 

[Rumour Ronald]

Enough of the logic and sensible debate. What's wrong with you pillocks?

Dirty reds by 12 points. Loganimasi first try scorer. 3 yellow cards and 1 red card. Losers to bitch about the ref.

 

[Nath]

We should have a North - South - East - West comp.

Where people from the North, only play people from the East or West.

And people from the West, only play people from the North and South.

And people from the South, only play people from the East and West.

And people from the East, only play people from the North and South.

Then, at the end of the regular season, despite never seeing each other, East plays west, and North play South in the grand final. The ladder is reset to 0, and all teams are free to play in the grand final, only we don't tell them which ground it's at, they have to follow a bunch of cryptic clues around the city, a bit like the amazing race.

If a side turns up, they're allowed to kickoff, and score as many points as they can against no opponent, but if the put it out or knock on(Or even worse, give a penalty away) they wait for an opponent to turn up to continue playing.

 

[beeronthehill]

Anyone hearing about the Newport Tens comp in March? Be a nice day down at the beach.

 

[thetraitor]

Anyone hearing about the Newport Tens comp in March? Be a nice day down at the beach.

It's actually a fantastic day. Play rugby, go for a swim between games, and beers at the Arms after.

 

[HeavyB]

Is it just me or does anyone else see the complete and utter insanity of charging $15 to watch subbies finals?