Sydney Subbies 2025

[Cranky Penguin]

Ive heard that Blue Mountains are planning to potentially field two Colts teams along with 6th and 7th grade teams this year, thanks to a huge influx of new players. It doesn’t seem like the Emus return has had any impact on them. Over the past decade, they have made tremendous progress, regardless of whether was active or not.

There is definitely room for both clubs in the area, and hopefully, Penrith can finally achieve some long-overdue success.

 

[Pfitzy]

That would be something.

Success breeds success, and if you can get a critical mass it goes a long way to sustainable success.

 

[Odyssey_Park the 2nd]

Would be great to see especially with the Colts teams. Bodes well for the future of the club. They are one of the few Subbies clubs out there in a bubble with no one else (until Penrith) around them. Great news for the future of Div1

 

[Crashy]

Thats insanely good re the Blue Mountains. You'd imagine those living well east of Penrith my have thought lapstone too far to play so being 10 kms closer may appeal. didnt realise how close Nepean Rugby park is to Lapstone. More clubs out there the better.

Whats the clubhouse like at Lapstone these days? had toilet block vibes when I played against them in the 90s.

 

[Crashy]

Blue Mountains also advertising free rego for colts as a sponsor has covered the bill. Jeez they are building a juggernaut.

 

[Pfitzy]

Blue Mountains also advertising free rego for colts as a sponsor has covered the bill. Jeez they are building a juggernaut.

They've done free Colts rego for a few years thanks to sponsor(s). This is a good thing.

The landscape of Western Sydney is interesting for that; I know young blokes who would be perfect for our Colts who can earn the cost of rego each week playing league, and that's why they play RL instead of Colts Rugby. They're good players, but so are - literally - hundreds of others in this area.

 

[Pfitzy]

Whats the clubhouse like at Lapstone these days? had toilet block vibes when I played against them in the 90s.

I think they had a fairly significant upgrade recently.

 

[Pfitzy]

Thats insanely good re the Blue Mountains. You'd imagine those living well east of Penrith my have thought lapstone too far to play so being 10 kms closer may appeal. didnt realise how close Nepean Rugby park is to Lapstone. More clubs out there the better.

Double edged sword: the more clubs the harder it is to recruit rugby players. Blueys have done a fantastic job, with a lot of hard work from their volunteer base.

However, there also exists the fact that one club's success out here is frequently to another's detriment, so it will be interesting to see what effect Penrith's return to play has on other clubs.

 

[Pfitzy]

I know we've got guys coming from out past St Mary's to play for us, some of whom were ex-Penrith lower grades (which I found out recently).

I couldn't blame them if they returned to the Emus given the travel factor for training alone.

It doesn't make it any easier for our goals to build tho. In the last few years I've seen players of ours depart to other clubs in the area despite all we've done to build.

Mostly the kids in our area play league, or if they play Union (usually both) they go to Eastwood Colts, and don't seem to come out the other side in some cases. Concerning that we seem to be actively shrinking the footprint.

Hopefully this new Head Of Rugby For Western Sydney role can help make some connections. Fuck knows I've tried...

 

[Crashy]

just have to get the public schools playing. Arent there are a lot of non GPS / CAS/ ISA schools at your way that now play rugby? William Clarke college to name but one.

 

[footy_footy]

Ive heard that Blue Mountains are planning to potentially field two Colts teams along with 6th and 7th grade teams this year, thanks to a huge influx of new players. It doesn’t seem like the Emus return has had any impact on them. Over the past decade, they have made tremendous progress, regardless of whether was active or not.

There is definitely room for both clubs in the area, and hopefully, Penrith can finally achieve some long-overdue success.

If Blue Mountains could get a strong Colts team or even a second Colts team it might be the missing piece of the puzzle for a Div1 club championship. Blueys Colts haven't played finals since 2018 (4th) which was their last year in Div2. This seems to be some good tactical leadership and management to address a possible weakness particularly if rumours of older players moving on are true. In saying that is they can get 7 grades I don't think depth will be an issue - outstanding stuff from the Mountain Goats!

Question is where are all these Colts players coming from? Two Blues have declared 3 colts teams. Penrith seem to have colts. There is the "western sydney" academy is launching, Renegades and Hills both advertising for Colts in 2025 (neither club had Colts in 2024). So there are a lot of teams looking for "new" players in the western sydney area. Is this all realistically achievable? In 2024, there were no subbies colts between Strathfield and Lapstone. In 2025 we are potentially looking at an additional 3-4 teams in this area, plus two blues...

