NSW based NRL clubs QRL Dual Registrations to Cease
22nd July 2009
The exodus of NRL feeder sides to Queensland will be blocked from next season. The NSWRL and QRL have reached an agreement to cease dual registrations, which has allowed Canberra and Manly to abandon the NSW Cup and field their reserve grade sides in Queensland. It is understood Penrith was considering a similar move in 2010. Realising the competition would come under threat of collapse if it lost another NSW-based club, the NSWRL upped talks with Queensland to safeguard second-tier league south of the Tweed. You can easily save $15-30k on medical insurance, another $10k on doctors fees and other medical expenses, $50-$100k on coaching and support staff and $20-30k on uniforms and training gear. That's before you even start paying for the second-tier players in the squad. All of these costs are being covered by the second-tier club and more than outweigh the costs of accomodation and flights to Queensland to the NRL side. That said, Manly and Canberra are only up there because a suitable alternative couldn't be found closer to home. Most of Canberra's excess would be running around for Wests if that deal had come off and Manly were apparently talking to Mounties.