Free subs can also go two ways - it has been used in the past by Waverley and Balmain as a last resort to try and save a failing team but if Blueys have worked their way to a financial position to offer this as a recruitment tool then great work.

 

[Pfitzy]

just have to get the public schools playing. Arent there are a lot of non GPS / CAS/ ISA schools at your way that now play rugby? William Clarke college to name but one.

Yep. Been in contact with them the last few years as well as Arndell and others. Have been advised at various points - by people who are not associated with the schools - that Renegades should go run a coaching session at the school etc. Which is great, except everyone at the club has a day job and time is limited already.

I'd *like* to have the resources to fund a Development Officer to get around to schools, but alas, that exceeds my entire annual operating budget.

 

[Northies]

If Blue Mountains could get a strong Colts team or even a second Colts team it might be the missing piece of the puzzle for a Div1 club championship. Blueys Colts haven't played finals since 2018 (4th) which was their last year in Div2. This seems to be some good tactical leadership and management to address a possible weakness particularly if rumours of older players moving on are true. In saying that is they can get 7 grades I don't think depth will be an issue - outstanding stuff from the Mountain Goats!

Question is where are all these Colts players coming from? Two Blues have declared 3 colts teams. Penrith seem to have colts. There is the "western sydney" academy is launching, Renegades and Hills both advertising for Colts in 2025 (neither club had Colts in 2024). So there are a lot of teams looking for "new" players in the western sydney area. Is this all realistically achievable? In 2024, there were no subbies colts between Strathfield and Lapstone. In 2025 we are potentially looking at an additional 3-4 teams in this area, plus two blues...

Free subs can also go two ways - it has been used in the past by Waverley and Balmain as a last resort to try and save a failing team but if Blueys have worked their way to a financial position to offer this as a recruitment tool then great work.

What happens is those 3-4 clubs end up each having close to enough players for a colts team but not quite. Rather than recognising the collective good in having these players come together and form 1-2 teams, everyone hangs onto them and churns them through the lower grades of their clubs, and usually out of the game in 1-2 years.

 

[HogansHeros]

just have to get the public schools playing. Arent there are a lot of non GPS / CAS/ ISA schools at your way that now play rugby? William Clarke college to name but one.

There was a comp run last year that had teams from
Arndell
William Clarke
Rouse Hill Anglican
Penrith Christian
Redfield/Pacific Hill Combined.

So there are players in the area..

 

[Crashy]

low hanging fruit for the new Western Sydney role. Jeez this person is going to be a busy little bee...

 

[Pfitzy]

What happens is those 3-4 clubs end up each having close to enough players for a colts team but not quite. Rather than recognising the collective good in having these players come together and form 1-2 teams, everyone hangs onto them and churns them through the lower grades of their clubs, and usually out of the game in 1-2 years.

It's the same argument I tried for excess Eastwood Colts, and realised I was wrong; guys want to play for their club and/or be with their mates.

It isn't just about playing rugby.

 

[Pfitzy]

There was a comp run last year that had teams from
Arndell
William Clarke
Rouse Hill Anglican
Penrith Christian
Redfield/Pacific Hill Combined.

So there are players in the area..

Hopefully that comp expands this year. For those players who go through to Year 12 and stay in the area it gives clubs like Redfield Old Boys, Hawkesbury, and Renegades potential recruits. At least, those who aren't headed to Premier...

 

[Northies]

It's the same argument I tried for excess Eastwood Colts, and realised I was wrong; guys want to play for their club and/or be with their mates.

It isn't just about playing rugby.

But if you had a group of colts who were mates but not quite enough for a team, its fair to say they'd be more connected to eachother than a club they've only just joined, especially at subbies level where the clubs generally far less known.

 

[Pfitzy]

But if you had a group of colts who were mates but not quite enough for a team, its fair to say they'd be more connected to eachother than a club they've only just joined, especially at subbies level where the clubs generally far less known.

Agreed.

There might be other connections they decide to take up instead. The pattern for us last 2 years has been a lot of enthusiasm around November which dies off in summer due to beach, relationships, freedom post-HSC and work etc.

I've got guys who choose between league and union, as one example, which stymies the Colts startup.

 

[Crashy]

still gob smacked that League needs to pay park footballers to play. Whats happens if they stop paying? do they all leave? Seems like an odd foundation that whole game pays its players. good on them I guess. Just weird.